I am excited to be able to offer in-person and virtual author visits for school years 4-8. My events inspire imaginations and are an effective way to engage pupils and encourage them to read more.
In-person visits usually involve either an author talk/presentation (40 mins – 1hr session, including Q&A) that delves into inspiration, storytelling and worldbuilding and includes writing prompts for teachers to use after the session, or an author talk plus a single or multiple workshops (for smaller groups), depending on your setup and requirements.
Virtual visits last for thirty minutes and include an introduction, a reading and Q&A session.
I am DBS checked and fees usually apply but can vary depending on the distance travelled (I live in Essex) and requirements so do get in touch for further information. For schools, you may wish to book me in collaboration with other nearby schools so you can share the associated costs for in-person visits.
Workshop options include a mixture of design and literacy-based activities, for example:
- Create your own mech (draw or write)
- Create a futuristic tool or object (draw or write)
- Create a character (draw or write)
- Draw/create a fantasy map
All the above involve techniques I use as an author. They’re designed to inspire a range of ages and abilities to leave educators with a variety of possible follow-up work. For workshops, I recommend a maximum group size of thirty.
For my presentation, I usually require facilities to present Powerpoint slides. If a microphone/amplification is available, this is welcome but not essential.
I can also offer a thirty-minute talk/book reading for a school assembly.
All in-person visits include a short book reading, Q&A and book signing. On the day I can then sign and personally dedicate individual copies for pupils or teachers if circumstances allow.
For signings, ideally please order copies of the novel in advance (either via a local independent bookshop or directly through my publisher) to ensure availability on the day.
To find out my availability for a school visit, please contact me (murray at murrayfisher.co.uk).
“Our upper juniors imaginations were certainly sparked and they could not wait to get their hands on a copy of the book!” – Gatehouse School, London