When Griselda was asked if she would consider visiting the Prep school to speak to the pupils in years 7 and 8 about her books she did not hesitate for a moment.  To make the most of her trip from Oxford she arrived at the College in the morning for a tour of her old school and was invited to stay for lunch.

Griselda was among the first cohort of girls admitted into the Sixth Form. She found many interesting references to this when she visited the school Archive.

At the Prep Griselda introduced pupils to the origins of Gothic literature, tracing how early writers built the foundations of the first ghost stories. This proved a timely connection for our pupils, who have just begun studying Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in their English lessons. Her insights offered a deeper understanding of the genre and brought their classroom learning vividly to life.

Griselda also revealed her own creative process, outlining the three essential ingredients she believes every story needs - a character, a setting and a problem.

With these elements in place, she explained, ideas begin to grow, shift and take shape, eventually blossoming into a fully realised narrative.

Pupils were treated to a reading from her newest book, ‘The Fall of a Sparrow’, a moment that captured the room’s attention and left many eager to discover what happens next. The session concluded with a book signing, giving pupils the chance to meet Griselda individually and take home their own signed copies.

This was a fantastic opportunity for our young writers to learn from an accomplished author and to ignite their passion for reading and writing.