Maria Snyder, whose later book Fire Study made the New York Times bestseller list for two weeks, went to a Catholic school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before graduating at Penn State University and becoming a meteorologist specialising in air quality. But it was sheer boredom at work, she told her specially  invited audience, that led to her first attempts at storytelling.

Poison Study was rejected 17 times, however, and went to 40 literary agents, before being published by Harlequin under their LUNA fantasy fiction imprint. It tells the story of a young woman who, to save herself from execution, is forced to become a food taster for the ruler of her country. Maria’s husband works as a chocolate taster for the M&Ms food giant and it was this that gave her the idea for the story.

The thrilling plotline has obviously grabbed the imagination of local students, who chose it from a list of 20 titles to receive the annual accolade of Wirral Paperback of the Year. Schools represented at the Wirral Paperback Award presentation were Wirral Grammar for Boys, Hilbre High, West Kirby Grammar, Weatherhead High, Upton Hall, Pensby Girls’ and Park High Schools. Maria left St Mary’s for a week-long tour of book-signings and appearances in Liverpool, Manchester and London. The Wirral Paperback of the Year Award is run in conjunction with John Moores University.