Visits & Events

How about hiring me to come to your school? We have a lot of fun!

I start out with some information about me, then I open up my bag of props and move swiftly on to the part where we all get involved:

Delve into history and create a ghost story together!
Audience collaboration, role-play, brainstorming
Q&A session: what’s it like to be an author?
No two events are the same!
No audience is too big (in fact the bigger, the better!)
Areas of curriculum covered: English, History, Geography

'The children and teachers were very appreciative of the visit and a good time was had by all. I anticipate Kitty Slade will become a much asked for series at Just Imagine.' – Nikki Gamble, Just Imagine Story Centre, Chelmsford

I do two types of visit:

Primary School

A full day consists of sessions with kids from Reception right up to Year 6. I combine the above event for the older ones with shorter, simpler talks for younger ones; I have a background in picture books, and have also written short stories for kids aged 7+.

Secondary School

Suitable for Key Stage 3. Again, I start out with the large group event described above. The rest of the day is taken up with workshops for the same age range, in smaller groups. I find that simple, short exercises work best, but am always happy to discuss your needs.

The practical stuff:

For the main event I start with a small Powerpoint presentation, which I'll bring on a memory stick. So please can you provide a laptop, projector and screen.

For the brainstorming part of the event, please will you supply a whiteboard or flipchart with markers (and eraser, for whiteboard).

All in, including questions, this event takes about one hour; please allow 15-30 minutes after this for book signings. A typical day will consist of two further hours of talks/workshops, as described above.

Please speak to Jan or Kate Powling to book or for further information:
email jan@speakingofbooks.co.uk or ring 0208 858 6616.

All my books can be ordered from your local bookshop. You may also wish to publicise my event in advance: posters and other promotional material can be supplied by my publisher, Orchard Books. Contact:

Alix Hitching
alix.hitching@hachettechildrens.co.uk
020 7053 6656

Some more quotes:

'The kids really enjoyed it...they're still queuing up to read [the] books, we have a permanent Fiona Dunbar display and demand is high.' - Frances Green, Librarian, Haberdasher’s Monmouth School

'Fiona was very well received and had the girls laughing at her sources of inspiration for her books...a brilliant day!' - Lesley and Anne, Librarians, Brentwood Ursuline School

'Hugely popular...informative, evocative and inspirational.' - Victoria Nemeth, Librarian, Highgate School

Some letters from happy audiences

Here's a small selection of the much appreciated letters I receive from the kids - click on each to view as PDFs

Festivals

I am also available for festivals. Here I am with the queue for my books at the Hay Festival 2011 (left):

My Ghostorama event went down well at the Hay festival – one audience member said to me afterwards, 'I've been to three events today, and yours was the best!' It is likely to evolve as the series progresses. I am also happy to appear jointly with other authors. Contact:

Alix Hitching
alix.hitching@hachettechildrens.co.uk
020 7053 6656