An American writer has returned to the school where she was inspired to write her debut historical novel.

Susan Williams grew up in Madrid, Paris, Brussels and Rome, but spent three formative years at Marymount International School in Coombe.

After producing radio and TV commercials, she wrote Anna's Secret Legacy, a love story set in World War II, published this summer.

Ms Williams said she first got the history bug from Sister Elizabeth Touhy.

She said: “I had a fabulous history teacher, Sister Elizabeth. I was always late so she threw me out of class. I was always the bad kid who was thrown out.

“I was so terrified for the rest of the classes that I had to sit up and pay attention.

“She says now I was her favourite student and I love her to bits. She has kept in touch with me over all these years.”

Ms Williams was the guest speaker at an alumni reception at Marymount last Friday, October 15 where she signed copies of her book.

She was also reunited with Sister Elizabeth, who has retired from teaching but still lives at the school.

See annassecretlegacynovel.com for information.