events 2026

2026 Events

20th August - Edinburgh International Book Festival

18th June - Chi Chi the Panda, Book Launch Papercat Bookshop

18th June - London Schools Literature Festival book here

17th June - RLF fellow event, London

7th June - Chi Chi the Panda, children's book launch DayDreams Bookshop, Milngavie

Previous Events 2026

19 May - Leeds Book Awards Ceremony

14-15 May - Paisley Book Festival Schools Programme

18 Mar - Manchester with National Literacy Trust/Manchester Libraries

26 Feb - 7th March Kellett International School Visits for World Book Day week, Hong Kong

25 Feb - BBC Scotland/Scottish Book Trust Authors Live watch here

21 Feb - Waterstones Liverpool Crafting and Author Talk 2-3pm book here

21 Feb - Central Library Liverpool, Tiger Warrior event, 11am - 12pm - just turn up

18th Feb - Paper Trails with Edinburgh Intl Book Festival at Muirhouse Library (free book given) book here

28th Jan - Book Trust Represents - Free Virtual Schools Event book here

Jan - May - Inverclyde Storyteller in Residence - visiting all Inverclyde Primary Schools

Previous Events 2025

29th Nov 2025 - Christmas Shopping at Waterstones Braehead, Glasgow 2-4pm

18th Oct - Bloomsbury Festival , London (Free, just turn up)

5th Oct - WOWCON (Write Mentor) 'Stay in Your Lane, or Not!' (book here)

26th Sept - Byres Road Book Festival (book here)

24th Sept - Borders Book Festival, Jedburgh Schools Programme

21st Sept - Little Story Feast at the British Library (book here)

6th Sept - Lit in Colour at the British Library (book here - teachers/librarians)

23rd August - Hillsborough Castle - Winnie-the-Pooh and Disney storytelling event (book here)

20th August - Edinburgh International Book Festival School Gala Day

10th August - Edinburgh International Book Festival Public Event (book here)

26th June - Seven Stories Virtual Event (schools sign up here)

25th June - National Literary Trust's Storytelling Festival, Doncaster

20th June - Marr College Book Festival

19th June - Glo Worm Event in West Lothian

17th June - Glasgow Book Launch

13th June - Nomad Books Schools Event

12th June - Barnes Children's Book Festival - Schools Programme

11th June - Wells Primary with Chingford Books

10th June - London Book Launch with Papercat Bookshop

10th June - Guildford Book Festival - Schools Programme

8th June - Children's Book Launch at Day Dreams Bookshop - Milngavie Week Festival

15th May - St Vincent's Primary School

17th April - 24th April - Shanghai, Tianjin and Beijing School Tour

18th March - National Literacy Trust, Manchester

10th March - Hockerill School, online

5th - 6th March - World Book Day school events, London

2nd Feb - Day Dreams Bookshop, Milngavie

Work with Maisie

School Author Talks & Workshops

I love going to schools and talking to children and inspiring a love of reading. Reading for pleasure (and knowledge) is one of the great equalisers in society. My books have STEAM, mythology, reflect realities, working class families, young carers, humour, resilient children, crime stories for kids, Comic Cons, popular culture, untold histories, and more!

Interactive Author Talks - KS1 (P2-P3) and KS2 (P4-P6)
Creative Writing and Drawing Workshops - linked to my books
Assemblies - reading for pleasure, my writing journey, etc

I can be flexible depending on need.

Scottish school events - contact Maisie via 'contact form' on website

England school events (in-person or virtual) - contact Authors Aloud

International school events - contact Authors Abroad

I have a Scottish DBS (and a Basic English DBS) and PVG but should have an adult present at all times in schools. Scottish school can apply for LIVE LITERATURE funding from Scottish Book Trust for part funding of author events. Other ways to pay for an author visit - PTA fundraising, local indie bookshops might offer free visits in exchange for book sales, libraries or educational organisations (festival school programmes) might offer free or subsidised author talks. Do check with your local library service.

Get in touch

Testimonials:

'Maisie was a delight from start to finish - she really connected with our cohort, and even added in a part to the presentation (while she was mid flow) to allow our minority students to feel seen. During the writing workshop, Maisie really created a fun buzz and connected with the students over their work.' K. MacLeod, Milne High School

'Maisie worked with all of the children in the Lower school, from 4 to 11 year-olds, and all of them engaged enthusiastically in her workshops. They loved finding out about her own reading journey, the special people that inspired the characters in her books and exploring these characters in more depth. They listedn attentively as she read excerpts from the Tiger Warrior series, Danny Chung and Lizzie Chu. The children delighted in creating their own characters and left her workhops excited and enthused about reading. It was a brilliant start to our World Book Day celebrations.' R. Gonin, teacher ACS Egham International School

Festivals, Talks and KeyNote Speaker

I have been a guest speaker multiple times at Edinburgh International Book Festival and for many organisations and am grateful to have appeared at many other festivals including: Birmingham Literature Festival, Islay Book Festival, Paisley Book Festival, Byres Road Book Festival, Borders Book Festival, See Myself in Books Festival, Stoke Newington Book Festival, Southbank Imagine Festival, Hong Kong Book Festival (virtually), Northern Children's Book Festival, Wigtown's Big DOG, Wee Write, as well as many more. I have given talks for World Book Day's at Matilda the musical alongside Cressida Cowell, Greg James andChris Smith and worked with the British Library educational outreach department. Plus I've been the keynotes at Cheltenham's Festival's Reading Teachers Reading Pupils Conference, CLPE's Reflecting Realities, and the ESEA AUTHOR LITFEST 2024 at SOAS.

I can do solo talks or be part of panel talks. Please contact my PR person for the appropriate book.

Get in touch

Working with writers, Commissions & Mentoring

Helping others be creative has also been a passion of mine. I've lead creative writing workshops for adults with Arvon, Scottish Book Trust, Writing West Midlands, All Stories, Megaphone, Ayr Writer's Group, and more.

I've worked with various writers on their early draft manuscripts such as Sunday Times bestselling fantasy author Eliza Chan, Lui Sit (Waterstones Book of the Month author), Nazima Pathan and Taslin Pollock. I am currently working with Helen Crevel on her middle grade novel (funded by Arts Council England). I'm also worked with Dougie Payne (from the band Travis) on his debut picture book Poochie Pete and his Very Big Feet.

I've mentored for Scottish Book Trust's New Writer's Award, Megaphone CIC and Write Mentor. I am currently an Royal Literary Fund Fellow at the University of Strathclyde and help students with their academic writing. I was a Dr Gavin Wallace Fellow in 2020 and I have a BA (American Studies), Mphil (Film) and a PgDip in Writing.

I also mentor privately depending on my workload. You might just want one session to talk about your path, or you might want up to six sessions over a year. I mentor holistically, which means I ask about your circumstances, how to fit writing into your life. Writing a book isn't just about the editorial work, it's often a mental and emotional journey too.

Get in touch

Photo credits: Eliza Chan (left), Lui Sit (Middle), Nazima Pathan (right)

Testimonials:

'I am so thankful to Maisie for her support at critical time for the story and for myself as am emerging writer. Her generosity, belief and experience were crucial to my development and I consider myself very fortunate to have been taken under her wing.' Lui Sit, Land of the Last Wildcat (Macmillan)

'We are so happy we invited Maisie Chan as a guest speaker. She gave our members a fascinating taste of the world of children's fiction. Her talk and presentation were professional, informative and entertaining. We've no doubt she sparker our members' imagination and has inspired them to write for younger readers.' Linda and Carrie, Ayr Writers Club, Presidents.

' I love to read in bed! I didn't grow up in a house full of books, but my mum took me to the library!' - maisie chan