EVENTS
Given the current improvements regarding Omicrom and Covid variants, I am now offering face-to-face as well as virtual visits. I work with all ages, including elderly and vulnerable groups, so do ask that the room is well-ventilated and spacing laid out appropriately. I am (as at Feb 2023) triple vaccinated and boosted - but that doesn't make me immune... with Covid, things are changing all the time. But I do my best to be cautious and practical, and with vulnerable groups in particular, where possible, I do a lateral flow test on the day of the visit.
2023
FEBRUARY 2023
Sat 18th, all day - UK Ghost Story Festival, Museum of Making, Derby. Panel 12 noon on Location in Ghost Stories and workshop at 2pm on Why We Like Ghost Stories.
MARCH 2023
Sat 11th, 7pm - Tamworth Castle "Dead Man's Knock", a storytelling performance for the "If These Walls Could Talk" weekend. For adults / age 12+.
SEPTEMBER 2023
Tues 19th, 7pm - Duffield WI, talk on tips and ideas for storytelling.
2022
MARCH 2022
Wed 3rd, all day - S. Anslems School, Bakewell, World Book Day visit.
Sat 5th, 10.30am - 12noon - Mickleover Library, Derby, workshop: "How to develop a crime / suspense story". Follow link here to book.
Wed 23rd, 7pm - Trent Building, Nottingham University, talk for university Creative Writing group.
MAY 2022
Fri 6th, 2pm - Derby Stroke Club, storytelling and author visit.
Tues 24th, 2pm - Ripley Tuesday Club, storytelling and author visit.
JUNE 2022
Wed 15th, 1pm onwards - National Literacy Trust, Young Readers Programme, schools storytelling.
JULY 2022
Thurs 21st, 2pm - Worksop & District U3A, storytelling and author visit.
SEPT 2022
Fri 9th Sept, 10am - 12 noon, Derby Libraries, "The Novel - from Idea to First Draft", #1, a 6-weekly Writing course (Fridays from 9th Sept to 14th Oct incl.), held at Mickleover Library (DE3 0EA).
Mon 12th, 2.30pm - Take Heart, Derby - storytelling.
Fri 16th, 10am - 12 noon, Derby Libraries, "The Novel - from Idea to First Draft", #2, a 6-weekly Writing course.
Fri 23rd, 10am - 12 noon, Derby Libraries, "The Novel - from Idea to First Draft", #3, a 6-weekly Writing course.
Fri 30th, 10am - 12 noon, Derby Libraries, "The Novel - from Idea to First Draft", #4, a 6-weekly Writing course.
OCT 2022
Fri 7th, 10am - 12 noon, Derby Libraries, "The Novel - from Idea to First Draft", #5, a 6-weekly Writing course.
Fri 14th, 10am - 12 noon, Derby Libraries, "The Novel - from Idea to First Draft", #6, a 6-weekly Writing course.
2020
JANUARY 2020
Mon 13th, 10am - 1pm - Derbyshire Museum Heritage Forum, staff workshops.
Mon 27th, 3.30pm - S. Anslems School, Bakewell, storytelling event at Bakewell Bookshop.
FEBRUARY 2020
Mon 10th, 2pm - School author visit, Derbyshire, as part of the Aspire Project.
Sun 16th, 2pm onwards - Buxton High Peak Bookstore, book signing event.
Mon 24th, 2pm - School author visit, Derbyshire, as part of the Aspire Project.
MARCH 2020
Mon 2nd - 3rd, daytime - Oxford visit, private event.
Wed 4th, daytime - School storytelling, Derbyshire, World Book Week.
Thurs 5th, daytime - School storytelling, Nottinghamshire, World Book Week.
Fri 6th, daytime - School storytelling, Derby, World Book Week.
Thurs 12th, 7.30pm - Ladies Group, Holymoor, storytelling and book talk.
Mon 23rd, daytime - School storytelling, Derby. CANCELLED DUE TO COVID LOCKDOWN.
Tues 24th, daytime - Nottingham High School, school storytelling. CANCELLED DUE TO COVID LOCKDOWN
Sat 28th, 6pm - family storytelling; and 8pm adult storytelling, at the Church Hall, Ilkeston UR Church, Green Spire. Tickets (including food) available from Coleen on 07773 358834 or Susan on 0115 932 0213. POSTPONED DUE TO COVID LOCKDOWN.
MAY 2020
Tues 5th, eve - Belper Library opening event - author talk, details to follow. POSTPONED DUE TO COVID LOCKDOWN.
Mon 11th, 2.30pm - Take Heart, Derby, storytelling. CANCELLED DUE TO COVID LOCKDOWN.
Sat 30th, 10am - 4pm - Glossop Victorian & Heritage Weekend, storytelling for all ages. CANCELLED DUE TO COVID LOCKDOWN.
Sun 31st, 4.30pm - Derby Book Festival, DEDA, Author Panel, along with Jo Jakeman and Roz Watkins. CANCELLED DUE TO COVID LOCKDOWN.
JUNE 2020
Sat 6th, daytime - Nottingham Trent University / Forest Schools training day, Keynote address and storytelling workshops "Creative Roots into Storytelling - developing language and communication outdoors." POSTPONED DUE TO COVID LOCKDOWN.
Sat 13th, daytime - writer one-to-one sessions , a series of Zoom / telephone advice sessions with Sophie, organised in conjunction with LoveLit Derbyshire. FULLY BOOKED.
Fri 19th, 2pm - Worksop U3A, talk. CANCELLED DUE TO COVID LOCKDOWN.
Tues 30th, 2pm - Tues Ripley Club, Derbyshire, talk. CANCELLED DUE TO COVID LOCKDOWN.
JULY 2020
Fri 3rd, 2pm - Derby Stroke Club, storytelling. CANCELLED DUE TO COVID LOCKDOWN
SEPTEMBER 2020
Sat 5th, 10 - 11.30am - Writers workshop on "Writing Psychological Thrillers", organised in conjunction with LoveLit Derbyshire. To book, follow link to EventBrite, or contact Sophie by email info@sophiedraper.co.uk. VIDEO WORKSHOP via ZOOM.
Tues 8th, 7.30pm - Ashby Writers Group, Leicestershire, talk.
Sat 26th, 10 - 11.30am - Writers workshop on "Editing", organised in conjunction with LoveLit Derbyshire. To book, follow link to EventBrite, or contact Sophie by email info@sophiedraper.co.uk. VIDEO WORKSHOP via ZOOM.
OCTOBER 2020
Mon 12th, 7pm - Author interview online using Zoom with Repton Literary Festival. There will be a short interview followed by a live audience Q&A. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance - BOOK HERE.
Sat 17th, 10 - 11.30am - Writers workshop on "Submitting to Agents", organised in conjunction with LoveLit Derbyshire. To book, follow link to EventBrite, or contact Sophie by email info@sophiedraper.co.uk. VIDEO WORKSHOP via ZOOM.
Thurs 22nd, 2.15pm - Author interview on Zoom with Tregolls Book Club, Cornwall.
DECEMBER 2020
Tues 15th, 7pm - National Trust Derby & District Members Group, Landau Forte College, Derby, "Winter Tales".
2019
JANUARY 2019
Sat 26th, 10am - 1pm - Derby Museum, family storytelling to mark the start of National Storytelling Week.
Mon 28th, daytime - School Visit, Worcestershire.
FEBRUARY 2019
Thurs 7th, 7.30pm - Wingerworth Ladies Club, Derbyshire, talk on storytelling.
Wed 27th, 9.30am - 3pm - School Visit, Nottinghamshire.
MARCH 2019
Fri 1st, all day - School Visit, Derbyshire.
Sun 3rd - Wed 6th, incl - School Visits, Spain.
Thurs 7th, all day - School Visit, Leicestershire.
Fri 8th, 9.30am - 3pm - School Visit, Derby.
Tues 12th, 7.15pm - Central Methodist Ladies Group, Chesterfield, Derbyshire folk tales.
Fri 15th, 2.15pm - Derby Stroke Group, Derby, songs and stories.
Thurs 28th, 6.30pm - Private Booking, Derbyshire.
APRIL 2019
Sun 7th, 2pm - Wirksworth Book Festival, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, talk and Q&A.
Tues 30th - publication date for The Stranger in Our Home, the Canadian version of Cuckoo.
MAY 2019
Thurs 2nd, 7pm - Writers in the Peak, Bakewell, Derbyshire, workshop & author visit.
Mon 13th, 6.30pm - Derby Book Festival, Trent College, Derby Rd, Long Eaton, NG10 4AD, reading & book signing.
Wed 15th, 7pm - Private Booking, Derbyshire.
Fri 17th, 7pm - Wirksworth Heritage Centre, Derbyshire, an evening of Gothic Tales, storytelling for adults.
Wed 22nd, 7pm - Private Booking, Derbyshire.
Sat 25th, 2pm - Private Booking, Nottingham.
Thurs 30th, 7pm - Private Booking, Derbyshire.
JUNE 2019
Sat 2nd, 11.30am - Derby Book Festival, DEDA, Derby, author event & book signing.
Mon 3rd, 7pm - Private Booking, Derby, Derbyshire Folktales.
Wed 5th - Sun 9th, incl - Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, storytelling for RHS Flower Show.
Wed 12th, 1 - 3.30pm - School Visit, Nottingham.
Sat 22nd, 6pm - Reading Retreats, Matlock, private event, talk on reading.
Mon 24th, 2pm - Private Booking, Derbyshire.
Tues 25th, 7 - 9pm - Bakewell Bookshop, Matlock St, Bakewell, DE45 1EE - author event and book signing.
JULY 2019
Mon - Wed 8th - 9th, daytime - Private Booking, Nottinghamshire, storytelling for National Literacy Trust.
Tues 16th - 12 - 5pm - Private Booking, Derby.
Sat 20th, 2 - 5pm - Private Booking, Derbyshire.
AUGUST 2019
Thurs 15th - Fri 16th, all day - Private Booking, Derbyshire.
Sat 17th, all day - Derbyshire Noir Festival, Chesterfield Library, New Beetwell St, Chesterfield, S40 1QN - author events.
SEPTEMBER 2019
Sat 7th, 2pm - Guest spot on behalf of Derby Book Festival on the Market Square stage, Derby. An event helping to raise awareness for mental health. Book signing for any that wish it afterwards.
Mon 9th, 3 to 5pm - Private Booking, Derbyshire.
Tues 10th, 7.30pm - Longford WI, Derbyshire, Ghost stories.
Sun 15th, 11.30am - The Other Worlds Workshop Weekend, Nottingham Writers Studio, Hockley, NG1 1FH, workshop on psychological thrillers.
Sat 21st, 3pm - Duffield Arts Festival, author talk and book signing, Ecclesbourne School, Wirksworth Rd, Duffield, DE56 4GS.
Wed 25th, 7pm - Cultural Crossing, Sandiacre (Buonissima Bar / Restaurant, 14, Station Rd, Sandiacre, NG10 5BG), reading.
Fri 27th, 10am to 12 noon - Private Booking, Nottingham.
Mon 30th, all day - School Visit, Nottinghamshire.
OCTOBER 2019
Fri 4th, 7.30pm - Private Booking, reading group visit, Yorkshire.
NOVEMBER 2019
Wed 13th, 2pm - Private Booking, Derby.
Fri 15th, 7pm - Derbyshire Writers panel, Ashbourne Town Hall, Market Place, Ashbourne, DE6 1ES. With Stephen Booth, Sarah Ward and Roz Watkins.
Tues 19th, School booking tbc.
Wed 20th, 10am - 3pm - Crich Tramway Museum, staff workshop.
Thurs 21st, 12 noon - 2pm - Lace Market Theatre, storytelling workshop for adults.
Tues 26th, 6 - 7.30pm - Magpie Book Launch, Waterstones, 78-80, St Peter's Street, Derby, DE1 1SR. Tickets are free, but space is limited, so places must be pre-booked. Simply email Sophie at info@sophiedraper.co.uk. Magpie officially goes on sale in the UK on Thurs 28th Nov, but copies will be available (and signed) at the launch event on 27th.
Thurs 28th, 6.30pm - Tissington Hall, Derbyshire - storytelling (private event).
Thurs 28th - launch date for UK publication of Magpie.
Fri 29th - UK Ghost Story Festival, QUAD at Derby, running workshop, 3 - 5pm, on Elements of the Ghost Story.
Sat 30th - UK Ghost Story Festival, QUAD at Derby, author panels at 12 noon and 3pm.
DECEMBER 2019
Wed 11th, 10.15am - Little Eaton Ladies Coffee Club, Little Eaton, Derbyshire, Seasonal tales.
Tues 17th, 7.30pm - Dronfield Woodhouse Townswomens Guild, Derbyshire, Winter tales.