Author In Your Classroom

Prompting Poetry, with Joseph Coelho

In this very special episode, current Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho talks to Helen about his hopes and ambitions for his time as Laureate - and especially, his flagship project: 'Poetry Prompts', which invites everyone in the nation to become a poet, through weekly videos exploring different aspects of the craft. 
A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/JCoelhopack. 
This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Joseph reading his poem This Bear. 
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 07:48
Section 3 starts at 21.23
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Bringing Mythology Into the Modern World, with Louie Stowell

Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good is a fantastically funny book, written and illustrated by Louie Stowell. In this episode of AIYC, Louie joins Helen to talk about the Norse mythology on which the novel is based, what happens when you poo in a space rocket, how to kickstart your writing when you're just not in the mood – and much more besides! A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/LStowellpack.
This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Louie reading from Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good.
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 14:27
Section 3 starts at 29:25
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Keeping up the Pace, with Jason Rohan

An action-packed adventure with amazing characters and a gripping storyline is tricky to write, but this is precisely what Jason Rohan manages to do with the first book in his new high-octane series - S.T.E.A.L.T.H: Access Denied. And in this thrilling episode of AIYC, he explains exactly how...
A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/JRohanpack.
This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Jason reading from S.T.E.A.L.T.H: Access Denied.
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 16:15
Section 3 starts at 31:47
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Collecting Ideas for Characters, with Lisa Thompson

Coming up with new ideas for characters is one of the most enjoyable - and challenging - tasks facing established authors and young writers alike. In this episode of AIYC, Lisa Thompson talks to Helen about her latest novel, The Graveyard Riddle, which features some familiar faces alongside a new creation or two, and explains how she 'magpies' ideas all the time, in case they might one day end up in a story.
A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/LThompsonpack. This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Lisa reading from The Graveyard Riddle.
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 10.32 
Section 3 starts at 22.49
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Fearless Fairy Tales, with Konnie Huq

It's so important that children are able to see themselves in books - which is why Konnie Huq's Fearless Fairy Tales is an important, as well as a wildly funny and enjoyable, read; and her chat with Helen in this episode is a riot of joyful positivity from start to finish!
A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/KHuqpack.
This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Konnie reading from Fearless Fairy Tales.
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 11.28
Section 3 starts at 24.16
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Combining Worlds, with Justin Somper

Justin Somper drops into AIYC to explain how he got the idea to blend myth and history in his fantastic Vampirates series - and issues a musical challenge to listeners!
A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/JSomperpack.
This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Justin reading from the first Vampirates book: Demons of the Ocean.
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 14:13
Section 3 starts at 28:57
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Create a Supervillain, with Liz Pichon

Liz Pichon - creator of the wildly popular Tom Gates series - puts down her pens for long enough to chat with Helen about her latest book, Shoe Wars... and just how much fun it is to write a real villain! 
A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCLPichonpack.
This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Liz reading an extract from Shoe Wars. Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 10:04
Section 3 starts at 21:52
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Stewing Up a Story, with Maz Evans

Best-selling (although she REALLY doesn't like to talk about it...) author Maz Evans joins Helen for a joyful, inspiring and wonderfully daft discussion about all things writing-related; and why there's no such thing as a child who 'can't write a story'.
A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCMEvanspack. This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Maz reading an extract from Vi Spy.
Section 1 starts at 00:00
Section 2 starts at 12:53
Section 3 starts at 25:25
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A Story From a Story, with Phil Earle

Phil Earle speaks to Helen about the story that inspired him to write his brilliant MG novel When the Sky Falls – and reminds listeners that there’s more than one way to be ‘a reader’...
A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCPEarlepack. 
This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Phil reading an extract from When the Sky Falls Section 1 starts at 00:00 Section 2 starts at 13:16 Section 3 starts at 27:46. 
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Putting Characters in Unfamiliar Places, with Jacqueline Wilson

Undoubtedly a legend in the world of children's writing, Dame Jacqueline Wilson shares some of the secrets of her extraordinary success with listeners - including the importance, sometimes, of NOT doing your research...
A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall elements and more is available to support this episode at bit.ly/AIYCJWilsonpack.
This episode is divided into three sections, which can be listened to in one go, as a sequence spread over several days, or in isolation. If you only have time to listen to one, we recommend section 2, which includes Jacqueline reading an extract from The Primrose Railway Children.
Section 1 starts at 00:00 
Section 2 starts at 19:10 
Section 3 starts at 34:19.
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