My experience
I was a Teaching
Assistant at Chiddingly Primary School for over five years, working mainly with years 2 to 6. I enjoy visiting schools to encourage children in their creative writing.
Prior to that I worked at a private Christian school supporting a range of activities from Creative Writing to Maths, Art, Drama and Music.
So far as an author I have:-
- Run workshops for years 4,5, and 6 encouraging them to write with expression, using their senses.
- Given short inspirational speeches about writing my novel.
- Read extracts from my books followed by questions.
- Talked about my background and Art
My background
I am both dyslexic and suffer from dyspraxia so
understand how difficult it is for some children and can share from my own
experience.
Workshops
These encouraging the pupils to write with expression, using their senses from a different perspective to normal.
Author visits
I could visit
during book week, friendship week or when the pupils are writing diary's or journals.
My work could be used
in school in some of the following ways:-
1. The Intrepid Pony
Escapes is primarily about ponies and an injured pony recovering so would fit
in with animal health and caring for a pet. I could give a short talk on that.
2. The secondary thrust of
The Intrepid Pony Escapes deals with bullying, so could be linked to friendship
week. It deals with what is bullying and how a bully can be unaware of effects of their bad behaviour. I was bullied in school so can talk on that theme.
3. I have used my own art
work in my books so I could get involved with art .
4. The Disappearing Pet is
for preschool and reception so could be used to talk about pets with them.
5. Lurching Through London describes a narrow boat journey from a dog’s point of view. It is for
juniors through to adults and could be linked to writing a diary as the book is Lottie’s daily
account.
6. Lurching Through London can also be used to talk about canal holidays, the history of canals or
London’s waterways. I have pictures of our cruises so could give a slide show
linked to the canals.
7. I can give a 5 minute
inspirational speech to older children called ‘if I can write a novel you can
too’ which explains that even though I had learning difficulties and struggled
with exams I later developed a career in writing.
Cost
£15 a session, £30 per half day or £50 a day plus travel expenses
Lynne’s
love affair with horses began when she was a toddler living close to the mighty
Mersey River. Various merchants used horse drawn carts to deliver their goods. Sometimes
the coal merchant would lift her onto his pony and let her ride along the road to his next delivery, while her mother clung to
her leg in case she slipped off.
Lynne’s mother invested in ballet lessons to
develop her grace, but she remained clumsy and uncoordinated. After moving to
the countryside Lynne took up riding. She spent a lot of time falling off but
must have been made of rubber as she always bounced back up.
Lynne dreamed of owning her own pony but made do
with walking a Cocker spaniel. Her mother was a soft touch for waifs and strays
so the dog was accompanied by rabbits, or kittens in need of a home.
When
Lynne was thirteen she helped out at
a riding stable. Each year she went to Pony Club Camp mounted on one of the
stable’s ponies and experienced caring for a pony.
At
sixteen years of age Lynne received a
legacy and bought a pony, though money for the field, food and shoeing was
tight.
Her pony had an independent spirit from spending
the first four years of his life wandering wild in the New Forest, and was curious
about new places and situations. The Intrepid stories are based on Lynne’s
adventures with that fun loving New Forest Pony.
Since her marriage her children have kept
numerous pets, some of which had unusual adventures.
At
the moment Lynne owns a loopy Lurcher,
who enjoys exploring the waterways. Now Lottie Lurcher is the leading character
in Lurching Through London which charts a narrow dog’s adventures on a narrow
boat.
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