Wednesday March 11th 2026

Not every school visit goes according to plan!!! Putting my back out straight after my second assembly at Minehead Middle School today wasn’t the MOST sensible thing I’ve ever done… but the show had to go on! (I probably looked old enough to be Nero’s grandma for the rest of the day, shuffling around at an awkward angle whilst trying to smile through a grimace.) But despite being in a lot of pain, I had a fantastic time there, which is testament to the wonderful pupils at this school.

I’m always a little nervous visiting a middle school, given that reading for pleasure tends to take a nosedive when children reach Year 7. But the pupils at Minehead Middle School were fantastic audiences during my two back-to-back assemblies, and the workshops that followed were filled with talented, enthusiastic, and engaged students who blew me away with their creativity and were a joy to spend time with. I soon realised I hadn’t allocated anywhere near enough certificates for each session, with pupil after pupil continuing to impress me with their imaginative ideas. And by the end of the day, my certificate stash was totally depleted! I wish I’d been able to spend more time with each group, as there were so many incredible stories, poems, and diary entries starting to take shape that I wanted to hear more of. It was lovely to see pupils flocking into the library at lunchtime and afternoon registration for their free stickers and bookmarks, or to buy signed copies of my books, too! Many of whom came armed with questions for me… or suggestions for future titles I should write in the Words of WARNING collection. And it was an additional treat to see Izzy and Eva again after initially meeting them at Minehead Library during the summer holidays! The pupils at this school truly are a terrific bunch and couldn’t have been more polite, considerate, or participative during my visit. The day was definitely over far too soon – which is saying something, given the state of my back – and once my husband had peeled me out of my car after the long drive home, I was still smiling! Thank you to all the pupils and teachers at Minehead Middle School for making what should have been a very tough day into such a wonderful one. But my biggest thanks must go to the loveliest of all librarians, Mrs Vickery, not only for organising the visit and for all her help during the workshops, but also for jumping in and taking on all the fetching and carrying duties whilst I was there. I wouldn’t have made it through the day without her!