I am involved with my local history society which means I get to handle original archives and find out about people's lives which is always a good thing for a writer. I also go to the gym three times a week where I pathetically attempt to stave off 'writer's bum' but it isn't working. I enjoy the cinema, finding bargains in fleamarkets, drinking coffee with friends and watching football. I go to watch Huddersfield Town whenever I can.

Go to www.wordpool.co.uk for more questions and answers about Helena Pielichaty.

•	I am available for school visits but need at least three months advance notice.
•	I can do whole school assemblies, workshops about writing with individual classes and straightforward talks. I cover the whole of Key Stage 2 and 3 but don't mind meeting Key Stage 1 pupils for a short 15-20 minute session.
•	I will undertake up to three 1 hour sessions a day for straightforward talks or two 1½ hour sessions of creative writing, beginning no earlier than 9.15 - 9.30am. A combination of talks and creative writing is also possible. Please let me know your preferences at the time of booking.
•	I also give talks to interested adult groups such as librarians or book groups.
•	For details of fees and availability contact the publicity department at OUP on (01865) 353090 or see my profile on the excellent website www.contactanauthor.co.uk

Wi-aye man! Here's an email from a secondary school librarian near Halifax:

PIELICHATY, Helena From: Halifax Librarian To: PIELICHATY, Helena Subject: Your visit to our school Just a few lines to thank you for such an excellent morning. Our best author visit yet. I was almost overwhelmed at lunchtime by hordes of children all determined to enter the quiz and win the pack of books. It was a measure of your success that the child with Asperger's never 'went off' for a full hour - something almost unheard of!

From Chloe Murphy Y5 of St Peter at Gowts Primary, Lincoln
'Thank you so much for coming in. Your visit really inspired me to write really good stories. After your visit, I rewrote my story and thankfully, with your brilliant tips, I wrote it much better.'

'Thank you for coming and telling us the fantastic story about the Twiglet story which was very funny.'
Dean Y6, John Blow Primary School

From Margaret Starr, Bosworth Community College, Leicester:
'We very much appreciated your visit to Bosworth College. Your presentations were most inspiring and entertaining and all the feedback from students was excellent. GCSE and A level students alike said their workshop was enjoyable and helpful and gave them plenty of ideas to take away and try.'

From Barbara Wood, Youth Services Manager:
'Thank you so much for the work you did in Gateshead as part of this year's Northern Children's Book Festival. Your sessions were excellent - stimulating and enjoyable - and we felt the children got a lot from them.'

Part of the feedback from the 'Read on Up' Book Festival, Lincolnshire:
'I really liked the visit form the author and thought it was really cool when she let us get up and act out the plays from the stories.'