**Since the launch of my crime series for adults, I no longer teach writing for children or visit schools as a children’s author. These website pages are now an archive of the visits I did when I was writing YA. I want to say a huge thank you to all the schools and festivals that invited me, to all the readers who’ve come up to me and admitted that my books were (and sometimes still are) their secret pleasure, to all the writing students who have shown such dedication. It was wonderful to have met you all. And I’m still more than happy to talk about the books in person if you happen to bump into me. (It happens!) **
‘If you get the chance to hear Sophia Bennett speak, grab it with both hands. You won’t regret it.’
Sophie Weston, Liberta Books
I talk. I chair panels. I love a good book quiz. I Skype. I’m honoured to have been Patron of Reading for the Abbey School, and Patron of the TSF Readers’ Cup. And I’m now proud to announce that starting in 2019 I am Patron of Reading at Weald of Kent Grammar School.
In schools, I talk about my books, my inspirations and what it’s like to be a professional creative person. (Difficult! It takes bucket loads of resilience in the face of rejection. But worth it if you have something to say.)
All my novels are about creative young people overcoming obstacles, and now I’ve written about some real artists who’ve changed the world. Dealing with mental health issues, fear of failure, and pressures of race and gender, these women have used their struggles to make great art. This year I’m talking about some of the inspirational lives I uncovered in my research for The Bigger Picture. From Frida Kahlo to Yayoi Kusama, they all have stories to give hope to boys and girls of the next generation, and make them aspire to change the world too.
I run creative writing workshops for anyone from Year 5 to retirement. Contact me for details.
In Winning Like a Girl, I give a talk to Years 7-11 that includes life hacks for coping with difficult situations while remaining true to yourself. This one is very important to me. There’s nothing like the emotion of seeing 200 girls standing up together in their Wonder Woman pose. (Children’s Author Tells How to Win Like a Girl.)
If you’d like me to visit your school, book club or event, you can contact me direct, or find me on Authors Aloud or Virtual Authors UK. My visit fees are in line with the Society of Authors guidelines, of up to £400 a day plus travel.
I currently teach Writing for Children at City Uni in London. I have also taught courses and masterclasses at City Lit, faaBI (for clients with brain injury), SCBWI and the Golden Egg Academy. (It keeps me quite busy. I should probably spend more time in the shed writing the actual books, but I love it.)
‘I thought the writing workshop was great. I love that we got to meet a real life author. She even shared her personal items with us and showed us how to write a great story. The writing workshop helped me know what being a writer feels like. It also encouraged me to persevere and never give up as I found out how many times some authors got rejected before they were finally published! It was fantastic learning about how to write creatively and Sophia also taught us some writing games which were really fun to play.’
Year 6 student, West London
‘Thank you so much for a fabulous day yesterday. When I asked the children you worked with for a few words to describe it to put in the newsletter they were unanimous ; “awesome,” “inspiring” and “she was so cool”!’
Librarian, East Hertfordshire
‘Thank you SO much for yesterday. There was a real buzz around school when I got back. As staff we all thought your talk was perfectly aimed and the creative writing exercise was a stroke of genius.’
Librarian, Essex
‘Wow! That was an amazing visit, thank you so much. My favourite part of it was when you got us to write our own story and you gave us tips. Thank you so much, you have really inspired me.’
Year 7 student, Kent
‘The students were so engaged and enthusiastic during your workshops and the work that some of the year 7s produced was excellent! Your books have now all been borrowed and all of your postcards have gone too – very popular!’
Librarian, West London
Sophia’s interactive talk “Winning like a Girl” to the Year 10s and Year 11s was lively, engaging and thought-provoking. She used stories from her own varied career, as well as from the lives of pioneering female artists and other role models, to speak to the students about perseverance, resilience, confidence and finding their own voices. Sophia’s presentation was a call to action, encouraging the students to walk their own paths, find their own vision of success and to “take up space”. Her experiences were honest, relatable and inspiring. Sophia welcomed questions from the students, and enjoyed being challenged by them.”
Librarian, Weald of Kent Grammar School
I attended your writing workshop earlier today and I just felt I needed to email you to say thank you so much for coming to talk to us today. You have really inspired me and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to you, it really impacted me and I feel very encouraged to take on more opportunities, aim high and embrace writing even more.
Year 11 student, Weald of Kent Grammar School
If you want to know more, I’m happy to talk you through a typical visit – or a non-typical one – but to make an author visit really swing, check out the wonderful Sarah McIntyre’s ’25 tips for hosting an awesome author visit’. (Warning: unlike Sarah, I do not come dressed as a superhero. I will, however, cut ribbons if requested. And indeed have.)
