Guestling author published at 14

The year 10 student was a founder member of the Buckswood Authors Club, specifically set up to inspire the many students at Buckswood with advanced literacy skills and creative imagination.

“I began working on my book Whisper of the Dragon in 2009,” said Michael, “and it runs to about 90,000 words. It is part science-fiction and part fantasy and it’s great to see my book in hardback with its own dust cover.”

Michael follows in the footsteps of Buckswood students, Jamie Osborne and Luke Smith, who have both published books of short stories. They, like Michael, were also members of the Authors Club, which meets every Wednesday evening.

Buckswood is no stranger to literary success. A number of teachers are published authors and many of the children in the junior school at Buckswood have had stories and poems published in a series of paperbacks entitled, Buckswood Young Writers, which showcases the literary talent within the school.

Michael commented: “I’d love to be a professional writer but I’d like to be a doctor too.

“Perhaps I could set my plots in hospitals!”