AUTHOR Sally Gardner visited Dorcan Academy yesterday to inspire a new generation of writers.

The award-winner gave a talk, followed by a reading from her latest release The Door That Led To Where and then signed copies of her book.

Fiona Hardcastle, Dorcan Academy’s learning centre manager, said: “It was just brilliant as she is a very inspirational author. I think the students were really engrossed in what she was saying.

“She spoke about the difficulties she had to overcome. She has dyslexia and was written off at school but she worked hard, went to university and followed her dreams.

“The pupils were completely gripped by what she had to say. Sally had great humour and connected well and we were delighted to welcome her as it is not every day you have an award-winning author coming in.”