A Magical Evening with Author Georgia Channon at Marlborough College

The Garnett Room at Marlborough College was alive with excitement on Tuesday 23rd September as pupils gathered for a special evening with author Georgia Channon, who presented her debut novel, The Curse of the Silvan Oaks.

Georgia captivated her audience with stories of how her lifelong love of reading and myth inspired her to write. She spoke about her fascination with strong, complex female villains, comparing her own characters to the likes of Mrs Coulter from Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials and Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians.

Her creative process, she explained, also drew inspiration from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream — particularly the fierce quarrel between Titania and Oberon over a young boy, which sparked key themes in her novel around power, jealousy, and enchantment.

Pupils were keen to learn more about Georgia’s approach to writing, asking questions about world-building, plotting, and finding inspiration during challenging moments. Georgia’s advice — to write with passion, embrace feedback, and persevere through self-doubt — struck a chord with many young writers in the room.

By the end of the evening, it was clear that The Curse of the Silvan Oaks had gained many new fans. The event not only celebrated the joy of storytelling but also reminded pupils of the creative power that lies in imagination, curiosity, and courage.