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What’s in a visit?


• I come to your school or library and chat to groups of students, large or small.
• My talks revolve around inspiration; outlining the random places I get my ideas from, with anecdotes and short readings to illustrate.
• My aim is to fire the imaginations of students, pointing out that small things can lead to big themes, whether it’s my full-length novels or their own short stories! 

Who do I talk to?


• AT PRIMARY SCHOOL LEVEL: My various books are suitable for 7+, girls and boys.
• AT SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL: Usually Year 7 (girls only). But if you feel your older girl students would be keen too, then please get in touch.

How does it work?


• Each session lasts an hour, with me talking (and showing-and-telling!) for around three-quarters of an hour, followed by an interactive Q&A session for the last section. 
• In addition, 15-20 minutes need to be scheduled for book signing (and perhaps chatting to any students too shy to ask a question during the session!).
• Schools or libraries either arrange for a local bookshop to come in with a selection of my books to sell, OR my publishers can send a box of books on a sale-or-return basis.
• I’m happy to do one, two or three sessions in a day, with any size group.

Where do I go?


• As I’m based in North London, it’s relatively easy for me to travel to, well, lots of places in the space of a day!
• For anywhere further afield, accommodation might be needed. It can be worthwhile getting together with other schools/libraries in this instance.  

Get in touch!


• Please ping me for more details on karen@karenmccombie.com

And one other thing!


• Sometimes it can work really well splitting the boys and the girls into separate groups. With this in mind, myself and fellow best-selling author Jonny Zucker [www.jonnyzucker.com] can come to your school or library together, with Jonny talking to the boys, while I get chatting with the girls. (This option suitable for Years 3-7.)

 

“Karen's books are very popular at our school – she has a big fan-base amongst our students! The Year 7 girls thought Karen was warm, funny and inspirational. After her talk, the McC shelf of the library was bare, as ALL her books had been borrowed! Thank you, Karen, for coming, and we hope to see you next year at Loreto!”
Ramona Sandbrook, Librarian, Loreto College, St Albans

“The Year 3/4s of Upminster Juniors thoroughly enjoyed your talk and their teachers remarked on your ability to connect with the children. And here at the library we’ve been so inspired by your talk that we’re developing a short story competition - based on your book - as part of our 75th anniversary celebrations.”
Marian Marston, Upminster Library, Essex

“Just e-mailing to say a HUGE thanks for your visit. We were delighted today when one of our reluctant Year 8 readers told us she had read three of your books since then! She is now converted to Karen McCombie novels, and reading her way through the rest!”
Lesley, Librarian, Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School, Brentwood

“Karen provided a fascinating insight into how authors get ideas, which the children found highly entertaining. The children left the talk inspired, amused and with the tools to become budding authors themselves.”
Penny Casey, Librarian, Highgate Junior School

“Karen McCombie brought her world of writing alive to the Year 7 and 8 girls during her author visits as part of the Swindon Youth Festival of Literature. The girls immediately connected with her warm and humorous presentation. Her visit had such an impact that the girls have inundated their school libraries with requests for her books. Success!”
Fiona Hardcastle, Learning Centre Manager and Festival Co-ordinator, Dorcan Technology College

“We had the pleasure of taking Karen to a couple of local primary schools to talk about ‘You, Me and Thing: The Curse of the Jelly Babies’. Apart from being a potty Scot, she really has a way of connecting with her audience.  I would recommend Karen to any school.”
Rob Welton, Events Coordinator, Jarrold's Books, Norwich
 

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2012 (More dates will be confirmed - keep checking in!)

JANUARY
• Friday 29th: Event with NEWHAM BOOKS, East London 

FEBRUARY
• Monday 27th: GUMLEY HOUSE CONVENT SCHOOL, West London

MARCH
• Thursday 1st (World Book Day): CAMPSBOURNE SCHOOL (a.m.) & HIGHGATE WOODS SCHOOL (p.m.), both North London
• Friday 2nd: FULHAM CROSS GIRLS' SCHOOL, West London 
• Thursday 8th: WIRRAL SCHOOLS LIBRARY SERVICES Event
• Friday 16th: GLASGOW AYE WRITE FESTIVAL
• Thursday 22nd: BECCLES MIDDLE SCHOOL, Suffolk

APRIL
• Monday 30th: STRATFORD BOOK FESTIVAL

MAY
• Saturday 12th: SEVEN STORIES, Newcastle
• Friday 18th: FRANCIS HOLLAND SCHOOL, Central London 
• Thursday 24th: OXFORD BOOKFEAST

JUNE
• Sunday 3rd: HAY-ON-WYE FESTIVAL

AUGUST
[Date TBC]: EDINBURGH BOOK FESTIVAL
 

 




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come to your School or Library?
Click here for more info!



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