Katrina Nannestad

Katrina  Nannestad

 

Katrina Nannestad is children’s author who writes humour, adventure, action, mystery and history.

Katrina’s adult years have been spent teaching in primary schools, raising boys, writing, and sharing her passion for words and stories with both children and adults. Over the last ten years, Katrina has presented author talks and workshops to thousands of school children, chugged around as guest author on Russ the Story Bus, presented at writers’ festivals including Sydney, Newcastle and Bendigo Writers’ Festivals, and led writing workshops for adults.

Katrina’s books include:

We Are Wolves

The Girl, the Dog and the Writer - Series

The Travelling Bookshop - Series

Lottie Perkins  - Series

Olive of Groves - Series

The Girl Who Brought Mischief

Red Dirt Diaries - Series

Bungaloo Creek

Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief

 

 

Katrina Nannestad is an experienced teacher and presenter and has conducted author talks and writing workshops in schools for ten years. She has also presented at festivals, including Sydney, Newcastle and Bendigo Writers’ Festivals.

Note: In addition to those presentations listed below, Katrina is happy to focus a presentation on a particular text or theme.

Author Talks

Primary Students (Grades 3-4 and Grades 5-6)

45 minutes - 1 hour
Having Fun With Stories
A fun, fast-paced, interactive session during which Katrina will share her passion for writing and some easy-to-use techniques that will help students when writing their own stories. There will be dress-ups, readings and giggles involved!

 Infants Students (Grades Prep-2)

45 minutes
Stories, Stories Everywhere
A fun and interactive session focusing on where we can get ideas for our stories. There will be readings, dress-ups, drawing, readings and giggling involved.

 Secondary Students

45 minutes - 1 hour
A World of Words
A fun, fast-paced session during which Katrina will share her journey as an author, her passion for writing and some easy-to-use techniques that will help students develop their own fascinating characters and story ideas.

 Adults

Presentations to librarian, teachers, parents and aspiring authors on topics as requested/negotiated.

Writing Workshops

 Primary (Grades 3-6) and Secondary Students

1 hour
Workshops are suited for a small group, no bigger than a standard class-size, so that students have time to share and receive positive feedback on their work.
Workshop theme and structure can be altered to suit your students’ particular needs or interests. Please make sure to discuss this in advance of the author visit.
Workshop 1 - Developing and Revealing Character
Students will be taken through a number of short activities which will help them create an exciting new character. The strategies used in this workshop will be helpful in both planning and writing a story.
Workshop 2 - Having Fun with Words
Students will complete a number of short, fun activities in which they will learn how easy it is to transform their writing from something ordinary into something that will shine.

 Infants Students (Grades K-2)

45 minutes – 1 hour
Planning a Story – the Important Bits
Students will be taken step-by-step through a process in which they use their own drawings and words to plan and write a story. 

Adults

3 hours
From Seed to Story
Writing a novel really is as fun as it sounds. Sure, there’s hard work involved, but there should also be a sense of joy and freedom. In this practical, pens-on workshop, Katrina will take participants through the simple (yes, really!) strategies she uses to turn the seed of an idea into a full-blown novel, with a particular focus on developing fascinating characters.

Teachers (Primary and Secondary)

2 hours
Ideas for Creative Writing in the Classroom
Teachers will be guided through a series of simple but engaging writing activities that can be used in the classroom. Get ideas for five-minute fillers, full-length lessons and lasting classroom habits. These activities will help nurture a fun environment in which students will feel confident and excited about creative writing.

Materials required for Author Sessions:

Laptop and projector.
Microphone for large group presentations - preferably a headset or clip-on microphone.
Whiteboard, markers and eraser.
Small table for props. 

FullSizeRender Russ
   

 

Testimonials

  • The girls learnt so much about writing, and they were inspired to read - a number of girls have already asked to read We Are Wolves - which is exactly what we hoped to achieve. The opportunities you built into the presentation for the students to engage with each other, and you, ensured they were engaged…. It has been lovely to meet you, and I hope we have a chance to work with you again in the future.

    Santa Sabina College - March 2020

    Santa Sabina College - March 2020
  • Thank you so much for your enthralling visit. The children and teachers loved every minute of your presentation. I have had so many at little times tell me how good it was…
    Looking forward already to your next visit.


    St Laurence's, Forbes - August 2018

    St Laurence's, Forbes - August 2018
  • Mim and the Baffling Bully

    Mim and the Baffling Bully

  • Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief

    Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief

  • We Are Wolves

    We Are Wolves

  • Bungaloo Creek

    Bungaloo Creek

  • Olive of Groves

    Olive of Groves

  • Lottie Perkins - The Ultimate Collection

    Lottie Perkins - The Ultimate Collection

  • The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Lucerne

    The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Lucerne

  • The Girl, the Dog, the Writer in Provence

    The Girl, the Dog, the Writer in Provence

  • Lottie Perkins - Fashion Designer

    Lottie Perkins - Fashion Designer

  • Lottie Perkins - Pop Singer

    Lottie Perkins - Pop Singer

  • Lottie Perkins, Movie Star

    Lottie Perkins, Movie Star

  • When Mischief Came to Town

    When Mischief Came to Town

  • Olive of Groves and the Great Slurp of Time

    Olive of Groves and the Great Slurp of Time

  • The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Rome

    The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Rome

  • Olive of Groves and the Right Royal Romp

    Olive of Groves and the Right Royal Romp

  • Red Dirt Diaries - 1

    Red Dirt Diaries - 1

  • Red Dirt Diaries - 2   Blue about Love

    Red Dirt Diaries - 2 Blue about Love

  • Red Dirt Diaries - 3 Blue's News

    Red Dirt Diaries - 3 Blue's News

  • The Girl Who Brought Mischief

    The Girl Who Brought Mischief

Victoria

Speaker type

  • Author
  • Virtual visits
available for virtual visits
4552
Katrina Nannestad