Best-selling author Veronica Roth returns to her old middle school in Barrington

Best-selling author Veronica Roth - known for the "Divergent" trilogy - visited her middle school alma mater in Barrington as part of a nationwide webcast Friday.

Roth spent time at Barrington Middle School-Prairie Campus on Dundee Road. As part of the in-person visit and webcast, Roth addressed her path to becoming a best-selling author, the process of active brainstorming and how to tap into creativity.

A young adult fantasy saga set in dystopian Chicago, the hugely popular "Divergent" trilogy spawned blockbuster film adaptations and resulted in Roth being mentioned in the same breath as young adult superstar writers Suzanne Collins ("The Hunger Games") and J.K. Rowling (the "Harry Potter" books).

Roth started writing as a child, but she began to take her hobby more seriously when a teacher at Barrington High School encouraged her to submit her stories to writing contests. Later, while studying at Northwestern University, she famously wrote the first draft of "Divergent" during her winter break.

Currently living in Chicago with her husband and dog, Roth makes periodic appearances at suburban schools and bookstores.

Roth also is also known for her "Carve the Mark" fantasy series.

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