Author's Virtual Visit to Barnhill

Prior to the event, students were asked to submit questions that Malorie would answer during the session and they put together the list below:

1. Which book has most inspired you?  The Colour Purple by Alice Walker
2. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?  Mid twenties
3. What makes a great story?  Be original and choose themes that you care about
4. What is the most difficult part of writing a book? Making characters that are believable
5. What is your favorite part of being an author? Daydreaming and making up stories for a living

Barnhill students who attended this online event, really enjoyed it and listened to Malorie Blackman`s journey as a reader and an author since she published her first book. 

Our Learning Resource Manager, Ms Ockali who organised the event, said that she found Malorie's response to the question about overcoming rejections very inspirational.  

Malorie Blackman: `I am not going to lie; it was really hard. I did get upset. It took me over 2 years to get published. It was for 8-9 different books. Does anyone know how many rejections I had? It was 82. It took a while.  I did come that close to giving up. 

But then I did a deal with myself: I will wait until I got my thousandth rejection and then I will have a serious think that writing is not for me. So luckily, I got it at 82. But I would not give up.`