FOR SCHOOLS
Turning Local History into Fantasy: A Creative Writing Masterclass
Bring the Magic of the Iberian Peninsula into Your Classroom
Every great fantasy world captures the imagination because it is fundamentally anchored in truth. When speculative fiction utilizes tangible, historical landscapes, it invites young readers to view their daily surroundings through an artistic, transformative lens.
This exclusive secondary school masterclass series, hosted by the author of the Young Adult environmental fantasy series, The Conch-quest Trilogy, introduces students to the mechanical craft of building fantasy narratives directly out of regional history and geography.
THE MASTERCLASS
The Curriculum.
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02
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Designed as a direct supplement to secondary English literature, creative writing, and humanities programs, this session moves beyond a standard promotional lecture. The presentation functions as an academic workshop focusing on three teaching pillars.
Students analyse how real architecture, natural landscapes, and geology dictate narrative stakes. We examine how the dark, Neolithic caves of Poço Velho in Cascais, the enchanting forests of Sintra, or the defensive ramparts of Lisbon's Castelo de São Jorge serve as structural blueprints for plotting high-stakes scenes.
The session deconstructs the methodology of mapping a modern magic system onto real topography, exploring how local esoteric history—such as the mist-shrouded hills of the Sintra wilds—can be integrated into speculative fiction as an active participant.
We explore the delicate balance of reinterpreting cultural legends while respecting their historical roots. Using the Catalan myth of the Cocollona or the iconic narrative of Sant Jordi as case studies, students learn how to tweak established lore to serve a contemporary, character-driven plot.
Setting as an Active Character
Weaving Magic into History
The Art of Adapting Regional Folklore
INTERACTIVE STUDENT ACTIVITY
"Magical Mapping."
TARGET AUDIENCE
Grades 6-12 • Years 7-13
The core of the presentation concludes with a collaborative, hands-on writing lab. Under guided instruction, students participate in an intensive brainstorming exercise where they isolate a familiar local landmark—such as a feature of their own school campus or a prominent community monument—and apply world-building rules to transform it into anything: a hidden portal, an ancient library, or even the hiding place for an artifact.
DURATION
45-60min • custom scheduling
Students leave the masterclass with a practical storytelling outline and a fresh curiosity about the history around them.
FORMAT
On-campus or live virtual
ENGAGEMENT & BOOKING
Two ways to book a visit.
Recognizing that international institutions operate under different schedules and budgets, a flexible range of engagement models is available to accommodate your school's requirements.
OPTION 01 • RECOMMENDED
The Book-Purchase Offset
Single interactive workshop fee waived.
The host institution orders a library or classroom set of The Conch-quest Trilogy (a minimum of 20 copies) directly via standard wholesale channels on IngramSpark. In return, the speaker honorarium for a Single Interactive Workshop (Option 2) and an accompanying student book-signing session are provided free of charge.
Please note - this offset applies strictly to a single 45–60 minute session. Schools wishing to leverage book purchases to offset a Half-Day or Full-Day Immersive Visit are invited to contact me directly to discuss a custom arrangement.
OPTION 02
Standalone Honorarium Tiers
For schools that prefer a traditional speaker booking, standalone sessions are available across four formats (USD/GPB figures available upon request).
Single Interactive Workshop
€200
A focused, single-period session for a specific grade level or a select creative writing class.
ONE PERIOD
IN PERSON • VIRTUAL
Half-Day Campus Visit
€400
An extended block of up to three hours, featuring two consecutive workshops and an informal library signing.
UP TO 3 HOURS
IN PERSON
Full-Day Immersive Visit
€700
A full-day visit accommodating up to four distinct sessions -- assemblies, intensive seminars, or book-club roundtables.
FULL DAY • 4 SESSIONS
IN PERSON
Virtual Author Session
€120
A 45-minute virtual visit and interactive Q&A via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
45 MINUTES
VIRTUAL
REQUEST A VISIT
Tell me about your school.
I'll be in touch within five working days to schedule or clarify any questions. Bookings available for the Lisbon and Cascais region in November 2026.