NICOLA MORGAN

I do lots of events at schools, libraries, conferences and festivals. I also do in-service training sessions for teachers  -  a fascinating and inspiring way to learn about brains, including the teenage variety.

I now often have to say no, owing to pressure of work and also the sheer number of requests I get. Do ask in plenty of time  -  it’s never too early.

If you would like to watch a very short video before booking me, then please visit the brain section of this site.

NOTE:  because I want the event to be extremely interesting for you and your pupils, please only invite me if you really want me. If you are just trying to use up funding or you have never really heard of me or my books, try someone else! I have done hundreds of events and the best ones are the ones where the organiser really wanted me to come.

My events are either brain events, ordinary author events, or specific conference lectures/speeches. I don’t do writing workshops, though my normal author talks include tips about creative writing. Do discuss your wishes with me and I’ll see what I can do. (But read this page first).

ORDINARY AUTHOR EVENTS

Each talk is approx an hour long (to suit you). I talk to any age group from age 9/10 to the final year of school (and adults). I will talk to any size of audience, but normally not more than two year groups together.

I choose various of my titles to talk about, depending on the age range. Pupils do not need to have read my books but relevant staff must have read some  -  to generate interest and to follow up.

I do not normally do more than two talks in one day.

For costs, see below.

BRAIN EVENTS

Grow Your Brain Day?

One session is two hours, plus a short break in the middle.

I take a group of up to c.50 pupils / staff. You could split a year into two groups, and have two sessions in a day. I give them a real and enjoyable insight into their own brain, including (depending on age):

Everything is based on strong science, as explained in Blame My Brain and Know Your Brain. (Beware of organisations offering weird pseudo-science ...). Pupils come away from a GYB Day knowing something about THE brain and also, more importantly, THEIR brains. I hope they will be inspired to investigate further, and I provide follow-up materials for teachers to with this.

I use a powerpoint presentation and paper-based activities. Pupils need paper, something to lean on and TWO writing implements. I provide handouts with activities, some of which are for follow-up after the event.

All schools booking a GYB session will receive a copy of Know your Brain and Blame My Brain. Copies can usually also be available at a discount, by arrangement with me.

After the session, I provide the powerpoint document for further use  -  this allows you to follow-up within the school (as long as you protect my copyright).  I also provide the much-loved recipe for my delicious Brain Cake!

Each session is fine-tuned to suit the age range: I can take any year group from Year 5 / P6 up to the final year of school.

In-service brain session for staff?

Adapt the above to apply it to a staff in-service event. This can focus on any number of areas, from the truth about learning "styles" to teenage brain science. 

"We should have been doing this all day, instead of what we were doing this morning," said one teacher recently.

Taster event?

If you don’t have the time or resources for a full-scale GYB Day/Halfday, consider a short (one hour) event. However, this can only incorporate EITHER the teenage brain OR selected aspects of the brain in general. It can really only give a flavour, albeit an enjoyable and interesting one. Please note that I can’t travel a long distance just to do a one hour event. (See Costs).

Simple Blame My Brain event

For staff and/or parents and/or teenagers. This is a one hour option which works well as an after school event and is enjoyable for all. No powerpoint or technical stuff required  -  just an interesting, reassuring insight into the teenage brain, with lots of opportunity to ask questions. There’s a real feelgood factor to this event.

COSTS

Different authors have different charges, which are partly based on our experience as speakers and writers and how much time we are able to devote to travelling and talking. I have done literally hundreds of events. My normal author talks are much cheaper than my brain talks, mainly because the latter require a lot of preparation and are exceptionally exhausting.

When considering author speaking fees, remember that as self-employed people we have to pay for our own electricity, heating, business insurance, office costs, stationery, computers, accountancy and other legal charges, and that much of our time is spent doing tasks that don’t earning income (including the time spent organising and negotiating the event). A speaking fee is not an hourly rate. Travelling to do a talk also means time during which we are not at our desks, so we have to take that into account when working out our fees.

My fees

Normal author talk  -  £150 (but see NB below)

One GYB session  -  £325

Taster event  -  £200-250 (but see NB below)

One hour Blame My Brain event  -  £150-200 (see NB below)

Travel and accommodation extra  -  kept to a minimum and agreed in advance

NB -  If I am away from my desk for more than half a day, I have a minimum daily charge of £250-300. (Higher price is for brain events as there is considerable preparation). Consider asking me to do two short events or team up with a nearby school to share travel costs. If I have to stay the night, there is an extra charge of £60 to cover my time spent travelling back. (This does not apply to GYB sessions).

Schools signing up for a GYB half day (or more) receive some free materials, including:

• handouts
• two free books for the school
• discount on books purchased
• follow-up materials  -  activities, suggestions
• a copy of the powerpoint presentations
• brain cake recipe