Critically acclaimed author, Marcus Sedgwick, visited Epsom on Monday to give a talk to M4 pupils. 
The prize winning author of over 20 novels for children and young adults, including My Swordhand is Singing and his latest work, White Crow, which was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Book Prize, spent the afternoon speaking about his work.
Prior to the talk, a group of M4 pupils, together with seven visiting Year 9 and 10 pupils and Librarian Laine Bennet from the Beacon School in Banstead, gathered in the Library to ask Marcus questions about his writing and his life.
He then addressed the entire M4 year group in Main Hall, where he spoke about his motivation for writing, the inspiration behind his novels and how he planned his writing.
An inspirational speaker, Marcus was keen to instill in the pupils a sense of self-belief that they too could do a job like his.
Born in Kent in 1968, Marcus has a degree in politics from Bath University. He worked as a bookseller and in publishing before becoming a writer in 1994.
He is also a talented illustrator and musician and is currently Author-in-Residence at Bath University, where he leads workshops and mentors creative writing students.
"We have established a rolling programme of visits by successful authors like Marcus and this is one of the ways in which we enrich the curriculum and nurture a love of reading," said College Librarian, Sally Perry, who organised the visit.