Mary offers a wide variety of engaging workshops:

1. The Big Story Factory

Audience: Years 2–6
An energetic, interactive storytelling workshop where students help build a story from scratch. Together they create a character, problem, complications and ending while learning how authors turn simple ideas into engaging stories with strong structure, tension and satisfying pay-off.

2. Creating Picture Books

Audience: Years 3–8
A practical behind-the-scenes look at how picture books are made from first idea and manuscript through page turns, illustration, layout and the finished book. Students explore what makes picture books work, then put some of those techniques into practice themselves.

3. Rhyme, Rhythm & Wordplay

Audience: Years 2–6
A lively workshop packed with rhyme games, ridiculous word combinations and tongue-twisting fun. Students explore rhyme, rhythm, beat, repetition and playful language, then have a go at creating their own short rhyming verse or story. Workshop can be customised based on year level.

4. I Want to Be… Anything!

Audience: Foundation–Year 2

Inspired by Mary’s popular ‘I Want to Be…’ series, this playful session invites children to imagine all the things they could be. Through storytelling, movement, character play and plenty of audience participation, students explore imagination, confidence and creative thinking.

5. Character Chaos

Audience: Years 2–6

What makes a character memorable? In this workshop, students explore personality, wants, flaws, problems and quirks before creating their own larger-than-life character. Expect strange habits, unexpected problems and plenty of creative chaos.

6. From Idea to Story

Audience: Years 3–6

Students learn how to take a small idea and grow it into a complete story. Mary guides them through character, conflict, escalation, pacing and endings, with practical exercises designed to help students move beyond ‘I don’t know what to write’.

7. Marketing Matters

Audience: Adults, aspiring authors and illustrators

A practical creator-development workshop exploring what happens after the manuscript or portfolio is ready. Mary covers personal branding, positioning, audience-building, book marketing, visibility and the realities of building a sustainable creative career without becoming a full-time content creator.

8. From Manuscript to Market

Audience: Adults, aspiring authors and illustrators

Drawing on Mary’s experience as both a traditionally published author and publishing professional, this session explores what happens between the first idea and the finished book. Topics include concept, market positioning, manuscript development, illustration, publishing pathways, production and marketing.

9. Beyond Book Week

Audience: Teachers, librarians and professional development groups

A practical professional-development session exploring how schools and libraries can extend author visits beyond a single event. Mary shares ideas for building anticipation, increasing student participation, extending engagement afterwards and using author events to strengthen reading culture and library visibility.

10. Building a Career Beyond the Book

Audience: Adults, authors and illustrators

For creators who want to think beyond one manuscript or one publishing deal. This session explores career positioning, professional visibility, multiple income streams, industry relationships, speaking opportunities, services and the practical realities of building a long-term creative career.

11. Panels, Moderation & Industry Conversations

Audience: Adult and industry audiences

Mary is available as a panellist or moderator for conversations around children’s publishing, picture books, author careers, creator development, book marketing, reader engagement, publishing trends and the business of being an author.