Author aims to get Dingwall teenagers excited about reading

Alan Bissett, author of “Boy racers” and “The incredible Adam Spark”, made a visit to Dingwall School and Community Library today (19 February) to talk to an audience of 1st – 4th year pupils and read from his work.

The aim of his visit was to get teenagers, and particularly boys, excited about reading.

In October 2009, the teenage reading group at Dingwall Academy, “Bookworms United”, successfully bid for part funding from the Scottish Book Trust’s ‘Live Literature’ programme.  Bookworms United is a lively group which meets once a fortnight after school in Dingwall Community Library to talk about books they have read.  They were keen to encourage more boys to read and to join their group, and thought Alan would be the ideal author to do this.

The Bookworms United teenagers raised money for the visit by holding “Books and baking” sales in Dingwall Academy at lunchtimes.  The group, run by Library staff Susan Kruse and Janet Hughes, were delighted to meet Alan and talk to him about his work, which includes performing, song writing, plays and film making as well as writing novels.