As an author, I love words... but I was recently forced to eat mine! A while ago, I told my husband that I simply couldn’t afford to do any more secondary school visits. My free whole-day school visits are funded by the books I sell during my visits, and with no parent pick-up at the end of the day (and my books aimed at children aged 6 to 12), book sales are harder to come by at secondary schools than they are at primary and junior schools. But days after telling my husband I was going to have to pull the plug on secondary school visits, I visited @wordsleyschool... and the whole visit felt like a giant hug. It was one of those days where every part of it felt incredibly rewarding... The Year 7 assembly in the hall was so well received, with pupils putting their hands up to ask questions. I then signed books for pupils who had pre-ordered copies that had very kindly been supplied by @WaterstonesWton, before spending some lovely time with a small group of Year 8 pupils. We had a question and answer session, before they chose whether to create a comic strip, design a book cover, or do some writing. They were so engaged and had so many super questions for me throughout. Then came the higher Year 7 workshop, where the pupils really got stuck into the writing. They produced some fantastic work, and there were so many deserving of certificates that choosing who should receive them was incredibly difficult. (I think we ended up photocopying some so that EVERYBODY could have one.) Isaac eventually won my dragon prize for an extremely comical, brilliantly written story that had us all smiling. I finished the day with a packed book club session in the library, with pupils from Year 7 to Year 11 firing questions at me and queueing up for signed bookmarks. The atmosphere was wonderful. And that’s when I started thinking about what I’d told my husband. Because whilst book sales fund my visits (yet are harder to come by at secondary schools), I want my mission to keep children reading to spread as far and wide as possible. So, perhaps I shouldn’t make such a blanket decision about secondary schools... especially when the wonderful librarian at THIS school had gone to so much trouble to advertise my visit, generate excitement, and get in touch with Waterstones Wolverhampton to make sure pupils had the opportunity to buy my books. Maybe I won’t be doing secondary school visits anymore... well, apart from returning to The Wordsley School next year. (I’ve already offered to go back, and they’ve accepted!) But then again, maybe I will. I’ve definitely got a lot to think about. A huge thank you to Ms Baker for organising the visit and getting so behind it, to all the staff and pupils at The Wordsley School for such a warm welcome, and to Waterstones Wolverhampton for supplying the book stock. I left The Wordsley School with a much-appreciated complimentary cheese baguette from the school canteen... and a huge grin on my face, knowing that I’d spread the joy of reading and writing to secondary school level. ❤️📚 #FreeSchoolVisits #SchoolVisits #ReadingForPleasure #AuthorVisit #TheWordsleySchool