Secondary School Visitors
Jenny Alexander: Talks and workshops, Y3-7. I write fiction and non fiction of every kind and what interests me is adventurousness in writing. I can do the usual author talk, story-of-the-book etc but if the children have prepared for the session by reading a few of my books and/or looking at my we
Elizabeth Arnold: I am happy to do school visits and/or workshops for children, covering any area on the craft of writing.
Mary Arrigan: For ages 10 - 12 I talk about writing and how they can do this themselves, followed by interactive putting a story together (great fun!), then reading from teenage novel. End with showing covers of translated versions of book and Q&A. I also run workshops for age 10 upwards.
Sherry Ashworth: I cover ages 11-18. I talk about my books, but also give creative writing workshops esp GCSE & AS/A2 English language, as well as providing teacher training.
Elizabeth Baguley: Drama workshops (aimed at Years 1, 2, 3) connected with my picture books - building a story from recycled objects; Ice Island (based on reflections); creating a story from nothing: writing workshops based on drama activities for Keystage 2 and 3; storytelling (various themes) for Keystages 1, 2 and 3, with storytelling workshops for Years 5 and 6, and Keystage 3 and 4.
Steve Barlow: Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore work with yrs 7, 8, and occasionally above. They also provide INSET sessions for teachers on active learning and engaging and enthusing reluctant readers. Our presentations include talks on 'How to Be an Author' which aims to demystify the writing process and encourage students to use life experiences as stimuli for their writing, with extension work on creative writing. We can also offer residencies to pursue more extensive projects with groups of learners. Details of our visits and contact details can be found on our we
Sue Barrow: I am experienced in running writing workshops for 13 - 16 year olds but am also happy to work with older primary school children. My style is interactive - I enjoy getting children to think about what they like in books, how stories work and who their favourite characters are. This helps them plan and develop their own story writing ideas and work out how to get them down on paper. I'm equally to happy to discuss ideas with teachers beforehand and fit in with whatever creative writing projects they are working on at the time.
Malorie Blackman: I do school visits but I am booked up at least a year in advance! My sessions tend to be for Years 5&6 or Years 7 or 8&9. I talk about my various books, the inspiration for them, the writing process, how I became a writer, etc. I also do creative writing workshops for one class at a time. I do a maximum of 2 sessions in one day. Please contact my publisher Random House Children's Books for further details.
N M Browne: I offer talks and workshops to Key Stage 3 and above.
Ann Bryant: My interactive talk for Years 7 and 8 lasts a good hour and includes signing, reading, literacy initiatives, author anecdotes, information about how a book is 'made' from start to finish, and questions and answers.
Charles Butler: I visit upper-years primary, middle schools, and lower-years secondary schools for talks and workshops relating to my children's books. I also visit upper secondary/sixth form classes for talks on the process of writing and getting published.
David Calcutt: I offer writing and drama workshops based on themes and episodes from my work, and readings/discussions. Age range: 10-15s
Philip Caveney: I offer author events, which comprise a talk, a reading, a Q & A session and a book signing - and I also do writing workshops, where participants are encourage to write the first chapter of their story. My books are aimed at the 9-12 market.
Pauline Chandler: For people aged 10-16. Author talks (about eg the writing process, research methods and drafting) readings and workshops with small groups (max 12)
Lucy Coats: I specialise in retellings of Myth and Legend, (Key Stage 3). For Coll the Bard's Poetry Workshops, I work in a group with small (no more than 12-14) numbers of children from Y8-10, plus a teacher. We end up with a 'Circle Poem', and I have never concluded one of these sessions without us creating a powerful piece of work, which the children are always justly proud of. Everyone is involved at every level, and the sessions are informal, relaxed and fun. I also do interactive readings (with Branwen the Raven) and sessions for younger children (Y3-7) from Atticus the Storyteller's 100 Greek Myths and all my other books. I can tailor visits to whatever the school needs. See my website for more details.
Yvonne Coppard: workshops (max 25), interactive talk and Q and A session (max 60) covering all aspects of writing - agreed with school beforehand. Ages 8-18 and adults.
Paul Dowswell: Upper primary/lower secondary talk on ship's boys in Nelson's Navy - as portrayed in my 'Powder Monkey' books - with illustrations and readings.
Malachy Doyle: Readings from my books, or creative writing workshops, to any age group - tots to teens.
Fiona Dunbar: I have visited both primary and secondary schools, usually speaking to pupils from year 5 through to year 8. Some possibilities: (1) A 1-hour talk. These are always lively and entertaining. I read a couple of brief extracts from my books, and talk a bit about the inspiration behind them. This will then lead into a more general discussion about how I write, why I write, tips for budding writers and so on. (2) A workshop with a group of up to 30 pupils (1/2 a day). I can discuss this with you in advance, and tailor it to your needs. (3) A full day, combining talks and workshop.
Patricia Elliott: Age group preferred: 10/11 to 14 years (KS3). Talks on becoming a writer, getting ideas, my own books and their backgrounds, writing tips. Workshops on creating characters, inventing plots, creating fantasy worlds, etc. SW London preferred.
Ann Evans: For pupils aged 11-14 I give talks and workshops on all aspects of creative writing. Also workshops on writing non-fiction and newspaper/magazine writing. This can include interviewing techniques. All sessions include Q & A time. I'm happy to do author visits for older pupils after discussions with the class teacher regarding content of the talk/workshop.
Echo Freer: Author Talks Year 6 - Adult - a talk about how I became an author, my life and the life of a book from idea to bookshelf, including manuscripts in various stages of development, followed by a reading and questions and answers. Talks last from 50 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes depending on the length of the lesson. 3 talks per school day. Creative writing workshops - Year 4 - Adult - workshops on creating characters, developing plots, sensory workshop to get more feelings and depth into writing, self-editing and many others. Workshops last for a minimum of 2 hours and a maximum of 2 hours 30 minutes. 2 workshops per school day.
Vivian French: I do very few school visits. For more information, go to my website (click on my name) or contact lindsey.fraser@tiscali.co.uk
Lynne Garner: I have a passion for words which I love to share with others. I write both fiction and non-fiction (for full details visit www.myspace.com/lynnegarner) and can tailor my visits to suit your needs. I can do the usual 'read from one of my books' visits however if you prefer something a little different this can easily be arranged. Further details are available at www.contactanauthor.co.uk Fees charged are based upon the Society of Authors recommendations www.societyofauthors.org
Adèle Geras: very few visits, please contact direct through website. Visits include Q and A sessions, readings from my books and talking about my writing. I don't do workshops.
Griselda Gifford: I do school visits - age limit 14 - prefer working with 11 and 12 year-olds or younger. I usually give brief talk about 'how I began writing' - show old and new books - perhaps read out a little, ask for questions. If the schools want a 'workshop' I enjoy these - we construct simple plots - I give short starter paragraphs and say 'write on' or we do a character description - all depending on age.
Chrissie Gittins: I give poetry readings and workshops (a class at a time) for Reception through to Year 13, with a possible Q&A after the reading. My workshops begin with warm up games, where everyone contributes orally, then we move onto longer exercises and imperceptibly into writing a poem.
Sandra Glover: I offer a wide range of talks and workshops to children of all ages. Details can be found on my website and please feel free to contact me to discuss your requirements.
Gwen Grant: I visit all ages and offer workshops and talks about writing.
Julia Green: Writing workshops and talks/readings for young people top primary to sixth form and adults, including teacher training, festivals, residential courses. I lecture on the MA Writing for Young People at
Nick Green: I visit Years 6-9 and offer readings, along with talks about writing and story creation
Adam Guillain: I usually start with a whole school assembly where I tell a couple of stories and introduce the children to my work and the notion of 'thinking' like a writer. I then deliver writing workshops throughout the school using objects, story maps/mountains,traditional and anecdotal stories as a stimulus. As an ex-primary school teacher I generally work with F/KS1&2, although increasingly I'm being booked for KS3 sessions and inset.
Dennis Hamley: Years 3 to 11. Talks, readings and Q & A with large groups (up to 100), one hour minimum preferred. Writing workshops with small groups of 8-12, though up to 20 tolerated. Minimum 1.5 hours.
Elizabeth Hawkins: I will visit both primary and secondary schools. I talk about how a writer finds ideas, develops those ideas and creates a story, also about the process of writing and publishing a book. This is accompanied by readings from my own work and question and answer sessions. I am happy to lead creative writing workshops for one group or class at a time. I will handle a maximum of three sessions in a visit.
Mary Hoffman: I am sometimes willing to do school visits, particularly to secondary schools with students who know my books and have specifically asked for me. I am happy to speak to teachers, librarians and to do literary festivals. Please bear in mind that I do very few school visits.
Dianne Hofmeyr: I offer creative writing and illustration workshops which can be adapted to any year. Most of my more curriculum-linked workshops are aimed at primary schools.
Mary Hooper: I give a lively presentation, "How I write a book", suitable for top age primary, and any age girls. I do two one-hour sessions in a day and charge £250 plus expenses. I hope to sell books at any events. I live on the Oxford/Berkshire border and will travel up to two hours away.
Lesley Howarth: Years 7 - 10 only. Talks on my books inc MAPHEAD, etc, and about the business of writing for older students.
Julia Jarman: I offer a range of talks to children of all ages: 1.How A Book Is made - talk 2.Let's start a story - workshop 3.Tell me! - discussion. Please see my we
Marie-Louise Jensen: I offer a one hour author talk with Q&A, which includes a powerpoint slideshow. Ages: Years 7-9
Catherine Johnson: I do visits to top juniors - Years 5 and 6 or secondary schools, I do class sized workshops on character and story that can run for as little as an hour or all day. Am happy to talk about all aspects of writing
Elizabeth Kay: I like doing talks and readings for Y7 - 8, and I have run workshops for all ages, up to and including adult. As I have written plays, poetry and adult fiction as well as children's books, I can adapt my workshops to most requirements.
Liz Kessler: talks, signings, readings and workshops. Please click on my name to go to the relevant page on my website.
Josh Lacey: I often visit schools and I'm happy to travel around the country to talk to readers. I'll usually bring a few props - for the Grk books, for instance, a bag packed with objects from the different countries in which the books are set - and chat about my books, writing, etc, and answer all kinds of questions. Please get in touch via my we
Tanya Landman: I can do author visits and/or creative writing workshops for children from 4 to 11, and young adults from 12 - 18.
Katherine Langrish: Years 5,6,7 - interactive talk about my writing and the Viking background to my books, using drama, slides, riddles etc.
Joan Lennon: For 10 - 14 year-olds - Questors and The Seventh Tide (Puffin) Events for this age group focus on how writers write the exciting bits - the bits that are most likely to make the best movie trailers! - how to build up tension, grab the reader's attention and keep the pages turning. Sessions also include readings, comparison of the cover art from different countries, and an opportunity for questions and answers.
Rebecca Lisle: I am an experienced, enthusiastic author/illustrator of 18 titles. I give inspiring, creative workshops that get students of all ages and abilities writing and loving it! My books are aimed at both primary school readers and lower secondary school readers so I visit both types of school. I give author talks to larger groups and workshops for smaller groups of 25 or so.
Sophie McKenzie: I do visits to year 5 and up, so cover primary and secondary schools. I offer two types of visit - a talk-based, interactive session with as many pupils as you like - smaller, class-based writing workshops with up to 30 students
Barbara Mitchelhill: My talks for 7-12 year olds are very interactive and great fun, for me as well as the children. Each session is based on one of my books and includes activites, readings and time for questions and answers. - although I am happy to adapt the format to fit in with teachers' ideas. I hope to leave the children keen to read and enthused to write their own stories.
Richard Monte: I am especially interested in doing author visits for ages 7-9 and 9-12, using my books to explore folk tales, history, geography and the environment. For further details see my website or www.contactanauthor.co.uk
Nicola Morgan: A wide range of different inspirational talks for any age from 9 to 18, and also for teachers and parents. My talks are usually either mainly about the stories and ideas that inspire my novels, or else about the brain - either the teenage brain or our brains in general. The brain events can be extended workshops - you could sign up to a Grow Your Brain Day, for example. All details on my website on the page called Inviting Me To Speak.
Miriam Moss: I offer lively, innovative large group performances, talks, interactive storytelling sessions, readings, seminars, creative writing and poetry workshops to all ages.
Linda Newbery: Talks and presentations on various aspects of books and writing, for children (Year 3 and above), teenagers and adults. Writing workshops for small groups only, or on residential courses.
Sally Nicholls: I am a young, enthusiastic author, who writes fiction for Key Stage Two and Three. I can do an author talk covering the process of writing a book and how a manuscript is turned into a novel, followed by a question-and-answer session. I also run lively creative writing workshops for children aged nine and over. I am happpy to tailor presentations to the needs of the school and am availiable for one-off visits and for longer projects.
Helena Pielichaty: I cover KS2, KS3 and KS4. Please see my website for more information.
Caroline Pitcher: I will visit infant, primary, secondary schools and universities. I talk about being a writer and the various kinds of writing I do, read from my books, put and answer questions. I'll run a workshop if that is what is wanted. I prefer not to travel very long distances, and live in Derbyshire.
Susan Price: Workshops, talks, readings to all years.
Sally Prue: I visit both primary and secondary schools. I very much enjoy visiting schools, and usually spend a lesson celebrating fiction by means of a bit of reminiscence, lots of questions, and helping the group to conjure up an instant novel.
Sue Purkiss: I do workshops or talks for any age from seven upwards - please see website for more details.
Enid Richemont: Interactive writing workshops for primary and the younger end of secondary schools - ie ages 9 - 12
Mark Ro
Malcolm Rose: The most pertinent year groups for my novels are Years 5-10. I have performed in front of groups of all sizes (5 - 700). I am very flexible with regard to audience size but my favourite audiences for talks are single or double classes. Most of my talks have been 50-90 minutes in duration (up to my record of 2 hours 30 minutes!). I concentrate on why and how I write stories. I deal in particular with the processes of getting an idea and turning it into a story by getting inside characters and developing the plot through their eyes. I can also contrast science and fiction writing, talk about researching novels and short stories, redrafting, and I am happy to take on requested themes. For schools with a particular interest in crime writing, I can offer an interactive talk that involves a lot of forensic science. This has proved very popular recently, because of my TRACES crime series. I also run writing workshops. For these, the audience should be one class at most and it should be at least 1 hour. Usually, I concentrate on selecting good ideas, developing characters through whom the plot will emerge, and writing an attention-grabbing opening. The context is usually mystery or crime writing.
Rosie Rushton: March to October any area, November-end February within 50 mile radius of Northampton (plus London). Years 7-10 (preferred ages years 7 and 8) Writing workshops and talks.
Helen Salter: I'm happy to come and visit ages 10-14 for talks and readings. I cover the whole process - how to get published, editing, rewriting, plus cover art (often of interest to the kids.) I bring along lots of example manuscripts (and my first attempts at writing aged about 10!) Talks include a short, relevant reading and a Q&A session.
Andy Seed: Lively talks and workshops for all age groups. For secondary schools, I give interactive talks on being an author and how a book develops.
Linda Strachan: I am happy to speak to all ages from nursery to adult. I can base visits on any of my books and this can cover many different themes (see my website). Although many of my books are for younger children, I am happy to speak to secondary school pupils and adult writers' groups, teachers and at conferences. I do creative writing workshops with all ages.
Andrew Strong: I can do visits to schools and can offer writing workshops for upper primary or lower secondary school students.
Tabitha Suzuma: Year 7 to adult. Creative writing workshops. Talks on teenage mental health (especially depression); becoming a writer; the inspiration behind my books.
Amanda Swift: Years 3 - 8 Author Visit - talk about work process, read from books, question and answers etc Workshops - working with children on their writing.
Ruth Symes: Book readings, drama workshops, craft activities, story writing workshops.
Ann Turnbull: Very few school visits, but please enquire via my we
Val Tyler: Workshops which usually includes an analysis of how to write a good story plus anything the school dictates. Discussion groups - with a far-ranging variety of topics often dictated by the school. Sixth Forms -'Writing as a career'.
Eleanor Updale: I talk to any age group from upper primary to all secondary. I talk about writing, history, and writing about history! I will do workshops if asked, but prefer to make my visit seem like fun rather than work.
Jean Ure: Happy to visit schools within easy reach of
Karen Wallace: Talks, presentations and workshops. Please see my site for more details.
Jennie Walters: I'm happy to talk to children in upper primary/lower secondary classes about the processes of writing, researching and editing historical novels, with reference to Victorian servants, country house life, the First World War, Kindertransport, and lots more!
Lynda Waterhouse: I am available to run writing/drama workshops, to talk about my books etc. See my we
Kathryn White: Ages- pre-school, primary + yr 7. KS1 & KS2. Fully inclusive school and festival events, providing dynamic visual presentation on the HERE COMES THE CROCODILE picture book alongside full SOUND EFFECTS in order to reach broader ability audiences. Suitable for assembly with up to 250 children. Art and craft workshops on characters, plus games. PITCH POND CURSE published by Ginn Level -KS2 Groups- 30 + (70 Max)Ghost stories- what makes a chiller chill? Encourages readers to analyse the different techniques used within the horror genre. To enthuse and prepare students to write what they would love to read.Profile of a demon. a)Mixing imagination with writing skills to promote a keen interest in English language and how students can get the best out of it. b)Teachers are requested to supply a Thesaurus or two for this slot. c) £300. Per day. + travel expenses.
Leslie Wilson: I do workshops and talks. For details, see my website.
Sheridan Winn: Two types of talk aimed at Year 8. Talk 1: 45-minute group talk - up to 100 children - followed by book signing session. The talk will cover: the Sprite Sister books (the characters, their world and the stories); about me; being a writer; creative writing tips, Q&A. I also do two readings from the books. I bring with me an A2 map of Sprite Towers and an A2 illustration of the Sprite Sisters' 'Circle of Power'. Talk 2: 90-minute creative writing workshop for groups of 25 children max, based around the Sprite Sister books and the four elements of a story - character, situation, plot and genre. Pens and paper required. The children will complete the session having decided on these four elements and be ready to write their own story. See my website for complete outline and illustration of the four elements in the 'Circle of Power'. I illustrate the Sprite Sisters' world with the A2 Map of Sprite Rowers and the A2 illustration of the 'Circle of Power'. See my website for complete outline.