A best-selling author has revealed to school pupils from across Chester the secret of her success.

Cathy Cassidy, who has more than 20 books to her name, was speaking to more than 500 students from Cheshire West and Chester during a national book tour.

Her talk took place at Bishops’ Blue Coat Church of England High School in Chester.

A group of its students were joined by pupils from Boughton Heath Primary, Cherry Grove Primary, Christleton High School, Greenfields Primary, Helsby High School, Huntington Primary, Kelsall Primary, Saighton CE Primary, Shocklach Oviatt Primary, St Werburgh’s and St Columba’s Catholic Primary, Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, Ellesmere Port Christ Church CE Primary, Tarporley High, Victoria Road Primary, Weaverham High and Whitby High among others.

Cathy said: “I was addicted to daydreaming and I was always a bookworm. I would make up stories and characters and that’s where it all started for me.

“Now I do it for a living so that’s where daydreaming has got me. I never would have believed that I could be paid for writing stories and I’ve also been lucky enough to travel all over the world meeting my readers.”

Cathy talked about her former career as an agony aunt on teen magazines and how she writes her stories. She also held a quiz and a question-and-answer session before signing books.

Cllr Mark Stocks, the borough’s executive member for children and young people, said: “Reading and indeed the love of reading is very important and the event was extremely popular.

“This style of event may well be the first of many in the future and I am sure that the pupils will benefit from meeting their favourite writer face-to-face.”

The visit was organised by Clare Ashbee, children and young people’s specialist in the borough’s libraries as part of plans to develop more author events.

“This event has been a huge success and we are hoping to bring more high profile authors to Cheshire West and Chester to encourage children to read for pleasure,” she commented.

Deputy headteacher at Bishops’ High Peter Coates said: “We were thrilled to welcome so many students to this wonderful event and pleased that Cheshire West and Chester Library Service and Cathy chose The Bishops’ High School as a venue .

“We have great facilities here, and are keen to work in partnership with the Library Service on future projects.”