Author Talks & Workshops
With a previous life as a marine scientist I feel like I came into this creative world relatively ‘late’ and with a wicked amount of imposter syndrome. With that in mind, what you’ll get from me is honesty and vulnerability with a health dose of resilience and optimism!
I love talking all things writing, including self publishing, finding inspiration, how to write interactive books and all the ways I navigate the treacherous waters of social media.
Check out some options for author talks and workshops below.
Have an idea for a workshop or a talk that would fit with your school or library? Shoot me a message and let’s chat!
Author Talk: All the ways I wasn’t a writer and how that helped me become one.
Target Age: 8+
Time: 45 min - 1 hr
Cost: $350
A tongue in cheek look at my life experience thus far and how none of it appeared to relate to being an author, until I realised my books are filled with the people I’ve met, the places I’ve been and everything I’ve ever experienced.
Growing up I wanted to be everything including an Olympic athlete, a veterinarian, an archaeologist, dog groomer, zoologist, fashion designer, sound engineer, cake decorator … you get the idea. Eventually I studied marine science and spent over a decade working in marine management and conservation.
I thought for a long time that all my previous life experience was almost wasted time, until I realised that life experience is the most important thing that a writer has, and that you can change your mind, and your path at any given point.
Author Talk: My writing journey.
Target Age: 8+
Time: 45 min - 1 hr
Cost: $350
A fun presentation on how and when I discovered writing, where I find my inspiration, how writing short stories gave me motivation to finish my first manuscript and why middle grade horror is totally my wheelhouse.
I’ll also chat about why I self published my first spooky series for kids, and how I ended up with a traditional publishing contract for yet another spooky kids book!
Author Workshop: How to Write an Interactive Story (Choose Your Path)
Target Age: 8+
Time: 45 min - 1 hr
Cost: $350
Choose your own adventure - Pick your path - non linear - you choose - so many names for the same thing - an Interactive story!
What are they? Why are they so awesome? And how do you write one?
The first half hour will be a run through of my plot and plan hand outs as I explain how I approach writing an interactive story, including how to avoid time slips, plot holes and too many ‘dead’ ends. Whilst the second half hour will be a hands on workshop as the audience carves out their own interactive story!
Author Workshop: Surviving Social Media for Authors
Target Audience: Adult writers
Time: 45 min - 1 hr
Cost: $350
Did I mention I nabbed my first traditional book contract in the comments section of an Instagram post?
A presentation on how to navigate the some what swampy landscape of social media as an author, and how to even enjoy it.
By figuring out your author brand and your content buckets and putting in place some healthy boundaries, anyone can find their own cosy digital nook filled with a supportive community, an abundance of creativity, and some pretty awesome book recommendations!
Social Media can suck, but it can also be an amazing tool for connectivity, marketing and inspiration!
I promise!