Local author and blogger, Alice Castle, gave our first Wollstonecraft lecture of the year to students, parents and members of the local community on Monday 17 September.

She shared her experiences and top tips on writing novels and getting published, as well as talking about the inspiration and development of her crime fiction novels themselves. There are many aspiring novelists among the school’s students, for whom this lecture was doubly exciting and inspiring.

Alice’s recent London based work has included Girl in the Gallery and Death in Dulwich, a popular ‘whodunit’ series soon to be joined by two highly anticipated new novels – Calamity in Camberwell and Homicide in Herne Hill. Her books feature a feisty, independent, feminist, single mother heroine who finds the solution “all by herself.” Death in Dulwich has been nominated for the Staunch Book Prize, a literary prize awarded to a novel in the thriller genre in which no woman is beaten, stalked, sexually exploited, raped or murdered.

Following the talk, students, parents and staff enjoyed a book signing and an opportunity to meet with Alice. After the event Alice said “it was a real pleasure to meet such bright girls with really thought-provoking questions.”

The school often opens its doors to popular writers, and has hosted Geek Girl author Holly Smale and Romantic Outlaws author Charlotte Gordon for talks and book signings in recent months.

Out next Wollstonecraft lecture “Madam Tussauds: behind the curtain” will be on 1st October and we will welcome Dan Woodley, Sculptor from Madam Tussards.