welcome to the website of children's author
lawrence prestidge
ABOUT ME & MY BOOKS
Hello and welcome to my website - I'm Lawrence Prestidge, an Oxfordshire based Children's Author and freelance Drama Teacher.
On this site you can find out more about my latest books, videos, news and details of how to book me for school visits and events.
If you would like to hear from me on a monthly basis, please sign up for my newsletter. It's always great to hear from you...
MY NEW BOOK PENGUIN BEACH...
I'm delighted to announce that my latest book Penguin Beach is available as an e-book and as a paperback soon.
Clyde loves being a penguin!
He’s the star of the show at London Zoo’s Penguin Beach, delighting visitors every day.
From the way he waddles, to his tuxedo-like feathers, no one can resist the loveable charms of Clyde the penguin.
That is, until Diego, a new penguin from Spain, arrives. Why do the visitors love his back-flips and leaps so much?
And why are the other penguins so impressed by him?
Perfect for fans of Roald Dahl and David Walliams, Penguin Beach is guaranteed to bring laughter to children aged 7-11 years and adults alike.
TERROR AT THE SWEET SHOP
"Well-written, full of fun and hard to put down!"
"One of the best books I've read in a long time."
rolo
"Brilliant read."
"Imaginative, funny, full of giggles and a wonderful story."
CHESTER'S FAIRGROUND
"If you have ever wondered what would happen if Charlie and the Chocolate Factory met the old goosebump tales then this is certainly it."
AUTHOR Q&a
Here are some frequent questions I get asked by my followers and fans when I'm visiting schools and staging book events. If there's a burning question that's not on the list, please CONTACT me and I'll answer as soon as possible.
Why did you start writing children's books?
I started writing as I have a life-long passion to encourage children to read more and want as many of them to become confident readers from an early age.
My favourite childhood book is Roald Dahl’s Matilda and it’s fair to say that I have been completely inspired not only by this but by many of his other stories. Imagination and childhood go hand in hand and reading a good book definitely helped steer me in the direction of becoming a children’s author myself.
How long does it take you to produce a book from idea to completed book?
It can vary from book to book and project to project. It took my a lot longer to write my first book Rolo, as I wanted to ensure that I had everything exactly how it should be. I also sought out children for the target age range - and asked them for feedback as I went along. Terror at the Sweet Shop was much quicker, and from start to finish it took just eight months, which is super fast in the publishing world.
What's been the best thing that's happened to you as an author?
I love being a children’s author – it’s the best job in the world! I’ve even had a primary school in Banbury name its new library in my honour, which I’m completely bowled over by. That would have to be right up there alongside getting the seal of approval on my first book by Roald Dahl's widow.
Do you know any other children's authors?
Yes a few - you will often find me teaming up with them in my You Tube vlogs - so watch this space!
How many school visits do you complete every year?
Every year I try to visit as many schools across the UK as I can. In 2017 I have visited 50 primary and 10 secondary schools from as far afield as Newcastle to schools much nearer to my home in Oxfordshire. I can’t wait to reveal more of my books and am already on my third called Chester’s Fairground. Having a collection of books behind me has always been a dream of mine. And if I inspire a child along the way, then that to me is the real hallmark of success.
