The Intermediate Phase learners from Christ Preparatory School and College attended a writing workshop on April 7 with Hayley Chewins, an author who has published books worldwide.
Chewins writes books about magical girls with secrets. Her debut novel, The Turnaway Girls, was published in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, and has also been translated into Polish and Hungarian.
The Turnaway Girls was a Kirkus best book in 2018 and made the American Library Association’s Amelia Bloomer list of best feminist books for young readers.
Her second book, The Sisters of Straygarden Place, won the Foreword Indies gold award for juvenile fiction, was an Amazon editors’ pick, and received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly.
The workshop started off, teaching the Grade 5 and 6 learners how to write a story and get their imagination flowing. Hayley had them complete a few tasks to demonstrate how many authors begin with a story and techniques that may help them, such as Free Writing.
“Each learner wrote at least a paragraph, thanks to Hayley, and we’re very excited to learn that being an author may not be as difficult as it seems,” said Dawn Schmitz Christ Church’s marketing manager.
With the excitement flowing, there were many questions to be asked about the life of an author. Hayley loved all the questions and seemed to be having just as much fun as the learners.
The learners all left the hall with smiles on their faces and inspiration in their hearts, ready to start a new adventure of being an author.
“Thank you to Hayley Chewins for inspiring so many, as well as signing autographs for the learners. Her books are available in the school library, as well as for personal purchase from many outlets.
“We wish you luck, Hayley, with your next books. We will be sure to add them to our library as soon as they are released,” concluded Schmitz
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