English author and black belt martial artist Chris Bradford paid us a visit on Monday. Best known for his children's fictional series, 'Young Samurai' and ‘ BODYGUARD’, Chris’ books are published in 22 languages and have garnered more than 34 children’s book award nominations around the world.
Chris explained to the pupils that as an author he employs a technique he terms ‘method-writing’. For his ‘Young Samurai’ series, he trained in samurai swordsmanship, karate, ninjutsu and earned his black belt in Zen Kyu Shin taijutsu. For his ‘BODYGUARD’ series, Chris embarked on an intensive close-protection course to become a qualified professional bodyguard. His favourite quote is ‘The best bodyguards are the ones no one notices’ and he explained to the pupils that this quote was the inspiration behind his ‘BODYGUARD’ series.
During his presentation, he outlined how he believes that his ‘method-writing’ approach is the most effective way of crafting authentic character portrayals that resonate with the audience. It was also an interactive experience for the pupils including a live re-enactment of a scene from one of his books, a lesson in bodyguard formation and tips on how to spot if you’re being followed!
Delving into character development, Chris introduced his book's protagonists and expanded on their story arcs, providing a real insight into how he structures his novels.
The session concluded with an engaging Q&A session with our pupils, followed by a book signing and a sneak peek at his latest release.
Author visits like this one are a perfect way to gain an insight into the writing process. They also encourage young people to aspire to be creative themselves and put something great out into the world for others to enjoy!
