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Author Events...

Pete Johnson Bali Rai Joe Standerline Dan Tunstall

Pete Johnson is a multiple award winning author of 7-13 Fiction and writes a variety of stories - always thrilling, page turning novels. He is best known for his spooky or humorous novels and is proud that these are books that readers eagerly devour and pass on to their friends. Pete is published in over 20 languages.

The optimum age range for Pete Johnson's author visits is Year 5-8. He visits many schools and libraries every year to give lively Author Talks and also offers Creative Writing sessions. Pete is happy to adapt sessions to meet the needs of a particular school. Sometimes he's asked to launch a writing topic (e.g. spooky stories) or start a discussion on one of his books which pupils are studying (e.g. Traitor or Avenger)

Pete has opened new school libraries, given talks to children and parents together and been involved with particular schemes such as 'Adopt an Author' or workshops for 'Gifted and Talented' pupils. He is happy to talk to a large group and will perform up to three sessions a day.

For further details and information on Pete's fiction and how to book Pete for a school visit, follow this link:
www.petejohnsonauthor.com/visits.html

Recent Feedback:

'We were very pleased with your talk and we have received some really positive comments from the young people about the day, including the following: Really, REALLY good. Pete Johnson was great, really inspirational.'
Sue Ball, Staffordshire Libraries

'Thank you so much for a fantastic day. I have got children wandering round the school, reading your books. We have had a great number of parents in to say thank you. One girl went home and told her parents it was the best day of her life.'
Headteacher, Abbots Ripton C of E Primary School, Huntingdon

'It was thought to be the very best visit of an author to our school.'
Dorothy Buck, teacher/librarian, Elmwood School, East Croydon

'After you left, the school was buzzing with excitement from your visit. I have been inundated with lovely comments.'
Librarian, Perins School, Hampshire

A unique voice in teen fiction and writer of award winning Young Adult and children's fiction, Bali's novel RANI AND SUKH is currently on the main GCSE Reading List. His school visits are inspirational and engaging - just see the comments! He is often told that one of his books has been the first a reader has read to the end.

Bali visits over 80 schools and libraries a year. He will visit any part of the UK. We are happy to take a booking as far in advance as you would like.

Bali's inspiring author sessions can focus on anything from growing up as a British Asian in the East Midlands, to introducing the novels he is famous for, to discussing the issues they raise, or a little bit of everything. Bali is happy with any size of group for a non-Workshop session. The best age group for a session concentrating on Bali's young adult Random House titles is Year 8 upwards.

The Barrington Stoke titles, including DREAM ON from the inaugural Booked-Up list are suitable for younger readers Years 6-7.

Bali is very happy for you to tell him what you'd like to see from his author session from concentrating on a particular novel and the issues it may raise to talking about being a writer and ideas. He will talk to a whole Year Group and now delivers a full session on RANI AND SUKH.

Creative Writing Workshop sessions

Bali looks at ordinary situations as stimulus for fiction or often takes a leap into the completely absurd as a starting point and he will then looks at dialogue and characters in this context. His emphasis is that you do not have done anything extraordinary or to have been on an amazing journey to write.

Bali has completed several days where he has worked with the same group across all sessions.

Bali will do a maximum of 4 timetabled sessions in the day and is happy to chat and sign at lunch if you put in a request. Bali is also able to do a book sale for you if he is driving to your event.

If you would like to know more about booking Bali Rai for an author visit and his fees please email his agent Penny (penny@luithlenagency.co.uk) who organises all of his events. For more information about Bali and his fiction see his author page on this site, alternatively go to his website at www.balirai.co.uk.

Recent Feedback:

Redditch
'The kids are still buzzing from your visit and nagging me to loan your books from the Library (but they have all been taken out and I now have a waiting list!). Thanks for making it a great day and for making the school library even more popular.'

Wellingborough
'We had a wonderful day with Bali on Friday, and our pupils are still talking about it non-stop.'

Kettering
'Please pass on my thanks and appreciation to Bali after his visit to us yesterday. I have had a steady stream of Year 9s in to the LRC to borrow Bali's books some keen readers and others who are definitely some of our more reluctant students. He had Year 9 transfixed for an hour no mean feat! The three workshops were a huge success too everyone's buzzing about the visit, both staff and students alike.'

Hinckley Library
'The children really enjoyed it, as did staff. He left everyone feeling really inspired.'

What has he done?

Stage Acting
Techniques applied with specific reference to theatre performances, including voice work, character development techniques, actors physciality, improvisation, working with text, dialect coaching and directed performances. Scripts for the practical activities could be sourced by the writers' groups.

School Visits
Morning or full day sessions are offered according to location. From KS 2 up. Workshops are tailored to suit the needs of the group. Shorter sessions can be repeated throughout the day. Interactive assembly presentation is available, usually up to half an hour with questions which can be adapted or extended. A very popular workshop is Hollywood Story Pitching. Learners create high concept story ideas, pitch them to the rest of the group and, time allowing, act out key scenes from their stories. Positive and constructive feedback is offered during the process to inspire learners to go on to write their stories.

Writing Courses and Workshops
From introductory sessions for schools and people starting out, to advanced courses or workshops for those with professional experience. I offer entertaining, challenging activities to encourage group cohesion and stimulate a high standard of written work. Shared skills and knowledge include; character archetypes, story structure, dialogue, expectations of styles and genres, script layouts, ICT help and discrete 1-1 support.

Acting Courses and Workshops
Acting for camera: Playful, supportive courses and workshops for anyone interested in learning how to act for TV or film. Informed by the principles of 'method acting' but without having to put yourself through any of the emotional trauma. The aim is for participants to produce astonishingly truthful performances with a combination of technique classes, text investigations, improvisation and practical camera work. The course can include work recorded and reviewed on camera. Equipment can be provided though school equipment can also be used.

Recent Feedback:

Verity Knowles - Longview Primary School, Liverpool
'The children really enjoyed working with Joe. Group activities were very successful and the children wrote independently after the session. They have retained their ideas and had ownership of their stories. I hope we can work with Joe again.'

Jason Robinson - South Wirral High School.
'An excellent day. Highly productive and enjoyable for all concerned.'

Ben Gould - St. Dominic's Catholic Primary School
'Joe was really inspiring. He related very well with the children and was quick to enthuse them.'

Michael Groves - Banksfield Community Centre, Lincoln
'Joe used his skills and talent to encourage writers to think critically about their work and to produce rounded characters and good quality writing.'

Paul White - Armistead Project, Liverpool
'Joe was well prepared and clearly demonstrated his proficiency with a range of writing styles. He was adept at encouraging attendees to fully explore their ideas and literary output.'

Lynn Campbell - Liverpool Hope University PGCE
'Your input was one of the strengths of our course.'

Joe adapts novels into stage plays for Oxford University Press, Heinemann Plays and Reid International and his most recent publication is a collection of original plays commissioned by OUP entitled, 'Exchanges'. He has over fifty professionally produced works to his name and his published material is regularly performed by schools, colleges and community groups both in this country and abroad. Joe also writes professional pantomime scripts.

Joe's adaptation of Robert Swindell's novel, Stone Cold is a set text on the drama spec for the WJEC Welsh GCSE Board.

As an actor, TV work includes featured roles in Shameless, Hollyoaks, Stan the Man, and Clocking Off. Professional Theatre roles are many and varied with an annual Pantomime contract. Joe has also worked in Musical Theatre including the role of Tin Woodsman in the sell-out Lowry Theatre production of The Wizard of Oz, along side musical theatre legend, Lorna Luft.

Joe was the Head of the Acting Department for SLP Performing Arts College in Leeds delivering the Trinity Professional Diploma in Musical Theatre. He is now concentrating on his writing career. Over the past twenty years, he has delivered writing and acting workshops to people of all ages in a wide range of settings from Universities to Secure Units.

Joe is a member of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain, the National Association of Writers in Education and British Actors' Equity. He holds Advanced CRB certificate and public liability insurance. Joe is also and accredited Relational Dynamic Coach (www.mycoachjoe.co.uk) and member of the Association for coaching.

For more information about Joe and his fiction see his author page on this site, alternatively go to his website at www.joestanderline.co.uk. To book Joe for an event please email: standerline@mac.com or telephone 07941234313.

Click HERE to download this information as a PDF document.

An emerging talent in teen fiction, Dan is the writer of two Young Adult novels, BIG AND CLEVER, shortlisted for the 2010 Branford Boase Award, and OUT OF TOWNERS published in 2011. Dan has written for Five Leaves, A&C Black and Walker Books. 2012 will see the publication of his first work for Harper Collins.

Dan's straightforward, effective writing style and his down-to-earth subject matter have proved to be particularly successful in engaging the interest of reluctant readers. His new page turners are SECONDS OUT for A&C Black and THE PASSENGER for Harper Collins.

Dan is a regular visitor to schools and libraries, where he shares his experience of becoming a published author. During his talks Dan touches on his background, the reasons why he wanted to write, themes and issues in his fiction, his writing style and where he gets his ideas and inspiration from. He illustrates the sessions with extracts from his books and schedules time for the audience to ask questions.

Dan will do a maximum of 4 sessions of up to an hour in length on any particular day. He is able to provide books for sale and is happy to sign and chat at lunchtime if arranged.

If you are interested in booking Dan for an event please contact his agent Penny (penny@luithlenagency.co.uk) for fees and further information.

For more on Dan's fiction see his author page on this site, alternatively go to his website at www.dantunstall.com.

Recent Feedback:

Leicester Libraries
'Dan is calm and confident with young people. He has excellent presence.'