My first reading

The 17th of December 2024 is not a day I'm likely forget. That is the day I was invited to do my first reading of my book since I became a published author in 2022. I was going to Leigh Academy in Bearsted in Kent and give a reading to year three children of my first book, The adventures of Harry Alliss and friends. However, the Principal thought that it would be good in the first instance if I introduced myself and explained how I became an author. Having been given this great opportunity, I wanted to do well in front of the children. There's an old adage that I have used throughout my professional career that has served me well.  

'Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.' 

I set about preparing what I was going to say and commit it to memory. I didn't want to read a prepared script, as children like people to be natural with them.

On the day I stood in the large school hall waiting for the children to come in. They trooped in and sat in neat lines with their legs crossed looking directly at me. Clearly, they wondered who this person was and more importantly what he was about to say to them. With an extremely brief introduction by the Head, I was left to address 120 children who had by now come and sat in the hall. You could say that it may have seemed quite dauting, yet somehow, I didn't feel it.

I started with a 'Good morning children' and then led into what I was going to say. In essence it was a homily about my life and where I had come from. The children listened and watched me intently.  After a short while I asked a question. Lots of hands went up. I knew then that I had their attention and was telling them something interesting. In all I spoke for nearly an hour including a short reading from my first book. It felt right to read the very first story I had ever written. Harry and the Secret Garden.

When I had finished and thanked the children for attending, they all clapped me. It was sincere and was a very lovely and emotional moment for me. It somehow coalesced everything that I had done as an author in that moment in time.

As a follow-up to that day the Head wrote to me thanking me. She wrote.....

'I haven't expressed to you how inspired the children and adults are following your visit. As we discussed, although the children were sitting for a long time, they took in every word. The teachers are excited to be working with you and one of the Teaching Assistants (TA) said to me that she and another TA felt inspired to be able to write a book!'

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