Upcoming Events
Below is a list of upcoming public events (school visits and similar events will not be listed, but I am available for these: see below!). I will endeavour to keep it up-to-date, but forgive me if it’s occasionally slightly behind…
Book signing at The Little Bookshop, Chapel Allerton, Leeds. 2pm, 14th August 2024. Booking essential; ticket price includes one of my books and a goody bag. All details on the bookshop’s website.
Panel and signing at the Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC), London. 2pm, 17th November 2024. I will be appearing on the ‘Heart Rate Critical’ panel about YA thrillers alongside Ravena Guron and Karen McManus, and then doing a signing afterwards. Full YALC details and schedule on their website.
Contact Me
For professional/business enquiries, my agent is Jessica Hare of The Agency (London) Limited.
For reader mail, academic enquiries, and events, I can also be contacted directly at finn [at] finnlongman [dot] com.
School Visits
I’m available to book for school visits! For schools in or near Cambridge, I can do visits in person, COVID regulations and circumstances permitting; for those further afield, a Zoom visit may be more practical.
I can tailor my talks to the age of the pupils and the size of the group. Some possible topics:
- My writing process and the story behind The Butterfly Assassin, including where I got my ideas from and how they developed over time
- Overcoming perfectionism as a writer/creator, aka “writing bad books is good for you, actually”
- Writing technique like worldbuilding and character development
I’m also very happy to talk about my research and about medieval literature, why I studied medieval Irish at university instead of creative writing or something more obviously connected to writing, what we can learn from premodern literature, etc.
Talks about writing and perfectionism can be suitable for any secondary school students; talks about The Butterfly Assassin specifically may be more suitable for year nine and above, since the book is aimed at older readers (14+). My forthcoming medieval-inspired novels are intended for adults, but I can tailor discussions of my research more generally to different age groups, although I suspect it will be of more interest to older secondary school students, particularly those thinking about applying to university.
For general guidance on rates, I recommend reading the Society of Authors’ page for guidance on rates and fees. I’m open to working with you to set up an event that works with your budget, but I’m rarely in a position to do free events (nor would I want to undercut my fellow authors), except in exceptional circumstances. Rates for local events will be lower than those which involve travel expenses, and Zoom events may be a good alternative for those with a smaller budget.
Libraries, Panels, and other public events
I’m keen to do more events with libraries, book clubs, festivals and, frankly, anyone else who will have me, whether they’re focused on my YA books, my forthcoming adult novels, or my academic research. If your book club wants to talk to me: get in touch! If you’re looking for a panel chair: also get in touch!
The same basic principles regarding topics, locations, and rates apply as above.
Accessibility Needs
Please note that as a disabled author I may have some additional needs to be able to participate in an event. I’m happy to discuss this in more detail when arranging an event, but some basic details are given below:
I currently cannot walk long distances, and currently use either a walking stick or a wheelchair. Depending on travel arrangements, I may or may not be using my chair at an event, so please be ready to provide information about step-free access. If travelling longer distances, I may need to stay overnight to minimise pain/fatigue, rather than making a day trip. I have a medically restricted diet, so if food is involved at all, I may need to make separate arrangements. Because I’m immunocompromised, I’m continuing to wear a mask and take precautions against COVID, and I would be grateful if COVID safety could be taken into account when organising events, whether this is ensuring good ventilation in a space, recommending masks for attendees, etc.