Alex Mullarky

I am an author of fantasy books for children and adults. My first middle grade book, The Sky Beneath the Stone, was published by Kelpies in 2022 and my follow-up will be published in summer 2024.

I am available for writing workshops, school visits, presentations and panel events. I have appeared at literary festivals such as Kendal Mountain Book Festival and the International Literature Festival Dublin, and in libraries across Scotland.

A typical school visit or workshop lasts around 60-90 minutes. I usually start with an introduction about the inspiration for my first book and how I became an author. We then go through some exercises in character development, writing rich settings and generating story ideas from a place (whether real or imagined). Interspersed are map-reading and adventure-planning activities. There are short readings throughout and time for questions and answers at the end.

These events can be tailored to focus more specifically on creating fantasy worlds, drafting and editing your work, or retelling folk and fairy tales. I am happy to present in a classroom or outside under the trees and can tailor a visit plan to the needs of your group.

(Photo credit: Mairhi MacLeod)