My debt to Enid

I read a lot of Enid Blyton when I was a child (probably at the tail end of her greatest popularity). I had a bookcase full of the 'Famous Five', 'Secret Seven' and '...of Adventure' series, but my favourites were the school stories. I especially loved Mallory Towers, where all the girls were very grown up, level headed and well turned out (even the beastliest of girls came round in the end).

Working on 'Midnight Angels' last night, I was struck by how much it owes to 'Mallory Towers'. Not the racier elements of course, but the three new girls (flighty Jess, serious Amanda and Pat, who is so head girl material), how they win others over and make friends with the older girls.

I've only ever toyed with the idea of writing a school story, but somehow I've managed to write one without realising. It's a good thing I noticed before they started organising lacrosse games on the airfield :)