Mr Heffernan was in Tamworth recently delighting students at St Nicholas’ Primary, St Joseph’s and St Edward’s with tales of ghosts and ghouls, beloved pets and the plight of a young boy growing up in war-torn Afghanistan.

The looks on the kids’ faces said it all, as they sat enthralled by the man who’s fast become 

a favourite of young readers everywhere after giving up farming for full time writing seven years ago.

St Edward’s librarian Jackie Barratt said the three schools had combined to invite Mr Heffernan to Tamworth after seeing him at a library conference in Armidale earlier in the year.

While in town he conducted book talk sessions and writing workshops with students from years 2 to 6, including reading excerpts from his latest – and 52nd – book Naveed, based on the life of a young boy in Afghanistan.

Ms Barrett said the students had been completely engaged by Mr Heffernan’s stories and the discussions around them and she was sure the experience would stay with many of them, as well as encouraging a love of reading in those where it hadn’t been before.

“I hope that some of the children who are reluctant readers will want to pick up his books now and that may lead them into other books,” she said.