A Selection of Chris's Books
Chris Vick
Type of Artist:
Workshops
Readings
Talk (with Q and A)
Chris’s books include Shadow Creatures (‘Vital, gripping tale,’ The Telegraph), The Last Whale (‘a beautifully written call to arms’, Guardian.) Girl.Boy.Sea (shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie medal), Kook and Storms.
Chris can deliver the traditional author talking about the journey from idea to final draft. But he prefers to run workshops and talks about writing, which help young people create, write and develop their own stories, regardless of perceived ability. Topic and subject vary but tend to be one, or a combination of, the following:
Using Shadow Creatures, and war as a starting point, looking at character, and how it drives peoples’ actions in difficult times: What would you do, for freedom, for your family?
What is a story?
How to write a story: Building a story – from scratch!
What are the ingredients of your story? Creating ideas Writing – the journey from ‘I can’t,’ to ‘Can I?’ to ‘I can.’
Nature and conservation writing (especially the sea and whales and dolphins).
Details
Preferred age range:Primary: years 5-6 Secondary: years 7-11 6th form: years 12-13 Secondary is my usual age range, as my books are 12+/teen or YA. However, can do older primary, but won’t talk about my books.
Maximum number in any one session:
No limit on numbers for talks. Workshops: 35 max (this number also requires one teacher or TA to be involved).
No of sessions per day:
4 of 1-1.5 hours.
Possibly 1 extra (5 total) if workshops are max 1 hour.
Session Length:
1 hour is the usual length of a workshop.
45 minutes is the usual ‘length of a ‘talk’ plus time for book signing
Areas prepared to travel to:
I am based at the western edge of the south-west of England (nr Bath). This gives me easy access to SW, London, Midlands, Wales.
I can travel anywhere if overnight expenses are met.
Due to other commitments with Whale and Dolphin Conservation I prefer to do school visits Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. However, I can do Mondays or Tuesdays with enough advance warning.
Transport:
Car @45p per mile, but can reduce for negotiated fixed fee if distance is significant.
Fees:
DBS/CRB:
DBS checked and have certificate.
Hold PLI (public liability insurance):
No
Website:
Twitter:
@chrisvickwrites
Titles include:
Shadow Creatures (Zephyr – Bloomsbury)
The Last Whale (Zephyr- Bloomsbury)
Girl. Boy. Sea (Zephyr – Bloomsbury)
Kook (HarperCollins)
Storms (HarperCollins)
Testimonials:
"Chris Vick was a delight to work with. An easy going friendly approach worked so well with both our British and International students. Our English teachers felt Chris offered us the best author visit we’ve ever had! Thank you Chris, we would highly recommend you to other schools.’
"To be able to grip an audience of this age-group takes some level of skill. Chris delivered a seamless talk, and presentation, with confidence and a good stage presence. His subject matter resonated with the audience and he clearly engaged them with what he had to say about the creative process."
"Chris was able to connect with the students really quickly, in a workshop pitched to engage students across a range of abilities. Chris's thoughtful responses to students' ideas and questions ensured that they felt confident to participate. The practical suggestions for getting started with creative writing were useful for teachers as well as students."
"An interactive workshop on the principles of narrative/story writing which has provided a great revision aid for those students about to take their IGCSE in English. Chris comes across as very approachable and friendly and was very attentive to all student contributions made, generating a great rapport with his audience and inspiring confidence in less self -assured or shy students."
Other information:
They tend to be interactive, lively and fun. I can deliver for ‘gifted and able,’ but I have done a fair amount for pupil premium and reluctant writers. I relish the opportunity to work with young people who ‘think’ they can’t write or create stories.