John Townsend

In a previous existence I ran a High School Special Needs department, before throwing in the chalk to become a full-time writer to publish more children’s fiction and non-fiction, including my ‘Painful Histories’ in grossly glorious colour. Many of my books are now published in the USA & Australia – as well as translated into various languages. I write all kinds of bizarre non-fiction with revolting pictures, as well as plays and stories. The Literacy Trust has included me among their Author Reading Champions for promoting literacy among boys in particular.

It’s great to visit schools, libraries and prisons (often not much difference) to encourage interest in books and to get the world reading – as well as writing. Being a speaker at many a writers’ conference, I enjoy trying to fire-up other writers and

I’ve even dabbled in the shady world of LIBRARIAN conferences. You can’t get scarier than that!

Apart from writing for educational journals, many all-singing & dancing school plays, and for professional theatre, I've performed story-telling and writing residencies, including in a primary school tree-house among squirrels and rising damp.

With school visits, I’m flexible to fit in with requirements of each establishment. From small groups in poky cubby-holes to vast crowds in huge auditoria, I’ve done them all. A presentation usually lasts about an hour to fit in with the average lesson time. This covers introducing a range of genres to whet appetites and promote interest in books, stories, reading and libraries. For more extended content, activities and writing workshops (KS2/3), longer sessions are the norm.

My requirements are simply a few tables for display, a glass of water and a splash of enthusiasm.

GENERAL AIMS

• To explore different writing genres. With ongoing concerns about engaging some boys with books and literacy, the message from this presentation is very much that Reading Is Cool. An enjoyment of storytelling can prompt an interest in untried titles and hopefully ‘Switch On the Switched-Off’ as well as entertain more avid readers. We tick the 'speaking and listening' box with gusto!
• To enable pupils to think about what goes into making a book. Where does a writer get ideas and what happens to them? A quick guide - from initial research to the printed book, with a demonstration via role-play of the publishing process.
• To consider the important ingredients of a story. What makes an interesting character? A close-up look at villains using a unique wickedometer. A sneaky glimpse at my interactive ‘Big Book of Baddies’ with quiz ‘How nasty can you get?’

Presentations feature plenty of audience participation, funny stories, poems, props & gizmos, accents & voices, with confessions on ‘what they didn’t let me publish’ - with many opportunities to ask questions.

KS2/KS3 presentations/workshops:    

I Don’t Want to ALARM You But…  with an extra ALARMING finale.

Yucky Yarns to Make You Squirm – on the weird, wacky and wonderful.

No Snoring in The Library (just nightmares). ‘You’ll Never Believe This But…’

The Great Big BOO & HISS Baddie Show (An extravaganza of pure villainy & wicked secrets - with the odd hero thrown in)

You Couldn't Make It Up  (Fact or Fiction? When truth is stranger than fiction. Workshops on storywriting & non-fiction)

KS3/KS4 presentations:  

Townsend’s Sensational Science Stories                (with the yucky bits left in)

Townsend's TOP 10 CRAZIEST SCIENTISTS of all time!

Townsend's Mysteries - THE UNEXPLAINED (with writing workshops)

"On Tuesday John Townsend came in and talked to us about Science and Medicine. It was really good - he did very good accents and has written loads of very good books." Joe S, Rayleigh Essex

REVIEW

US National Science Teachers Association Recommends...Why Science Matters!   

Using Nuclear Energy by John Townsend

The strength of the book is in providing the "So What?" for science instruction. The practical examples are powerful motivators because they explain why students need to know the information.

WHERE I VISIT:

I can get to anywhere within a 100 mile radius of Birmingham for a 9.00am start but further afield will require an overnight stay. I can sometimes manage the South East & East Anglia with limited expenses.

FEES:

Half day: £150      (plus expenses)

Full day:  £270     (plus expenses)

NB some schools club together to share costs and get extra value!

	Strange Creatures (isbn:1599203650) View in Amazon
	DEADLINE (isbn:9781842994610) An adventure story selected by the School Library Association for 'Boys Into Books'. Also available as a READ HEAR CD from Oakhill Publishing. View in Amazon
	FIREBOMB (isbn:9781842995198) Barney's back... with a bang! Also available as a READ HEAR CD from Oakhill Publishing (www.oakhillpublishing.com) View in Amazon
	Mysterious Urban Myths (isbn:9781844432233) In my OUT THERE series, exploring some of the world's weirdest goings-on View in Amazon
	FOOLISH PHYSICS (isbn:978-1410923820) From my series: A Weird History of Science View in Amazon
	INCREDIBLE REPTILES (isbn:9781844433339) From my series on Incredible Creatures View in Amazon
	PILLS, POWDERS & POTIONS (isbn:978-0435010577) A gory look at medication down the ages in full colour! From my series on a Painful History of Medicine. View in Amazon
	ICEFALL (isbn:1842995707) Barney must escape from a killer in the snow… but can he get away this time? View in Amazon
	The BIG BOOK of BADDIES (isbn:1847323014) How to Catch the Most Wanted Villains of All Time! View in Amazon