{"id":7004,"date":"2018-09-12T12:09:06","date_gmt":"2018-09-12T02:09:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/?p=7004"},"modified":"2020-07-17T15:14:59","modified_gmt":"2020-07-17T05:14:59","slug":"be-prepared-for-anything-the-inside-story-on-author-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/2018\/09\/be-prepared-for-anything-the-inside-story-on-author-talks\/","title":{"rendered":"Be prepared for anything: the inside story on author talks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/The-inside-story-on-author-talks.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-7032\" src=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/The-inside-story-on-author-talks-300x300.png\" alt=\"The inside story on author talks\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/The-inside-story-on-author-talks-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/The-inside-story-on-author-talks-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/The-inside-story-on-author-talks-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/The-inside-story-on-author-talks-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/The-inside-story-on-author-talks-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/The-inside-story-on-author-talks.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>The life of a children&#8217;s author is a funny one. On one hand, we sit alone in our offices, talking to no-one, revelling in isolated splendour. And then term three of the school year rolls around, and suddenly we emerge, blinking, into the light, and into the wonderful chaos that is author talks and Book Week (which now seems to extend for about three months).<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;ve been wondering where I&#8217;ve been, I&#8217;ve been talking. And talking. And talking. To thousands of kids. After a week of Book Week school sessions in Sydney, which looked (in part) like this&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/39685844_2167363416610350_792102474595958784_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7005 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/39685844_2167363416610350_792102474595958784_n.jpg\" alt=\"allison tait speaker in schools | allisontait.com\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/39685844_2167363416610350_792102474595958784_n.jpg 200w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/39685844_2167363416610350_792102474595958784_n-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/39685844_2167363416610350_792102474595958784_n-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/37148429_2159950990684926_5536668699487895552_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-7006\" src=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/37148429_2159950990684926_5536668699487895552_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/37148429_2159950990684926_5536668699487895552_n.jpg 200w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/37148429_2159950990684926_5536668699487895552_n-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/37148429_2159950990684926_5536668699487895552_n-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/39813917_2169618883051470_202865100825034752_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-7007\" src=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/39813917_2169618883051470_202865100825034752_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/39813917_2169618883051470_202865100825034752_n.jpg 200w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/39813917_2169618883051470_202865100825034752_n-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/39813917_2169618883051470_202865100825034752_n-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I rolled into a week that included a school literary festival, which looked like this&#8230;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7011\" style=\"width: 210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40273009_2180027482010610_6250506214136872960_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7011\" class=\"wp-image-7011 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40273009_2180027482010610_6250506214136872960_n.jpg\" alt=\"David Legge, Belinda Murrell, Louise Park and A. L. Tait | allisontait.com\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40273009_2180027482010610_6250506214136872960_n.jpg 200w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40273009_2180027482010610_6250506214136872960_n-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40273009_2180027482010610_6250506214136872960_n-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7011\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">With David Legge, Belinda Murrell and Louise Park.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_7010\" style=\"width: 210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40307380_2179775045369187_2182381172108034048_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7010\" class=\"wp-image-7010 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40307380_2179775045369187_2182381172108034048_n.jpg\" alt=\"A. L. Tait author talk Book Week 2018 | allisontait.com\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40307380_2179775045369187_2182381172108034048_n.jpg 200w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40307380_2179775045369187_2182381172108034048_n-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40307380_2179775045369187_2182381172108034048_n-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7010\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Can you spot me?<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And then straight into the amazing Word Play program at Brisbane Writers&#8217; Festival, which looked like this&#8230;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7012\" style=\"width: 210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40943294_2188640507815974_991314009951043584_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7012\" class=\"wp-image-7012 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40943294_2188640507815974_991314009951043584_n.jpg\" alt=\"A. L. Tait 'Find Your Writing Superpower' Brisbane Writers' Festival 2018 | allisontait.com\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40943294_2188640507815974_991314009951043584_n.jpg 200w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40943294_2188640507815974_991314009951043584_n-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40943294_2188640507815974_991314009951043584_n-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7012\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Full house for &#8216;Find Your Writing Superpower&#8217; presentation.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_7013\" style=\"width: 210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40684337_2189403707739654_5722336729784909824_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7013\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7013\" src=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40684337_2189403707739654_5722336729784909824_n.jpg\" alt=\"Allison Rushby, Megan Daley, Allison Tait @ Brisbane Writers Festival 2018 | allisontait.com\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40684337_2189403707739654_5722336729784909824_n.jpg 200w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40684337_2189403707739654_5722336729784909824_n-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40684337_2189403707739654_5722336729784909824_n-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7013\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">With Allison Rushby and Megan Daley: The Your Kids&#8217; Next Read Team at BWF<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_7014\" style=\"width: 210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40640469_2188640201149338_4428103873357414400_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7014\" class=\"wp-image-7014 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40640469_2188640201149338_4428103873357414400_n.jpg\" alt=\"A. L. Tait Online Literature Festival Brisbane Writers' Festival | allisontait.com\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40640469_2188640201149338_4428103873357414400_n.jpg 200w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40640469_2188640201149338_4428103873357414400_n-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40640469_2188640201149338_4428103873357414400_n-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7014\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">My first webinar presentation as part of the Online Literature Festival at BWF<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_7026\" style=\"width: 210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40756471_2189927767687248_7613281586057838592_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7026\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7026\" src=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40756471_2189927767687248_7613281586057838592_n.jpg\" alt=\"A. L. Tait Brisbane Writers' Festival | allisontait.com\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40756471_2189927767687248_7613281586057838592_n.jpg 200w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40756471_2189927767687248_7613281586057838592_n-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40756471_2189927767687248_7613281586057838592_n-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7026\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The weirdness of seeing your face on a wall&#8230;<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_7027\" style=\"width: 210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40914365_2190875124259179_2333796400132784128_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7027\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7027\" src=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40914365_2190875124259179_2333796400132784128_n.jpg\" alt=\"BWF Top 10 bestseller bookshelf | allisontait.com\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40914365_2190875124259179_2333796400132784128_n.jpg 200w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40914365_2190875124259179_2333796400132784128_n-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/40914365_2190875124259179_2333796400132784128_n-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7027\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The excitement of The Mapmaker Chronicles being in the Festival Top 10 (for a minute)&#8230;<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In the process of all this, I lost my voice, caught up with author friends, met new author friends, and remembered the reason<\/p>\n<p>why we all do this in the first place &#8211; because kids are enthusiastic and creative and incredibly entertaining and it is an absolute honour to write a book that a 10 year old will tell you is &#8216;the best book ever&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p>I also answered questions. Lots and lots of questions. And I am here to tell you that if I had to give an aspiring children&#8217;s author any advice about author talks and presenting to kids it would be this:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Be prepared for anything.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When you get to the Q&amp;A section of your author talk or presentation, and you are looking out at a sea of waving hands, all desperate to find out&#8230; something&#8230; brace yourself.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Questions you are likely to be asked include, but are not limited to:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>How much do you get paid? (Be ready with a short, succinct answer to this)<\/p>\n<p>Where do you get your ideas?<\/p>\n<p>How long does it take you to write a book?<\/p>\n<p>Did you draw the picture on the cover of your book?<\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s your favourite book?<\/p>\n<p>Who was your favourite author as a child?<\/p>\n<p>When did you know you were going to be an author?<\/p>\n<p>When did you write your first book? (I&#8217;ve always wished I could answer &#8216;when I was six&#8217; like some of my author friends, but this is not me&#8230;)<\/p>\n<p><strong>But then there are the <em>other<\/em> questions&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Over the course of three weeks, I was asked everything from &#8216;what colour is your toothbrush?&#8217; to &#8216;does your dog ever get tired of walking?&#8217; and &#8216;do you have any time to spend with your own children?&#8217;. Pulling out a favourite question wasn&#8217;t easy, but in the end, I think this one wins:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/41190769_2192309247449100_1147300857000230912_n.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7024 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/41190769_2192309247449100_1147300857000230912_n.png\" alt=\"Tips for author talks | allisontait.com\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/41190769_2192309247449100_1147300857000230912_n.png 200w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/41190769_2192309247449100_1147300857000230912_n-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/41190769_2192309247449100_1147300857000230912_n-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>To show just how ready you need to be, I asked some of Australia&#8217;s favourite children&#8217;s authors to give me their favourite question from their Book Week presentations this year&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2018Do you sleep with your books under your pillow in case of burglars?\u2019 \u2013 <strong>R.E. Devine, <a href=\"https:\/\/booktopia.sjv.io\/2LykA\">Jack McCool<\/a> series<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Can I have your jacket? \/ How was your weekend? \/ Can you dab? \/ Do you play Fortnite?&#8217; \u2013 <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/booktopia.sjv.io\/YvbDr\">Mick Elliot,<\/a> The Turners series\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Does your mother ever steal your story ideas?&#8217; \u2013 <strong>Allison Rushby, <a href=\"https:\/\/booktopia.sjv.io\/0Ba0O\">The Mulberry Tree<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8216;How do you have blonde hair?&#8217; \u2013 <strong>Jacqueline Harvey, <a href=\"https:\/\/booktopia.sjv.io\/7BkVg\">Kensy and Max<\/a> series<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8216;When you were at school did you use a pen or a quill?\u2019 \u2013 <strong>Catherine Pelosi, <a href=\"https:\/\/booktopia.sjv.io\/DZOVb\">Quark&#8217;s Academy<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2018Can you take your beanie off?\u2019 \u2013 <strong>Matt Stanton, <a href=\"https:\/\/booktopia.sjv.io\/rqLnD\">Funny Kid <\/a>series<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8216;What do you want more than anything else?\u00a0 \u2013 <strong>Zanni Louise, <a href=\"https:\/\/booktopia.sjv.io\/PvR0R\">Errol<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>And now I&#8217;m heading back into my quiet study for a few weeks, before my next appearance at <a href=\"http:\/\/burdekinreadersandwriters.org.au\/\">Burdekin Readers&#8217; and Writers&#8217; Festival<\/a> in October.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s time to get some writing done.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Are you new here? Welcome! You can find out all about me <a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/aboutme\/\">here<\/a>, and all about <a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/books\/\">my books here<\/a>. If you&#8217;re interested in talking to me about presenting at your school or event, <a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/speaking\/\">go here<\/a>. And if you&#8217;re keen to write your own book, you&#8217;ll find a heap of posts about<a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/for-writers\/\"> writing here<\/a>, as well as information about <a href=\"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/for-writers\/\">my courses<\/a>, and you can listen to my podcast <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/au\/podcast\/so-you-want-to-be-writer-valerie-khoo-allison-tait\/id836440322?mt=2\">here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The life of a children&#8217;s author is a funny one. On one hand, we sit alone in our offices, talking to no-one, revelling in isolated splendour. And then term three of the school year rolls around, and suddenly we emerge, blinking, into the light, and into the wonderful chaos that is author talks and Book [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7032,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,705,5,735],"tags":[731,725,721,714,710,719,717,711,733,707,716,720],"class_list":["post-7004","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice-for-writers","category-industry-insider","category-writing","category-writing-for-kids","tag-a-l-tait","tag-a-l-tait-series","tag-australian-author","tag-author-life","tag-author-qa","tag-book-promotion","tag-build-your-author-platform","tag-childrens-author-tips","tag-the-ateban-cipher","tag-the-mapmaker-chronicles","tag-tips-for-writers","tag-your-kids-next-read"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Be prepared for anything: the inside story on author talks - Allison Tait Author<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Australian children&#039;s author A. 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