Those of you with children will know what it is like trying to juggle work with the kids at home. Getting that balance right of spending time meeting deadlines as well as good quality time with your family can be difficult.

That is why, when I saw that Caroline Lawrence had a book launch at the London Mithraeum I jumped at the chance to take my kids there. Caroline has been a firm favourite author in our household – my daughter has devoured her whole Roman Mysteries series. And my son met her at the Barnes Literary Festival last year.

The experience was fantastic: with timed slots we chose well – the usual ‘graveyard’ slot at mid-afternoon was less busy than others and so the kids (mine and a friend’s who came along) had the treat of one-on-one time with Caroline (you can see from the picture above, she seemed to enjoy it as much as them!). 

Caroline then gave some background into the inspiration for her new book – the discovery of the Temple of Mithras, which is housed underground (we were treated to an interactive experience inside). She then read the start of The Time Travel Diaries.

It is always such a great opportunity when readers, young and old, can meet authors and learn more about their work – the inspiration, process etc. And hearing them read their own story really helps it to come alive.

If you get the chance to go to an event being put on by an author you admire, I am sure it will be well worth going to!