Author Dave Rudden enchants Hartlepool audience at event

He met 170 pupils from the Clavering, Golden Flatts and Ward Jackson primary schools at a pre-booked event at Clavering Primary School, in Clavering Road.

The talk was organised by Hartlepool’s Libraries in the latest of their very popular author visits for schools.

Dave talked to the children about his debut novel Knights Of The Borrowed Dark, drawing them into the fantasy world of the book with interactive elements and powerful readings and gave them inspiration for their own reading and writing.

Knights Of The Borrowed Dark is publisher Penguin Random House’s biggest debut fiction release of 2016. It is the first in an extraordinary adventure trilogy from this debut Irish novelist – an action-packed modern fantasy novel brimming with imagination and dark magic.

Orphan Denizen Hardwick finds himself caught up in a secret and ancient battle between an order of magic-wielding humans – the Knights of Borrowed Dark – and a shadowy race of monsters known as Tenebrous and their powerful master the Endless King.

Through dark magic, dark humour, monsters, classy writing and a 13-year-old hero, who believes heroism should be optional, Knights Of The Borrowed Dark explores the depths of what it is to be a young person today, including the cynicism, conflicts and complicated relationships.

Heather Bellwood, Hartlepool Borough Council’s children’s and outreach librarian, said: “Our author events for young people just keep going from strength to strength and we are absolutely delighted by the response we get, both from the youngsters and the authors.

“It’s well proven that meeting a writer face-to-face and hearing them talk about their books has a major impact on children’s interest in books and reading.”