This week a group of Year 9 students visited the British Library to see Malorie Blackman in conversation with illustrator Dapo Adeola. She answered questions submitted from schools around the country, on topics such as her inspirations, advice for writers, and weighty subjects such as institutional racism. The audience gained fascinating insight into the writing process, authors’ earnings, and how to deal with rejection when approaching publishers: Malorie received 82 rejection letters before her first book was accepted for publication!

Every school attending received a beautiful edition of “Noughts and Crosses” specially produced by the Folio Society.