A NOVELIST who had her first book published at the age of 15 has returned to her former school to inspire the next generation of young writers.
Students at St Michael’s Academy, Billingham, spent the afternoon with local author Lauriane Povey in a literacy workshop to help motivate their creative writing and reading skills.
Lauriane, 18, a former student at St Michael’s Academy, wrote her first book, Living A Nightmare, when she was just 13-years-old.
Her second book, Veil of Anonymity, which went to print earlier this year, was also written while still a pupil at the school.
“I started putting together stories when I was about seven-years-old and knew then that one day I wanted to write a book,” said Lauriane, of Billingham.
“The inspiration for Living A Nightmare came to me in a series of dreams when I was 12.
“I dreamt that my granddad had died in a car crash then I dreamt that I had knowledge of the future which could prevent people from dying. All these formed the basis for the book and the characters and plot started to develop from there.”
Despite being a published author in Year 11 Lauriane, a straight A student, kept her writing a secret from teachers and friends at the school.
“I think everyone was surprised when I told them that I had written a book,” she said.
“I wasn’t really keen on English at school so I don’t think my teachers really expected me to do anything like that – although they were really happy for me when I brought in the first published copy of the book.
“To me writing just comes naturally. I always have a head full of stories and can’t understand why everyone isn’t an author.”
Lauriane, who is set to go to Durham University later this year to study international relations, is currently working on her third novel, Moonlight Possession, and is also set to follow up Living A Nightmare with a sequel later in the year.
“It’s been great coming back to my old school, although slightly strange to see some of my former teachers, to help inspire pupils with their reading and writing. “I have some very fond memories of St Michael’s and it is especially nice to see that they have copies of my book in the school library.”
Student Megan Johnson, 12, of Billingham, added: “It was really interesting listening to Lauriane and finding out how she gets her ideas for writing her books. “Its good to know that we have a famous author who wrote her books while she was a pupil here at St Michael’s Academy.”
