Inspiration from Author

Multiple award winning children’s and young adults’ author Julia Golding visited us on Tuesday 4 November to give a series of practical, creative writing workshops with our Removes.

Ms Golding is best known for her popular historical and fantasy novels.  She has written 30 books and sold over half a million copies worldwide.  The first of her Cat Royal series The Diamond of Drury Lane was awarded both the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize and the Nestle Children’s Book Prize.  She has also written the “Young Knights” trilogy, based on the stories of the Round Table but with contemporary settings.  Julia also writes under two pen names: Joss Stirling for more romantic young adult fiction and Eve Adams for young adult historical fiction.  Her books have been translated into many languages and she has won awards in both Germany and the USA.

During the hour long sessions she gave the children plenty of practice in how to create characters and to develop a story.  She said that, as most stories have tension at their centre, she wanted the children to start to write their own crime stories.  The room was buzzing as children set about writing pen portraits using pictures for inspiration and then built up the plot and imagined the crime scene.  Finally they were able to share their opening paragraphs with their friends.  At lunchtime, Julia Golding spent time signing copies of her books for the young aspiring writers and also talking to them about various aspects of her writing. 

Mrs Kate Squires, Head Librarian, said, “This is one of the most productive and practical author visits we have had.  Julia Golding gave real insight into the developmental process of writing.  In such a short time the children were able to produce some really evocative pieces.”