Ballymena continued…
Strange as it sounds, writing is only part of writer’s life. For children’s writers,
library visits and school events are as important as publishing
the books. I average between twenty and forty school visits a year. Mostly I can
get to the school and back home in a day but sometimes, like with my visit to
Ballymena, that’s impossible and I have to stay in an hotel. I don’t mind; it’s part
of the adventure but there’s always the problem of what to do after the sessions have finished. I
am usually back in my hotel by half past three. What then? I know for some writers it means getting straight
back to their work in progress but I’m too shattered. Instead, I go for a walk, buy the local newspaper and
find a cafe somewhere. No offence to the schools I visit but usually the coffee is instant and I need
an Americano with cream somewhere along the way.
After that, if the weather’s OK, I have a look round. Ballymena town centre is a strange place in that
it doesn’t seem to have a centre; no natural point to which you gravitate. It did have a lot of barbers’ shops
though! 
Back in the hotel, I’ll go to the restaurant and have my evening meal. Sometimes I
I am aware I’m the only woman dining on my own but I’m usually too engrossed in
a book to let it bother me. I began ‘Then’ by Morris Gleitzman before my starter on
Wednesday and finished it over a pot of tea in the lounge by 8.00pm. I hope
nobody saw me crying at the sad bits!
At the end of a good visit I feel a sense of loss. School Librarians tend to be such warm-hearted
people and easy to get along with; David, Pamela, Jenny and Valerie were no exception this time. In fact,
everyone was really welcoming and I even got a proper coffee and a pancake at St Pius X school.
I must apologise to the pupils at Slemish Integrated College because I didn’t get a photograph of
them. I would also like to thank the two pupils at Groggon Primary, Chloe and Steven, for giving me their
precious stories to take home with me. What an honour.
Chloe's story
Steven's diary
Things I’ll remember most about my three days in Ballymena:
1. Not understanding poor Ben when he told me his name. I kept calling him Berne!
2. The friendliness of the taxi drivers taking me to and from the cinema.
3. Having a whole row to myself in the cinema when I watched Slumdog Millionaire
4. The amazing display Alice put up ahead of my visit to St Pius X
5. The fit of giggles from my ’statue’ during the Danny Ogle extract at Carnaghts School
6. The great converstation with some of the Maine Integrated PS pupils about being scared
7. Miss McCosh’s name. I am so pinching that for a character!
OK. World Book Day next… Harrogate here I come!