I'm a Manchester based author available for full day and half-day school visits.
\nI offer an interactive talk about my journey to becoming an author, my inspirations and the themes explored in my writing (this is then followed by a Q&A.)
\nTalks can then be followed by creative writing workshops. I offer workshops on: using your memories and experiences in your fiction, writing about identity, and how to create a compelling story.
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Prices:
\n£350 (plus travel expenses if outside Manchester) for half day visit: includes an author talk and up to two creative writing sessions.
\n£450 (plus travel expenses if outside Manchester) for a full day visit: includes an author talk and up to three workshops
\nI also offer 30 minute virtual Q&A’s for £75
\nTestimonial from school librarian at St Peter's High School Manchester:
\n'Diana’s talk was inspiring and highly informative, especially for those pupils who wish to become a writer in the future or want to know about the process of writing a book. I cannot recommend her enough (Claudia Conerney, Learning Resource Manager at St Peter’s RC High School).'
\nTestimonial from school librarian at William Hulme Grammar
\n'Diana was fantastic, her organisation and communication before the event was thorough and enabled the visit to run smoothly. Diana was amazing. She pitched her well organised and meaningful presentation at the correct level for our students and delivered it faultlessly. It was fantastic to have someone, not only local, as an inspirational speaker but also someone who's life experiences are so relatable to many of our students. Its always great to see our students so engaged. It was an important opportunity for them to find out about the creative process behind being an author and to inspire our young writers.' (Martha O'Brien)
\nFeedback from students at St Bede's Academy, Manchester:
\nWhat did you like about the author talk?
\n'I liked seeing her family, it made it feel a lot more real.'
\n'Learning about her inspiration and her life as an author.'
\n'The process of her becoming an author.'
\n'I really enjoyed how Diana explained the small but significant details that came into her novel.'
\n'She had lot's of visuals for the themes in her novel for example the wildlife for the nature theme.'
\nWhat did you enjoy about the workshops?
\n' I loved them because i was thinking about my family and where i came from and it was the same with the talk I just love that it made me more interested in my own family history.'
\n'The level of the students’ poetry.'
\n'It was a very pleasurable experience, especially with an author.'
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Reviews of my book:
\nA tender and vivid portrait. Suzi Feay, Financial Times, 'Best Books of the Summer, 2023'
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