Bernard Ashley visits Kimbolton School

Bernard Ashley, author of our school summer read, ‘The Shadow of the Zeppelin’, spoke to pupils in assembly about his life as a writer. He included details of the research he has to undertake, how he fictionalises historical events and spoke of how a writer is always on the lookout for ideas. He needs to carry around his ‘laptop’, i.e. notebook and pencil, at all times. Pupils were keen to meet Bernard at lunchtime and ask him questions about his work and about ‘Shadow’ in particular.

National Poetry Day

Celebrate National Poetry this Thursday

Which poem do you carry in your head?

Think of a poem that means a lot to you and share it at #thinkofapoem

Or listen to Helena Bonham Carter and others reading their favourite poetry at Sound Cloud

 

WW1: A Soldier's Life

 

Sergeant Tommy Anderson visited the library today to talk to 3rd Form pupils about life in the First World War. He brought hundreds of artefacts with him. The gas masks weren't popular!

 

Hate by Alan Gibbons

Alan Gibbons was inspired to write his book 'Hate' by the horrific murder of Sophie Lancaster who was assaulted and murdered because she dared to be different. This is a hard-hitting thriller that looks at friendship, loss, courage and forgiveness, exploring how a teenage boy and girl cope when they get drawn into a hate crime. Read what Alan has to say about writing this powerful dramatic story in the Guardian's teenage web pages

Bloomsbury release (another) new set of Harry Potter covers

The new cover

Bloomsbury release (another) new set of Harry Potter covers

It has been seventeen years since Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone was first published here in the UK and since then it has been read by millions of people worldwide. Spawning six sequels, eight films and a global studio tour and theme park franchise this small book has changed both the British publishing and British film industries forever. But with no new books or films on the horizon (the first film in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them trilogy isn’t expected to be released until the end of 2016) what would be the best way to entice new readers to the series?  UK publishers Bloomsbury think that some exciting new covers will do the trick, but what do you think? 

Take back the skies

Debut author Lucy Saxon is 19 years old. 'Take Back the Skies' is the first book in her young adult, epic adventure series. Lucy began writing at the age of 12 when ME forced her to miss lengthy periods of school. She wrote the first draft of 'Take Back the Skies' when she was just 16 as part of the National Novel Writing Month. This online competition offers no prizes but allows readers to post comments. The response was so positive that Sarah and her parents decided to find out about getting published. The rest is history with the first book published and the series now well underway. Perfect for fans of fantasy adventure with huge world-building, great characters and a page-turning plot. If you like steam punk, give the Tellus World a try.