Tag Archives: author

My oh my it’s Alex Nye

After 6 years in the making Alex’s new book Dark Matter will be hitting the shelves in a matter(sic) of days and guess which school she has agreed to come and talk to? No really I wish you would tell us because she said she was too busy – oh wait only joking it’s us – Alex will be coming along as part of our Book Week Scotland celebrations.
She has kindly offered to talk to a specially selected group of S1 pupils about her writing and characters and then we have encouraged her* to stay on to partake of a “literary lunch” with library assistants from both St. Ninian’s and Woodfarm High School.

It promises to be a corker of a day and Alex has promised to sign books for pupils – so if you have your own copy bring it along or if you want to buy a copy come and see me by Friday 13th Nov.

Just a heads up – for such a nice soft spoken lady she sure knows how to ramp up the heeby jeebies in her books!!

There’s lots going on this week so if you are not part of this event you are sure to be able to join in another.
The lovely Alex

*lured with cake

Summit to talk about

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On Tuesday we were so lucky to have a visit from the one and only Matt Dickinson; one of only c4000 people in the world to have reached the top of Mount Everest!

Chilly much?

Matt began by telling us about his career as a documentary maker and showed us some hair raising pictures of the places he has been…even on top of a moving ice-flow.
He talked at length about the risks and rewards of the climb including the time when his tent was ransacked by squatters (ON EVEREST!)how he nearly lost a couple of fingers due to a helpful Sherpa and how his 300 bar supply of toffee crisps began to explode at high altitude!
There was just enough time for some brilliant questions ranging from “Did you ever think you would not make it back?” ( yes!), “To what local food did you like?” ( Yak burgers!) and “Have you ever killed and eaten an ox?” (Great question, No!)
We were joined in the talk by a group of pupils from Woodfarm High who are also studying The Everest Files and were equally enthralled.

Betty the yeti was so excited

Massive thanks to Matt for coming along and making his adventures real, answering our questions and perhaps inspiring us to go that wee bit further; including our Alpine club who were lucky enough to get a picture with matt and some sneaky Yetis!

Lari Don-Mindblinding author event

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A huge thanks to all the pupils who took part in the three Lari Don events yesterday.
From breaking the rules of writing to bungee jumpee from volcanoes one thing you cannot say was that reading and writing is boring.

The biggest thanks of all must go to the amazing Lari who came all the way from sunny Edinburgh to spend an afternoon inspiring and encouraging us all.

Even though she is now furiously preparing for the big launch of MindBlind on Friday she still cares about us and has left a bundle of goodies for pupils.

To be able to get your hands on a goody for yourself all you have to do is fill in a quick questionnaire about the event.

Let us know!

Please note: Only those who attended one of the three events are able to take part at this time.

Meeting with Sophie

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Oh I do like a good afternoon out and a trip to see a lovely author at another school sounds just the ticket!

So, off went our merry band to Williamwood High ( thanks to Mrs. Adams for hosting the whole thing) to meet with the brilliant author Sophie MCKenzie.

Over 200 pupils were entertained by our thrilling speaker; especially when she read a nerver wrecking chapter from her new book Split Second ( if you want to know more about this book pop into the library as I have some leaflets with a great competition all about her new novel). In fact the day we met with Sophie was the first day the book had come out so those lucky enought to grab a copy and get it signed were some of the first in the whole country to do so.

So, whether you are a fan of Girl Missing or just want a great read why not pop into the library and check out her other books.

Many thanks to Sophie for sharing the afternoon with us AND for her great story all about the gorrilla. Also many thanks to Miss Higggins from the English department for coming along and my great pupils who were a pleasure to travel with (except for the wasp and s/he it didn’t have a blazer!).

International Book Festival 2013

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pipe=boffin

This is what a scientist looks like…well isn’t it?
James Kakalios is a scientist but one with a secret – he is actually a super hero – well sort of – he certainly is a super nerd -just like the audience at the Edinburgh Book Festival. Now , now that is no way to talk to a nice bunch of folk who have paid to see you!
Now, this talk could have gone two ways – one a snorefest of symbols and formulae or a ridiculuously entertaining foray into the word of physics and the science behind superheroes.
Lucky for us it was the latter.
Never before had physics been so much fun!
The eternal questions of who would win in a fight – Superman or the Hulk? were anwered with scientific precision ( come and see me and I will tell you who and why!).
A brillaint morning and a fascinating chappie who left us with something to ponder – “You all have a super power” he told the bewildered audience.”Your intelligence and that’s what you should use to fight evil”.
Isn’t he right?

After a quick lunch we headed to the Baillie Gifford tent to an intimate gathering with Sita Brahmachari and Cat Clarke. We were told to confront our fears and feelings and think about what it means to be a teenager today. A thoughtful and insightful afternoon.

Then a quick squizz about the festival and on to the bus where an A-Z of Harry Potter was created ( don’t ask!).

Again another great day at the festival – already thinking about who might be on the cards for next year…. anyone up for a trip?

P.S. Many thanks to Mrs. Mundie and the girls from Woodfarm who came along on the trip with us and who were great company and this time no one was sick on the bus!

The day the “Master” came to ER

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Grrrnnnhhhhh!

Be afraid, be very afraid. There is something very wrong with some of the seniors at MCHS.
It seems that the arrival of horror writer Darren Shan has somehow infected them.
Lucky for us we were right up the back of the theatre but in plain sight of the man himself who read to us from the first three of his Zom-B trilogy.

It is not for the fainty hearted – one first glance they are blood thirty, gorefests but as Darren explained he uses horror as a tool to tell another story and in this case one about rascism and standing up for yourself.

After an hour of yucktastic details and mind-mushing questions and answers Darren signed every single book, poster and postcard. Not just a squiggle and a cheerio but a comment or a quote for EVERYONE. The poor man was due to leave the school at 2.50 but stayed on for another HOUR to make sure all the books he was given were signed and a sentence or two of inspiration were inscribed.

The afternoon was a great success and many, many thansk to our horrible hosts – MCHS especially the librarian Ms McEachern who must have had nightmares organising the event, Waterstones for making it happen, my great pupils who loved it all and finally to Darren Shan for his time and effort and inspiration (and especially writing such nice things in a book for a pupil off ill at the moment – a sweetie who can write horror!).

Edinburgh International Book Festival

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There is nothing better than schmoozing about Edinburgh other than schmoozing around the Edinburgh books festival.

Along, with a happy band of bibliophiles fom Woodfarm and Willaimwood our intrepid band of girlies ventures all the way along the motorway to the Valhalla of the written word – Edinburgh. ( with only one teensky little misshap on the way – pass the sick bag , if you please!)

Our first port of call was an invitation with the dead – well sort of – with the authors Alexander Gordon Smith and Susanne Winnaker to talk about zombies. Not always the best topic so soon after breakfast. We particularly liked the body bits left on stage (hopefully not belonging to the last audience members).

After a spot of lunch we made our way to the front row – yes nothing but the best for us, to hear from the lovely Sophie McKenzie and the dangerous Anne Cassidy. After the talk we rushed to the book tent to get our books signed and chat to the authors who were both really helpful and very friendly.

Back on to the bus and a safe trip home.
Comments from the trip?
Can we come back again next year?

Aye Write and Michael Grant

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How would you like to meet an author and not just any author but hit US author Michael Grant?

If your first thought is Who? Then skip this page. If your first thought is ” I would eat my own sock to see this man” then come and see me in the library by Friday 25th to secure a place. It should only cost about £3 and will take place at the Mitchell Library in sunny Glasgow on Wed 14th March.

(please note that due to the timing and location of the event you will be a bit late getting back to school so you will need to make arrangements to get picked up)