Author Visits: Tyndale Community School

I'd like to say a huge THANK YOU to Sara Shabir, Hannah Dawson, and all the brilliant Year 6s, 5s & 4s I met when I visited Tyndale Community School this week!

Year 6 had just finished reading Tyger that morning, and I walked into their classrooms to be greeted by a thunderous round of applause – one of the nicest receptions I've ever received at a school!  I was then shown some of the fantastic work they'd been doing with the book.

There was wonderful artwork and writing of all sorts: Adam debating with himself whether to tell Zadie about the tyger; persuasive speeches to turn the mob on Sir Mortimer Maldehyde; and a brilliant account of using the power of imagination to become an oak tree!  

It was then a pleasure to talk to Years 6, 5 & 4 about reading, writing and books, and to answer lots of questions!  I even decided to read them a little bit from the latest draft of the new book I'm working on.  We didn't have enough time to answer all the questions, so if anyone from Tyndale would like to ask another question, just leave a comment in the box below. 

It was wonderful to end the day with a bookselling and signing session, where I signed books for everyone who wanted one – thanks to the brilliant Caper books for doing such a great job!  And huge thanks again to the wonderful teachers and children of Tyndale for doing such amazing work with Tyger, and for such a brilliant visit – my last of the year, and one of the very best!

Tyger art from Oundle School!

Last month, thanks to brilliant librarian Leigh Giurlando, I had the pleasure of visiting Oundle School, where Tyger had been chosen as this year's book for the Oundle Great Read.  As part of the Great Read, Year 7 & 8 students were asked to create Tyger book covers in their art class.  I loved the results so much, and thought they showed so much brilliant creativity, I just wanted to share a few of them here!

I'd just like to say a huge CONGRATULATIONS to all the children on their work – I could have filled this entire blog with their brilliant Tyger art, these are just a few examples!  And THANK YOU again to everyone at Oundle for reading Tyger, and doing such wonderful work with the book!

Author Visits: Oundle School

I'd like to say a very big THANK YOU to the brilliant librarian Leigh Giurlando for inviting me to visit Oundle School – and to all the brilliant Year 7s and 8s I met when I visited them earlier this month!

I was incredibly honoured to learn that Tyger had been chosen as this year's book for the Oundle Great Read, where every Year 7 & 8 is given a particular book to read.  They then take part in a photo competition, showing themselves reading the book in unique locations around the world, as well as doing all sorts of activities around it in different departments. 

This was the winning picture.  I loved the way it conjured the ending of the book, with the return of the light after Midwinter Night, and the streaming of power from Adam and Zadie!  I was also blown away to see a picture that featured actual tigers in the background!  Here's a wonderful montage – you can see much more in this lovely blog on the school's website. 

     

As well as all this, the author of the Great Read book is invited to visit the school and talk about their books.  I loved talking with Years 7 and 8, and answering their fantastic questions – there were so many, and they were so thoughtful!  And it was then a total pleasure too to sign books for everyone at the end of the day.  So THANK YOU again to everyone involved for a fantastic visit, and for doing such amazing things with Tyger!

UPDATE: You can see some of the amazing artwork created by the students after the visit in this blog post!

Tyger is Book of the Month in Waterstones & Foyles!

Some amazing news!  The Tyger paperback has just been published – and it's been picked as Children's Book of the Month in both Waterstones and Foyles!

I love bookshops, they've always been my favourite places, so this means more than I can say.  It's been absolutely amazing to see some brilliant Tyger bookshop displays on Twitter and Instagram, and I'd love to see more – please send me pictures if you see any!

We are absolutely thrilled with our new children’s book of the month - Tyger 🐅 ✨ by one and only @whatSFSaid @DFB_storyhouse pic.twitter.com/hyOgRrusRl

— Waterstones Westfield (@WaterstonesWest) September 1, 2023

The amazing SF Said (@whatSFSaid) very kindly came and signed some copies of Tyger! Make sure to come in and grab your copy 🐯🖤 pic.twitter.com/yaNC2KklsO

— Waterstones Brighton (@BrightonWstones) September 1, 2023

@WaterstonesRose window and displays. We love this book so much. pic.twitter.com/Iwktm8lT5m

— James (@Jasup13) September 1, 2023

Our Children's Book of the Month, Tyger, is a thrilling good vs evil adventure in which two children and Tyger battle to save their home. It reads like a classic piece of storytelling, whilst also exploring themes of segregation and prejudice which remain all too relevant today. pic.twitter.com/7FHVJwGwYa

— Waterstones Alty (@WaterstonesAlty) September 1, 2023

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A post shared by Waterstones Aylesbury (@waterstonesaylesbury114)

TYGER PAPERBACK!

I'm so excited to be able to share the TYGER paperback with you – and it's just as beautiful as the hardback!  I think Dave McKean's cover is one of the most amazing covers I've ever seen – just look at the way it comes to life when you open it out!

It's published on August 31st by David Fickling Books, but is available for pre-order now – here are some links:

Amazon http://ow.ly/GH1550NUo7C

Waterstones http://ow.ly/lirT50NUoim

Blackwell’s http://ow.ly/TAy050NUoqi

Foyles http://ow.ly/uBzA50NUow2

Find a local bookshop https://www.booksellers.org.uk/bookshopsearch

Bookshop.org http://ow.ly/Chq650NUoFN

Tyger wins Children's Book Of The Year at the British Book Awards!

Incredible news - my new book Tyger has just won the Children's Fiction Book Of The Year at the British Book Awards!  

Congratulations to TYGER by @whatSFSaid, illustrated by @DaveMcKean, winner of Book of the Year: Children's Fiction (supported by @theweekjunior)! All the judges agreed that the book already "felt like a classic" @DFB_storyhouse #BritishBookAwards #Nibbies pic.twitter.com/3wbPfyOhXT

— The Bookseller (@thebookseller) May 15, 2023

You can read all about it in this wonderful piece on The Bookseller site.

And here's a video of the whole evening - you can see me receiving the award from Davina McCall from around 1:33!

World Book Day 2023 - SF Said Reads Tyger!

For World Book Day this year, I've made a video of me reading from my new book TYGER!  Here it is – I hope you enjoy it!  And if you do, please pass it on to anyone else you know who might enjoy it too!

Happy Midwinter!

I just want to wish all my readers Happy Midwinter! My new book Tyger is set at Midwinter, around about now, but in a strange alternate world where there is no Christmas, but there is Midwinter...  and this year, Midwinter Night falls on the night of December 21st.  

So here's a short video all about it:

Happy Midwinter – and Happy Reading!

Tyger is Foyles Children's Book of the Year!

 Amazing news – Tyger is the Foyles Children's Book of the Year!!!

This is an absolutely incredible thing for me.  When I was a child, my grandfather would sometimes take me to Foyles on Charing Cross Road as a treat.  It was his favourite bookshop, and it became mine, too.  It's still where I go when I want to remember why I love books and bookshops, so this award means the world to me!  

Dave McKean and I spent an amazing evening in Foyles Charing Cross Road.  We talked to lots of customers and staff, and signed lots of books.  

I want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone at Foyles for an evening I will never forget, and for making Tyger their children's book of the year!  And if you would like to order one those signed copies – with a free exclusive art print – just click on this link or the pictures below!

TYGER interviews & conversations!

If you'd like to know more about my new book TYGER – I've done quite a few interviews about it lately that you might enjoy.

Here's a video of an online event I did with The Blake Society, where I talked about TYGER with the brilliant bookseller and artist Tamsin Rosewell.  We covered lots of topics in our conversation, especially how it was inspired by the work of William Blake, and his great poem The Tyger:

If you'd rather read something than watch a video, here's a written Q&A interview I did with the Tyger Tale blog.  I think this is one of the best-named and most brilliant of all children's books blogs, and they asked me lots of great questions about TYGER, including its connections to my earlier books, like Varjak Paw.  They also featured lots of Dave McKean's beautiful artwork from TYGER, such as this incredible image:

If you're looking for a longer interview, here's a really thoughtful conversation I had with the critic Imogen Russell Williams for Books For Keeps – the UK's leading children's books magazine.  We talked a lot about TYGER's roots in my own life and experiences, and went into a lot of detail about the inspirations for both the story and the artwork.

And finally, if you want to read something a little different, here's an interview that takes the form of a walk through the world of TYGER, in the company of the terrific children's literature blogger Nick Campbell.  This is one of the most original and interesting pieces I've seen about the book, and I hope you enjoy it too!

TYGER - more reviews!

I've been absolutely blown away to see the responses to TYGER!  Nine years is a very long time to spend writing a book, but all the hard work feels more than worthwhile when I see responses like this...

TYGER was picked as The Times Children's Book Of The Week by Alex O'Connell.  The review is behind a paywall, but she described it as "spectacular" and "another roaring success".

TYGER was also children's book of the week in The Sun, whose reviewer Zak Hope apparently couldn't put it down!

There are so many great books being released this autumn. I absolutely loved Sometimes People Die by @TheSimonBot and my Zak (I've got him working for his keep) couldn't put Tyger by @WhatSFSaid down. Thanks to @williamjtodd and @JDWhitelaw13 for your reviews too! pic.twitter.com/pkRFDB1vMQ

— natashahardingwrites (@natashahwrites) October 14, 2022

Meanwhile, Louisa Farrow's wonderful review on Reading Zone described TYGER as "absorbing, uplifting and joyous - my book of the year so far. Buy it, read it, share it!"  

It was a children's book of the month on LoveReading4Kids, where Tricia Adams described it as "much anticipated and destined to be a classic that will be taught everywhere."

One of my favourite reviews was this long one on the children's literature blog Achuka, which gives lots of detail and context, and concludes: "it is important to recognise when some books, and some authors, reach extraordinary heights of excellence. SF Said has done so with this novel."

Another review that meant a lot to me came on the Library Lady blog, where Anne Thompson wrote: "Tyger is a wonderful example of why children’s books matter and will, I think, be a book that today’s generation of young readers will remember and refer back to as adults."

I loved Laura Ovendon's review for Just Imagine, which said: "For me, this novel deserves to become a children’s classic. It belongs in every school library and will inspire many, many children, teachers and librarians."

The literacy charity BookTrust described TYGER as "a thought-provoking, profound, political and spiritual book... a book to cherish and read again", while Alison Leach picked TYGER as a book of the month for BooksForTopics, and said: "SF Said's fanbase will be thrilled to read this new adventure - laced with danger, edged with fantasy and packed to the core with thinking and discussion points that link to very real issues in society."

And here's one last TYGER review for now, from the Inkdrinker blog, who totally made my day by concluding: "Said says he thinks this is his best book yet. It’s actually one of the best you will ever read: a true classic has been born."

A huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to all these writers and publications for covering TYGER and writing such amazing things about it - it means more than I can say!

TYGER is published today!

My new book TYGER is finally published today! I think it's my best book yet, and I hope you love it as much as I do. I hope you love Dave McKean's incredible artwork too – I think it's some of the best he's ever done!

Here are some places where you can buy TYGER:

Waterstones 

Amazon

Foyles

Blackwell's

Find your local independent bookshop

Incredible TYGER artwork!

I've just made a short video of Dave McKean's incredible art on the front, back and spine of TYGER!  Please do watch, it's a thing of beauty.  

And if you'd like to pre-order a copy, you can find all the information on this link to my publishers' page for the book.

TYGER early reviews!

There have been some amazing early reviews for my new book TYGER!

It was Editor's Choice for October children's books in The Bookseller magazine, where Charlotte Eyre gave it this wonderful review:

TYGER has also had amazing reviews on various blogs!  Here's the verdict from Through The Bookshelf:

It was everything I had hoped for - and more. The word ‘masterpiece’ is often bandied around, but in this case, I feel it is truly justified. I loved 'Tyger' and, for me, it is easily SF Said’s best book so far.

Here's Kate Heap's review on Scope For Imagination:

Where do I even begin with this incredible book? An adventure woven with mythology, magic and the power of the human spirit, Tyger by SF Said is a story to be internalised and drawn upon again and again. This book is destined to last – it already has a classic feel.

And here's Dawn Finch on An Awfully Big Blog Adventure: 

Varjak Paw is an absolute classic and with books like Phoenix adding to the Said shelf it is clear that there was a lot of weight and expectation on Tyger. Breathe easy, it delivers. In spades. There is no doubt that this book earns one of those rare spots on the shelf marked "Future Classics".

A huge thank you to all these writers for their amazing reviews – after the nine years it took me write Tyger, these words mean more than I can say! 

TYGER video!

I'm very excited to share a short video about new book TYGER!  Watch this if you want to know more about the story and its inspirations:

Please do share this video with anyone who wants to know more about TYGER – and if you want to pre-order a copy, here are some helpful links from my publishers:

Waterstones

Blackwell's

Foyles

Bookshop:org

Amazon

Find a local independent bookshop

TYGER is available to order now!

I have some incredible news.  After 9 and a half years of work, we finally sent my new book TYGER to the printers yesterday!  This is the final version, fully illustrated by the brilliant Dave McKean, who illustrated my other books.  

And TYGER is now available to pre-order!  You can reserve your copy, so it will be delivered to you first, as soon as it's published on October 6th.  Here's a helpful list of links my publishers have put together, of various places where you can buy it:

Waterstones

Blackwell's

Foyles

Bookshop:org

Amazon

Find a local independent bookshop

And just to give you a taste of it – here's a sample of Dave's incredible artwork from the book, with Adam and the tyger...

TYGER - first reactions!

My publishers have been sending proof copies of my new book TYGER out to various readers in the past few weeks – authors, booksellers, teachers, librarians – and it is amazing to see people's reactions coming in.  I worked on this book for 9 years, so it means more than I can say to read responses like these:

It took @whatSFSaid nine years to write #Tyger (artwork from @DaveMcKean ) but it will still be read in a hundred years. This sublime, shimmering Blakeian fantasy - for children and adults alike - thrills, enlarges and heals the soul in equal measure. An out and out masterpiece. pic.twitter.com/EBggCkKzBj

— Piers Torday 🇺🇦 (@PiersTorday) June 19, 2022

  

I was so excited to read #Tyger. Nervous too, because my hopes were so high. But it is phenomenal. This is a book which will stay with children for the rest of their lives and shape their imaginations & the way they see the world. Congratulations @whatSFSaid it is extraordinary. pic.twitter.com/3zLgoE8Z1Y

— Kate Ereira (@klereira) June 10, 2022

 

What a book!!!

Nine years in the writing and completely and utterly worth every ounce of effort and painstaking toil. “TYGER” by @whatSFSaid is an utter masterpiece. Powerful, beautiful and totally unafraid. Outstanding achievement. Can’t wait to see the fully finished version pic.twitter.com/BVV2ZDVnDk

— Simon Smith (@smithsmm) June 10, 2022

 

You wait years and years for a masterpiece and then one comes along. Blimey @whatSFSaid pic.twitter.com/IxaJ3bAZFd

— Frank Cottrell-Boyce (@frankcottrell_b) June 16, 2022

 

#TYGER by @whatSFSaid, illustrated by @DaveMcKean

What on earth do I say about this?

Absolutely blown away and don't know how I'm going to wait until October to read it all over again with every one of Dave McKean's illustrations.

I have a new favourite book!@DFB_storyhouse pic.twitter.com/fU8ls9bakP

— Miss Cleveland 📖🌻 (@MissNCleveland) June 9, 2022

 

Finished this this morning. As good as expected! Like William Blake & C.S. Lewis & Diana Wynne Jones & Pullman & Aiken got rescued from a whirlwind by @whatSFSaid & made into something new & visionary & exciting & hopeful & deeply-dreamt & truly-lived. (With @DaveMcKean too.) pic.twitter.com/MDsXrv2pjL

— A.F. Harrold (@afharrold) June 12, 2022

I have finished Tyger by @whatSFSaid. I LOVED it so much. A masterpiece of a story: beautiful, brilliant, perfect! https://t.co/gQUz6XsALX

— Peter Bunzl (@peterbunzl) June 12, 2022

I was supposed to get all my other jobs done first… but I weakened and read it from cover to beautiful cover. Honed and chiselled over nine years, TYGER made my heart burst with its relevance. True food for the soul ⁦@whatSFSaid⁩ ⁦⁦@DFB_storyhouse⁩ pic.twitter.com/lINZDWesdQ

— Dr Laura Ovenden 🇺🇦 (@OvendenLaura) June 12, 2022

Finished at three in the morning but it was worth it. #Tyger is everything I hoped it would be & a whole lot more. The @whatSFSaid @DaveMcKean & @DFB_storyhouse combination have produced something incredible. However high your expectations are for this book, it will exceed them. pic.twitter.com/nBJErAZw5T

— Jon Biddle (@jonnybid) June 12, 2022

Watch out for Tyger by @whatSFSaid What a glorious triumph of a book. pic.twitter.com/quU2e25xFD

— Berlie Doherty (@BerlieDoherty) June 18, 2022

"... you should never stop questioning the world and everything in it; wondering how it could be different." This book is magnificent. This #Tyger burns bright. @whatSFSaid @DaveMcKean @DFB_storyhouse pic.twitter.com/rsDTPCoAeN

— Gill Ward (@fortislibbie) June 19, 2022

Tyger @whatSFSaid is breathtaking, in turns heartbreaking and achingly beautiful. Imagination-stirring, wise and thought provoking, it will make a brilliant class read. Cover art and internal illustrations by @DaveMcKean. Publishing with @DFB_storyhouse Oct '22. pic.twitter.com/TLfIW9OE2I

— Sophie Anderson (@sophieinspace) June 22, 2022

I am taking this book VERY slowly. There are moments when I have to stop reading because the writing is so breathtaking, I can’t read on. Some passages are like nothing else I’ve read and so intensely vivid I have to remind myself that I’m not *there*. Uniquely inspiring. #Tyger pic.twitter.com/tZa0EAuN8V

— Ben Harris (@one_to_read) June 21, 2022

TYGER COVER REVEAL!!!

I am beyond excited to share this with you all at last – Dave McKean's stunning cover for my new book TYGER, which will be published by David Fickling Books this October 2022!

Isn't that incredible?!  People have been talking about it a lot on Twitter.  Here's an interesting thread where they're discussing all the little details you can see if you look closely...  

What can YOU see?  If you're on Twitter – why not join in the conversation?

TYGER is coming in October!

I have some big news!  It's just been officially announced that my new book TYGER will be published this October 2022 by David Fickling Books!

It's official! It took me 9 long, hard years to write it, but my new book TYGER will be published this October 2022 by @DFB_storyhouse, with stunning illustrations by @DaveMcKean, who also illustrated Varjak Paw & Phoenix. I think TYGER is even better - my best book so far! https://t.co/T8ppJ8qff8

— SF Said (@whatSFSaid) March 1, 2022

It was announced in The Bookseller magazine; you can read the full article by clicking on the link, but here are a few highlights!

"David Fickling Books has landed Tyger, the fourth novel from SF Said, marking the return of his partnership with illustrator Dave McKean.

The synopsis for Tyger reads: “In a strange alternate world, where the British Empire has never ended, a young boy called Adam has uncovered something incredible in a rubbish dump in London – a mysterious, mythical, magical animal.  A Tyger.”

Commissioning editor Rosie Fickling said: “Tyger isn’t just a book, it’s a gateway into another world.  A world where we all have sparks, hidden powers, inside of us.  It’s the kind of book where you start to wonder: What if? Could it be?  I’ve had the privilege of immersing myself in this story with SF throughout the editorial process and I can’t wait to see the same light in readers’ eyes that I feel in me now.  After reading, I hope they also find themselves increasingly noticing the world around them, looking more closely at a flower, at a grain of sand – and perhaps, every time they smell honeysuckle, hopefully whispering ’Is the Tyger nearby?’”

SF Said said: “I believe Tyger is my best book so far.  I wanted to write a story even more exciting than Varjak Paw, and even more ambitious than Phoenix.  It’s taken me nine long, hard years to do it but I am thrilled to be publishing it at last this year – the Year of the Tiger.”

I will tweet and post more about TYGER in the weeks and months to come - starting with a cover reveal of Dave McKean's incredible artwork next week!

World Book Day Video 2022

Here's a brand new video I've made for World Book Day 2022!  It's all about reading and writing for pleasure.  There's also a sneak peek of my new book TYGER, which will be published later this year!

It's absolutely free for anyone to watch on YouTube.  I'd also be delighted for schools and libraries to show it in World Book Day assemblies and activities; you don't need to ask my permission to show it!  

I hope you enjoy it – and if you do, please pass it on to anyone else who you think might enjoy it, too!