Author visits to schools

Author visits to schools are an effective way to engage pupils and inspire them to read more, and maybe even to become authors themselves when they grow up!

I am available to do primary school author visits. For £200 + VAT for half a day or £350 + VAT for a full day, I can come to your school and do sessions for children aged 4-8.

The session can include a reading of one of my picture books, a Q&A, a craft session and/or a story-writing workshop. I can also do a half-hour talk/book reading for a school assembly.

I can tailor the sessions to suit your individual requirements, so contact me if you have any questions at all.

If you would like to book me, simply pick a slot on the calendar below. I look forward to visiting to you soon!

Virtual author visits

Virtual sessions with a UK children’s author are a great way for schools to inspire their pupils to write stories and maybe one day become a writer themselves.

I have been providing children’s author visits via Zoom since the first lockdown, and the testimonials below speak for themselves. It is a quick, easy and cost-effective way to engage and excite your young pupils, and nothing thrills me more than seeing a class full of kids listening attentively as I read the story to them via Screen Share!

If you would like to book me for a 30-minute Zoom session, select a time slot from my calendar below. I can read either Sarah’s Shadow, One Night in Beartown or One Christmas in Beartown followed by a Q&A with the pupils.

I am only charging £30 + VAT per 30-minute virtual author visit, and there’s no limit on how many classrooms can join. So it is a more cost-effective way for your pupils to interact with an author than in a physical visit.

Please contact me if you have any queries. I look forward to Zooming with you!

“Hi Nick. Thank you so much for you visit to Congleton Library on Monday.  The children really enjoyed it and we’ve had some lovely comments from several parents saying what a good time their kids had. Thank you again for the books, I will make sure they are distributed, and good luck with Snailish, it’s a lovely story.”

Karen Owen

Librarian, Congleton Library

“Nick and his partner came and delivered a wonderful day of workshops for nursery, reception, year 1 and year 2. The pupils were totally engaged in the storytelling and the little ones loved the craft making. We will definitely have Nick back in the future!”

Charli Faux

PSHE Teacher, Terra Nova School, Jodrell Bank

“That worked absolutely brilliantly Nick. The children came away buzzing. Thank you!”

Victoria Rippon

Headmistress, Bosley St Mary's CE Primary School, Bosley

“This was such a special experience! The kids loved hearing One Night in Beartown read aloud straight from the author. They were completely captivated by the reading of the story. What a wonderful message of friendship and imagination the book had. After zooming with Nick, we read Sarah’s Shadow as a class, and this book also was just as loved. Thank you so much Nick, for sharing your passion and love for your books this way; our class is so appreciative of you!”

Alex Boonstra

1st Grade Teacher, Park Elementary, Michigan, United States

“Nick read Sarah’s Shadow to our year 2 children as part of our PSHE lesson. Before the Zoom call, the children thought of two brilliant qualities they have, e.g. sharing, being kind, a good friend, helpful etc. They also thought of one wish. This linked with the story as Sarah makes a wish. Nick read the story and the children shared their writing and wishes with Nick … Nick was brilliant with the children and he has a great manner with them. Thank you for such a wonderful Zoom, we ALL loved it!”

Becky Nash

Year 2 Teacher, Pownall Green Primary School, Bramhall

“Nick donated his time to read his wonderful book One Night In Beartown via a Zoom link to the families we support at Ruby’s Fund. We provide services to children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and their families … The time Nick took to read the brilliant story, voice the characters and bring the story to life, plus answer questions from the attendees, was much appreciated. Everyone who attended said how much they enjoyed the story time session and we’re all looking forward to inviting Nick back in a couple of weeks to read his next book Sarah’s Shadow.”

Helen Davies

Thriving Families Manager, Ruby's Fund, Congleton

“To help us celebrate national story telling week, Nick delivered a Zoom call to the Preschool and Toddler children at Astbury Lane Nursery. The children loved listening to the story all about the town they live in. Nick delivered an engaging session and the children were very excited to explore his story after the call.”

Kate Smithers

Nursery Manager, Astbury Lane Nursery, Congleton

“Just a message to say a big thank you! This was a great experience for the children and they are now all talking about how to become authors! They really enjoyed the story and we have talked about how important the message from the story was.”

Kirstie Sloan

Year 4 Teacher, Somerville Primary School, Wirral

“Hi Nick, thank you so much for Thursday.  It was a fantastic session. A really unique experience for the beavers. Thank you!”

Claire Vink

Beaver Leader, Barrowby 1st Beavers