Which author do you want to invite to your school or library?

Finding out who are your local authors, as well as the children's favourite authors, are good places to start.

A good starting point in choosing an author is to find out about your class's favourite authors as well as checking author websites or asking your local booksellers and librarians about authors in your area who may not be so well known.

Local / regional authors are often very willing to visit schools in their area. Independent children's booksellers will often know about local authors and may be able to give tips on organising visits. Your local library and school library service can also provide advice, if you do not have access to a school librarian.

Authors can often be contacted via their website or organisations such as Authors Aloud, Authors Abroad or Speaking of Books.

It would be wise to have a list of several possible authors that you would like to visit your school. Authors are often booked up months in advance and high profile authors might not do school visits at all. Booking well in advance – some six months to one year – will help you get your author of choice.

Authors will have a half day and full day rate, as well as a separate rate for virtual events. If your author is visiting in person, you might also need to consider travel / hotel fees, especially if they are not local to you. If an author is asked to do fewer presentations, their fee may be lower. It is worth checking whether libraries, bookshops or other schools in the area also want to host the author and to share the costs.