School incursions from k-12
An engaging and comedic speaker, who has appeared extensively at schools, festivals, conferences, TV and radio in the UK, Australia, India, China, the Philippines, Turkey, Malaysia, New Zealand and the USA, Martin’s performances feature large-scale interactive ‘live’ drawing, 'mind-reading' and plenty of audience participation. Wide-ranging and funny, the sessions include sharply targeted insights into different kinds of writing, the intricacies of the publishing industry, the telling of tall tales, story ‘beginnings’, and personalised dissections of what goes into a book, all of which draw and expand on Martin’s thirty year writing and illustrating journey. Martin is skilled at delivering key educational motivation contained within an entertaining external package and is particularly adept at engaging reluctant readers. Martin has appeared in front of audiences of over a thousand but is equally at home in more intimate settings.
Author visits that work
If you're looking for author school visit ideas, would like to engage reluctant readers, or stimulate curriculum activities, Martin's sessions run across all age grades and can be tailored according to what you would like. As a globally successful and experienced children's writer his 'core' school author visits, and drawing workshops, are ideal for grades 3-7. Higher grades benefit from his broader writing skills, as a crime fiction writer, screenwriter and via his work as an academic. At the upper end of the school in grades 10, 11 and 12, Martin shifts the focus to thought-provoking subjects emerging from his PhD: most notably slavery, history, art as witness, themes of memory, and a more in-depth examination of the differing approaches to writing. A recent tour of China saw him perform/present from age 3 (yes, THREE) up to age 18...on the same day!
Booking school incursions with Martin
For bookings in 2021 and beyond in Australia or New Zealand, please contact Nexus Arts who will be happy to book you in ahead for the next time Martin is travelling to your state or region. Phone: (03) 9528 3416.
Freecall: 1800 675 897.
Email: [email protected]
For appearances outside Australia, please contact Authors Abroad via their website or by phone at +44 (0)1535 656 015.
Martin can also be contacted directly at martine[email protected] if you'd like to discuss the best way of organising a visit.
Both Martin, and his wife, Annie (who road manages Martin's appearances), are fully NSW police checked to 2023. Martin has also recently successfully completed the Child Safe eLearning course provided by the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian.
Feedback:
What a wonderful experience we had with Martin and Annie. The walls of the school are now adorned with his wonderful illustrations. The children really took so much from the experience and are now budding authors and illustrators, thanks to Martin’s inspiration. We can’t wait to invite them back already.
HD Wanda School, Qingdao, China
Martin did a fantastic workshop at our school during the two days . Both teachers and students like him so much!
YC International School Gubei, Shanghai, China
The stories were great and the illustrations amazing. A great start to our Book Week!
Danebank School for Girls, WA
Martin's visit to Stonehill during Book Week was an absolute success! Martin was relevant, engaging and inspiring.
Stonehill International School, Bangalore, India
I want to thank you for sending Martin to us. I very very strongly recommend you to send him to as many schools as possible!
Bangalore International School, Bangalore, India
Thanks for a great performance. The feedback from the students was very positive and they were certainly impressed by your drawing skills and wicked sense of humour!
Goodwood Primary, SA
Thank you very for your performance today. The school has been buzzing from it all afternoon!
Fulham North Primary, SA
What a great success. I found Martin personable and he had a great manner with our students. His presentation was engaging and he was able to accommodate some of the ideas I thought our students needed from an author visit.
Barker College Jnr School, Sydney
The children were thrilled by the talk. The feedback has been excellent.
Burwood PS, Sydney
The children loved seeing the process that Martin engages in when illustrating and contributing their ideas. He captured their imagination and encouraged them to experiment with ideas and drawing !
Veresdale State School and Woodhill State School.
His simple way of engaging the boys was a breath of creative fresh air! I am sure his insights and abilities will be remembered and applied as the boys seek their own ways of expressing themselves.
Ipswich Grammar School.
Martin was an absolute delight to host for the day, and thoroughly captivated his audiences by carefully tailoring his sessions to suit the various class groups. His presentation was professional, entertaining, fast moving, and enlightening. His mode of delivery was humorous and cheerful. He had a wonderful manner with the boys, with an easy and laid back style. Many boys engaged in conversation with him after the sessions to discuss his work in detail. He was very generous in giving of his time and enthusiasm to answer their excited questions.
Toowoomba Grammar, QLD.
Author visits that work
If you're looking for author school visit ideas, would like to engage reluctant readers, or stimulate curriculum activities, Martin's sessions run across all age grades and can be tailored according to what you would like. As a globally successful and experienced children's writer his 'core' school author visits, and drawing workshops, are ideal for grades 3-7. Higher grades benefit from his broader writing skills, as a crime fiction writer, screenwriter and via his work as an academic. At the upper end of the school in grades 10, 11 and 12, Martin shifts the focus to thought-provoking subjects emerging from his PhD: most notably slavery, history, art as witness, themes of memory, and a more in-depth examination of the differing approaches to writing. A recent tour of China saw him perform/present from age 3 (yes, THREE) up to age 18...on the same day!
Booking school incursions with Martin
For bookings in 2021 and beyond in Australia or New Zealand, please contact Nexus Arts who will be happy to book you in ahead for the next time Martin is travelling to your state or region. Phone: (03) 9528 3416.
Freecall: 1800 675 897.
Email: [email protected]
For appearances outside Australia, please contact Authors Abroad via their website or by phone at +44 (0)1535 656 015.
Martin can also be contacted directly at martine[email protected] if you'd like to discuss the best way of organising a visit.
Both Martin, and his wife, Annie (who road manages Martin's appearances), are fully NSW police checked to 2023. Martin has also recently successfully completed the Child Safe eLearning course provided by the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian.
Feedback:
What a wonderful experience we had with Martin and Annie. The walls of the school are now adorned with his wonderful illustrations. The children really took so much from the experience and are now budding authors and illustrators, thanks to Martin’s inspiration. We can’t wait to invite them back already.
HD Wanda School, Qingdao, China
Martin did a fantastic workshop at our school during the two days . Both teachers and students like him so much!
YC International School Gubei, Shanghai, China
The stories were great and the illustrations amazing. A great start to our Book Week!
Danebank School for Girls, WA
Martin's visit to Stonehill during Book Week was an absolute success! Martin was relevant, engaging and inspiring.
Stonehill International School, Bangalore, India
I want to thank you for sending Martin to us. I very very strongly recommend you to send him to as many schools as possible!
Bangalore International School, Bangalore, India
Thanks for a great performance. The feedback from the students was very positive and they were certainly impressed by your drawing skills and wicked sense of humour!
Goodwood Primary, SA
Thank you very for your performance today. The school has been buzzing from it all afternoon!
Fulham North Primary, SA
What a great success. I found Martin personable and he had a great manner with our students. His presentation was engaging and he was able to accommodate some of the ideas I thought our students needed from an author visit.
Barker College Jnr School, Sydney
The children were thrilled by the talk. The feedback has been excellent.
Burwood PS, Sydney
The children loved seeing the process that Martin engages in when illustrating and contributing their ideas. He captured their imagination and encouraged them to experiment with ideas and drawing !
Veresdale State School and Woodhill State School.
His simple way of engaging the boys was a breath of creative fresh air! I am sure his insights and abilities will be remembered and applied as the boys seek their own ways of expressing themselves.
Ipswich Grammar School.
Martin was an absolute delight to host for the day, and thoroughly captivated his audiences by carefully tailoring his sessions to suit the various class groups. His presentation was professional, entertaining, fast moving, and enlightening. His mode of delivery was humorous and cheerful. He had a wonderful manner with the boys, with an easy and laid back style. Many boys engaged in conversation with him after the sessions to discuss his work in detail. He was very generous in giving of his time and enthusiasm to answer their excited questions.
Toowoomba Grammar, QLD.
To see how Martin approaches school author visits, watch this short about his recent tour of New Zealand...
Click below to print out the promo poster before Martin's visit.
