Kjartan Poskitt's Author Appearances

What Can I Do For You?

You choose what kind of event you want. Everything has plenty of audience participation, I'm glad to answer any questions and (hopefully) we'll have some good laughs. Although my books are generally aimed at intelligent kids aged 10-12, I find that at festivals I'm usually playing to as many mums, dads and grannies as children. I've also done GCSE groups, primary schools and teaching conferences. There's no limit to audience size - in fact, generally the more the better. I've done audiences of well over 1000.

• MURDEROUS MATHS: Tricks and Trivia
  (40-70 minutes as required) I perform a variety of features from my Murderous Maths books including flexagons, magic squares, strange number facts, knots, tricks, codes, amazing number predictions and so on. I tend to adjust the complexity and content of what I do to suit the ability of the audience I'm in front of. Suitable for schools/events that need two sessions to different audiences. These are the sessions I've been doing constantly since 1999, which involve lots of general participation and bringing volunteers on stage. I work from a flip chart using pens on paper, and if a projector and screen are available I have additional features on powerpoint.

  Appearing live on CBBC's "XChange" 12/1/05

• THE MURDEROUS MATHS OF EVERYTHING (60 minutes) new for 2010
  This is my new POWERPOINT show based on the big colour MM book and it introduces:

  * a pile of pennies that goes past the sun, * the chances of guessing the murderer, weapon and room in Cluedo, * a maths problem that made the Gods kill off the ancient Greeks with plague. * the strange numbers that control snails and sunflowers, * how to cut something in half and keep it one piece, * monster stars and the size of space, * how to make your birthday last twice as long * how you can draw a little diagram to make you famous for ever. Topics covered include the Fibonacci Series, powers, massive numbers, triangle numbers, the size of the galaxy, the four colour map theorem, probability and more.

• MATHS SHOW (45 minutes + 45 minutes)
  I can do two different sessions which you could present as a "show" with an interval. I can do the whole thing just using a flip chart, but if a projector and screen are available I'd do a combination of flip chart and powerpoint stuff. Longer shows with an interval are only suitable for selected school audiences (e.g. mathematically Gifted and Talented kids), or family functions such as library openings or festivals. Obviously I'd be delighted to sign books during the interval or afterwards.

• TEACHERS MATHS SESSION (Anything up to 100 minutes as required)
  I do a full selection of everything I know including tricks (and how I do them!), trivia and powerpoint features including Fibonacci to give ideas for classroom activities and lessons. You can find accompanying notes, resources and follow-up ideas here: Murderous Maths Teacher Resources

• THE SPACE TALK (60 minutes)
  

  * What are moons, planets, stars, comets and meteors? * How big is space? * Why does the moon seem to change shape, and when does it turn orange? * What is an eclipse? * What would it be like to visit all the different planets? Lots of questions for the audience to think about, suitable for ages 8-12. (The same audience could see this talk and a maths session in a day.) Although I can do this talk using a flip chart and paper, it's much prettier if a projector and screen are available for the powerpoint version!

  

  This headmistress is about to lose £5

• AUTHOR TALK (20-45 mins depending on how well-prepared the kids are)
  I do an introduction talking generally about how I got started writing books (both fiction and non-fiction), plays, tv scripts (and comics!) and then it works best if I continue by answering questions. Therefore the kids should have suitable questions prepared beforehand!
  I can talk about the unexpected bonuses and pitfalls of the job, and give advice on getting started and a few guidelines on how to write. Please note that like most authors, my academic training had little to do with writing (I was an engineer) so everything I talk about is purely from my own experience. Although I don't put a maximum audience on any of my events, author talks are better suited to more intimate groups (e.g. max 50 kids).
  
• SPEECHES (for Prize Givings or other Functions):
  I'm happy to bring out a few visual tricks including flexagons or predictor cards and do a speech to open your library or start your festival!
• QUIZMASTER/COMPARE I've hosted hundreds of events ranging from quiz nights to variety shows, from prize givings to auctions - so don't be scared to ask!
• TEACHER SEMINARS/CONFERENCES I'm often invited to talk to groups of teachers in which I demonstrate and explain tricks, number squares, finger tables and so on to give ideas for classroom activities and lessons. Duration up to 100 mins. Most of what I cover is summarised here: Teacher Resources
• A MIXTURE! I'm quite happy to do a couple of maths sessions and maybe an informal author library session over lunch, or perhaps a school session then an after-school teacher session, or any other selection that suits you. My only stipultation is that I'm not supposed to push my voice for more than about 3 hours in the day.

BOOKING ENQUIRIES Please go to www.kjartan.co.uk/gigs/enquiries.htm