School visits

Book a workshop or a school visit by David Thorpe!

David has a profile on the new website for school visits Author Hotline where you can read an interview with him. His topics include:

• What is a story?
• Making comics
• Film and tv scriptwriting
• Journalism
• Creative writing
• Poetry
• Themes raised by bis work - e.g. the impact of technology in our lives, and environmental issues.

The top photo shows him meeting some brilliant kids in Lewisham at the annual Childrens Books Quiz. The next one is taken at the 55th annual bookfair at Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Did you know that Welsh schools are eligible for assistance with funding the costs of visiting writers? Check the Academi website.

Examples

• In November 2009 he was workshopping all the above topics in two British Schools in Sao Paolo, Brazil
• Running workshops on 'what is a story?' as part of a film workshop - Animation Tank in a Powys and Gwynedd primary schools.
• Running a comics-making workshop at the Powys Youth Arts Festival at the Royal Welsh Showground on 23 February 2011.
• Workshopping with 140 pupils bussed in to the Civic Hall in Sefton, Merseyside from ten schools in the vicinity. Two buzzing question-and-answer sessions were held in the morning and afternoon. About 100 copies of Hybrids were signed and sold.

Feedback

David was honoured to open a new school library at St Matthew Academy, London, in May 2008. Everybody enjoyed the occasion and the lively discussion that followed on young peoples' attitudes to computers, mobile phones and their technology use, some of the themes of Hybrids.

He wrote afterwards on the SCBWI blog: "At St Matthew Academy, we had a very good discussion with year 7s about technology use. Nearly all said they themselves thought they used technology (PCs, mobiles) too much. This contrasted with just one third of the group (140 kids) I'd asked the same question of in Merseyside. I put this down to the perceived danger of being outside in south London - although their area is quite leafy. They said they didn't know what else to do with their time. When I modestly suggested "read" it was as if this was a strange idea! They agreed to attribute this to the addictive nature of technology use and - as pointed out by one girl who'd recently arrived in the UK - because the technology is so cheap, that everyone owns it and uses it to communicate with everyone else."

This gives a flavour of the type of lively discussions that happen.

David is always positive and enthusiastic, giving attendees a great boost and personal attention.

Fees and expenses can be discussed. Just email David to make an enquiry!