School Author Visits FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
In this School Author Visits FAQ you will find a guide for schools organising an author visit and how to arrange an author or illustrator visit to schools and libraries.
For Information About RK Alker Author School Visits Including FREE and PAID Services CLICK HERE
How do authors visit schools?
Talk to RK Alker Children’s Author in advance about your school visit in person or online. Prepare:
1. The number of presentations or workshops and if an assembly is required.
2. Age and size of groups.
3. Security & Safety - DBS or CRB is available on request. Please make RK Alker Children’s Writer aware of any school safety policy that might impact sessions.
4. Choose 3 alternative dates.
5. Set an appropriate budget.
6. Speak to the RK Alker Funny Kids Author about book sales. He will be delighted to sign copies of his books.
7. Email or Make The Call to R.K. Alker Children’s Author on (+44) 01772 970190
How do you organise an author visit?
1. Book early, but short notice is possible – please get in touch for RK Alker Children’s Author’s availability.
2. Authors need to be paid – just as you and other service providers are paid for their time. The author visit is the tip of the iceberg in terms of preparation, materials, travel, loss of their other work, tiredness the following day, FREE follow up materials and competition assessment and prize giving.
3. Security and Safety - RK Alker is fully DBS or CRB checked with Professional Liability Insurance.
4. Plan and discuss book sales with the author in advance – it is better to get the book read by the children before the visit. This increases excitement, interaction and Q&A. People often treasure the memory of the author visit and a signed book for their entire life.
5. Plan the event – R.K. Alker is very versatile and can cater for most formats. However, there is a LARGE/small author delivery divide. Some authors prefer large assemblies, others prefer smaller workshops.
6. Media Attendance – the event provides an opportunity for school and author publicity.
7. Photographs – ascertain which children can appear in photographs with the author. Both the school and author can use the images as promotional material in publications such as newsletters and to place on the wall as mementos.
How do I manage Media and Photographs for a school author visit?
1. Media Attendance – the event provides an opportunity for school and author publicity.
2. Photograph Security and Safety – make the author aware of your safety policy. Ascertain which children can appear in photographs with the author. Both the school and author can use the images as promotional material in publications such as newsletters and to place on the wall as mementos.
How do I Generate a Creative Atmosphere and Create Excitement about a School Author Visit?
1. Prepare the children for the author visit – creating excitement increases attention levels. Set tasks based on the author’s book such as photographs, illustrations of characters and book covers. Inform the author of your efforts so they can include them in their presentations and workshops.
2. Generate a Creative Atmosphere and display the children's work – getting that picture on the wall is a fantastic source of creative motivation and achievement for children.
3. Visit the author's website – a good author will have a wealth of information on their website for research. RK Alker has materials you can use in advance or as a follow up to the workshops or sessions.
What details does an author need before attending a school author day?
1. Pre-Event Contact – contact the author at least 2 weeks before the event to finalise details.
2. Provide a sheet of A4 with: School Contact Name and Number, Parking, Arrival Time, Event Schedule, Start Time, Break Times, Lunch Time, Finish Time, Group Sizes and Ages, Book Sales and Signing Arrangements.
How should I manage book orders, pre-ordering and book signing by an author?
1. Contact RK Alker Children’s Author to select the method that best suits your individual school.
2. Pre-order book purchase system – children will forget to bring money on the author day. Children will want a book after a good author visit.
3. Plan the book signing – help the children think about and write down dedications, sometimes to people other than the child. This avoids misspellings and delays as nervous children slowly spell their names.
How do I make sure the technology works for the school author visit?
1. White board and Technology – make sure that the author knows which software you are running and the compatibility with presentations and images.
2. How will the files be sent? If they are larger than just a few megabytes, email may not suffice. Are USB sticks permitted? Will special arrangements have to be made for image-heavy presentations?
3. Can you download the presentation early to check compatibility?
4. Check marker pens work – a quick swipe may not be enough to check the ink. A dud pen is a distraction and delay to a very tight schedule for authors.
What does a visiting author need to know on arrival at my school for the author day?
Think of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for Authors – welcome the author, show them around, help them plan room navigation, toilets, staff room, lunch room and PowerPoint setup.
How should I assist and participate in a school author visit?
1. Participate in the author’s workshop – children imitate teachers and grown-ups, your participation fuels their participation.
2. Remember some authors are not teachers – they learn fast, but you will need to keep an eye on the children and those with special needs to shepherd your flock and control the crowd!
What should I do after a school author visit?
1. Follow up – after the visit, plan for competition entries or challenges.
2. Can you build a project by pursuing a theme in depth?
How do I get an author to come to my school?
1. Consider the event plan
2. The venue
3. The number of presentations
4.Age and size of groups
5. Is an assembly required?
6. Choose 3 alternative dates
7. Set an appropriate budget
8. Email or Make The Call to R.K. Alker Children’s Author on (+44) 01772 970190
How much do authors charge for school visits UK?
RK Alker Author fees are: *FREE Virtual Visit for 20 minutes
*£129 An All-In Full-School Event COST: £129 – Workshop Assembly, Q&A Meet-The-Author, PLUS, a quick visit into the classes, a book signing, FREE book for the school library and those children that cannot get the book, and FREE bookmarks for every child.
*£229 for half a day
*£349 for a full day
*Full details available at https://www.rkalker.com/school-author-visits/
How much do authors charge for virtual school visits UK?
RK Alker Author fees are: *FREE Virtual Visit for 20 minutes
*£129 An All-In Full-School Event COST: £129 – Workshop Assembly, Q&A Meet-The-Author, PLUS, a quick visit into the classes, a book signing, FREE book for the school library and those children that cannot get the book, and FREE bookmarks for every child.
*£229 for half a day
*£349 for a full day
*Full details available at https://www.rkalker.com/school-author-visits/
About R.K. Alker Children’s Author
About R.K. Alker Children’s Author30 years of university lecturing, content writing, media & entertainment as the colourful TV ChilliMan cultivated this hilarious children’s adventure book written for my own kids.
A tragic personal plot twist was the positive writing catalyst that presented the most unusual opportunity to achieve my dream of writing a children’s book.
After saving 6000 lives on the NHS front lines, I was injured helping someone, which ended my career on the 999 emergency ambulances in my 50th year. In recovery from my injuries, I was unable to play with my kids. I engaged my passion to write for them in a whacky adventure where we ran & played together.
Fun fact! Two decades ago, I left university teaching & found fame as a whacky chilli grower & champion of local producers.
As a new voice in children’s fiction, may I share that funny action-adventure book written for my children, with yours?
RK ALKER’S LATEST BOOK – My Grandad vs The Fangazoo
Available in Paperback & Kindle to BUY IT NOW on AMAZON CLICK HERE
A laugh-out-loud, wonderfully entertaining action-adventure for age 7 upwards
A top-secret expedition unfolds for sisters Frankie and Charlie when they find the Fangazoo clue in crazy captain Sam’s rhyme. Can their archaeologist grandad complete one last BIG adventure with the girls and their cousins? Plunged into a hostile kingdom, how long before they face the Fangazoo? And, can they escape?
BUY FANGAZOO NOW on AMAZON CLICK HERE
Amazon Book Reviews
Our children age 5 and 7 absolutely loved this from start to finish. Normally, they get a little disinterested with books of this size, but this one captured their interest all the way through. So funny and the kids were gripped, can’t wait to read more from this writer!
Absolutely Brilliant!
This book was just a fabulous read, such a funny interesting read, fantastic for children, but I loved it as an adult.
Brilliant Read!
Read by a year 6 class as their class reader. Loved by all!
Absolutely Amazing Children’s Book for a Wide Range of AgesBUY MY GRANDAD VS THE FANGAZOO NOW on AMAZON CLICK HERE
RK Alker is an author of funny children’s books from Lancashire, England, United Kingdom, Earth!
My little girls think I am the Best Funny Kids Author in the World.
R.K. Alker is a Famous, Funny, Celebrity Children’s Author, Grower, Cook, Local Food Evangelist and an injured 999 Emergency Ambulanceman. His love for growing chillies made him the country’s highest profile chilli grower, champion of local producers and star of TV, radio and press.
Read RK Alker Funny Kids’ Author’s amazing story CLICK HERE
RK Alker is an author of funny children’s books, a famous chilli grower, cook, local food evangelist and food and drink event specialist from Lancashire, England, United Kingdom, Earth!
Find RK Alker Children’s Author Events, Book Readings, Children’s Bedtime Stories, Kids Storytelling, School Visits, Children’s Book Signings and more on Eventbrite.
My little girls think R.K. Alker is The World’s Best Kids’ Author.
R.K. Alker is also The Chilliman from Little Green Men a master of The Ancient Lancastrian Art of Ecky Thump! and can be found on Instagram, Blogger.com & Yell
