Author visits -

schools, colleges and libraries.

I really love visiting UK schools.   I’m happy with all age groups in both secondary and primary schools, though if I meet Key Stage 1 children I mainly talk and read to them  - and not for too long either, because I fear they may get fed up with me.   However, I’m happy with all years from year 3 to year 12.   I also like working with adults – teachers, librarians or in writing workshops

What I do

I offer two main activities, talks and readings or writing workshops.    For talks and readings I make no restriction on numbers.  I have taken whole year groups – in fact, on some occasions, whole schools, though between 30 to 60 is ideal.    I like, if possible, fairly long sessions – anything between one and two hours is fine.    I try to keep talking at people to a minimum: if kids ask me questions then I know they want answers and that’s a much better way of proceeding.  I always try to read, usually something self-contained, such as a short story, or an extract from a novel.  I come with a good stock of possibilities and read an example of whatever genre the children prefer.  I also try to give an idea of why and how it was written, where the ideas came from and how much – and why - I modified my first thoughts as I wrote it.

For writing workshops I need much smaller groups: twelve is fine, though if necessary I’ll go up to twenty.  However, the fewer the students, the better the workshop.   Workshops aren’t to be rushed through: they ought to last at least two hours and ideally more.

I am sometimes asked to deal with a particular theme to do with my books and stories and I love to do that. Here is a selection of themes:

• War and war stories
• Historical novels and stories
• Mystery and crime stories
• Ghost stories
• Football stories
• Non-fiction
• Animal stories

Many of these categories overlap.   For example, The JOSLIN de LAY MYSTERIES  are both mystery stories and historical novels.   DEATH PENALTY is a football mystery story, HAUNTED UNITED a football ghost story while THE WAR AND FREDDY, ELLEN’S PEOPLE, VERY FAR FROM HERE and THE FOURTH PLANE AT THE FLYPAST show very different aspects of war – and the last one named is a ghost story as well.

Where will I go ?                

I will happily do day visits within 100 miles of Oxford, where now I live.    Anything further afield needs planning and probably an overnight stay.   I have done three or four day tours before now, in particular areas and in several schools and libraries.  I usually come by car, especially if we have arranged that I sell books, usually at a considerable discount.  However, for schools in central London and for any journey over 250 miles I would go by train.   For schools in Europe - International schools or Services schools in Germany – I would of course fly or go by train with Eurostar.

PLEASE NOTE:  I CARRY FULL PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE

How do you get me ?

Most visits are arranged by SPEAKING OF BOOKS.   All enquiries to them should be directed to Jan and Ellie Powling, who do all the organizing as well as fixing fees and expenses.

Contact: email - jan@speakingofbooks.co.uk or phone 0288 8586616

You may also go through the publishers, at rekha.patel@walker.co.uk

Sometimes however people prefer to approach me direct, in which case you can contact me through this website or through www.contactanauthor.co.uk