Author In Your Classroom

Prompting Poetry, with Joseph Coelho

In this very special episode, current Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho talks to Helen about his hopes and ambitions for his time as Laureate - and especially, his flagship project: 'Poetry Prompts', which invites everyone in the nation to become a p…

Bringing Mythology Into the Modern World, with Louie Stowell

Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good is a fantastically funny book, written and illustrated by Louie Stowell. In this episode of AIYC, Louie joins Helen to talk about the Norse mythology on which the novel is based, what happens when you poo in a sp…

Keeping up the Pace, with Jason Rohan

An action-packed adventure with amazing characters and a gripping storyline is tricky to write, but this is precisely what Jason Rohan manages to do with the first book in his new high-octane series - S.T.E.A.L.T.H: Access Denied. And in this thrilli…

Collecting Ideas for Characters, with Lisa Thompson

Coming up with new ideas for characters is one of the most enjoyable - and challenging - tasks facing established authors and young writers alike. In this episode of AIYC, Lisa Thompson talks to Helen about her latest novel, The Graveyard Riddle, whi…

Fearless Fairy Tales, with Konnie Huq

It's so important that children are able to see themselves in books - which is why Konnie Huq's Fearless Fairy Tales is an important, as well as a wildly funny and enjoyable, read; and her chat with Helen in this episode is a riot of joyful positivit…

Combining Worlds, with Justin Somper

Justin Somper drops into AIYC to explain how he got the idea to blend myth and history in his fantastic Vampirates series - and issues a musical challenge to listeners! A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, working wall element…

Create a Supervillain, with Liz Pichon

Liz Pichon - creator of the wildly popular Tom Gates series - puts down her pens for long enough to chat with Helen about her latest book, Shoe Wars... and just how much fun it is to write a real villain! A resources pack, including teaching notes, p…

Stewing Up a Story, with Maz Evans

Best-selling (although she REALLY doesn't like to talk about it...) author Maz Evans joins Helen for a joyful, inspiring and wonderfully daft discussion about all things writing-related; and why there's no such thing as a child who 'can't write a sto…

A Story From a Story, with Phil Earle

Phil Earle speaks to Helen about the story that inspired him to write his brilliant MG novel When the Sky Falls – and reminds listeners that there’s more than one way to be ‘a reader’... A resources pack, including teaching notes, planning sheets, wo…

Putting Characters in Unfamiliar Places, with Jacqueline Wilson

Undoubtedly a legend in the world of children's writing, Dame Jacqueline Wilson shares some of the secrets of her extraordinary success with listeners - including the importance, sometimes, of NOT doing your research... A resources pack, including te…