What We Do

• School, Festival & Library Author Visits
• Workshop
• INSET training
• Keynote Speeches
• Parents Information Evenings
• Theatre Performances
• Festival programmes

The service we offer includes our contacts, our know-how, our wide experience from years of running book events and a delivery service which eliminates the hassle. We guarantee we’ll save you a lot of time as well as taking away all the uncertainty.

We offer:

• Ease of booking – Forget all those author listings which take no account of current availability, involve you in protracted ‘phone-calls, letters or emails… and so often come to nothing. Simply contact us and we’ll do the rest. We’ll get back to you fast with a firm proposal – usually within 48 hours and almost always within a week.

• Access to a wide range of speakers – We can contact pretty nearly anyone from an up-and-coming newcomer to the most distinguished children’s book celebrity. If your preferred visitor isn’t making visits at present or is already fully booked, we can suggest another time… or another visitor.

• Quality Control – We have seen the Authors we recommend in action, so you don’t have to worry if your expert will be up-to-scratch. All the Authors we book are professionals working with mainstream publishers, and we take into account their experience of visiting schools and libraries.

• Advice and Information – Once you’ve made a booking, we’ll work with you on the details of the visit itself. We’ll devise the best possible programme for the day that’s mutually agreeable and provide supporting information about your visitor, along with suggestions for book events generally which can be adapted to your particular circumstances.

• Confirmation of the Visit – Full written confirmation of the arrangements agreed between us will be sent at the time of booking. When the programme has been agreed we’ll send a printed copy of it (together with travel and hotel details) to you and to your visitor.

• Travel Arrangements and Payments – All your visitor’s travel arrangements will be sorted out by us and we’ll handle the payment of fees and expenses, as agreed, by sending you a single invoice after the visit. (The only thing we ever ask you to do is book overnight accommodation if it’s needed – for this local knowledge is vital…)

• Books – After we’ve discussed which titles should be available and how many, these will be sent on a sale-or-return basis, with 10% commission for you on all books sold. Delivery before the event, and collection of any unsold books after it, will be arranged by our national carrier.

How Much Will The Visit Cost?

The service offered by Speaking of Books is included in the cost of the visit. The fees and expenses of your visitor will vary from individual to individual according to who they are, what they’re offering and the amount of travel involved.

Fees start from £400 + travel expenses. VAT is additional to all prices quoted, but many schools can claim this back.