What a scream for Honiton students

Best selling author Darren Shan entertains students at Honiton Comunity College.

There was a ghoulish treat in store for students at Honiton Community College when a master of horror visited the town.

Best-selling children’s author Darren Shan, who has penned popular titles including Cirque Du Freak and The Sage of Larten Crepsley, visited the college as part of his latest book tour.

Darren, who has released his 30th book, Palace of the Damned - The Saga of Larten Crepsley, took time to visit Year 7 students to talk about the world of vampires and werewolves and spoke about how he became a writer.

Screams and shrieks filled the assembly hall as a handful of lucky students were chosen to re-enact a scene with Darren from his first children’s book, Cirque Du Freak.

This was followed by another reading and a question and answer session.

Darren even stayed behind to sign copies of his books and had some words of advice for budding young writers.

He said: “The more you write, the more you learn.

“Just keep on writing.”

One of Darren’s number one fans, Neve Green, said: “I couldn’t believe Darren was coming to our school.

“I was so excited about it.

“It has been very interesting. I can’t wait to read his new book.”

The visit proved popular with both students and teachers at the college.

Sarah Flynn, head of English at the college, said: “Hopefully, it will have inspired a few budding writers.

“It is a rare opportunity and something different for the college. It is something the students will remember.

“In the college we are very interested in trying to create a reading culture and visits like this are all a part of it.”