Recent Events
- At October 10, 2016
- By Niel
- In Events/News, Talks/Events
0
A new term means new school visits. Here’s some pictures from two recent events at King James Academy and Pentland Primary School. Both were great fun, and a chance to meet new readers. Thanks to both schools for arranging a visit.
One of my creative writing workshops at Pentland Primary in full flow.
Talking about how I wrote Sorrowline at Pentland Primary School.
My assembly talk at Pentland Primary School also included lots of examples of my animation work.
At King James Academy open evening. They had me in the library with tea and cakes! Perfection.
Meeting parents and pupils at King James Academy
If you’d like me to visit your school, library, bookshop or literary festival, or for more details about event content, please email
Patron of Reading 2016
- At April 20, 2016
- By Niel
- In Patron of Reading 2016, Schools
- 0
I’m thrilled to let you know I’ve been appointed as the Patron of Reading for North Durham Academy in Stanley, County Durham.
What is a Patron of Reading?
A Patron of Reading (PoR) is a school’s special, designated children’s author with whom the school forms a personal attachment. The patron might be a writer of fiction, a writer of non-fiction, a poet, storyteller or an illustrator. Tenure lasts for a minimum of a year, but the exact length is decided mutually between the school and patron.
I was a Patron of Reading last year for the District CE Primary School in Warrington. The team there came up with some really clever ways of supporting reading, so the bar has been set high for my work with North Durham Academy. This time I’m working with older pupils, from Year 7 to Year 10, and even with some of their Sixth Form English students, so it’s going to be fun to come up with new ways of encouraging their love of books. The good news is that they have an excellent library at NDA, and the staff are eager to support the initiative. The first task is to put a battle plan together before I spend my first day there in the near future. Can’t wait to get started.
Creative Factory workshop
- At June 30, 2015
- By Niel
- In Events/News, Talks/Events
- 0
I often use Story Cubes at schools and workshops to get ideas started. They’re a really useful and fun tool, and they prove that even the most reluctant storyteller can come up with ideas. I recently did a workshop for the Creative Factory in Stockton-on-Tees. Creative Factory is a group of young people who meet weekly to learn about performance and acting from the very talented Ree Collins. Improvisation can be a big part of acting so they took to the Story Cubes like ducks to water. Here’s Luke showing how it’s done:
Thanks to Tee Yo Media for filming the event. You can read their blog post here.
The Amazing Story Steps – Part II
- At April 17, 2015
- By Niel
- In Events/News, Talks/Events
- 0
Regular visitors to my blog might recall my post last year about the Amazing Story Steps at the District CE Primary School in Newton-le-Willows. I’m Patron of Reading there and I’m honoured to be included on their steps. It’s such a simple, clever way to promote reading and I couldn’t wait to see it for myself when I returned there at the end of March.
I always get such a warm reception when I visit the school, and it was especially fun to talk to some of their younger children this time. I tried out a picture book I’m working on called ‘Tonight The Bedbugs Bite!’, and they helped me to draw a bedbug. There was lots of shouting and laughing!
About an hour lafter I saw an entire wall of bedbugs that had been drawn by the children in the assembly – they work fast!
Finally, after a couple of workshops on making book trailers, it was time to visit the Story Steps with some gifted young writers.
Thanks once again to the brilliant staff and pupils at the District CE Primary School! I had an amazing day.
