Jane Elson

Type of Artist:

Events:
How To Fly With Broken Wings—Event for ages 8-12
and
Will You Catch Me? - event for 9-12 year olds.

'How to Fly With Broken Wings'
It’s the 75th anniversary of the Battle Of Britain! - A timely interactive event where the audience will be taken from the modern day back to the 1940’s to mark this occasion.

I am from an acting/ improvisation background -these skills are used in my event which starts with a dramatic reading with audience participation.
The audience will then go on to explore unlikely friendships, autism, bullying and gangs.

We find an old 1940’S suitcase belonging to a female spitfire pilot called Rachel from the ATA. The audience will help me unpack the case to discover its secrets.

To end, the audience will all be sworn into The Top Secret Spitfire Club where I will share with them the secrets of writing through a lively Q & A session. I will also share with them my secret that I never thought I could be a writer as I am so dyslexic.
There will also be time for book buying and signing afterwards.

For smaller groups I can also do a writing or drama workshop, details can be given on request.

'Will You Catch Me?' event
Starting with a dramatic reading with audience participation, the audience will meet:
Nell Hobs who arrives at school hungry and tired and is mocked by her class, until the famous Nell Gwyn appears before her. Nell Hobs recognises all the similarities they share, including their love of acting. The audience is taken back in time to when Nell Gwyn was born and Oliver Cromwell ruled the country. We will travel though time to the English Restoration when Charles the Second, the Merry Monarch, was on the throne – and Nell Gwyn became the most celebrated actress in the country – until tragedy took over London – first with the Great Plague, then the Great Fire of London.
Nell Gwyn was an unlikely heroine. Will Nell Hobs take inspiration from her honorary ancestor?

Details

My preferred age range is 8-12 year olds.
I also have experience of talking to student teachers and other groups of adults about my dyslexia and working with children with SEN.

I am an experienced drama and creative writing workshop facilitator,if you wanted sensory creative workshops for older or younger year groups please make enquiries.

Ideally three sessions;an hour's interactive author talk at the start of the day, so the young people get to know me and my work. Followed by a book signing.

A short break then A choice of a drama or creative writing workshop for a smaller group 60 maximum Lunch. In the afternoon an hour's workshop drama or creative writing. These are high-powered, lively workshops lasting an hour.

If you would like to substitute the hour workshops for less intense half-hour workshops, with even smaller groups this can be discussed.

Session length: ideally three workshops of an hour each. If you opt for more shorter half hour workshops. Again this can be discussed.

My event would be 45-60 minutes.
The workshops would be an hour plus time for signing afterwards.

I live in North London but am happy to travel anywhere if overnight and travel expenses are met.

Train – as per ticket price

Please email us for details

Please indicate which author you are interested in

Public Liability Insurance via British Actors Equity & CRB check.

Jane Elson website

Will You Catch Me? Winner of the Wolverhampton Children's Book Award The Alexandra Palace Children's Book Award
A Room Full Of Chocolate
How To Fly With Broken Wings - Winner of the Shrewsbury Book Award 2016 and the Hillingdon Book of the Year Award 2016

Lizzie Pickering Trustee of ChipLitFest:
I so enjoyed hearing Jane Elson speak to children at Charlbury School as part of the Chipping Norton Literary Festival Educational programme. 

I felt she had given those children (particularly those with dyslexia and other challenges) a gift and really saw how she changed their perception in the hour she spent with them. I witnessed the dyslexic children go up to her at the end and they seemed liberated. A teacher told me that one in particular would never normally have been brave enough to ask questions let alone go up and talk to someone in front of the class. As a result of good speakers like Jane, we are now growing the educational side of the Festival. Truly inspirational! 

Clare King, Headteacher:
Jane was our guest of honour at The Moat School for dyslexia’s Founders Day. Dyslexic herself, Jane is a talented author who spoke with intelligence and warmth and most significantly with humour about her first book, ‘’A Room Full of Chocolate’’. She captivated the audience, something of a challenge when you have a church full of pupils with ADHD! We laughed and cried at her experiences growing up with dyslexia; a speech she delivered in a truly self- deprecating manner. My parents reported that Jane was the best guest we had ever had and my only concern was how on earth we would be able to top her the following year. I would highly recommend Jane to you.

Lizz Skelly- Head of Publicity at Bloomsbury :
I worked with Jane for a year as her publicist whilst I was at Hachette Children's Books. Jane's background in acting means she is fantastic at events. 
Her readings are superb and hold the audience captive. Jane also uses drama games to get the audience thinking about how to create stories. Additionally she is more than capable of thinking on her feet and improvising with the children as required which is really helpful for school events!

Jane's personal story of overcoming dyslexia to become an author is something which really resonates with her audience. At each of the events I've attended with her someone (adult or child!) has come up to her at the end and told her how they were inspired by her talk. We have even had students who traditionally struggle with storytelling and writing engage with Jane and her events. 

Jane Elson Amazon site

Jane has won won numerous awards:

SWIMMING TO THE MOON

Shortlisted:

Runner Up Harrow Junior Book Award

Dudley Teen Book Award

HOW TO FLY WITH BROKEN WINGS

Longlisted: Hounslow Junior Book Award 2015

Shortlisted:

Salford Children’s Book Award 2016

Lewisham Children’s Book Award shortlist 2016

Runner up Dudley Teen Book Award 2016

Phoenix Book Award 2016

Nominated for the Carnegie

Won:

Weald Book Award 2017

Hillingdon Secondary Book of the Year 2016

Shrewsbury Book Award 2016

Peters Book of the Year 2016

Calderdale Book Of The Year 2016

A ROOM FULL OF CHOCOLATE

Longlisted:

Branford Boase Award

Nominated for the Carnegie

Shortlisted:

Northants Childrens Book of the Year

Won:

Leeds Book Award 2015

Peters Book of the Year 2015