We had the pleasure of welcoming award-winning author Kiran Millwood Hargrave for an inspiring and engaging talk with our students. Her visit was a highlight for Years 5, 6 and 7 who have been captivated by her novels.
Kiran took the stage to share her journey as a writer, offering a glimpse into her creative process and the inspiration behind her Geomancer series, which is rooted in natural phenomena, including talking trees and brain-exploding fungi! During her talk, Kiran shared her journey of finding inspiration, including how Samuel Beckett’s advice, “Try again. Fail again. Fail better,” motivates her writing process. The students listened intently as she revealed her creative tricks for overcoming the blank page (she draws!) and discussed how her passion for writing helps her navigate publisher rejections.
One of the most exciting parts of the session was the Q&A, where students asked insightful questions about writing, world-building and character development. Kiran responded with warmth and enthusiasm, offering advice on how to find ideas and how to overcome the challenges of writing. Her down-to-earth approach made her an instant favourite among our students, many of whom left feeling inspired to pick up their pens and start writing their own stories.
Following the talk, Kiran hosted a book signing, where students had the chance to meet her up close, get their books signed and share their own thoughts on her novels. It was a special moment for everyone involved, creating lasting memories for our young readers. Years 5 and 6 from Cutteslowe Primary joined the event via Zoom, making it a wonderful opportunity for even more young readers to engage.