I live in Hertfordshire and love visiting schools. I can offer half day or single session visits. These can be talks and/or workshops or a mixture and in addition I am happy to offer a short assembly talk or lunch with the book club or creative writing club!
I am thrilled that I Have No Secrets has won ten awards, with Girl in the Window winning two and one so far for Things the Eye Can't See!
My books are mysteries/thrillers and the protagonists have disabilities/health issues including cerebral palsy, M.E. and visual impairment. I have experience of M.E. and have also worked with disabled people and I do very thorough research. I've had very positive reactions from people with disabilities who have never seen themselves in books and from people who feel they have new awareness due to reading my books.
I Have No Secrets has been used by a number of schools as a 'Whole School' or 'Whole Year' Read and I am happy to support schools who choose to use my books in this way. More information about this can be found on my website: www.pennyjoelson.co.uk
Please do contact me to discuss your requirements!
As well as school visits I have spoken at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the Jersey Literary Festival, KidsList Cologne and at the SLA Librarian's Conference.
I teach adults who want to write children's books so can also offer workshops and talks for adult groups including teachers and librarians who might like to try their hand at writing for children!
I still have limited availability for the week of World Book Day 2022! I am also open to residencies or longer term involvement with a school.
Thank you so much for a wonderful morning, we thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and listening to your fascinating presentations, and the extracts from your books! Thank you also for raising our awareness of people and characters with communicative disabilities, representation is so important and we really learned a lot from your work!