Booking Krista

Download Krista's "Meet the Author" Flyer.

TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS & LITERARY FESTIVAL ORGANISERS

CAPITALISE ON KRISTA'S EXPERTISE

invite her to

VISIT YOUR SCHOOL OR LIBRARY

to speak to your students about writing

to conduct writing workshops

to be your writer-in-residence

to address teacher in-services

or as a keynote speaker at your literary festival

You can enquire about Krista's availability and speaker's fees
by contacting her agent, Bronwen Bennett at 'Show and Tell Promotions Pty Ltd'
Phone 1300 732 339 - Fax 1300 732 919 - Mob 0418 368 034
E-mail: info@showtell.com.au or bronwen@showtell.com.au
Web Site: www.showtell.com.au
Address: P.O. Box 2202, Kew, Victoria 3101.

To book Krista in South Australia please contact:

Carole Carroll
Booking Agent
2 Second Avenue
Glenelg East 5045 South Australia
Phone: (08) 8376 4662
email: c.carroll@bigpond.com

KRISTA AS A PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER

Former ABC radio book reviewer KRISTA BELL is a self-confessed children's book addict. She plans her family's life around children's books, and plans her children's books around her family's antics. Her best-loved picture book is JEZZA, about a dog who plays AFL football (illustrated by Kym Lardner), which is suitable for all primary levels. Krista's junior novels, for 10-15 year old readers, tackle real life scenarios and take place in familiar Australian settings. READ MY MIND!, GET A LIFE!, NO REGRETS, WHO CARES?, NO STRINGS, WHO DARES?, NO TEARS and THAT'S THE TRICK are published by Lothian Books, SNIFFY THE SNIFFER DOG and  IF THE SHOE FITS are Lothian Books Start-Ups, and FLYING FEET (Aussie Nibbles, Puffin Books).

Krista is a highly entertaining professional speaker who, in her sessions with students, uses her own books to illustrate the process involved in getting stories published. She demonstrates how she turns real life events into riveting written stories, using a technique she calls FIBTION - never letting the truth spoil a good story! Her outgoing style, candid anecdotes and zany humour enable even the youngest students to share the world of a published author in a relaxed setting and improve their own writing skills without even noticing.

Having spent fifteen years reviewing children's books on radio and writing for literary journals, Krista is well versed in what makes a good book for young readers. First published in 1991, Krista now writes full-time and has 21 titles, plus three short stories in collections, to her credit, with several more in various stages of production. She is an experienced professional speaker to groups of teachers and parents, discussing the secret ingredients that adults should look for when choosing books for young people, especially reluctant readers. She is also forthright when it comes to helping students to improve their own writing, and has plenty of tricks to share with interested adults.

The following is typical feedback from schools Krista visits

'Your talk was really inspiring. I absolutely love your books and the way you take little bits of true things and turn them into an idea for your story - as you said 'fibtion'. You are really funny and interesting.' Nikki Yr 7 Adelaide.

'Krista related well to the students. I liked the way she introduced her family through photos and explained how ordinary events can become interesting stories. Krista's sense of humour was very appealing. Invite Krista back again!' Julie, Yr 5 teacher, SA.

'Dear Krista, Thankyou for helping me write my story - it's my best yet.' Charley, Gr3/4, Victoria.

WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE AT PORTLAND NORTH PRIMARY
Krista was invited to work with the students at Portland North Primary for one week in 1997 and then again in 1998. The visit was organised by a teacher/librarian and reading recovery teacher. Here's a brief extract of what Sue reports about Krista's visits to her country school of 200 students.

'Our school has been fortunate to have Krista as writer-in-residence for two consecutive years. On her first visit the students were excited just to have the 'real-live' author of JEZZA with them for a week and to find out that authors are 'ordinary' people. Our goal was to assist raising literacy standards and we felt this was achieved across our school.

Krista's FIBTION workshops inspired some great pieces of writing from the children based on their own experiences. Krista and the children celebrated their writing successes at the end of the week with a writers' launch of their stories, which included storytellings by the children, awards presented by Krista, and a delicious afternoon tea.

What a wonderful success Krista's return visit proved to be! The rapport Krista had established with the children was quickly built on and the children enthusiastically approached the task of writing a piece of FIBTION for publication. Each child saw Krista for two workshops during the week in small half-class groups of no more than fifteen.

These pieces were collected into a book entitled 'Put Yourself in the Picture' (copies of which are available from Portland North Primary School at a cost of $5 each!) The children are extremely proud of this publication and love reading other children's stories as well as their own. Krista's ability to relate so well to the children and to work with them on a one to one was the key to success.'

'Krista Bell is a good author. She inspired me to write a really good story. It was fun writing in her workshops. Krista said to tell about a little bit of your normal life, then tell a big whopper. She calls that FIBTION!' Grade 4 student, Portland North Primary.