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I was back up in Sunny Aberdeenshire in May this time I visited ELLON ACADEMY  and spoke to a 2nd year class.

Some had been reading Dead Boy Talking and others had read Spider.  They were all very keen and had lots of questions. It was a great afternoon.

The next day I was taking part in the TURRIFF BOOK FORTNIGHT  I visited several primary schools talking about writing and reading stories from the Hamish McHaggis stories.

I started in MONQUITTER Primary School with P1 & P2 and then went to visit FYVIE Primary which I had also visited before (but on that occasion I had been speaking to the P7s  This time it was P1 & P2′)

I stayed overnight at the very comfortable Devron Lodge B & B in Turriff where I have been before and it was lovely to be back there again.

The following day I visited MARKETHILL Primary in Turriff, again the little ones, P1 & P2 and then I drove to KING EDWARD School, Banff  where children from two other local schools, FINTRY and CRUDIE Primary schools joined us for the event.

I really enjoyed my visit and it was a beautifully sunny day but just as I was putting everything back in my car before retuning to Turriff for lunch and then the  last event of the day in the library there I did a very silly thing.  I locked my keys in the car along with all my books and

props etc.

I called the AA who apologised but said it would be a bit later before they could get someone to unlock the car as the nearest garage that could come out was in Peterhead!  When I explained that I needed to leave the car so that I could go to Turriff for my afternoon event they said they would be waiting for me when I got back.

One of the teachers was going to Turriff so she gave me a lift to the library and after a quick lunch one of the lovely librarians lent me a copy of one of my Hamish books book (Luckily I had not locked away my handbag with my powerpoint display on my pen drive in it!!) and took me to the school. so I was able to meet the second group of children from Markethill Primary school before I got a lift back to my car up in King Edward..

I would like to thank the lovely chap from the garage in Peterhead who was waiting for me, having  retrieved my keys from the boot!  He waited to make sure everything was fine as I was about to set off for the 4 hour drive home.

All in all it turned out well and the weather had been quite beautiful which always makes me appreciate the beautiful scenery in that part of the world.

It’s been an incredibly busy spring this year with lots of visits to schools so I thought it was time to catch up and look back at some of the places I’ve been.

In April I had a great day at the ARGYLE HOUSE SCHOOL in Sunderland doing writing workshops with years 5 and 6 – talking about building characters and developing stories from them.  I was also speaking about Greyfriars Bobby, a favourite story of mine.

Later in the day I was speaking to years 7,8 & 9 about SPIDER and DEAD BOY TALKING

We looked at the research I had done for the books and          explored the characters.  We also looked at the different people involved in bringing a book from idea to final publication.

There was also time for book signing afterwards.

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for Tinies, Teens and Writers

I’ll be there this weekend so why not come along whatever age you are!
Wigtown Spring Weekend Events –
For teenagers and those interested in writing for them..…….
SATURDAY 30th April 3pm-4pm County Buildings (£3)
Linda Strachan talks about her latest book DEAD BOY TALKING, and her award-winning novel SPIDER.
…
and on the SUNDAY 1st May for the younger ones……
11am-12noon County Buildings
HAMISH McHAGGIS stories (age 4-10, £3)

To book tickets please contact 01988 403222.