CELEBRATED author Yvonne Coppard entertained pupils in Rickmansworth with anecdotes and advice, as part of St Joan of Arc School's Book Week.

Designed to encourage reading among students, the event, held last week, involved a host of activities, including a literary quiz and a trip to Hertfordshire County Council's Schools Library Service (SLS) in Hatfield.

During the trip on Wednesday, July 12, year seven student Stephanie Drew, 12, was presented with first prize in the secondary schools' section of the SLS's 21st Century competition.

Competitors were asked to draw or paint their vision of a 21st Century library, and Stephanie's entry was on display for all to see.

The question and answer sessions between Coppard, author of teen fiction, and pupils - held last Thursday - were a huge success, according to the school's library manager Ms Nicola Mulcahy.

A former English teacher with an interest in writing, Coppard had her first book published 16 years ago. She has just published her fifteenth book, and has three more in the pipeline.

Despite having written non-fiction books on fostering and child protection, she said she prefered to write children's fiction, as she neded to be disciplined.

Coppard said: 'You cannot just fill space. Teenagers are a very sophisticated audience and can spot if you are being pretentious. They want a story that reflects their life.'

As a mother, Coppard uses her teenage children as sources of information for her books.

She said: 'I spend a lot of time listening in. I even hang around bus stops listening for ideas.

'The reason I am here today is to share my enthusiasm for writing and books.'

In fact, one of her best known books, Bully, is currently being staged by Hull Truck Theatre in Hull, which plans to take the play on tour.

Meanwhile, young readers can look forward to two new titles - The Odd Couple and To Be a Millionaire - due to be published later this year.

Praising the pupils' enthusiasm for the events on offer, Ms Mulcahy said: 'The pupils have been very positive and excited, and have really benefited from the week.'

wfielder@london.newsquest.co.uk

Author Yvonne Coppard brought literature to life at St Joan of Arc School.

Picture T282508: DAVE HERRING.