Lucy Coats

For the latest news on my brand-new creative writing masterclasses for adults, starting in March 2019 please see here.

I love going into schools and talking to kids about my work and my passion for books and reading. I also teach occasional writing workshops for adults (see above).

Here are just a few of the nice things schools have said about my recent visits (and a great photo of me and some pirate kids at The New School in Rome).

“I wanted to thank you, Lucy, for exceeding our expectations and giving us a wonderful day.  The feedback today has been extremely positive…” Adam Reilly, The New School, Rome

“I cannot thank you enough for driving all that way to visit us.  The girls and teachers have been coming up to me all day saying how wonderful your presentation was and how nice it was to meet you.  The Greek myths have flown out of the library and many girls were busy doing the various quizzes at lunchtime today.  Your presentation did, indeed, give the teachers lots of material to work with in the terms ahead as they look to cover myths in their review of the Ancient Greeks, Romans and early settlers in Britain.”  Sheri Sticpewich, School Librarian, St Catherine’s Prep, Bramley

“Thanks ever so much for a FABULOUS morning! All day yesterday and today the children have been talking about your presentations, especially the older children. They are reading the Greek myths at home and coming into school in the morning to share their stories.” Kathleen Whalen, School Librarian, Croughton Elementary School, RAF Croughton 

I do a MAXIMUM of three events per day, and my fees, terms and conditions are set out at the bottom of the page. Group sizes are always negotiable, but normally 70 kids is the limit unless indicated. All the events I offer in schools are listed below, as well as equipment requirements.

If you’d like to ask me about a visit, you can do so through the Contact Page, but PLEASE do remember I get booked up well in advance for World Book Day and Children’s Book Week, so don’t leave it till the last minute!

Beastly Olympus (NEW EVENT)

Interactive session including:

• Who’s the hero? Why I made Horrible Heracles the baddie.
• 15/20 minute fast and fun illustrated Powerpoint talk on a variety of scary, smelly (or simply sweet) mythical beasts from Greek myth
• Reading from one of my new Beasts of Olympus series
• How to draw a griffin (interactive – kids will need pencils/paper/clipboards)
• Q and A session

Time: 1 hr  for Y3 – Y6

The Road to Cleo – A Writer’s Journey (NEW EVENT)

A 35-40 min PowerPoint illustrated presentation and talk, including:

• How I started writing
• How I got published
• How I write (including a section on mind-mapping)
• Quick writing tips and tricks (I will also provide a ‘15 Best Writing Tips’ sheet)
• How I came up with the ideas for my historical/paranormal teen novels, Cleo and Chosen
• Fantastic Cleopatra – sultry siren or feminist icon?
• How I tackled the Ancient Egyptian research – and how to make a story exciting
• Fascinating facts about Ancient Egyptian make-up, weapons, travel, food and much more
• Is writer’s block real? How do you tackle getting stuck?
• Growing a character and building credible teenage relationships on the page
• Short reading from Cleo or its sequel, Chosen (coming March 2016)
• 10-15 minute Q and A session

Time: 1 hr  for Yr 7-10

Picture book fun

Interactive sessions for younger children comprising:

A 10 min Powerpoint illustrated reading of:

Captain Beastlie’s Pirate Party

Draw your own Pirate Paraphernalia (Jolly Roger Flag/Hat)

 Learn to Talk like a Pirate- lots of Yo Ho Ho and singing but NO rum!

Time: 30-45 mins for Nursery – Year 1

Group Size: up to 60.

OR

A 10 min PowerPoint illustrated reading of:

Bear’s Best Friend

Draw your own Bear Best Friend (interactive)

Best things to do with Best Bear Friends (very short interactive Q and A)

Time: 30 mins

Group size: up to 60

A journey into Greek myth

45 min PowerPoint illustrated talk:

• How Greek myth touches our everyday lives
• How I discovered Greek Myths
• How I came to write Atticus the Storyteller
• How geography and myths mix plus the magic of maps
• Monsters and Heroes section using art from Renaissance and Pre-Raphaelite painters
• 15 min Q and A

Time: 1 hr for Y2 – 4

Equipment

For all sessions I will need working PowerPoint facilities (screen and technology to plug a USB stick into), a lectern for notes (can be a music stand!), desk or table and chair or stool, please, plus water and a glass. For the Picture Book Fun and Beastly Olympus interactive drawing sessions, every child will need paper and crayons or felt tips, and I will need an A3 flipchart or board with marker pens.

Book sales

Please arrange for a local bookshop to be available to sell my books at the event. I will be delighted to sign copies either during the lunch break or at the beginning/end of the event.

Fee structure, terms and conditions

Nobody likes discussing the nitty gritty bits like money, but it has to be done! Please do read The Society of Authors ‘Author Fees Advice for School and Library Visits’ for guidance and more information on why I and other authors charge what we do for visits.

So here goes: 

• All school visits are charged at £500 per visit plus travel costs and expenses.
• If overnight accommodation plus meals are necessary this will be added to expenses. Visits over 5 1/2 hours travel (round trip) will require an overnight stay.
• NB: Sometimes two or more schools in the same area get together and share the travel and accommodation costs. Please consider this.
• As well as visiting schools, I’m always happy to visit libraries, literature festivals and bookshops and also happy to travel abroad to international schools if enough notice is given.
• Library visits will be charged at a rate based on my standard fees (see above), but taking into account the length of the visit. I am passionate about the importance of libraries, so I do try to keep costs down as much as possible.
• Bookshop visits for promotional purposes around publication are normally free of charge, and include a reading or two and a signing session. Bookshops requiring a day of events and/or a school visit as part of an event should expect to be charged at my full rates.
• Literature Festivals usually offer a reasonable fee as standard, I have found. Please contact me or any of my publishers directly to discuss an event.
• Cancellation Policy: I will charge 25% of my fee for cancellation within three weeks, 50% for cancellation within one week, and 75% for cancellation 48 hrs or less before the visit is scheduled, plus the full amount of any expenses occurred prior to any visit.
• Late payment: interest at the current rate will be charged on all late payments over the statutory 28 days after presentation of my invoice.

My publishers are:

Bloomsbury Children’s Books @KidsBloomsbury

Nosy Crow @NosyCrowBooks

Orchard Books @orchardbooks

Orion Children’s Books @the_orionstar

Piccadilly Press @PiccadillyPress

You can also find their full addresses on the Contact Page.