Author School Visits

The accompanying images used in the slideshow presentationare are those I created for the book Tom The Mighty Explorer, and I'm sure children will find their next hero once they discover just what Tom did, and where he did it.

My most recent Tom Crean school talk went down a storm with both the children and their teachers. My two daughters, who are both teachers themselves, forewarned me that I'd find it difficult to hold the attention of young ones — but I needn't have worried. They were all in awe of Tom's incredible story throughout the two 50-minute presentations I delivered to two classes. I was left delighted knowing that around 50 children had joined the ranks of Tom Crean fans, and were full of questions after our sessions.

In Person or via Zoom

Although I'm based in Manchester, UK, I'm happy to travel for any Tom Crean primary school visit. And as we now live in a world where platforms like Zoom or Teams, allow for visual interaction wherever you are, I'm equally happy to present virtually — including to time zones that don't match my own.

For school presentations over the internet, I use Zoom or Teams and share my slideshow on screen, with a live video window so the children can see me too. As there's a 40-minute restriction, once our time is up, it's the perfect moment for a drinks break before re-entering the room, where the children can then ask me any questions.

Pricing

I aim to keep things straightforward and fair. Here's how visits are priced:

If you'd like me to visit a school beyond a 10-mile radius of my base, up to 50 miles, additional expenses would cover the return journey's fuel costs, charged at the current HMRC rate. Beyond 50 miles, this would also typically mean the cost of an overnight stay or two, depending on distance. I'm flexible when discussing costs, and my taste in hotels doesn't stretch to luxurious standards — a local Premier Inn, Travelodge, or guest house would be my preference.

I do visit Ireland at least once a year, travelling to Kerry to see relatives. It wouldn't make sense to offer a one-off school visit that required the cost of a return flight or ferry crossing on its own — but if I happen to be there during term time, or if an out-of-term community group or library would like me to visit, I'd apply the same price structure from my base in Castlemaine, County Kerry.

If your school is some distance away, the Zoom option may well be the simplest and most cost-effective choice. I believe the prices above are fair, and my aim is always to offer great value while making the visit a day to remember for every child I share Tom's story with.

After the Visit

After my visit, it's not the end of the story. I'm easily contactable, and if any child or parent wants to ask me a question, I always respond.

With any author school visit I undertake, my intention is to make it fun, interactive, and educational. If you'd like to arrange with a local bookseller to provide books for an in-person visit, I'll be delighted to add my signature and include a personal note for each child.