Speaking

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Do you do author visits in schools?

Yes! I love doing author visits, festivals, career talks and other events. Download information about my author visits.

Click here to download information
about my author visits.

If you are new to inviting authors to your school, here's the most definitive guide to school visits I've ever read, by author Nicola Morgan.

If you're an author nosing around my website for tips on school visits, here's a great guide to what schools want by former School Librarian of the Year Duncan Wright.

What are your school visits like?

I met Topiary Man at the Pop Up Festival

I try to tailor my presentations to the needs of the school. Please speak to me about any specific needs. Each presentation takes about 45 minutes. Additional time must be allotted for comments.

Signing books at Copthall School, World Book Week 2014

What school levels will you visit?

Reception. I do a reading of my picture book, Is It a Mermaid. Followed by live drawing on a flip chart. 20 to 30 minutes.

Years 1 and 2. I do a reading of my picture book, Is It a Mermaid. I show the children a short video of a real dugong followed by Live Drawing on a flip chart. We then do a fun, story-building game using my magic fish bag. For schools happy to do a bigger project, I have done murals with children on the theme of underwater habitats.

Years 3 and 4. I have written several stories appropriate for this age group and can do a reading and fun story-building activities using comics techniques.

Years 5, 6, 7, 8. I use the Hero's Journey, to teach story structure as well as to tell the story of my own journey to publication.

Visiting Xavier School in the Philippines

Do you charge for school visits?

Yes, I do because I do not regard school visits as promotion or marketing but integral to the role of anyone who chooses to become a children's author. In the United Kingdom, I charge about the average rate of Society of Authors members. I made a school visit flyer to explain it all!

Here's a helpful guide from the SOA on organising a school visit.

Where can we get a photo and biography of you to promote your visit?

Please visit my my media kit with photos, information and biographies of different word counts. You can also visit this page on Flickr to download more photos of me. If a photographer is indicated, please credit.




What other presentations do you do?

If you'd like me to speak or Skype chat with your book group, appear in your festival, or speak on other subjects, you can send me a message on the contact form at the bottom of the page.

Here are examples of previous speaking engagements:

• Why Asia Needs More Writers for Children and Young People. If books are mirrors and windows to the world, are the children of Asia well-served? I talk how seeing themselves in books will empower young Asians, while providing the rest of the world with a window to our diverse cultures. Asian Festival of Children's Content (2015)
• So You Want to Be a Writer? Career talk. I talked about becoming a journalist in the 1980s, my journey to becoming an author and how writing as a career as changed beyond recognition since the pre-internet days. Year 10 and 12. Channing Career Convention (2012, 2013, 2014). 
• Blogging and Tweeting as Authors. How the internet has changed the relationship between author and reader ... and how authors can survive it. Asian Festival of Children's Content (2013)
• How a Librarian turned me into an Author. Keynote address telling the story of how my school librarian lured me into a life of story. School Librarian of the Year Awards (2013)
• Motherless Nation? I discussed the social impact of the immigration phenomenon in the Philippines and  how this theme runs through my writing. 33d IBBT International Congress - International Board of Books for Young People (2012)
• The Debut Author's Checklist. The beginner author's guide to launching his or her book. SCBWI Conference (2011)
• On Myth, Magic and Multi-cultural Storytelling. Asian Festival of Children's Content (2012)
• Jose Rizal: Philippine Hero and Picture Book Writer. How colonialism, calamity and environment impacted storytelling for children in my native Philippines. For the Philippine Embassy and the Friends of Chalk Farm Library (2011)

Do you have any allergies?

This is a question I've added for my own selfish reasons and the answer is YES. I'm allergic to red wine.

Some nice things people had to say about my appearances

"The best careers talk I have ever attended at Channing" ... "Funny, engaging and inspiring - she gave brilliant insight into her fascinating career path."
Channing School Careers Convention


"... thank you so much for your wonderful contribution to the Blue Peter event at Oxford on Sunday. We were all so thrilled with how it went, and you were terrific, with your giant myths and earthquake info. Perfectly pitched to your audience, and beautifully put across."
Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times Literary Festival


"You mesmerised the British and Filipino audience on how indigenous folklore and foreign influences helped shape the way stories are told in the Philippines ... your contribution truly made this year's 113th Independence Day celebrations a rousing success"
Reynaldo A. Catapang, Charge d'Affaires, Philippine Embassy