A Selection of William's Books
William Hussey
Type of Artist:
4 exciting workshops and events focused on creative writing and the importance of reading
THE HISTORY OF HORROR: A GOTHIC FICTION MASTERCLASS: Designed for students in Years 8 and above, with a special version for GCSE and A Level students, who are studying elements of Gothic fiction. Complete with thrilling PowerPoint presentation, this educational exploration of the history, major themes and great writers of the genre includes the fun and interactive Dracula vs Van Helsing Quiz. Aimed at assembly- and class-size audiences, it incorporates an introduction to the life of a writer, a dramatic reading and a Q&A session.
THE WITCHFINDER EXPERIENCE: Designed for assembly-size audiences, this immersive event includes a memorable reading from one of William's books and an introduction to the life of a writer. We then move on to a fun and fully interactive recreation of a 17th Century Witch Trial in which students play major roles. Funny and informative, the session provides a great introduction to Civil War history and, in the final moments, draws parallels with the modern issue of bullying and 'othering' people based on their appearance - a subject specifically tackled in William's book BROKEN HEARTS AND ZOMBIE PARTS. The session concludes with a Q&A.
WHAT IF?’ WRITING WORKSHOP: An interactive journey through the writing process. With a few tips of the trade, pupils come up with their own idea for a story which they then develop into a narrative driven by a strong main character. At the end of the PowerPoint presentation and a batch of group exercises, the class will be ready to start writing their own short stories and novels!
AN EVENING OF GHOST STORIES: An idea designed in response to schools asking for an after-school event that might bring parents into the school and engage them more with school life. It gives the school an excuse to get parents in for a fun event then make that the basis for other activities/announcements. Furtherr details of these events can be found at William’s website (see below). Any combination of events can be booked. So schools could have a ‘Witchfinder’ or ‘Gothic’ assembly followed by workshops, then the Ghost Stories event for the early evening.
Details
Preferred age range:10-13 year olds (although I am happy to work with older children, especially in preparation for the creative writing elements of exam and coursework)
No of sessions per day:
4 sessions per day
Session Length:
60 minutes (although I can cut the sessions down to suit different timetables) with time set aside during the visit for book signing. Please note, these sessions cannot be run in under 40 minutes.
Areas prepared to travel to:
I am happy to travel anywhere, but will require travel and accommodation expenses if you are a significant distance from my home in Lincolnshire. I am also happy to travel abroad.
Transport:
Car @ 40p per mile
Fees:
Hold PLI (public liability insurance):
No
Website:
Titles include:
Hideous Beauty
Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide
Witchfinder: Gallows at Twilight
Witchfinder: The Last Nightfall
Haunted (September 2013)
The Nightmare Eater
Jekyll's Mirror
Testimonials:
‘A hush descended on the audience within seconds of William’s opening words, and by the time he began reading a passage from one of his novels, there was not a sound to be heard in the College Chapel. I have never seen so many 11 & 12 year olds quite so engaged before, and the clichéd phrase that ‘they were on the edge of their seats’ could not be more apt. The Witchfinder Event sparked a sequence of intelligent and thoughtful questions from the students, all of which William was able to answer in a way that provided useful insights to the writer’s craft and his own background. We will certainly be booking him again next year; the students are already anticipating the possibility of attending William’s creative writing workshop!’
Nik Waight, St George’s College, Surrey
‘It takes a great deal to hold 200 secondary students spellbound. This William Hussey did last Thursday at Haven High. His reading had many students’ mouths agape! The re-enactment of the Witch Trial was informative and entertaining. A thoroughly enjoyable and engaging afternoon for all, it certainly gave me, as a Drama teacher, useful stimuli for future lessons.’
Terry Patman, Haven High Technology College, Boston
‘I wanted to thank you so much for the event you held at our school. It was much appreciated by the students and me. Year 7 and I are reading the first book and having amazing conversations about it. It is so refreshing to have these types of interactions in the lunch queue and around the school! You have inspired a new generation of authors.’
Lesley Baker, Assistant Head Teacher, Rokeby School
‘The events to coincide with the launch of the second book in the Witchfinder series were well prepared and flawlessly “executed”. It was a pleasure to see such enthused and engaged pupils. William Hussey comes highly recommended!’
John Newman, Newham Bookshop
‘A great mixture of emotive reading and interactive drama for the students to enjoy and they were all left with an enthusiasm for creative writing. It has been a long time since I have seen a visiting author capture the students’ imaginations so thoroughly.’
Anne Coleman, North Kesteven School
‘Our main event during our Annual Reading Week was a visit from ‘Witchfinder’ author William Hussey. The lights were dimmed, adding a mysterious atmosphere, before the Witch Trial began – the audience were gripped! We have never seen Year 7 so quiet! Hands shot up during the question and answer session. We have had endless requests for a return visit from the students, and we are hoping to get William to come back to spend a day doing creative writing workshops with us.’
Vicki Geeson, Librarian, The Priory Ruskin Academy.
Published work:
Photos: