Yorkshire Author

Services





Talks, Workshops and Quizzes



I am always delighted to give talks, lead workshops or run quizzes for groups out and about. Outline details of various possible sessions follow, though I am always happy to vary the content to suit the audience. I ask for a £40 fee plus travel expenses and can usually turn out at short notice. A selection of my books can be put on display and made available for purchase, with 10% of takings going to the organisers of the event afterwards.

Charles Dickens Puzzles - Talk
This talk will look at how I approached the task of writing a puzzle book based on the major writings of Charles Dickens. Various questions and challenges will be put up on screen as examples from the book are used to entertain and amuse the audience.

FAKE NEWS: what the Romans span for us - Talk
This talk will look at how various Roman emperors made use of political spin, generally to make other Roman emperors seem more awful than they were themselves (warning - some of this could be a little bit rude).

POETS in PUBS: bards in the bar? - Talk
This talk will consider various well-known Roman poets including Catullus, Horace, Ovid and Virgil. Which of these would you actually enjoy having as your drinking partner - or would you just bar them all? Plenty of serious content here but the talk will be light-hearted in nature.

IMPERIUM LATIN - Talk
This talk will look at any aspect(s) of the Imperium Latin course, its relevance and how to teach it. It will be customised to the requirements of the organisation requesting it.

100 YORKSHIRE STARS - Talk
This talk will investigate how a list of the county’s top personalities was formulated in the process of writing my book Sonnets for Yorkshire Stars.

100 CLASSICAL STARS - Talk
This talk will investigate how a list of some top names in classical history and mythology was formulated in the process of writing my book Sonnets for Classical Stars.

Cryptic Challenges - Talk
This talk will explore the creation of different types of cryptic clues. Examples will be shown from previously published materials and the group will be challenged to suggest some words of their own and make up some clues for them. The talk will be particularly useful for those of a creative and enquiring mind.

A SONNET FOR ALL - Workshop
This practical workshop will focus on how to write a traditional sonnet and will allow a group of people working together to write a shared creation, which will be read aloud at the end of the session. The outcome will always be unpredictable but fun should be had by all.

QUIZZES with a difference
My quizzes follow a similar style to a pub quiz though questions resemble crossword clues, with a final round being a set of anagrams. Content can be customised to suit an occasion and can vary in length, though it is likely to follow a Nostalgia, a Yorkshire or a Classical theme.



Interactive Display design


I have written many software titles over the years and am able to create interactive touchscreen displays for museums and visitor centres on request. Six examples of my recent work are currently to be found in the World of James Herriot in Thirsk. A recent post about this work can be found on the LiveCode website at this link.

My work in this area was recently made a Case Study in Good Practice by the software company LiveCode. A youtube video about this can be found at the link below.






Private Tuition in Latin and Ancient Greek


I offer private tuition in Latin or Greek for motivated students of all ages who are prepared to travel for their lessons to the Malton area or to work via Zoom. I can cater for all ability ranges, from beginners to university level. My charges are £40 per hour, regardless of how many people would be involved in a class.

My preferred method of teaching Latin is to use my own course, Imperium. See link for details: www.imperiumlatin.com



Writing Services


I am able to create custom puzzles or sonnets on request, to suit a particular location or occasion. All I’d need would be a set of information, vocabulary and a theme.



 

Latin on Request


If you've always wanted to have a Latin motto, or you need to have something translated either into or from the language, please get in touch and I will see what I can do.


If any of these ideas appeals to you, please email me to discuss it.