I'd like to say a big thank you to
Anoara Mughal, Graham Clifford and all the staff and students I met at
Willow Brook Primary for the wonderful welcome they gave me when I visited them on World Book Day!
There was a snowstorm raging outside, but it was great to see so many people had still come to school in their costumes! It was a pleasure to talk to Years 6, 5, 4 and 3, and to celebrate books with them. I heard about their favourite stories, and I told them about the ones I have written so far:
Varjak Paw,
The Outlaw Varjak Paw, and
Phoenix.
They asked me lots of great questions, and we didn't quite have enough time to answer them all, so if anyone from Willow Brook has any more questions, just leave me a comment below! And in the meantime, I'd just like to thank you all again – and to wish you happy reading!
12 comments:
In the Outlaw Varjak Paw, there is a character called Sally Bones. I have read up to page 190 and I was wondering how Sally Bones loses her eye. From UCL class Year 6
Out of all the books you have written, which one is your favourite and why. From UCL class Year 6
Hi SF Said,
I really enjoyed you coming to Willow brook. I am reading Varjak paw and I really like it.
Bianca (Year 3, National)
Hi SF Said,
I felt really happy when you came to our school. I Loved reading Phoenix, it was such a good book because I really enjoyed when the boy, went to space.
Algis (Year 3, National class)
Dear UCL Class Year 6,
Thank you for your messages!
On the question about Sally Bones: that is a very good question! How do you think you she lost her eye? There is no answer in the book Varjak Paw, because the whole book is told from Varjak's point of view, and Varjak knows very little about Sally Bones. There might be a few more clues in The Outlaw Varjak Paw though, so if you want to know more about Sally Bones, I'd suggest you read that one too...
On the question about which book is my favourite: I think my favourite is the one I'm writing right now, my new book TYGER, which I hope will be ready soon. If you want to know more about it, here's something I wrote about it:
http://www.sfsaid.com/2016/01/i-had-amazing-message-from-reader.html
Thanks again, and keep the Way alive!
SF
Dear Bianca and Algis,
Thank you both so much for your messages - I really enjoyed visiting your school and meeting everyone!
And I'm really glad that you're enjoying Varjak Paw, Bianca - and that you enjoyed Phoenix, Algis. I don't find writing easy, as I told you when I visited, but when I hear from readers like you, it makes all the hard work of writing worthwhile!
With best wishes,
SF
Hi SF,
Thank you for your comments. We have thoroughly enjoyed reading them. We have another question for you: which author inspired you as a child?
Kind regards
Ussayd-Ali Kings Class
Hi SF Said.
Greetings from Willow Brook Tate Class (Year 3).
We really enjoyed meeting you and hearing all about your writing journey! Many of us bought your books that day and we are currently enjoying reading through them.
We are wondering what your next book is going to be about!?!?
Thanks again for visiting our school!
See you next time!
Year 3 Tate Class :)
Hi SF Said,
I'm currently reading The Outlaw Varjak Paw and I love it so far, I'm about half way through.
I wanted to ask you why Varjak Paw can't go outside ? I don't want to spoil the story I was just curious.
Best,
Vania (Imperial Class - Year 5 Miss Ezekiel)
Dear Anoara,
Thank you so much - I'm glad you enjoyed my replies!
To answer Ussayd-Ali's question, my favourite book as a child was Watership Down, by a writer called Richard Adams. He definitely inspired me a lot - I don't think I could have written Varjak Paw without having read that book as a child! I wrote a little bit about it here, if you want to know more:
http://www.sfsaid.com/2012/11/one-thing-ill-be-doing-in-this-blog-is.html
With best wishes,
SF
Dear Willow Brook Tate Class (Year 3),
Thank you so much - it was a pleasure to meet you all, and I'm really glad you're enjoying your books!
The new book I'm working on now is called TYGER. I can't say too much about it, because my books always change a lot as I work on them, but I can say that it's about a tiger! I wrote a little bit about it here, if you want to know more:
http://www.sfsaid.com/2016/01/i-had-amazing-message-from-reader.html
With best wishes,
SF
Dear Vania,
Thank you so much, I'm really glad you're enjoying The Outlaw Varjak Paw!
Is your question about why Varjak doesn't go Outside in the first book? That's because his family have never been Outside, and they believe Outside is a terrible place full of monsters called dogs - they're happy to stay inside, and they believe they're safer there. But Varjak discovers a whole world outside his home, as you find when you read the book.
With best wishes,
SF
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