Author Visits

Invite me to share my books and writing with you

Author visits
lari don authorI can use any of my books as the foundation for different sessions and workshops to inspire you to have as much fun reading and writing as I do.
Everyone has their own unique imagination, and I can inspire you to find exciting images, adventures and questions in your own head, and turn them into stories.
In an author visit, I will usually read from one of my books, tell a traditional tale linked to the background of the book, do some imagination activities and answer questions about reading, writing and books. This can be an introduction to a class that hasn’t read the book, or a follow-up for a class that has read it. I promise not to give the ending away if some readers are still half-way through!

I can also:

  • ask riddles and even help you create your own riddles , as both my quest novels contain riddles for the heroine to solve,
  • explore the connection between traditional stories and modern fiction,
  • explore the connection between location, landscape and plot,
  • show how everyone has their own unique imagination, and some of the simple and varied ways we can all be inspired to start a story or an adventure,
  • discuss how to make stories exciting, and write our own chase scenes,
  • and I always leave time for a chat about how YOU write as well as how I write.

Specific book events:

At a First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts event, we might look at how to start an adventure or how to create our own fabled beasts.

At a Wolf Notes event, I might share one of my favourite wolf stories, and perhaps talk about what words we use to describe and identify goodies and baddies.

And if you invite me to introduce you to Tam O’Shanter, I might bring a real witch’s cauldron along.

The above are simply examples of what I can do. I am happy to work with you to create other workshops and sessions which would fit with your needs. If you want something different, that’s great, because I love being challenged to do new things with words…

How to book me:
Email me through this website, or contact me through Floris Books or Barrington Stoke .

How much does it cost?
I am guided by the amount recommended by the Scottish Book Trust for author visits, and by the Scottish Storytelling Centre for storytelling sessions and workshops. If you contact me with details of what you have in mind, I can let you know what the current rate is.

How to get the best from me:
All events work best for the organiser, the author and the audience, if everyone is prepared. If we talk beforehand about what you want, then I will know what you expect me to deliver. We can use some of the event ideas above, or create new events for your particular needs.
I can provide suggestions on how best to prepare a class for a visit or a workshop, including whether the pupils need to have read the book beforehand.
For question and answer sessions, if everyone spends a few minutes thinking about questions beforehand, then I don’t end up answering variations on “Where do you get your ideas from?” all day. It’s a good question, and I love answering it, but there are lots of other questions too!
And while I know that costs and timetables will tempt you to cram as many sessions into a day, and as many classes into a session, as possible, I do like to make eye contact with the people I am talking to, and I do like to give everyone a chance to participate. So a smaller group, ideally one class size, will get a very different experience from a visit or a workshop than a huge gym hall full of pupils.
However I have often met hundreds of kids all at once, and we make a lot of noise and we get very passionate about stories and books, but it is definitely more theatrical and less personal than a session with a smaller group. So you just let me know what you want!

Do I only do 1 hour author visits?
No, I can do longer writing workshops too, and I can also visit a class more than once, for an extended project guiding the pupils through turning their initial ideas into finished work, using the plotting and editing techniques that real writers use, and having lots of fun with words, characters and stories along the way. These longer projects can be hard to fit into my diary though, so do contact me well in advance.

Why book an author?
Meeting authors can bring books alive for children, and authors can explain the creative process and their passion for writing, reading, language and stories. Author visits and other events with writers can promote reading and writing, guide children to wider reading choices and help make books cool!
In schools, events with writers can link very neatly with the Curriculum for Excellence, helping teachers encourage successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.

Why book me?
I love words, books and stories. I show that passion and enthusiasm in the stories I tell, and the descriptions I give of why and how I write.
And I never do the same session twice. Before I visit, I’ll chat to you to tailor my session to fit your needs. Once I am there, I tell a story differently every time because I am watching people’s eyes as I tell it, and I give different tips and information in every Q&A session because I am listening to the questions. I’ll have great fun sharing my passion for books with you. I hope you will too.

What teachers say about my events:

“They came away with wonderful ideas, especially the boys (who are often the tough nuts to crack)”

“They couldn’t wait to get started on their next storywriting.”

“Some children went home and wrote a story that very night.”

“It was the highlight of our bookweek.”

“Their confidence and belief in their creative writing has grown immensely.”

“Dynamic, interactive, captivating…”

“Excellent manner with the children, interesting presentation, great storytelling…just what you want from a visiting author”

“a superb day.”


What pupils say about my events:

“I know how to write stories now.”

“I think she is magic.”

“It was ace.”

“You gave me a better imagination.”

“It made me realise that anyone can be an author.”
(presumably because if that Lari Don can do it anyone can!)