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Brian Falkner

Author, Online - Virtual Visits

Brian is an award-winning international author and writing coach. He is a highly sought-after speaker in schools around Australia, the US and New Zealand. His infectious enthusiasm, humour and energy make every appearance a popular and memorable one. He is the author of more than thirteen novels for children and young adults, published in fifteen countries in seven languages. His most recent YA novel, Battlesaurus: Rampage at Waterloo has been shortlisted for the 2016 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.

Presentations

Brian’s talks cover everything from tips for budding writers, to inspiration for reluctant readers, to small drops of wisdom on life, the universe and everything in between, in a visual, irreverent and highly entertaining way.

Write Like an Author

Brian’s ‘Write like an Author’ writing course is a series of practical and fun workshops that take students on a journey of story creation. From a single one-hour workshop, to a full week writing camp (and everything in between), ‘Write like an Author’ will motivate young writers while teaching them the techniques that professional authors use to construct well-crafted, imaginative stories. A series of workbooks that complements the course is available through Brian’s website, http://www.brianfalkner.com.

StorySports

StorySports is a bit like TheatreSports but with rapid-fire writing games. Students learn valuable writing skills but won’t even know they are learning, because they are having too much fun! Even the most reluctant writers will be champing at the bit to write in a StorySports tournament.

Book Trailer Workshop
Book trailers are a wonderful way to get students reading, interacting with technology and promoting their favourite books to other students.
In this workshop Brian Falkner, internationally renowned author and book trailer specialist, will show your students the ins and outs of creating an amazing trailer for a book.
Check out some of Brian’s book trailers on his website:
http://www.brianfalkner.co.nz/booktrailers.asp

Screen Writing Workshop
This workshop teaches middle-grade students how to write outlines, beat sheets, storyboards, treatments, loglines and of course screenplays. From creating the story to formatting the screenplay, your students will learn the basics they need to start them on their cinematic journey.

Where were you born?

Auckland, New Zealand.

Which books of yours might we know?

The Flea Thing, The Real Thing, The Super Freak, The Tomorrow Code, Brainjack, and The Project.

What other jobs have you had?

Motorcycle courier, ditch digger, Radio Announcer, Journalist, Web-Developer, and Advertising Copywriter.

What have been the highlights of your career?

My first US contract! Also, winning the Sir Julius Vogel award, and the Children’s Choice Award for Brainjack.

Where have your works been published?

Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Holland, Slovenia, Japan, and South Africa.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

I am known for running very interactive sessions — including games and competitions, such as the Taste Test, and Story Sports (think a cross between story-writing and theatre-sports). Ask the agents at Booked Out to send you a flyer about these.

Testimonials

What a wonderful two days of virtual author visits! Our students loved it so much, and teachers were very appreciative.

Here is feedback from one of our teachers:

“Brian was entertaining, engaging and so well-organised! The little activities he planned were relevant to the unit and super effective. All of the students enjoyed the visit and his clever sense of humour!”

“I thought Brian was great at engaging multiple students and his content appealed to them. My students thought he was great and really appreciated how he interacted with them on a personal level. As a teacher, I found his explanation of the importance of character in a story, really insightful.”

—B. Kristo, St Andrews Lutheran College, April 2020

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