ISG Jubail Welcomes Authors Ali Sparkes and Siobhan McDermott for a Day of Creativity and Inspiration

ISG Jubail recently welcomed two celebrated authors, Ali Sparkes and Siobhan McDermott, for a day filled with imagination, storytelling and interactive workshops that left students inspired and engaged.

Siobhan McDermott captivated students with her powerful blend of personal storytelling and myth-inspired creativity. Drawing on her Irish-Chinese heritage and her time in Hong Kong, she shared how her cultural background shaped the worlds and characters in her books, especially Paper Dragons. Her sessions invited students to dive into the fantasy world of Hok Woh and discover what it takes to build a believable, magical realm.

In one workshop, Siobhan guided students through writing prompts that helped them turn real-life memories into magical moments. They even got the chance to invent their own mythical creatures. In another session, students explored ancient legends, learned about narrative structure and motivation and crafted their own remixed myths using a creative framework they can use again and again. A reading from Paper Dragons and a lively Question & Answer session rounded out the hour, leaving students excited to write and read more.

She reminded students that the most powerful stories often come from within—and when they write from personal experience, their voices become truly one of a kind.

Author Ali Sparkes brought energy, laughter and a touch of the unexpected to her sessions, which blended mystery, adventure and a dash of the extraordinary. Through stories like Scaredy Kat and The Great Pebble Puzzle, she had students exploring unusual fears, solving village mysteries and asking big “what if” questions. One workshop got everyone thinking—and laughing—about the odd things that scare us and the mysteries we’d like to solve.

In another session, Ali transported students to the 1950s, using her book Frozen in Time to connect fiction with social history. Students took part in quizzes, discussions and activities that blended time travel with real-world context in a fun and memorable way.

Ali also led an interactive session based on The Night Series, where students explored sleep, strange dreams and how characters connect with the animal world. The presentation touched on topics like insomnia, earworms and vampires.

Both authors gave practical tips for overcoming creative blocks and encouraged students to take risks in their writing. They provided space for students to begin their own stories and offered guidance.

Throughout the day, ISG Jubail’s elementary and middle school students were completely immersed—asking questions, sharing ideas and enjoying every minute of the experience. The visit was a celebration of storytelling and the power of writing to connect us across cultures and experiences.