More than 170 students at a Derby secondary school got the chance to chat to a best-selling children’s author thanks to enterprising festival organisers.
Lisa Thompson, author of renowned children’s titles The Goldfish Boy and The Boy Who Fooled the World, talked to the year seven students at The Bemrose School in an event made possible by the Derby Book Festival.
While ‘meet the author’ events are a regular feature of the festival, this was the first time the event had been staged virtually.
Pupil at Bemrose School virtually meeting Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish Boy.
Tina Patrick, an English teacher at The Bemrose School and a member of the Book Festival’s Education Committee. said: “It was such a shame when the festival got cancelled last year as I have always enjoyed taking students out to meet authors. It is such an enriching experience for them to be able to see an author face to face and hear about their inspirations and experiences.
READ MORE: Pupils exceed teachers’ expectations at The Bemrose School.
“I was delighted that we could arrange a virtual event this year. Although it’s not quite the experience of a real meeting, it did mean that a lot more students benefitted.”
Lillie Warren said: “I really enjoyed the experience and feel inspired to write my own book now.”
While Brayden Dawsen added: “My favourite part was when I heard my question get called out. I was shocked and really happy.”
This is not the first time that pupils from The Bemrose School have been able to find out more about the literary world.
Inspired students at the Secondary School learning new literacy skills.
In the past, they have had the opportunity to see their poetry in print thanks to the Derby Book Festival, working with professional performance poet Leanne Moden.
READ MORE: Bemrose School pupils in print thanks to Derby Book Festival.
Bookworms from the school have also helped create a murder mystery of their own with help from best-selling children’s author Robin Stevens, in an event organised by Authors Aloud UK.
ENDS
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