will houston Mysteries - 2026 spring tour
Welcome to our spring 2026 tour page. Henry Vyner-Brooks first started the Will Houston Series from a hospital bed while waiting a cancer operation. He wanted to leave behind important stories for his children in case he died. 20 years later, these books have inspired thousands of people – young & old. Henry is now the author of 11 books, covering spy, crime, and history genres. He can visit schools in person or virtually, working with single classes or larger groups. Henry offers a wide choice of sessions to stream to your class or year group. Schools can choose multiple sessions from this menu or develop a bespoke activity (around history, war, thriller and adventure stories) for specific groups of children during the school day.
GENERAL presentation + Q&A
Author Q&A (Y7 to Y11) -
Henry talks about overcoming dyslexia and how he began to write the 1st Will Houston novel while awaiting surgery for cancer. Cn anyone become an Author? Does it pay? Accompanied colourful slides, Henry shares the highs and lows of the author's life, giving lots of time for questions and dad-jokes.
themed workshops
Henry's teen novels, historical fiction and history books (see shop) encompass many areas of history: early medieval, Tudor/Renaissance & 20th century (WWI & WWII). His work also tackles philosophical and metaphysical subjects from a Christian viewpoint. (More detail below) 
Having spoken at conferences and universities across the world, Henry is experienced and flexible public speaker and personable discussion leader.
PLEASE ADD YOUR IDEAS / REQUESTS FOR A BESPOKE WORKSHOP / LESSON ON YOUR FEEDBACK FORM.
GCSE History crossover:
Warfare
& Conflict & Migration Through Time. Cold War 1945–1991. Germany:
Democracy &
Dictatorship,
1890–1945. Superpower Relations
&
the
Cold War.
Weimar & Nazi
Germany
A Level History crossover: UK History: Tudors, Wars of the Roses, Victorian/modern Britain. European History: French Revolution, Nazi Germany, Cold War, The Franco-German reconciliation, Founding of the EU
RE/PD crossover: The Existence of God – arguments for/against, miracles, religious experience. Religion & Life – creation, sanctity of life, abortion, euthanasia, war, terrorism, pacifism, just war theory, Human Rights & Social Justice, freedom of religion.
Other subject crossover: Economics, Philosophy, History of Art & Architecture.
A Level History crossover: UK History: Tudors, Wars of the Roses, Victorian/modern Britain. European History: French Revolution, Nazi Germany, Cold War, The Franco-German reconciliation, Founding of the EU
RE/PD crossover: The Existence of God – arguments for/against, miracles, religious experience. Religion & Life – creation, sanctity of life, abortion, euthanasia, war, terrorism, pacifism, just war theory, Human Rights & Social Justice, freedom of religion.
Other subject crossover: Economics, Philosophy, History of Art & Architecture.
PLEASE ADD YOUR IDEAS / REQUESTS FOR A BESPOKE WORKSHOP / LESSON ON YOUR FEEDBACK FORM.
WRITING SESSIONS
Henry offers a variety of sessions on aspects of writing from idea to final edit. He can work with multiple
groups of varying ability / age or guide one group of children through the whole writing process.
Research & Planning - How to research a story, using books, films, museums and interviewing real people, with a big focus on evaluating the credibility of internet sources. Then developing this research into a plan for a story.
Starting and first drafting - The hardest part of writing is turning an idea and a plan into prose. How do you start and fill the blank page? How do you overcome the feeling that your first few sentences are rubbish? Creating a first draft can be fun with Toms tips.
Editing - Lots of children – and adults – hate editing, revising, rewriting. With Tom’s list of techniques, he guides children through the most important trick of the trade. Rewriting.
Research & Planning - How to research a story, using books, films, museums and interviewing real people, with a big focus on evaluating the credibility of internet sources. Then developing this research into a plan for a story.
Starting and first drafting - The hardest part of writing is turning an idea and a plan into prose. How do you start and fill the blank page? How do you overcome the feeling that your first few sentences are rubbish? Creating a first draft can be fun with Toms tips.
Editing - Lots of children – and adults – hate editing, revising, rewriting. With Tom’s list of techniques, he guides children through the most important trick of the trade. Rewriting.
virtual author visits
Alongside in-person visits, I am now offering a choice of bespoke live virtual learning options for schools across the globe. Within reason, everything offered on this tour could be virtual if that suits the school better. Just let me know below.
author visit form
Available dates for in person visits:
media pack
PLEASE USE THE IMAGES BELOW FOR PRINTING & ADVERTISING PURPOSES
