The Library has had a very exciting start to the new school year with our first author visit since Covid. Patrice Lawrence in conjunction with the Budleigh Literary Festival visited the college on Tuesday 13^th September and talked to the new Year 7's about the life experiences that shaped her into the writer that she is today and what it is like to be an author. The students completed a homework based on her new book 'The Elemental Detectives' and produced some fantastic display work, which Patrice loved looking at, especially as this was her first school tour with her new book. At the end of Patrice's talk students had the opportunity to ask lots of questions and collect signed copies of her latest book.

The book is now available in the library for the students to take out and read.

‘Step into a London where magic sparks just beneath the surface: home to the fiery dragons, the airy fumis, the watery chads and the earth-bound magogs. What if the Elements could slow down this new world... or stop it all together?’ 

The Library had an exciting end to the half-term with a second author visit, following the success of Patrice Lawrence's book tour in September. Matt Oldfield the author of the hugely popular Ultimate Football Heroes and Johnny Ball series visited Exmouth Community College on Tuesday the 18^th of October. He spoke to three different year groups including over 450 Year 6 primary students from the local area including Withycombe Raleigh, St Peter's Church of England in Budleigh and Lympstone Church of England primary schools. He spoke to Year 7's and then Year 8's in the afternoon, with a select group of older students who were also keen fans of his books and football, who had applied to attend. In all over 1300 Key Stage 2-4 students came and saw and had the opportunity to ask him questions about his journey as an author, football enthusiast and his future plans.

He particularly enjoyed seeing the selection of work from the Year 7's and 8's which was displayed in the hall, and he was very impressed by the portraits of him that some students had drawn. After each session the students were able to have their books signed which they had either purchased at the event or brought from home.

Many thanks to Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival team and The Bookery for their ongoing support.  

Michael Rosen delighting fans when he visited us in September 2018

Maz delighted KS2 and 3 students with her hilarious presentations. We think she liked our cutout replica of Stonehenge and Elliot!

September 2017 saw Philip Ardagh enthralling students with tall tales from his "Eddie Dickens" series.

Described by The Independent as ‘one of the truly individual voices in British teenage fiction’, Tim Bowler has had his 20 novels for children and young people translated into more than 30 languages.

River Boy was awarded the prestigious Carnegie Medal. He has won many other awards and his Blade series of urban thrillers has kept fans consistently gripped. The Sunday Telegraph has called him a ‘master of the psychological thriller’.

The Devon-based writer will be sharing his ideas and the plots behind his richly engaging books with Year 9 students from Exmouth Community College.

Chris Bradford stopped off at Exmouth Community College on World Book Day and gave two talks - one to pupils from the college and another to youngsters from local primary schools, speaking to nearly 1000 children in total.

Chris gave dynamic presentations, promoting his Bodyguard series of books by conducting real-life bodyguard training exercises with audience members, and his Young Samurai series with the aid of a Samurai sword.

Author of Buffalo Soldier and Apache, Carnegie Medal winning author Tanya Landman gave a series of talks and workshops to Year 8 students in the first of this year’s Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival educational events.

Her time working at Bristol Zoo, often dressed as a bear, and her experiences as an actor have all helped to shape her writing, said the author.

In 2015 ECC Students got to quiz a top author and TV personality when Charlie Higson visited.

Malorie Blackman OBE and former children's laureate was interviewed on a Noughts and Crosses themed stage by three pupils in front of around 400 of their classmates. She gave an engaging talk before signing copies of her books.

Well-known author Robert Muchamore visited ECC in 2011 where workshops were held on his popular books.