SCHOOL VISITS, FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Told by a careers advisor that girls like me don’t become writers, I like nothing more than encouraging others to follow their dreams and defy expectations. My fun, interactive author talks and school visits have inspired thousands of children to smash stereotypes while also encouraging reading and writing for pleasure. My workshops for adults are informed by over twenty years of experience as a learning and development practitioner and have been described as clever, accessible, thought-provoking and engaging.
EVENTS FOR KS2 CHILDREN
I offer fun interactive talks, readings and workshops with an Ancient Roman or BMX twist. Guaranteed to make you laugh out loud while raising aspirations and inspiring reading and writing for pleasure. And you don’t need to be studying the Romans to enjoy them!
ROME PLAY!
With the launch of My Family and Other Romans, I’m now taking young readers back to Ancient Rome. But trust me, with a role playing twist, bizarre and disgusting Roman facts and the opportunity to find your inner brave, my assembly event is not your classic journey into antiquity. Schools also have the option to choose from a number of mythology / Roman-themed creative wrting workshops. Suitable for all KS2 year groups. Download the leaflet for further details.
“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
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
🏆 My Family and Other Romans was voted by teachers the best book of 2023 for curiculum support – Books For Topics. If you’d like to use my book in the classroom, check out the cross curricular teacher pack here. 🏆
BE MORE BMX!
A fun, interactive, stereotype-smashing presentation that can be tailored for different audiences. Expect flying teabags, jaw-dropping BMX video clips and lots of laughs as we explore themes of resilience, empowerment and teamwork. Schools then have the option to choose from a number of fantasy / fairytale-themed workshops. Download the leaflet for further details.
Just when I thought she’d shown us everything, this year Marie took to the MCBF performance space at the Bigger Book Bash and engaged children in stories of Princess BMX, complete with party games, flying tea bags, bouncing eyeballs and unicorn hobby horses. Completely bonkers but a consummate professional, not a bad mix in my book.
Kaye Tew, Director Manchester Children’s Book Festival
VIRTUAL VISITS!
Many of my events can also be delivered virtually. Drop me a line to discuss your needs. I’d love to call into your classroom.
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
KS3 to ADULTS
I have a wealth of experience teaching and inspiring both young people and adults. As an Associate Lecturer at MMU, I taught creative writing students from foundation up to and including MFA level as well as delivering a range of secondary school outreach. In 2017, working under the direction of the Director of Manchester Children’s Book Festival, I set up and managed the university’s Writing and Talking Saturday Club, a creative writing enrichment programme for young writers aged 13-16. I have also delivered a range of secondary school-based creative writing outreach for the Portico Library. Please contact me for further details of my workshop offer.
It was the ideal balance of learning activities and confidence building. The pupils felt that spending the morning with you had been a ‘treat’. It was a welcome change from the usual classroom setting and helped the disadvantaged cohort develop their literacy skills. To the pupils, it felt like special treatment, in the most positive sense.Jane Hesketh, Audenshaw Secondary School
BOOKING and FEES
For bookings please use the contact form or e-mail riewriting@gmail.com. My visits are competitively priced at £175 for one session, £275 for 2 sessions (half day) or £400 for 4 sessions (full day). Travel expenses and accommodation (if required) would be on top. All visits include a free book signing. I frequently offer discounts to schools in the Greater Manchester area or within easy reach of my home in South Manchester.
Typically, a full-day visit would consist of the following:
- KS2 assembly and Q and A (45-60 mins – can be accommodated to also include KS1 children).
- 3 X creative writing workshops with your choice of KS2 year groups (Up to 60 minutes each).
- Book signing.
One hour and half day visits (two sessions plus book signing) must be within easy travel distance of Manchester.
WHY CHOOSE ME FOR YOUR EVENT?
A former lecturer in creative writing at Manchester Met University, outreach tutor for The Portico Library, and writer in residence at Writing on the Wall, I have extensive experience of delivering inspirational events and writing workshops to both children and adults.
To get a feel for my events take a look at the endorsements below or check out this photostream of my #BeMoreBMX assembly at St Oswald’s. I can’t bring a BMXer – St Oswald’s were lucky enough to have their own – but I do promise a unique event that’s empowering and lots of fun!
All author visits and creative writing workshops include follow-up resources and you’ll also be provided with a Princess BMX and My Family and Other Romans teacher guide to support your creative writing and reading for pleasure. My Family and Other Romans is recommended by The School Reading List and Books For Topics as a text to support KS2 Ancient Roman studies.
“It was brilliant and I would highly recommend it to all schools. Marie is fabulous!”
Tami Wylie, Teacher, Holy Cross Primary School, OldhamThis week we had Marie Basting visit our school. She was amazing. Children had a great time working with her. So if you’re studying her book or looking for a great author to work with your children, I’d definitely recommend Marie.
Melanie Hunt, West End Primary, Morecambe“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“The assembly was fun! The workshop inspired me to write, I learned lots of great ideas to use in my writing.”
“I found the assembly exciting. I had never met an author before!”
Year 4 Pupils, Overchurch Junior School, WirralExcellent. The children were incredibly engaged and have not stopped talking about their visit since. One year 4 teacher commented that when the children went back to class, they were so enthused that they all wanted to go back and change their writing plans to incorporate the ideas they had heard from Marie into their own writing.
Teacher Feedback, Northern Children’s Book Festival“Engaging, funny and thought provoking!“
Tammy Angelis, Delegate SCBWI Conference 2022“Marie’s events are funny, engaging and informative, perfectly pitched at primary school children to both entertain and inform. Feedback from teachers and pupils has been enthusiastic and positive, and I’d wholeheartedly recommend her events to inspire creativity, smash down stereotypes and build historical knowledge, all while having fun!“
Wonderland Bookshop, RetfordExcellent communication from the very start. […]The event was exciting, creative and successful in engaging the children, in a new way, to be writers.
Sheila Bates, Friends of Marsden Library / Imbolc FestivalMarie recently visited our school and I would highly recommend! She was brilliant and the feedback from the children and staff was overwhelmingly positive!
Theresa McNally, St Margarets Primary School, Whalley RangeWe were thrilled to be visited today by @riewriting who shared her book, Princess BMX, with us and led marvellous workshops on creating characters which challenge stereotypes. She left us with a clear message to be more BMX -be resilient and believe in ourselves! Thank you Marie!
Christ Church Primary, BirkenheadI enjoyed every minute!!! I was really scared of the creative writing aspect but the tutor was so helpful. The whole afternoon was so refreshing!
Adult Partcipant Manchester Histories Festival Workshop“Awesome! I really enjoyed the references and feel like you made voice more understandable and accessible.“
Colleen Caillin Jones, Delegate SCBWI Conference 2022I’ve worked with Marie in a number of ways over the years I’ve known her. She is always positive and easy to work with and her events are always well organised and lots of fun.
Kaye Tew Director of the Manchester Children’s Book Festival“A clever session on voice which made me really think about what it is and how to apply it fully within a manuscript. The exercises were helpful and enjoyable, and Marie is a natural presenter who put everyone at their ease.”
Sue Wallam, Author or Young Adult ThrillersFabulous school visit by Marie Basting talking about her book Princess BMX as part of Chorlton Book Festival. Year 5 students from Chorlton Park School loved playing games with Aunt Madge’s spare eyeball and pet Tyson the Teabag, plus learning to be more BMX! Sharing her own stories, inspiring everyone, that they can be whatever they aspire to be @riewriting
Ruth Estevez, Chorlton Book Festival
Marie Basting 