AN appreciative audience of children and adult readers were enthralled by acclaimed author Joan Lingard's readings from her novels at Portlethen Academy on Tuesday.
Her visit to the school was the latest event in the popular SALT (Song, Art, Literature and Theatre) festival, which continues until November.
Ann Park, Fishermoss School head teacher and SALT Festival organiser, introduced Mrs Lingard as the origi
nal inspiration for the festival.
She said: "Joan Lingard's visit to Portlethen Library a year ago was so entertaining and interesting that I became determined to bring her back with other authors to meet local children and to help inspire them with an enthusiasm for books.
"We were also delighted to have The Learning Curve filming the author session for inclusion on the Learning and Teaching Scotland best practice website."
Many of the youngsters in the audience were keen to ask Mrs Lingard questions about where she gets the ideas for her books, what novels she enjoys reading, and her origins as a writer.
They particularly enjoyed hearing that she decided to become a novelist at the early age of eleven - one day she complained to her mother that she had nothing to read, so her mother told her she should write something herself - and she hasn't stopped since.
Mrs Lingard was born in Edinburgh but grew up in Belfast where she lived until she was 18. She is the internationally renowned author of over 50 novels. She has three grown up daughters and now lives permanently in Edinburgh with her Canadian husband.
She received the prestigious West German award the Buxthuderbulle in 1986 for "Across the Barricades". "Tug Of War" has also received great success, shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal 1989, The Federation of Children's Book Group Award 1989, runner up in the Lancashire Children's Book Club of the year 1990 and shortlisted for the Sheffield Book Award.
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