Showing posts with label author visit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label author visit. Show all posts

Wednesday, 1 March 2023

Upcoming author visit: Julia Golding

 On Wednesday 8th March, GCH will be celebrating a (slightly belated) World Book Day - an event made even more special by the attendance of author Julia Golding.

Known for her Cat Royal Adventures, Tudor romance series The Lacey Chronicles under the penname Eve Edwards and YA paranormal romance series The Benedicts written as 'Joss Stirling', Julia Golding's novels have been a GCH staple for many years.

The Library team are particularly excited to hear more about her new Jane Austen Investigates series which looks likely to be a new favourite of our Murder Most Unladylike, Sinclair's Mysteries and Scarlet and Ivy fans!




Julia will be speaking to Years 7,8 and 9 during P2 about her books and her life as an author. She will then be leading a writing workshop for Year 7 students during P3 and another for Years 8/9 students later in the day. 

Julia will also be in the Library during lunch to sign books so please bring along any copies you might have at home too. 

Please ask Mrs Swan if you have any questions about World Book Day. All students attending the workshops will be informed shortly!


Thursday, 27 January 2022

Upcoming author visit: Phil Earle

The GCH Library are delighted to announce that another great author will be visiting us soon! 

Award-winning novelist Phil Earle will be visiting Grey Coat on Monday 7th February.

He will be speaking to all students from years 7 and 8 during period one about his latest book When the sky falls. Phil will also be hosting a workshop for a smaller group of students later in the morning.

Copies of When the sky falls will be available to purchase on Monday 7th but we advise students to pre-order a copy from the Library to avoid disappointment. Books will be sold at the special GCH price of £6 rather than the standard £7.99!

Phil will also be available to sign books at break.

If you'd like to read a book by Phil Earle before his visit we have a good range of his works available right here in St Andrew's Library.

Titles here include: When the sky falls, Saving Daisy, Mind the gap, Heroic, The bubble wrap boy and Being Billy. 


Remember, order forms must be in by Thursday 3rd February!


When the sky falls by Phil Earle

'Inspired by a true story. Its 1940, and Joseph has been packed off to stay with Mrs F, a gruff woman with no great fondness for children. To Joseph's amazement, she owns the rundown city zoo where Joseph meets Adonis, a huge silverback gorilla. Adonis is ferociously strong and dangerous, but Joseph finds he has an affinity with the lonely beast, But when the bombs begin to fall, it is up to Joseph to guard Adonis's cage should it be damaged by a blast. Will Joseph be ready to pull the trigger if it comes to it?'



Friday, 3 December 2021

Gems from 'The Nowhere Emporium': A Creative Writing Workshop with Ross MacKenzie

On Monday 22nd November, Evernight author Ross MacKenzie visited the Library where he held a writing workshop for year 7 and 8 students. 

As part of the workshop, Ross talked about his book The Nowhere Emporium and encouraged students to invent their own magical rooms in a short piece of creative writing.

All of our students produced brilliant work and we have chosen a few 'rooms' to share with you all to demonstrate the broad range of creative writing produced by years 7 and 8!


My door: Its Purr-fect by Isabella 7R

You move towards the shiny purple door, faint 'mews' can be heard. Click. The door swings open revealing an extensive world. The jagged horizon made of mountains, frames the souring casts, their wings casting shadows over the vast land. Roaring mews fill your ears. The air feels soft, like it gently lays on your skin and a subtle fishy, almost salty, smell lingers over a creamy lake glistening in the sun. Cats fill every corner, leaping over the luscious green grass. This world thrives, no sign of melancholy or guilt. Almost as though they have been banished. Every sad thought you've ever had is replaced with the memory of a joyous cat. The world feels right here. 


The Colour of Music by Michal 8C

As I staggered into the shop, everything was a shad of grey, black and white. People observed the items and instruments in awe and admiration. I thought 'what was there that was so impressive?'.

 I went up to the cashier and said 'nothing is colourful'. 

Then she came up close and said 'there is but you are looking carelessly'. 

I strolled through the shop, thinking about what she meant. I could smell a fresh breeze of metal and rotten pieces of skin from the drums. I approached the guitars, hung high up on the wall and slowly brushed my soft hands against the surface. It was as smooth as a baby. It's string suddenly plucked itself and made a gentle and smooth note. It echoed across the whole room, making the ground tremble and the instruments sang with colour dispersing across the unlively surfaces of the instruments.

As I circled the room, I could see yellows, reds, pinks, purples, blues, turquoises and many more. The room lit up, sending big smiles across the customers faces.

I picked up a drum, sat down, and played a beat that echoed through my ears, full of colour and joyfulness. The room was like an enchanted forest and now I can see the colours because I looked closely and found my imagination.


The Room of Possibilities by Kimora 8C

A never ending space of wonder, marble walls with splats of colour stretch out across the room. Pens, pencils, paints and paper of all colours, shapes and sizes fill the empty spaces in this magical place.

The smell of fresh paint and ink linger in the warm, cooling air. At the far end of the room there on the wall is a golden plaque, engraved in it are the words 'The Room of Possibilities'. 

The place looks as if it belongs in a palace with magical pens, pencils, and paint that can bring whatever you draw/paint come to life. At the very end of the room right next to the plaque there is a door, a simple white door with a golden doorknob... 


Well done to all students who participated - everyone at the library (and Ross himself) were very impressed with the work shared!

Evernight and Feast of the Evernight are now available to reserve from the library!