A Selection of Karen's Books
Karen McCombie
Type of Artist:
AuthorKaren can offer talks both in person and virtually. She also runs workshops (in-person school visits only).
‘MEET THE AUTHOR TALK’: High-energy, one-hour talk outlining the random places Karen gets her inspiration from, which can in turn open students’ eyes to their OWN potential when it comes to writing. Karen also touches on her initial struggles with reading as a child, which often strikes a chord with reluctant/struggling readers.
WORKSHOP 1: ‘BECOME YOUR OWN EDITOR’ – simple, easy-to-remember pointers to help children improve/edit their own writing.
WORKSHOP 2: ‘HOW TO WRITE SUSPENSE’ – step-by-step tips to get edge and drama into a scene.
WORKSHOP 3: ‘BRINGING HISTORICAL VOICES TO LIFE’ – based around ‘LITTLE BIRD FLIES’ (Carnegie-nominated, ‘Sunday Times’ Children’s Book of the Week), this workshop will get students thinking about how to make a character from the past sound alive to a present-day reader. (Teaching resources are available for this novel.)
WORKSHOP 4: ‘WW2 EVACUEE’ – based on the research I’ve done for evacuee novel ‘CATCHING FALLING STARS’, this workshop gets students thinking and writing about the impact of the evacuee experience. (Teaching resources are available for this novel.)
Details
Preferred age range:PRIMARY: 8-11
SECONDARY: 11-12
Maximum number in any one session:
AUTHOR TALK: no limit (microphone appreciated in large halls) WORKSHOP: Approx. 30 students.
No of sessions per day:
FULL DAY: up to 4 sessions.
HALF DAY: up to two sessions (London area only)
Session Length:
AUTHOR TALK: 60 minutes for talk, to include Q&A – plus time for signing books afterwards.
WORKSHOPS: 60 minutes for workshop – plus time for signing books afterwards
Areas prepared to travel to:
Anywhere in UK and Ireland, if travel expenses are met (plus overnight accommodation, if needed). Based in London, so many areas are easily reached by train for day-long visits.
Transport:
Train or car @ 40p per mile
Fees:
Website:
Titles include:
‘Little Bird Flies’ and 'Little Bird Lands' (Historical drama set in Victorian Scotland and pioneer-era America. Teaching resources available.)
‘The Girl With Her Head In The Clouds’ (Fictionalised account of the true-life story of Dolly Shepherd, a teenage aeronaut of the Edwardian era. Inclusive read novella.)
‘St Grizzle’s School’ (Humorous series set in an anarchic boarding school, for boys and girls age 7-11)
‘The Pearl in the Attic’ (Dual story, set in present day & Edwardian era.)
‘Catching Falling Stars’ (WW2 evacuee novel. Teaching resources available.)
Testimonials:
From the first Author Talk, it was clear that Karen is full of enthusiasm for getting children reading and is highly engaging. During her sessions at the school, she has run very well received writing workshops, held book-breaks to encourage small groups of children to consider a variety of books to read and offered great support through whole-school assemblies.
She has been a beacon of support for reading for pleasure, and the children are always enthusiastic when she visits, and describe her as 'fun', 'friendly' and 'encouraging'.
Tanya Efthymiou, Librarian, Chestnuts Primary School, London, where Karen is Patron of Reading.
The girls loved Karen’s visit! She was so popular, I had so many positive comments afterwards and the books flew off the shelves! Karen was an engaging and enthusiastic speaker – the girls really warmed to her sense of fun and passion. Would highly recommend.
Eleanor Parker, Librarian, St James Senior Girls’ School, London
“Karen provided a fascinating insight into how authors get ideas, which the children found highly entertaining. The children left the talk inspired, amused and with the tools to become budding authors themselves.”
Penny Casey, Librarian, Highgate Junior School, North London
“Since your visit, it’s been amazing to have the boys and girls stopping me in the corridors to talk about your visit or about the work they've done or the books they're reading, usually independent of adult interference – it really tugs at my heart-strings. A kind of miracle has occurred and you played a major role in making it happen. May you continue to do that forever!”
Karima Davis, Secretary, Friends Of Calverton Primary School, Newham, South London
Published work:
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