NEWS and EVENTS


If you're not brave enough to talk to a stranger how do you think they will become anything more then a stranger? 

Eden Griffith


 

Talk and Workshop image

Talk and Workshop

TALKS AND WORKSHOPS Reading for pleasure changes lives. By developing empathy and the imagination, it offers vital tools for wellbeing and resilience. By developing vocabulary, concentration and knowledge, it improves academic performance. Plus, it's fun! So why wouldn't you? And yet every survey shows that children's reading - and writing - is in decline.   Well, I want to stop that. And if you're reading this page, the chances are you feel the same!   My talks about my books and writing, as well as my creative workshops, celebrate the joy of reading, of creativity and connection.  The format of all events can be adapted to the time available, to the ages of the participants and to the platform, but the emphasis is always on the special magic of the written word and of making stories.   Talks and workshops are suitable for children aged 8 to 12, though I can work with different ages. Please contact me via the contact page on my website, via Authors Aloud or via my publishers (Faber and Zephyr) for further details, including fees. I am also available for panels, judging, festivals and other events.     TESTIMONIALS    "Natasha Farrant was engaging and inspiring. Her talk was well-structured and informative, and the workshops both entertaining and productive. The boys thoroughly enjoyed meeting her and were surprised by how many ideas they were able to dream up in a relatively short amount of time!" Teacher, Cothill House, Abingdon   "We liked Natasha.  We liked how she spoke to us.  She was friendly, but also professional when she commented on our work."  "Best double ever!"  Year 7 students from THE LATYMER SCHOOL, LONDON   "“Natasha was one of the best authors we have had the pleasure of meeting.  She really engaged with the girls and had them enthralled, sharing her experiences of family life and explaining how these influenced her writing.  Her workshop encouraged them to expand their creative writing skills and they found it exciting to share their ideas especially, as one pupil said, ‘with a real author.’  Librarian, OXFORD HIGH JUNIOR SCHOOL   “Natasha's visit was very well prepared.  She related well to the students.  Students enjoyed a Meet the Author and book signing session in the library.  They enjoyed talking to her, and asking her questions about her books.  I was delighted that the boys were also interested in the books, having heard Natasha talk in assembly.  We felt that the visit achieved exactly what we wanted as a celebration of stories and books, plus allowing students to develop confidence in their own writing in the workshops.  I'd highly recommend Natasha for an author visit." Librarian, THE LATYMER SCHOOL, LONDON   “The girls thoroughly enjoyed Natasha’s visit to our school.  They found her presentations engaging and funny; with many commenting on how surprised they were to find that her books were influenced by real life experiences.  The writing workshops that she conducted with our students were a fantastic success.  All girls who were lucky enough to work with Natasha in some way have come away smiling, inspired and confident.” Librarian, ST GEORGE'S ASCOT   “Natasha Farrant’s presentations and workshops were both entertaining and inspiring and ignited a genuine passion for reading and writing amongst the pupils lucky enough to take part in the event.   Students were emotionally engaged throughout the opening talk and then bubbled over with enthusiasm when given the opportunity to express their own creativity during the workshop; they were still buzzing about it days later!” Librarian, ST MARYLEBONE CE SCHOOL   BOOK SALES Book sales are an integral part of an author's visit to your school or festival, giving children a chance to prolong the impact of a visit, with a book specially dedicated to them. It also gives shyer students the opportunity to ask questions more privately. Though I am not set up to sell books myself, you can liaise with your local bookshop or with a specialist bookseller to organise this. They will be very happy to help!  

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News

12/06/2024 For any Italian speakers - I was thrilled with this interview which appeared in La Republica last weekend, to mark the publication of the Italian edition of THE RESCUE OF RAVENWOOD!   6/06/2024 Drum roll please, it's time to reveal... the cover for my new book, THE SECRET OF GOLDEN ISLAND! Check out the marvellous video for the Waterstones special edition if you missed it on the Home page! Out on 1 August 2024, this is the book of my heart and I love it - I hope you do too! Click here to pre-order   5/06/2024 Thrilled to report that I will be appearing at the Appledore Book Festival and at the North Cornwall Book Festival in September, both in the week of the 23rd. I'm also hoping to return to the Isle of Wight that month.    3/06/2024 Great to spend time online with the pupils of the Shakespeare School in Leeds. Excellent questions and some brilliant writing.    15/05/2024 So heartening to take part in the FCBG voting day at the Marlborough Science Academy with pupils from three different schools. Some VERY enthusiastic readers and some great budding writers.    25/01/2024: I can still take bookings for World Book Week if you are based in London. If you're based further afield, I'll be very happy to visit later in the year!   December 2023: Slightly stunned and over the moon that THE RESCUE OF RAVENWOOD has been picked as The Sunday Times' CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR! Thank you, thank you, Sunday Times!   November 2023: So thrilled that THE RESCUE OF RAVENWOOD has been nominated for the Carnegie medal for Writing 2024.   October 2023: The summer and autumn have been a hive of activity, with lots of visits to schools and festivals both in person and online. Particular highlights included school outreach events at the North Cornwall and Isle of Wight festivals, and more recently a visit to Stroud Literary Festival and an online interview with ReadingZone. I'm starting to take bookings for next year, so please do get in touch if you would like a visit!   February 2023: THE RESCUE OF RAVENWOOD is Bookshop.org's first CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE MONTH!    "Natasha Farrant’s tale of a family’s quest to save a pocket of nature is a triumph", says The Times. "A captivating feat of storytelling and one that will make its permanent home in your heart", says The Sunday Times.    THE RESCUE OF RAVENWOOD is Book of the Week in the Times and the Sunday Times, and one of the Sunday Times Best Children's Books of 2023.  

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