On one of the coldest days of the year so far, Marcus Sedgwick transported a willing group of girls from HMSG back to the forests of Transylvania.  They were attempting to find a vampire.  Anyone who has read My Sword Hand is Singing will be familiar with the eerie chill which descends as the undead stalk a remote village.  Marcus was relieved to find that none of the girls actually believed in vampires but there was no doubt that they were very interested.

The author led them on an exploratory history of the vampire in both literature and film – from Twilight, to Dracula, to Transylvanian folk tales.  He read a little from what is probably his best known book:  My Sword Hand is Singing and also from a folk tale which had influenced the novel.  He also introduced the audience to the sequel to Swordhand – The Kiss of Death I as well as his latest novel White Crow.

Before the presentation ended Mrs. Green asked Marcus to present Alicia with a copy of White Crow.  Reading of the author’s titles has been brisk since the beginning of term but during the last few weeks Alicia read every title available by Marcus in the library.  White Crow was the only one she hadn’t been able to obtain and so Marcus was pleased to give her a special signed copy.