St Andrews School Writers’ ClubOn 24 February, I was invited to give a talk to the St Andrews School Writers Club. Gill Leggatt, who teaches English and Geography at St Andrews school in Bedfordview, started this club. She invites a different writer every month to give a talk to the members. I must say, the thought of facing a group of high school girls and speaking about writing in general and my book in particular was rather intimidating. I was worried that an audience of schoolgirls would be far more critical and difficult to please than an audience of adults. Luckily, my fears were unfounded. The evening was great fun, there was an excellent turnout of people, and the St Andrews girls were polite, interested and exceptionally well-mannered – they even laughed at my jokes! I think it’s a wonderful idea to have a |
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writers’ club at a school, and I wish there had been one at my high school, too. Well done to Gill Leggatt for starting this club out and keeping it going with so much enthusiasm – you’re inspiring a new generation of writers and readers. This photo, which shows me with pupils Jessica Endekovski, Penny Dlamini and Joy-Michelle MacKay, was kindly sent to me by Alison Orpen, who runs the school’s extremely impressive library. I’m proud to say that a signed copy of Random Violence is now available from this library – and has already been borrowed out.
2009 Writers Club guest speaker, Jassy Mackenzie with Jessica Endekovski, Penny Dlamini and Joy-Michelle MacKay |