Croydon teacher who wants to inspire kids toasts successful book signings
By Aline Nassif
aline.nassif@essnmedia.co.uk
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BOOK SIGNING: Christian Ainley signs a copy of his book
An outspoken teacher and published author from Croydon is celebrating after two successful book signings in the Whitgift Centre last month.
Christian Ainley, who has openly criticised Croydon's resources for budding young writers, sold dozens of copies of his fantasy adventure, The Enchanted Amulet, in just two days.
The 35-year-old Riddlesdown Collegiate teacher, of Fawcett Road, Croydon, is campaigning for the council to put on more literary initiatives.
He said: "If I can raise the profile of writers in Croydon, this might help create a shift in focus from the well-funded domains of comedy, pop-music and football to the literary arts and other cultural fields.
"I have some brilliant pupils at my school and I know many of them could go on and develop into fantastic writers if they knew how to turn this passion into a career."
The book signings took place in WHSmith and Waterstones.
Comments
by Christian Ainley, Croydon
Sunday, October 18 2009, 8:46AM
“My argument, essentially, is that unless we ¿ the people of Croydon ¿ fight to maintain our standing and reputation, we will be brushed aside. The Mayor and the Government will view our little town as a low-investment priority. Let us not forget that, not long ago, we shared the same streets as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, D.H.Lawrence, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Emile Zola and Dame Peggy Ashcroft. Unless we keep up a sustained pressure to draw attention to the needs of our potential scientists, architects, solicitors, classical musicians, authors etc, we shall slip off the cultural radar.”