Author Visits

Venues and Rates

I live in Norwich and enjoy visiting libraries and schools in the Eastern region. With longer distances it is harder to fit schools into my schedule, but I’ll do my best.

Please contact me for rates at webpaeony@ntlworld.com
I try to reply within 24 hrs.

Norfolk schools are currently not charged travel expenses because they’re nearer and I don’t have to get up before dawn!

Key Stage One (5-7 years)
A session ‘On Being An Author’ usually takes
about 40 minutes and could include:

+ Chatting with the children and reading one or more of my books.
+ Talking about being an author.
+ Unraveling the mystery of how a blank sheet of paper leads to the final book. I use real examples of original manuscripts, proofs and first illustrations.
+ Questions and Answers

With the youngest children I’m happy to read picture books. Alternatively, older children might prefer the longer humorous fairy tales, published as early chapter books: Cinderella’s Wedding and The Castle Awakes.

By the way, if you think Cinderella’s Wedding sounds rather girly, the greatest number of fan letters I’ve had for this book are from BOYS!

I prefer to keep each session to a max of 30 children, but I can be flexible.

Longer sessions

If you’re looking for an hour’s session for 4-6 year olds, then a session on characters in picture books is fun and gets children to think more deeply about characters in books.

For the older children I also do more in-depth character sessions on the creature they find at the bottom of a garden. They can be wonderfully inventive.

Member of:

The National Association of Writers in Education;

The Institute for Learning;
The Society of Authors.

CRB checked/certificated. Public liability insurance.

CONTACT
For more information and bookings please send an e-mail to:

webpaeony@ntlworld.com

I’m happy to discuss your needs and look forward to hearing from you, Paeony

Under 5’s
Sessions of half an hour seem to work well.

The focus is on enjoyment and storytelling. Although it’s kept simple, I tell the children where I found the idea for each picture book story.
I can also chat with the children about making a book and being an author. I try to interact with the children as much as possible so they’re not only sitting and listening.

(Some children remember I’ll Always Love You from an episode of the BBC Tweenies and the BBC Messy Time DVD/video.)

Key Stage Two (7-10 years)

Increasingly, I’ve been asked to work on writing skills with Years 3-6. There’s so much we can do, including stimulating the imagination, story structure (oops, that sounds boring, but it’s not!), experimenting with writing, and developing empathy through characterisation.

Although my books are best suited to younger children, I’m currently writing a novel for 8-11 year olds. I’ve found that older primary school students still enjoy hearing stories and discovering how an idea and rough drafts become a book. I’m particularly keen to inspire all abilities because as a child I was terrified of writing.

In 2009 I was the ‘author in residence’ for a primary school in Essex. Working with Years 2 and 5, we wrote fairytales to a set structure and each child was given an illustrated printed book containing the work we did together. We were all delighted with the the project.

Adult and teen courses on writing for children
I’ve tutored various courses in Norwich with Adult Education and also some Continuing Education classes at the University of East Anglia. Plus in 2009 I tutored a summer school for teens at the University of Middlesex.

I enjoy teaching and put the emphasis on fun and increasing confidence.

Forthcoming courses can be found via my On Writing web page.

I enjoy visiting schools, libraries, bookshops, festivals...

I’m often invited to visit children aged 4-7 years and that’s great fun as I write for this age group.

Plus I find it stimulating to work with Key Stage Two on writing and I had a particularly rewarding time working with a class on their own printed book of fairytales.

For many years I’ve also enjoyed tutoring adult courses in Norwich on writing children’s (and teen) fiction; and for the first time in 2009 I tutored a summer university course in London for teens and I’m keen to do that again.

Listed below are some of the sessions I can provide. There are more available, but it’ll give you a feel for my visits and I’m always happy to discuss specific needs.

As a young child I adored stories but struggled to write. I tell this to primary school children because self confidence can soon be squashed if writing feels like an insurmountable tedious battle.

I’m mildly dyslexic and I hope that knowing this will inspire those who struggle not to give up.

Book Sales

Some children like a book to celebrate an author’s visit. I’m always delighted to sign books at the end of the day; albeit the sale of books is not essential. My priority is inspiring an interest in books, writing and words.

"Paeony worked with Years 2 and 5 in one of our primary schools in a ‘writer in schools’ project. She developed great relationships with both teachers and children, inspiring both to write. We found her to be thoughtful and enthusiastic, often going beyond the call of duty to make the project the huge success it became. All the children saw themselves as writers by the end and they produced some wonderful writing. The project exceeded our expectations and this was all down to Paeony."

- Jonathan Bond, Harlow Education Consortium, 2009.