Teaching & Training courses in Horwich

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Diana joined the prestigious DHH Literary Agency in June 2024. She started agenting with Rupert Heath Literary Agency in 2011 before moving to UTA and Marjacq in 2017. Before that she was senior commissioning editor at Transworld. Diana was chosen as one of The Bookseller’s Rising Stars of 2012, was a nominee for RNA Agent of the Year 2019, and was shortlisted for Literary Agent of the Year 2022 at the British Book Awards. Her list includes a wide range of bestselling and prize-winning authors in the UK and internationally. Diana represents adult fiction and non-fiction. For fiction, she is looking for upmarket women's commercial, with depth and heart, including reading group, historical, saga, uplit and contemporary stories that are irreverent and make her laugh; accessible literary fiction, high-concept crime fiction and thrillers. She has a thing for spy novels and would love to find a great vampire story.  On the non-fiction side: memoir, smart, funny feminists, lifestyle, cookery and social justice, and open to anything with a strong, original voice. She also encourages submissions from writers who have been traditionally under-represented. Diana would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 - 2 page synopsis and the first three chapters (a maximum of 5,000 words) of your manuscript in a single word document.  (In addition to the paid sessions, Diana is kindly offering one free session for low income/underrepresented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Wednesday 19th March 2025

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Philippa Sitters has worked in literary agencies since 2012, spending 10 years at David Godwin Associates. She has recently launched her own agency, PSA Ltd where she represents authors in both non-fiction and fiction across the literary-commercial spectrum. Her authors are prize winners and those whose books have been optioned for tv and film, from journalists to actors, lawyers to martial artists, her list is extremely varied and she wouldn't have it any other way. In fiction Philippa would like to see big stories, whether that's a commercial rom-com or a literary inter-generational bildungsroman. She loves character-driven novels, authentic voices in richly-drawn locations. On the non-fiction side, Philippa would love to find unique narratives from experts in their field, beautiful memoirs from those who've lived an extraordinary life, histories, science explorations, or ecological deep dives. Philippa does not represent sci-fi, fantasy or children's books. Philippa would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 - 2 page synopsis and the first three chapters (a maximum of 5,000 words) of your manuscript in a single word document.  (In addition to the paid sessions, Philippa is kindly offering one free session for low income/underrepresented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Wednesday 19th March 2025

If you decide to unschool your child, it can be hard to know what will happen next. Specifically it can be hard to know how they will progress when you are leaving curriculums and timetables behind you. Parents are often worried and can't imagine what the future might look like. In this webinar Heidi Steel, will tell you about what learning looks like outside school. They'll show you why it doesn't have to look like school, and what it can be like instead. You'll leave with a better understanding of your child's learning, more confidence in taking a different approach and an understanding of how progress happens. A recording of this webinar is included and available for two weeks after the live event. These webinars are FREE for Unschooling Village Hub Members along with a back catalogue of Unschooling Webinars, regular live coaching sessions, and discounts on coaching and mentoring services. Sign up for just £20 per month. Yes! I want to join the LPL Unschooling Village Hub

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION / NON-FICTION Upon joining Curtis Brown in 2018, Ciara Finan worked with senior agents Jonny Geller and Sheila Crowley on their lists of bestselling and prize-winning authors such as Lisa Jewell, Susanna Clarke, David Nicholls, Jojo Moyes and Nigella Lawson. Now as an agent she is representing a wide range of fiction and non-fiction writers. Ciara would consider her reading tastes to be quite broad and ever-growing, but is constantly drawn to books that have a decisive voice, unforgettable characters, an unexpected story, or can subvert and reconstruct the conventional narratives of love, friendship, family, loss and coming-of-age. In particular, she is looking for Adult and YA fantasy and romantasy, rom-coms and book club romance. In the wider fantasy genre, Ciara is keen on finding romantasy, cozy fantasy, dark/light academia, and anything with political intrigue. She seeks novels that will keep her reading into the early hours of the morning. She wants to be consumed by the world, the plot and the characters. Think authors like Leigh Bardugo, Tamsyn Muir, R.F. Kuang, Sangu Mandanna, Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Deborah Harkness, Chloe Gong, Ava Reid or Sabaa Tahir. In romcoms and romance, Ciara is looking for something that explores the complicated nature of romantic relationships - think Seven Days in June by Tia Williams, The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston or anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid. She would love to find a brilliantly witty workplace romance or anything that will leave her in tears. Ciara would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 -2 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Ciara is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Thursday 20th March 2025

LOOKING FOR: YA, ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Laura Williams is literary agent at the Greene and Heaton Literary Agency. She is seeking literary fiction, commercial fiction, psychological thrillers and high concept Young Adult. Laura is actively building a fiction list and a small non-fiction list. She is currently looking for literary fiction, edgy commercial fiction, psychological thrillers and high-concept contemporary young adult, as well as narrative non-fiction of all types. Her taste is quite dark, and she loves gothic, ghost stories, horror and anything sinister. She also loves books that make her cry, from big love stories to intense family dramas. She is open to historical or horror YA, but not magical or fantasy.  Meditative or moving novels about modern life, appeal to Laura, sad stories with love and the importance of caring for each other shining through. She also loves stories about female friendships or conversely groups of women who don't get on, such as the hugely fun BAD SUMMER PEOPLE by Emma Rosenblum. She is always on the lookout for a big tragic love story to make her cry happy or sad tears. At the more commercial end of fiction, think funny novels with warmth and romantic comedies with a bit of depth – think Marian Keyes. Most of all Laura is looking for novels she hasn’t read before – something unusual structurally or thematically, something that shines a light on a subject the author is passionate about, something that’ll break her heart or raise her blood in an entirely new way. Laura is always looking to promote diverse voices from across the globe, and is particularly keen on LGBTQI+ stories. Laura would like you to submit a covering letter, a 1-2 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Laura is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Friday 21st March 2025

Music Audio Stories presents Can You Spell It? Free Video Series ▫️Fun videos to help your child learn to pronounce and spell colours and develop visual and reading skills. We are thrilled to introduce our video series called, Can You Spell It? Children will learn how to pronounce and spell each colour and enjoy seeing our flower characters. With illustrations, voice-overs, animations, and music, this video series will help to teach children to spell in a fun and easy way. Children will: ▪️See examples of each colour ▪️Learn how to spell each colour ▪️Hear how each colour is pronounced ▪️Gain better reading skills ▪️Improve concentration and visual skills ▪️Love the illustrated flower characters ▪️Enjoy sound effects and music ⏰ Videos are released on Saturdays at 11 am on YouTube. Subscribe on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/user/MusicAudioStories and hit the bell to make sure you don't miss a new video. Video Series Playlist: https://shorturl.at/IDVL5 Find out why it's important to develop colour recognition here: https://musicaudiostories.com/blog/can-you-spell-it Enjoy! ♥ Music Audio Stories - Making learning easy and fun! Music Audio Stories is an original company specialising in entertaining music audiobooks, picture books, interactive activities, fun videos, and unique storytelling with multi-award-winner, 'Storytime with Anna Christina'. Music Audio Stories are interactive audiobooks with full orchestral scores and magical soundtracks, catchy sing-along songs and fun stories that teach and uplift little listeners. Videos include uniquely entertaining Storytimes with music, sound effects, narration, voice-overs, illustrations, and animations. Plus delightful activity videos for listening, learning, reading, drawing, and lots of fun! ---------- Website: http://www.musicaudiostories.com/ Storytime: http://storytimewithannachristina.com/ ---------- Subscribe to get a free music audiobook at: http://www.musicaudiostories.com/#subscribe ---------- Twitter: https://twitter.com/musicaudiostory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicaudiostories/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicaudiostories/ Storytime with Anna Christina Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storytimewithannachristina/

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION Nicky Lovick has worked as an editor for over twenty years, working for top five publishers. She is now an agent at WGM Talent, building the books list. She is looking for commercial fiction, from upmarket women’s fiction, bookclub, romance, domestic noir and psychological thrillers, to crime series. She loves hooky stories such as Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid and Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware set in confined settings, such as hotels. She’s always on the lookout for romcoms with a fresh, contemporary feel to them such as Emily Henry’s Book Lovers. Also historical fiction with a twist and sweeping family sagas. Nicky wants you to make her laugh, make her cry or keep her hooked.  Nicky would like you to submit a covering letter, 1-2 page synopsis and the opening three chapters of your manuscript in a single word document.  (In addition to the paid sessions, Nicky is kindly offering one free session for low income/underrepresented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 24th March 2025

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Liza represents a range of fiction and non-fiction. On the fiction side, she is looking for historical fiction that is well researched, immerses readers in the era, and looks at overlooked characters from the past, or perhaps gives a new spin on someone we think we know. On the literary and upmarket side, she is looking for novels infused with emotions that capture the human experience and make readers think. If your literary novel is something that A24 productions might turn into a movie, this is Liza’s taste. When it comes to fantasy, she loves urban and grounded fantasy (no sci-fi please!), and is always happy to look at anything with a vampire, werewolf, witches, warlocks, fairies, and perhaps a sinister selkie or two. She is also very much looking for romantasy and is the best person at the agency to submit that too. For thrillers, send her anything set in an exotic location, high-concept, or things with a speculative twist. She loves when characters are put in situations she would never want to be in, and then they have to get out of it. Her recent favourite fiction includes: Notes on an Execution, Lady Macbethad, Hamnet, A Discovery of Witches, House of Earth and Blood, The Starless Sea, Piranesi, Our Wives Under the Sea, The Pisces, Such A Fun Age. When it comes to non fiction, she is looking for books that teach her something new or reframe a topic from an alternative point of view. This can include cookery, pop science, and social history. Liza’s recent favourite non-fiction include: The Five, A History of Art Without Men, Messalina, The Authority Gap, Finding The Mother Tree, Cook This Book, Dessert Person. Liza would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 - 2 page synopsis and the first 5000 words of your manuscript in a single word document.  (In addition to the paid sessions, Liza is kindly offering one free session for low income/underrepresented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 24th March 2025

Are you an assessor or a trainer looking to enhance your effectiveness and communication skills? Do you find it challenging to confidently express your thoughts, to get what you want from situations and to maintain control during training sessions or assessments?  If so, our “Assertiveness for Assessors and Trainers” live online workshop is made for you. Effective Communication: Assertiveness empowers you to communicate your ideas clearly, ensuring your message is understood by learners. You’ll learn techniques to express your thoughts confidently, leading to improved engagement and comprehension. Confidence Building: Learn techniques for appearing more confident when communicating with others.  Taking control: Take control of situations through your body language and the verbal / written language you use. Invest in Your Success This 2.5 hour session will help you gain the skills to lead with confidence, communicate effectively, and prioritise yourself in your life.  Further Information This 2.5 hour session held live online via Teams will give you the tools and techniques you need to be more assertive. Workshop Benefits Interactive Workshops: Engage in hands-on activities, role plays, and real-world scenarios to practice assertive communication techniques in a safe and supportive environment.Expert Facilitators: Our experienced trainers will guide you through proven strategies, drawing on their expertise in communication, psychology, and training methodologies.Tailored Content: The course content is specifically designed for assessors and trainers, addressing challenges and situations unique to your profession.Practical Tools: Walk away with a toolkit of practical techniques, scripts, and strategies that you can immediately apply in your assessments and training sessions.Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow assessors and trainers, sharing insights, experiences, and best practices to further enhance your professional journey.

LOOKING FOR: PICTURE BOOKS, CHAPTER BOOKS, MG, YA Lil is a Senior Editor at Hachette Children's. She has well over 15 years experience in the publishing industry, working for major publishers and literary agents too.  For twelve years, Lil was a Senior Commissioning Editor at Working Partners Ltd – the creatives behind massive commercial hits such as Beast Quest, Warriors and the Daisy Meadows series. There she created globally successful concepts for every age group and developed storylines so the books were unputdownable. Lil is also an author in her own right: she has written 6 books under her own name, and ghost written many others under various pseudonyms.  In every age level, Lil would like to see originality - particularly in voice. A strong character with depth, venturing on a quest that's never been undertaken before will get her excited. The 'quest' doesn't have to be epic in scale, it could be as small as petting the next-door neighbour's dog, or getting the good looking new kid to notice you, it just has to be something a reader will want to invest in. She also loves humour and is happy to see anything quirky (perhaps even downright silly!).  For picture books, Lil would like you to submit a covering letter, and 1 complete manuscript, double-spaced, with spreads marked out, in a single word or PDF doc. For chapter books, MG and YA, please send a covering letter, the first three chapters and a synopsis, double spaced, in a single Word or PDF doc. Please send EITHER picture books OR another genre, not both in one submission. By booking this session you agree to email your material to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline to agent121@iaminprint.co.uk. Please note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice given in your Agent121. The submission deadline is: Friday 28th March 2025