Stephen Davies

Children's author

Available for:
Interview
Talk
After dinner speaking
Commission


Website: http://www.voiceinthedesert.org.uk

Contact: stevevoiceinthedesert.org.uk

Awards:
Glen Dimplex Children's Book Award 2006 - winner
Professional Travel Writer of the Year 2003 - winner (awarded by the magazine Africa Geographic)

Audiences:
Adults, 5-7 (Key stage 1), 8-11 (Key stage 2), 5-11 (Key stages 1 and 2), 11-13 (Key stage 3), 14-16 (Key stage 4), 11-16 (Key stages 3 and 4)


Details

'Stephen Davies has a real talent for inspiring young children'

 (lovereading4kids.co.uk)

Salam aleykum!

I write adventure stories for children of all ages as well as travel features for magazines and newspapers. All of my writing is set in West Africa. I've lived and worked in Burkina Faso on the edge of the Sahara Desert for almost ten years now, and find that region and its peoples a continual source of inspiration.

I like Africa, I like adventure, and I like writing African adventure stories. The Sophie series has often been called Kiplingesque (which I guess means multicultural and humorous) whereas the teen books are more Rider Haggard or Willard Price flavoured. I like to imagine HACKING TIMBUKTU as a King Solomon's Mines for the twenty-first century! Here's a trailer for it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plo3-iQ9XNM

As for my school talks, I tailor them to the needs and character of each class. In a former life I was a TEFL teacher and I still remember the tricks of the trade - how to effectively engage a class and stimulate ideas. The talks combine some reading, a few travel anecdotes, a dollop of writing theory and lots of visual aids flown in from Africa.

I am equally happy to discuss travel writing. I have published travel features in many newspapers and magazines including the Sunday Times, the Guardian Weekly and Africa Geographic. This talk divulges the ten secrets of good travel writing: how to communicate the essence of a place or journey.

Earlier this year, an educational edition of my book 'The Yellowcake Conspiracy' was published by Pearson Oxford, along with a teachers' pack: lesson plans, resource sheets, video clips, the works. A nice lady called Beth Morrisey reviewed it for School Librarian and said the following:

The Yellowcake Conspiracy is a work of exceptional talent. It has a compelling plot and sophisticated subject matter, yet a structure and vocabulary appropriate for younger readers' comprehension. This novel would make a wonderful basis for class discussions of globalisation, terrorism, nuclear weapons, modern warfare, modern Africa and much, much more. Highly recommended for children aged 11+.   

(School Librarian, April 2008)

Collected reviews of all my books can be found here.

• Fees? 260 GBP for a half day, 350 for a full day  
• Locations? I am happy to travel (it's one of my favourite things to do) but would expect expenses to be paid. I am based in Chichester, West Sussex.
• Book sales? I have a large suitcase and would happily fill it with books for children to buy.

You may be wondering why there is an expiration date on my school visits. The reason is that my wife is expecting her first baby and we want to be in the UK for the birth. However in July 2010 we will be returning to Burkina Faso, so if you'd like me to come to your school, please book early. I will be packing as many visits as possible into the space of one year, and I do hope to hear from you.

 

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	Sophie and the Albino Camel (isbn:1842705512) Camel stolen by bandit, Sophie and Gidaado go to rescue it - this book won the Glen Dimplex Children's Book Award for best debut novel in Great Britain (2006) View in Amazon
	Sophie and the Locust Curse (isbn:184270625X) A classy tale (The Daily Telegraph) - this is the second of Sophie's African adventures View in Amazon
	Sophie and the Pancake Plot (isbn:1842707957) Election-day caper set in Burkina Faso. The Sophie series has been enjoyed by children of all ages from six up. View in Amazon
	The Yellowcake Conspiracy (isbn:1842706748) For ages 10+, this is a fast-paced spy thriller set in the Sahara. A hardback educational edition is also available, published by Pearson Oxford. View in Amazon
	Hacking Timbuktu (isbn:1842708848) Parkour and hacking fest set in London and Mali, this adventure (for ages 10+) is due out in September 2010 View in Amazon

Organisations:
The Society of Authors