I host great events!
I’m fantastic with children and can’t wait to visit bookshops, schools and libraries all around the UK soon. I love getting kids excited about reading, writing and nature! My workshops are high-energy, engaging, and interactive, and I’m especially good with SEN children.
I offer…..
Author Talks
I talk about my childhood, why I love books and how I became an author. I also talk about my research.
Writing Workshops
I very quickly introduce story structure and story elements, and then we develop a fun story together.
Forest Diary
We create our own Forest Diaries and write and draw what we see in nature, just like Lumi! Outside or inside.
Forest Diary Workshop
In my book, Lumi keeps a Forest Diary, in which she draws and writes what she experiences in nature. This is what we will do! I offer two different Forest Diary Workshops:
OUT IN NATURE: I take the class/group of children out into the forest or into a park, where we collect leaves, press flowers and draw and write what we see, hear and experience.
BRING THE FOREST IN: I can bring the forest into a classroom, library or bookshop. I have a huge basket filled with leaves, branches, moss and animal figurines and a speaker with nature sounds. This way, we can safely recreate the Forest Diary exercise inside.
Lumi’s Backpack
An interactive session suited to younger or quieter children or SEN groups. I bring in Lumi’s backpack, which is filled with objects from Lumi and the Wolf. Children are invited to choose items from the bag one by one, and I tell a story about each object. They can pass them around, touch them, and examine them. The backpack includes items from Finland, such as a traditional kuksa cup, the lichen reindeer eat, and pine cones, as well as Lumi’s ear defenders and her emergency tea.
STORIES AND TOPICS INCLUDE:
Lumi getting to know her mum’s culture
Friendship and accepting help
Neurodivergence
Sámi culture and heritage
Climate change and environmentally conscious living
Author Talk
An assembly for large groups, combining my story with an insight into the writing process behind Lumi and the Wolf.
In the first part of the talk, I share my story: growing up between cultures, moving countries, being autistic, and finding comfort and confidence through books. I speak honestly about bullying, feeling different, and how nature and reading became my safe spaces. Which led me to become an author myself! I want to convey the message that every child’s story matters and that our own experiences, challenges and interests can become powerful stories and books.
The second part focuses on my book, Lumi and the Wolf. I talk about the research behind it and the themes at its heart. My presentation includes video clips from my research trip to Lapland, visual material from the writing process, and many opportunities for children to ask questions and take part.
Writing Workshops
In this interactive writing workshop, pupils will explore the ingredients of a strong story and discover how writers use characters, story structure and emotion. Together, we will look at how stories are built, discuss books the children already know and love, and develop ideas as a group before workshopping our own story together.
INCLUDING:
Discussion of books pupils have read and enjoyed
What are protagonists and antagonists (heroes and villains)
How to build a strong story from beginning to end
How to include emotions and empathy
An energetic story-writing activity
Teachers, did you know I filmed my research? My videos are great for classroom use!
I won the speaker prize in the category “Newcomer of the Year” in 2024
– Speakersforum Finland
FAQ’s
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My book is aimed at 8–12 year olds, but I am happy to do school visits for pupils from kindergarten to college.
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Absolutely! I’d be happy to visit schools that are further away or have less budget via video call.
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Absolutely. I also speak about topics such as multicultural childhoods and neurodivergence.
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Yes, I’ve done talks for parents around topics of moving abroad/making a new country your home, how to support your neurodivergent child or how to become an author.
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If you have questions about how to get an agent and break into the publishing industry, or about how to curate your author social media accounts, please get in touch via email!
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Absolutely! My workshops are usually 45 minutes + time for a Q&A, and I can easily fit three different workshops into one day – I’ve even done four!