On Thursday, I visited Oxford High School for the Oxfordshire Book Awards 2015. I grew up in Oxford, and went to primary school at an Oxford school, the Dragon (yes, really, that is its name), so I am beyond honoured that Murder Most Unladylike was chosen as the 2015 winner of the Primary Novel award, voted for entirely by Oxfordshire children.

I was in excellent company, too – the picture book award was won by Sue Heap and Teresa Heapy’s Very Little Red Riding Hood, and the secondary novel award went to Marcus Sedgwick’s She is Not Invisible, with Jo Cotterill’s Looking at the Stars highly commended. Marcus couldn’t attend (for the very good reason that he now lives in another country), but Jo, Sue and Teresa were all there. And we all got cakes!

The presentation ceremony was wonderful – representatives from the voting schools were there (as well as my parents, my special guests for the day), and we all had a chance to talk about our books and take questions from the kids. Reviews of each of the books were read out on stage (an amazing surprise) – I have to especially thank Isobelle and Neil for their incredibly kind words about Murder Most Unladylike.

We were all presented with the most beautiful award trophies, as well as flowers – I felt like a very lucky author. Afterwards all of the authors signed our books and talked to the kids – it was such an honour to meet them all, and I had a brilliant time. And, of course, we all had a very delicious bunbreak!

Thank you, Oxfordshire!