Author to inspire pupils at Shrewsbury school visit

Lauren James, who began her writing career while still at school, will visit The Priory School on March 19.

During the day, Lauren will be talking about her writing journey to all of year 8 & 9, reading from her latest book and answering questions. She will also be signing books in the school library meaning all students across the school will get the opportunity to meet her in person.

Lauren, who is based in the West Midlands, started writing during secondary school English classes, because she couldn’t stop thinking about a couple who kept falling in love throughout history. She sold the rights to the novel when she was 21, whilst she was still at university.

Her books have now sold over 50,000 copies in the UK alone, and been translated into five languages worldwide. She has been described as ‘Gripping romantic sci-fi’ by the Wall Street Journal and ‘A strange, witty, compulsively unpredictable read which blows most of its new YA-suspense brethren out of the water’ by Entertainment Weekly.

Her other novels include The Last Beginning, named one of the best LGBT-inclusive works for young adults by the Independent, and The Loneliest Girl in the Universe, which was inspired by a Physics calculation she was assigned at university. Lauren is a passionate advocate of STEM further education, and all of her books feature female scientists in prominent roles. Her upcoming book The Quiet at the End of the World considers the legacy and evolution of the human race into the far future.

"The school library is a rich, engaging and important environment to the school community, and we are delighted to be able to host a popular author such as Lauren James who writes books about extraordinary settings and exceptional characters. It is a genuinely exciting opportunity for Priory students to spend time with a published author," said Ruth Shaw, head of the school's English Department.