Alec Williams - Author Allies, Poet Partners and Story Stars: Working with Creative Guests

Author Allies, Poet Partners and Story Stars... Working with Creative Guests SLA Weekend Course Seminar, June 2009 Presenter: Alec Williams Alec Williams: Training, Consultancy, Performance 07977-590189 [email_address]

Why have an Author Visit?

To enthuse students about reading and writing

To allow students to meet a favourite author in

person, and ask them questions

To fit into a scheme of work

To tick the relevant NC box

To gain positive publicity for the school

To be part of a programme of events

To gain from the experience,

professionally and personally

Alec Williams: Training, Consultancy, Performance 07977-590189 [email_address]

What sort of author do you want?

Recommended by colleagues?

Writers for which age group?

What sort of presentation?

How many students will be involved?

Is the author affordable?

Is the author available?

How to choose an author

Information from SLSs, and other school librarians

Books of background about authors

Websites giving background (Book Trust, Scottish

Book Trust, Society of Authors)

Websites listing their books (e.g. Amazon)

Websites: author agencies

Websites: authors’ own

Websites of storytellers (e.g. SfS)

‘ Previewing’ authors...

At conferences and training courses

At local Children’s Book Group meetings

Via video or audio clips on websites (e.g. Author’s

own site, Teachers’ TV...)

Via CDs/DVDs with books (e.g. Scholastic

‘ Storyteller’ series)

At local storytelling clubs

Sitting in on a nearby school’s visit

Setting up the visit

Guidance on planning an author visit can be found at websites such as:

World Book Day

http://www.worldbookday.com/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=44

ContactAnAuthor

http://www.contactanauthor.co.uk/bookinganauthor.htm

National Literacy Trust

http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/Database/authorres.html

...and PDFs from these sites are also on the

SLA ‘Weekend Training Course’ pages

Authors recommended by delegates at the seminar: 1

Adisa (Used with Y3-Y8, plus parents. Two mentions)

Chris Bradford (obtained via local book shop. Two

mentions)

Chris White, cartoonist (obtainable via the ‘Potty

Poets’ site, as is Jez Walsh)

Paul Cookson (poet)

Joe Craig

Carrie Fisher

David Harmer (poet)

Sonia Leong (Manga artist)

Catherine McPhail

Natasha Narayan (‘Mummy-snatchers of Memphis’

author)

William Nicholson

Neil Oliver (BBC ‘Coast’ presenter; talked

about history)

Bali Rai

Malcolm Rose

Michael Rosen

Ali Sparkes

Nick Sharratt (illustrator)

Andy Stanton

Jeremy Strong

Emma Vieceli (Manga artist)

Philip Wells (poet)

Further advice and guidance The remainder of this conference seminar took the form of whole-group discussion and questions. Alec Williams (details below) would be happy to answer further questions about author visits, and you could also contact the School Library Association office, your local SLA Branch, or your local School Library Service. Good luck with the visit! Alec Williams: Training, Consultancy, Performance 07977-590189 [email_address]