Author visits

The Stitchwort Curse assembly and workshop content is most suited to KS2 and KS3. To book please email me on alexandradawewrites@gmail.com

In-person:

I can come to your school for an assembly, classroom workshop, or a combination of both, with a half day or full day rate + travel, and accommodation if necessary.

Assembly

(45 minutes to an hour, max 250 students)

Powerpoint presentation with props. This is interactive, with quizzes and games, and might get a bit noisy!

A brief introduction about me, my background, and how I became an author.

How I researched The Stitchwort Curse, and a Victorian plant hunter game (with a few student and teacher volunteers!)

My love of the natural world, particularly the spooky creatures, and why these creatures are amazing, despite the negative stereotypes.

There is sound and video in the presentation. There are videos, drawings and photographs of spiders, so please make sure arachnophobes are aware.

At the end we do a spider draw-along, which the students can colour in while I take questions.

Technical requirements:

I will need a screen with sound to plug my laptop into.

In advance of the visit it would be great if you could let parents know I’m coming, and give them some information about the book.

A copy on display in the classroom or the school library is really helpful, as well as reading an extract out to the class in advance.

Workshop

(one hour, max 30 students)

My workshops are suitable for up to 30 students.

I have a Stitchwort specific workshop, where we talk about ideas, inspirations, research and problem solving. We then work together to write a Stitchwort short story.

I also have spooky story writing workshop, where we work together to generate ideas and outline a story that the students can continue writing (and illustrating!) themselves.

Zoom Q&A.

A 25 minute Q&A for classes who have already read the book. They can ask anything they like about writing, illustrating, being an author, or anything else!

Technical requirements:

Zoom (or similar)

Fees

In person:

In person Assembly - £240

In person Class Workshop - £125

In person Half Day - assembly plus 1 workshop: £275

In person Full Day - assembly plus 2 workshops (1 workshop delivered to two separate classes) - £400

*All fees are exclusive of travel and any necessary overnight accommodation.  Travel will be charged at standard class rail fare. Accommodation in Premiere Inn or equivalent. I will endeavour to travel to and from your school without overnight accommodation where reasonably possible.

Virtual:

Zoom Q&A: £30

Book Sales

I will happily sign books for the students. I can help arrange book sales, if required.

I had a wonderful time visiting schools with Heather from Reading Rocks, and she made some brilliant videos which you can see on Instagram here; https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA1X_gjRwVX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==