August 03, 2017

How to get an author to visit your school!

I recently had the opportunity to visit two small schools located in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. The staff and students from Wingello Primary, Penrose Primary and Bundanoon Primary Schools were so engaged, interested and appreciative of my visit and I would honestly consider these visits to be high points in my month.  The girls and I even rated a story in the local paper.

When I was growing up in semi rural Sydney, the idea of actually meeting one of my favourite authors was something that I could never have dreamed of – I always imagined they were locked up in quaint little English country cottages, hunched over their typewriters! As it turns out, three of my absolute writing heroes, Johanna Spyri, Anna Sewell and Enid Blyton had all died before I was even born.

It is very much the way of things now, that authors want and, indeed, need to get out to meet the fans and, for me, one of my greatest joys is being able to meet the amazing children who inspire me to write. I regularly hear from fans who wonder how they can organise to meet me or visit their school- so, I thought that I would give you some ideas:

• You could ask your teacher/Librarian to make contact via email or my website https://jacquelineharvey.com.au/teachers/. My touring schedule is organised up to a year in advance but, I will always try my very best to ensure to make school visits a priority (after all, I used to be a teacher). Although I live in Sydney I tour interstate throughout the year and have visited every state and territory in Australia in the past couple of years.
• In November, as part of the Premier’s Reading Challenge in New South Wales, schools will have the opportunity to be part of a special video conference, so that students at multiple schools will have a chance to meet me,  ask questions and hear about Alice-Miranda, Clementine Rose and, of course, the new series, Kensy and Max. I recently participated in BookFest which was another Videoconference initiative of the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge and it was fabulous good fun. I know it’s great to be there in person but this has to be the second best thing!

• You could enter the Premier’s Reading Challenge Words and Art 2017 Competition- guess what- the prize is an author visit from guess who? Or perhaps you might choose one of the two amazingly talented Gus Gordon or Will Kostakis.You can see all the details and enter HERE

And there are always bookshop events as well and launches – so even if I don’t get to your school there are lots of other avenues you can explore. Check my events page for details.

Hope to see you somewhere out there soon.