Having published her new children’s book, Impossible Creatures on Thursday 14th September, the multiple award-winning Katherine Rundell began her nationwide tour to promote the book to schoolchildren here, at Ardingly on Monday 18th September. Impossible Creatures is Katherine’s first children’s book in four years, and is also the first book in a forthcoming trilogy. It is her first step into the world of fantasy fiction. Described as the children’s publishing event of the year, it has launched to glowing reviews from fellow authors and in the national press. Michael Morpurgo said “There was Tolkien, there is Pullman, and now there is Katherine Rundell. Wondrous invention, marvellous writing. This is her best book yet, and that’s saying something”.
Ardingly welcomed guests and staff from five local schools to attend the talk given by Katherine. Everyone there, children and adults alike, was enthralled by her stories about her life as a writer, her descriptions of the mythical creatures from her book and everything from tightrope walking, to flying a plane, to her account of the time she ate a tarantula in the name of research! Sixth Form English Literature students were also treated to a dazzling insight into the life and works of John Donne by Katherine, for which she won the Baillie Gifford prize, described by the judges as a “glorious celebration” of his work and life! Katherine generously expounded on her love for ‘the greatest love poet in the English, and perhaps any, language’, providing a witty and illuminating masterclass in literary analysis and biography.
