Author Visits
Meeting a ‘real-life’ author, can spark an interest in books and reading, and boost the confidence of even the most reluctant readers and writers. Inspiring future authors and publishers also happens to be one of my favourite things to do!
I am currently offering in-person visits to schools within a 1 hour drive of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK, and virtual author visits online via MS Teams.
In-person author visits start from £150 for a 1-hour assembly and Q&A, to £200 for a half-day (9.00 - 12.00 OR 12.00 - 15.00) and £250 for a full day (9.00 - 15.00) of talks and/or writing workshops. Sessions will be adapted to your requirements and the age range of the children.
Virtual author visits are £50 or FREE with a minimum order of 10 books from parents and/or school.
Virtual visits are approx. 30-45 minutes long.
Author visits generally include:
• An inspirational talk about what it takes to write and publish a book (adapted for different year groups).
• A LIVE storytelling of one of my stories
• A fun, interactive, story-inspired activity
• A Q&A session - giving the children a chance to ask me questions
• A FREE signed copy of one of my books for the school library
• A dedicated code for parents to order books directly from my online store (includes FREE delivery to school).
• A parent communication, explaining all about the visit and how parents can pre-order books
• An after-school book signing session (if you book a full day or afternoon session).
Book Your Visit
Complete the form to register your interest! I will follow up with you later to confirm your booking.
6 hr
250 British pounds
3 hr
200 British pounds
1 hr
150 British pounds
45 min
50 British pounds
The Magic of an Author Visit
Meeting a ‘real-life’ author can spark an interest in books and reading, and boost the confidence of even the most reluctant readers and writers.
According to a report from the Literacy Trust, pupils who’d recently had a visit from an author were:
· Twice as likely to read above the expected level for their age (31% vs 17%)
· More likely to enjoy reading (68% vs 47%) and writing (44% vs 32%)
· More likely to be highly confident in their reading (37% vs 25%) and writing (22% vs 17%)
Testimonials
"Kirstie visited our Nursery and Reception children to share her wonderful story. The children were drawn in by the beautifully illustrated book and were excited to hear all about the Witches Cat. Kirstie quickly established a warm relationship with the children, who thoroughly enjoyed the session.
Thank you for visiting us, we hope to see you again soon!"
Mrs Villa, Newton Leys School
'Kirstie came to visit our school and she shared with the children, her exciting new book. The children gained an understanding of the process of being an author and they even got to experience coming up with part of a story of a magical spell to become a T-Rex. The children thoroughly enjoyed Kirstie's visit and it has inspired many children to follow their ambitions of being authors or illustrators. Thank you again Kirstie for such an excellent experience and we look forward to hearing your next magical book.'
Miss Turner, Whitehouse Primary
"Kirstie visited us at Brooksward School to share her new book 'The Witches Cat and cooking catastrophe' with our Foundation children. The children were captivated and engaged by Kirstie's storytelling from the moment she started reading.The children all said how much they loved the story and they enjoyed joining in with the spells. Kirstie motivated the children to actually want to become authors themselves, so much so that some children have written their own mini stories since her visit. Thank you very much Kirstie for visiting us! I am sure you will be back again soon."
Miss Smith, Brooksward School
FAQ'S
How do we order books?
Giving children the chance to buy their own copy of the book encourages them to read and enjoy the story again later.
There are two ways this can work, depending on your preference:
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Make books available to parents via your Parent Pay system. Then I will invoice the school for the final number of books supplied. I will then supply the books to the school on or ahead of the visit.
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Parents can order copies directly from my online store. I will then supply the books on or ahead of the visit.
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For in person visits, in addition to either one of the above, I can be available for an after-school book signing sessions. Children can bring along their pre-ordered copies to be signed and I will also have extra copies available to buy.
What should we do to prepare for the visit?
I will send you all the information you'll need ahead of the visit to ensure everything goes smoothly - including a parent communication template and an agenda for the session.
For virtual visits, it is advised that we do a quick 'systems check' ahead of the session.
What age children are your visits appropriate for?
I can deliver sessions to children from pre-school age to throughout primary school. I have lots of experience of delivering sessions to every primary age group.
Sessions for younger children will focus more on the joy of reading and writing, and the fun of using their imaginations to create stories. Sessions for older children will also focus on structure, and processes for creating picture books, as well as the career of being an author.
Do you charge a fee for your visits?
Yes. Just like everyone else, authors have bills to pay too. Every school visit requires several hours of preparation, as well as the time on the day. Not only is the school paying for my time, but also my experience and expertise as a professional author-publisher. Whilst sharing my experience and inspiring a love for reading and writing is my passion, I, unfortunately, can't afford to do it for free, so please don't ask me to.
Ready to book your visit or want to know more?