A Selection of Camilla's Books
Videos:
Camilla Chester
Type of Artist:
Schools: Assemblies/Author Talks, Workshops, Readings, Empathy Awareness Talks/Workshops and Activities.
Writing Groups/Organisations: Talks, Creative Writing Workshops, Empathy Awareness
Interactive author talk, either general or with a focus on empathy awareness, including a reading, an activity and ending in Q&A.
Workshops either based around empathy and focussed on Call Me Lion, or more general story building activities.
Details
Preferred age range:KS2 (ages 7-11) for author visits and storytelling.
Any age adults for creative writing / empathy awareness / talks.
Maximum number in any one session:
No maximum for assembly/talk/storytelling. One class maximum for workshop/activity.
No of sessions per day:
Full day: max 4 (3 workshops and 1 talk) Plus signing. Ideally talk, 1 workshop in morning and 2 workshops and signing in afternoon.
Half day: max 2 (1 talk and 1 workshop) Plus signing. Ideally talk then workshop then signing.
Session Length:
Schools:
45-60 minutes for talk.
45 minutes for workshop.
Up to 45 minutes for after school signing
Writing Groups/Organisations:
45-60 minutes for talk.
45 minutes for workshop.
Up to 45 minutes for book signing
Areas prepared to travel to:
Ideally I prefer afternoon, local school visits (within 30 mile radius of Harpenden) but I am prepared to travel anywhere within the UK or even abroad with enough notice and if expenses are met. Priority given to schools that are close due to family and other working commitments.
Transport:
Car @ 45p p/mile
If further than 2 hour drive then train is preferred.
Fees:
DBS/CRB:
Yes
Hold PLI (public liability insurance):
Yes
Website:
Twitter:
@camillacauthor
Titles include:
Call Me Lion
Thirteenth Wish
EATS
Jarred Dreams
Testimonials:
"The children were able to see comparisons with reading skills from the national curriculum and were inspired to apply the author's advice into writing."
"Thank you for making the session interactive and for pitching it well to be inclusive for all children. It allowed them to shine."
Hertford Heath School
"Thank you so much for visiting us at Two Waters, enabling the children of KS2 to meet a ‘real life author’! They were so excited before, during and after your visit and it’s lovely to see so many of them now reading your books and sharing their reactions to your stories. The presentation that you gave to 120 children had them all engaged and hanging onto your every word and they loved hearing about your dog and how he features in your writing! Similarly, your interactive writers’ workshop for Year 5 and 6 included all children and the class teachers will be stealing your postcard idea in the future. Everything was paced just right and it was a real pleasure to meet you and to hear about your journey and the writing process. Thanks again and come back any time!"
Belinda Chassebi, Literacy Co-ordinator,Two Waters Primary School
"A superb and inspiring amount of information on the creative writing process plus great pupil interaction. The children were able to see how their own literacy work in school has some relevance to real life writing. They were also inspired to read!"
Mr Tavender, Y6 Teacher, Cunningham Hill Junior School
"The children were excited about meeting a real life author. The whole drafting process is now very relevant to what the children do in writing lessons. The children who did the workshop really enjoyed the experience and were very proud of their writing. We would definitely recommend Camilla!"
Lorna Stringer, Y5 Teacher, Nethergreen Junior School.
"The children were very engaged. There were lots of questions for them to answer and things for them to think about. Visuals were good too. The children would like to thank Camilla for making it fun and giving them food for thought."
Miss Gray, Y5 Teacher, Cunningham Hill Junior School
"Thank you for a fantastic assembly. The children have been buzzing with ideas."
Sharon Swinscombe, Headteacher, The Lea Primary School.
"What a wonderful treat for our Year 6 children to meet an author who is as passionate about writing as we are. They loved listening to extracts from Camilla’s story and really wanted to hear more; all of the group were inspired by her demonstration of character building and have been keen to share their own character ideas as a result. Camilla was able to engage the children with humour but also made them think seriously about how they use words and how to really capture a character whilst also engaging the reader! We definitely hope to have Camilla back to inspire us further later in the year!!"
Mrs Carter, Y6 Teacher, Crabtree Junior School
"The children were really engaged by your talk and you gave useful tips for them as writers. Thank you for visiting, we really enjoyed it and the children are already hooked into Jarred Dreams!"
Jo Daley, English Header KS2, Shooters Grove Primary School
"It was fantastic for the children to meet an author. To hear from a writer about the process of writing was really valuable and the children loved the game. The small group workshop worked well. The excerpt captured the imagination of the children and they were able to develop their own ideas based around this."
Lorna Feverelle, Class Teacher and Phase Leader, Arbourthorne Community Primary School.
Other information:
Very experienced at school visits and happy to tailor to schools’ individual needs and requests. Children and staff are always left inspired and motivated after a visit.
Have talked and run workshops for SCBWI, Writers & Artists, Local Writing Groups and various festivals.