A FORMER primary school teacher who took a leap of faith to pursue a career as an author has been visiting schools to talk about his experiences in the hopes of inspiring new generations of writers.

Ian Hornett, who spent ten years at Gosbecks Primary School, released the first part of his trilogy Quarton: The Bridge, via Amazon earlier this year.

And with the help of independent bookshops like Red Lion Books, copies of the sci-fi young adult story are selling well.

Now Mr Hornett, of Mile End, Colchester, is returning to the classroom to try to get youngsters interested in creative writing.

He said: “I have been spending an hour with children in Year 6 talking about writing and trying to encourage them to write.

“I have been discussing what inspires me to write and how you can generate ideas.

“As a teacher we talk to children about these kind of things anyway but now there is a emphasis on grammar, spelling and punctuation, which is important, but sometimes it can stop children from going to the next stage and prevent them from thinking about their ideas.”

So far, Mr Hornett has visited North Primary School, where he still works on a supply basis, and St Mary’s School, in Lexden Road, but he is hoping to visit other schools across the borough.

He said: “The kids have responded quite well do it. They were really interested in meeting an author and it is nice to have an opportunity to talk about my book.”

Mr Hornett has also been looking to the youngsters for inspiration for his next project.

He said: “I have had the children to critique the first section of one of my other books, which is aimed at their age, and give me notes on it.

“I have learned a lot since I started out and it is nice to pass on some knowledge. I have enjoyed the process of learning about the industry and I am doing all these things I never thought I would do like speaking to children in schools.”

Quarton: The Bridge is available as an ebook via Amazon or from Red Lion Books.

Visit ianhornett.com.