I love visiting schools over the busy World Book Day period but I know not all schools are able to bring in an author to help them celebrate. So, I thought I’d put together this video to wish you a very Happy World Book Day and to tell you a little bit about why books are important to me. Reading is what made me a writer. Where will reading take you?
My Family and Other Romans is Book of the Year
I am delighted to have been voted as a Books for Topics book of the year 2023. After shortlisting their top books, Books for Topics asked the teaching community to vote for their favourites and My Family and Romans came out top for KS2 curriculum support. What a way to end the year!
Here’s what the review panel said about My Family and Romans:
“Teachers have been waiting for a laugh-out-loud and thoroughly lighthearted addition to the bank of books available for the Romans topic, and this year they’ve finally been gifted with the very thing.
Full of Ancient Roman trivia and Latin asides (with a handy glossary to make sense of them at the end of the book), the story of how Silvia discovers her true demigoddess identity won’t fail to hook in enthusiasts of all things Roman. The plot is fast-paced and contains a particular blend of pre-teen contemporary lingo. For children already familiar with and enjoying a topic on Ancient Rome, it’s a fun read, and may well be a hit with reluctant readers.
If you are looking for a quirky, fun (and just a little bit silly!) addition to classroom shelves for a topic on Ancient Rome then look no further!”
If you’d like to use My Family and Other Romans in the classroom then pop over to the resources page where you’ll find a cross-curricula chapter-by-chapter teacher guide along with a range of other fun activities. You might also like to check out my school visits page or book one of the limited number of free virtual visits I am offering in 2024.
Free Virtual Q and A Sessions
**** Click here for details of my in person workshops and school visits!****
I love connecting with readers and working with schools to encourage reading and writing for pleasure which is why I offer free virtual Question and Answer Sessions for schools in the UK and Ireland.
How it Works
Simply book your Q and A using the Doodle Booking Form here.
Once you have booked your timeslot please set up a virtual meeting using your preferred platform and send the link to riewriting@gmail.com at least 24 hours in advance. Please also specify your school name and the classes attending.
Have your class sitting comfortably in front of the screen and be ready to great me at the agreed time. I’ll aim to arrive a few minutes early. Once we are happy with the technology, I’ll start with a brief introduction then open the floor to questions.
The session works best if the children have thought up their questions in advance of the event and the teachers have set in place a system where they can ask their questions.
Terms and Conditions
- Available to schools in the UK and Ireland.
- A maximum of one visit per school in any academic year. There is no limit to the number of children attending
Prefer a Longer Virtual Visit?
Visit my school visits page for more details of longer virtual sessions or in-person visits. All author visits and creative writing workshops include follow-up resources and you’ll also be provided with a Princess BMX or My Family and Other Romans teacher guide to support your creative writing and reading for pleasure. I frequently offer discounts to schools in Greater Manchester, Halton, the Wirral and Liverpool.
Marie, Thank you so much for today’s virtual assembly. We LOVED it! The inspirational advice, breathtaking videos, fun quiz…the list goes on. We are all going to try and #BeMoreBMX
Faye Cooper, Adlingnton Primary
Discounted School Visits
***This offer has now expired. Watch out for further offers in the summer term.***
Great news for schools in the Manchester and Trafford areas. I’m running a special promotion designed to make my author visits more accessible to local schools struggling with budgets. Working with Urmston Bookshop, I’m offering a full-day author visit for just £275 so long as schools can guarantee the sale of at least 30 books. My usual fee is £400 plus travel expenses so this is a considerable discount.
Since the publication of my debut novel, Princess BMX, my school visits and festival events have empowered thousands of children to smash stereotypes, follow their dreams and read and write for pleasure. With the launch of my latest book, My Family and Other Romans, I am now inviting children to join me on an epic adventure back to Ancient Rome where they will discover their inner brave and fire their imaginations and creativity.
“Fun, engaging and interactive talks filled with disgusting facts and little known information about the Romans, as well as inspiring discussion about life as an author and finding your inner warrior. There was such a buzz from the pupils attending!”
Schools Engagement Lead, Waterstones Altricham
Interested? Visit my events page for more information or download the leaflet below. Please note the promotion is for visits taking place before the February half term so please book early to avoid disappointment as availability is limited. A full-day visit would incorporate an assembly, book signing plus three writing workshops.
LARP meets real life in this fast-paced and fun historical time travel romp that children in KS2 will love. It’ll turn your Romans topic on its head!
Schools Reading List
Terms – To qualify for the discount you must be located in the Manchester / Trafford area or within an easy half-hour drive of my home in South Manchester. However, if you are in a deprived area where children might not normally have access to author visits I may be persuaded to travel slightly further and/or discuss the target for book sales. Once a booking has been confirmed, I will put you in touch with Urmston Bookshop to arrange book sales.
Interview With Parrot Street Book Club
This month My Family and Other Romans is the Parrot Street Book Club book of the month. This means the book will be posted out to all Parrot Street Cockatoo members in their subscription box and is also available to purchase on the Parrot Street website along with a specially curated activity pack.
Here’s a link to an interview I did for the Parrot Street Book Club. Tough questions! I mean, would you like to be immortal? Hard one, isn’t it?
Oh, and the book seems to be going down well so far with book club members. Hoorah!
As highlighted by Parrot Street, My Family and Other Romans is perfect for KS2 Roman studies. Why not invite me in to visit your school and learn more about the world of Romana and the disgusting Roman facts I uncovered when researching the book. More details here.
“Fun, engaging and interactive talks filled with disgusting facts and little known information about the Romans, as well as inspiring discussion about life as an author and finding your inner warrior. There was such a buzz from the pupils attending!”
Schools Engagement Lead, Waterstones Altrincham
Here’s a little taster of My Family and Other Romans. Visit the Parrot Street Book Shop to purchase.
Marie Basting - Children's Author, Manchester 