Candy Gourlay Visit
About Author
Candy Gourlay is of Filipino heritage, and was a journalist before becoming an author. Her novels Tall Story (her debut) and Shine have won the Crystal Kite Prize for Europe. Tall Story was also nominated for the Carnegie Medal and shortlisted for 13 awards including the Blue Peter Prize, the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and the Branford Boase. Her previous novel Bone Talk published to rave reviews and was shortlisted for the Costa Award and Carnegie Medal.
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Details
Preferred event: Please see my website for Virtual Events info
Number of sessions: Up to two sessions
Size of audience: Any size audience for talks; up to 35 for workshops
Author's home area: London
Regions will visit: Anywhere
Fee: From £350 plus travel/accommodation
Link: https://www.candygourlay.co.uk/talks
Contacts details: [email protected]
Event details
My most popular event is a school visit presentation of the Hero's Journey, the narrative model for many stories. I have also appeared on panels discussing topics as wide ranging as Favourite Reads and Diversity in Publishing. I have been asked to respond to small snippets of pupil writing. I have done storytelling and live drawing for toddlers. I have also participated in school quizzes.
School's preparation
I love it when teachers have created an atmosphere of anticipation by talking about me or reading excerpts from my work before my visit.
Author's preparation
My school presentations for pupils aged 8+ are in the style of an energetic Ted Talk using writing techniques like the Hero's Journey to tell my own personal journey to publication. I use popular movies from Star Wars to Pixar as examples, so expect a lot of audience participation and fun.
For younger readers of my picture book Is It a Mermaid, I combine storytelling, live drawing and a game involving my Magic Fish Bag that gets everyone involved, while at the same time learning story creation techniques without realizing it.
Author's event
Currently curtailed from live appearances by the Pandemic, I am offering 20 to 25 minute videos of presentations about my books. They are available for rent or for purchase on my website. For an additional fee, schools can then invite me to do a live Q&A via the platform of their choice.
Materials available
Parcels of signed books are available to order on my website.
Wild Song
FERDINAND (Magellan)
Is it a Mermaid?
Bone Talk
Tall Story
Shine
