Brentwood School pupils were honoured to meet popular children's author Addy Farmer during their English class last week. Addy writes across the age ranges from picture book to age 12 plus.

The children enjoyed listening to Addy speak about the writing processes that she uses which include making a story board, the need to keep a notebook for ideas, phrases/words and sensory experiences and how one must draft and redraft.  The class also discussed books that they liked after Addy shared some of her favourite ones. 

Addy read from her own work "Siddharth and Rinki" a picture book about Siddharth, a boy new to this country and new to a school and how he finds friendship. The class enthusiastically asked questions about her background as a writer and gained valuable tips for their own writing.

Addy commented, "I love ghost stories, funny stuff and sad pieces of writing. My goal is to write an unputdownable, sad and yet amusing ghost story."

Originally not a writer, Addy joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and then helped to run it. Her first published piece was a short story; followed by a poem in 'Look Out! The Teachers are Coming!' Then a wonderful editor at Walker Books took a story, shook it about a bit and published, ‘Grandad's Bench' last year. Her picture book, ‘Siddharth and Rinki' has also recently been published by Tamarind.