ESSEX Book Award shortlisted author, Sam Hepburn, visited students at Great Baddow High School and Moulsham High to talk about her latest novel.

Students were given the opportunity to hear all about her latest book, If You Were Me, and the inspiration behind the thriller.

They were able to quiz the author on what she thought made an interesting novel and how to overcome writer’s block.

Student Elissa Rusbridge, 11, said: “She talked to us about how to makeafantastic crime thriller, showing us the nuts and bolts.

“We learnt lots about her past, including that she was a TV producer for 25 years!

“This was great as she knew how to make an amazing story line, or plot, and how to make it as interesting as possible to draw in the reader.”

Moulsham High librarian Neva Hales said: “I enjoyed hearing her speak about the amount of research that goes in to writing a novel. Good research isaskill which is so important to students.”