Author to return home for busy tour

IAN BUNTING

An Airdrie author is preparing for a tour of her home town which will include a return to her old school.

Julie Hamill’s book bonanza begins with a talk and signing event at Airdrie library on Tuesday.

The 47- year- old, who now lives in London, will cap her time back home with visits to Airdrie secondary schools St Margaret’s High – which she attended – Caldervale High and Airdrie Academy, as well as Dalziel High in Motherwell, next week.

Julie will pass on her literary wisdom to National 5 and Higher pupils at all four schools.

Her tour of the schools was arranged by her former teacher Robert Birch who is a big fan of her novels Frank and Jackie, which are both set in the streets of Airdrie.

Julie explained: “I cannot wait to visit the schools to help inspire students in the creative writing aspect of English.

“The tour came about after my maths teacher from St Margaret’s High, Robert Birch, who is now rector at Dalziel High, read my books and invited me to speak to pupils; he then got the other Airdrie schools involved.

“I really admire hard working teachers and there is no way that my pal Gillian and I could have passed maths without Mr Birch.

“He is a teacher in a million and it is extremely kind of him to invite me to do this project.

“I’m very excited to talk and inspire the students at all the local schools, especially my old stomping ground at St Margaret’s High; I hear the DJ booth is still in the hall!”

Mr Birch added: “I loved the story of Frank and his family; Julie’s writing is full of warmth and heart.

“I think we can all identify with the characters because we know people just like them.

“I enjoyed reading Jackie and remembering Airdrie in the 1980s; and there were so many small details that brought back a memory or a sense of place and time.

“A number of young people in my school are reading and enjoying the book which tells a story they can relate to in a community they can identify with.

“I remember Julie well from her days at school. She was a gifted young person then and it is great to see her using her creativity with such a great eye for detail and a strong sense of affection for her home town.

“It’s good to see she’s still a very good talker, something I remember her doing a lot of in class!”

Julie’s appearance at Airdrie library on Tuesday, which starts at 2pm, will see her discuss her Frank and Jackie books and autograph copies of both.

The keen writer has fond memories of the venue, saying: “I remember studying for my O levels at Airdrie library; it was always a very welcoming place for everyone.

“While reading at one of the library desks, I plucked up the courage to talk to a boy who was also revising and sipping a carton of milk.

“I did my best to impress him but only managed to whisper, ‘Do you like milk?’

“It was a rubbish question. He was baffled and after a cringey, awkward moment of silence I ran out, down the stone steps back home.

“Thirty years later I make my return to the historic building to face the ghost of milkgate!”

Visit www.atriumtalent.com/talent/ julie-hamill-agent-julie-hamill-writerbroadcaster/ for further details about Julie and her work.