A FORMER Kingsmead Community School student and acclaimed teen fiction author visited the school to speak to year eight and nine pupils about her life and work.

Ally Kennen's first book Beast has been nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2007 - the winner of this award will be announced in London today (Thursday).

Ally grew up on a farm in Huish Champflower, a couple of miles from Wiveliscombe and attended Wiveliscombe Primary and Kingsmead Community Schools.

Kingsmead students were able to look at the Japanese book as well as the Advanced Proof, which she signed and gave to the school, as well as the American edition.

Ally has a 3-book contract and she is currently writing her latest book Bedlam.

Her tips to Kingsmead students included reading lots and cutting anything that doesn't work.