We were delighted to welcome Simon Fox, author of the action‑packed thriller Avalanche, for a brilliant author visit that had pupils gripped from start to finish. Simon shared the exciting inspiration behind his book following 12‑year‑old Tom, whose quiet holiday in a remote ski cottage takes a dramatic turn when terrorists break in to steal his mum’s biotech secrets. He explained how the strongest stories are always driven by change, and how shifting a hero’s goals keeps readers fully engaged.
During his writing workshops, Simon guided pupils through his five key elements of a great story, drawing on well‑known examples from Harry Potter to Star Wars to show how every compelling narrative hinges on a character whose plans constantly evolve. Pupils then tried crafting story ideas of their own, quickly discovering the joy of making life as challenging as possible for their characters.
It was an inspiring, energetic session and everyone left buzzing with new storytelling skills and ideas.
