Gemma writes…

Hi, I hope this email finds you well. I am reaching out to see if you can help…

I am a private tutor for young children and I have a pupil (who attends Latymer Prep School, London) who has found a love of writing stories. He has read all of your books and often talks about them during our lessons. He recently announced that the authors he reads inspire his own writing and has made him want to become a children’s writer one day too. At 9 years old, this fills me with great joy.
I wanted to ask if you would be happy for me to send you a copy of one of his recent pieces to read? I know he would be thrilled to know that I have sent it onto you!
Please let me know if this is a possibility. Thank you in advance for your time. Best wishes, Gemma

Michelle Replies…

Dear Gemma, it sounds as if you’re an incredibly inspiring and empathetic tutor, and  it’s wonderful that your pupil enjoys writing stories – and clearly is a keen reader too.  It also does you great credit to ask me to read one of his pieces.  However, if I said yes to you, I’d feel honour-bound to say yes to rather a lot of other readers (from all over the world) who also ask the same thing; and that just wouldn’t be practicable.  So with regret, I’m afraid I can’t take it on.  I do hope you understand.  But obviously if your pupil would like to write to me c/o my publishers, they’ll pass the letter on, eventually – and I’d write back.   Thanks again for getting in touch. With best wishes, Michelle