Nicola Morgan, the award-winning Scottish children’s author, recently visited St Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, where she spoke to a group of pupils about her writing, her style and the inspiration for her ideas.

The pupils listened with fascination as Miss Morgan, who has now had more than 80 books published, brought the books to life.

“For as long as I can remember, I have loved messing around with words,” she explained. “I love the power of words, the sounds they make and the different pictures they conjure. When I write, I am playing with words, and I always read my work aloud so I can hear it, too.