STUDENTS got the chance to meet a best-selling American author and quiz her on how to get into the industry.

Ally Carter, whose best selling Gallagher Girls series has been published in more than 20 countries across the world, visited Colchester County High School for Girls for a signing session and talk.

Pupils were told about the process involved in writing one of the Oklahoma-born author's books and how to get into the industry.

She said: "I tend to write very fast, very bad first drafts over the course of four to six weeks. I will then spend six to nine months revising.

"I get ideas from everywhere, all the time - really, lack of ideas is never a problem for a writer.

"You have to wait and take your time before you can think about getting published.

"It is like saying I want to be a runner but I don’t know how to get on the Olympic team.

"First, you have to earn your spot on the team.

"You do it by practising and studying and spending hour upon hour upon hour learning your sport and honing your skills.

"You do it by not skipping the step where you learn how to do that."