Here are the answers to some of your questions…
How did you get the idea for Horrid Henry?
I got the idea for Horrid Henry when a friend asked me to write a story
about a horrid child. Horrid Henry was born on the spot. I also wanted to write
about sibling rivalry and families where one child was considered “perfect” and
the other “horrid.”
Is Horrid Henry
based on a real child?
No, but I think there’s a bit of Henry and Peter inside everyone.
Where do you get
your ideas from?
I get my ideas from things that happen to me, or to people I know, or
from my imagination. I think of ordinary situations, like birthday parties or
getting nits, then add a “horrid” twist. So if my son has to have an injection,
I think of how Henry would behave.
Will there be any
more Horrid Henry books?
There will be at least 5 more Horrid Henry books. The next ones are HORRID HENRY
AND THE MEGA-MEAN TIME MACHINE, published in July 2005, and HORRID HENRY AND THE
ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN, published in 2006.
How long does it
take to write a Horrid Henry book?
Around 4 months.
Who is your
favourite character?
I like Moody Margaret, because I was bossy like her when I was her
age. But of course I love Henry and Peter. And Beefy Bert makes me laugh.
What’s your
favourite Horrid Henry story?
I usually like the one I’m writing at the moment the best, but old
favourites include “Horrid Henry’s Injection” and “Horrid Henry’s Gets Rich
Quick.” I’m scared of injections and it makes me laugh when I read it.
Will Horrid Henry
be on TV?
Yes! A cartoon series is being created this minute.
Do you like writing
books?
YES! But I hate starting a new book, I am happiest when I am
improving my rough drafts.
How do you get your
characters’ names?
I think of funny adjectives, like “sour” or “rude” and match names to
them. I love alliteration and use it as much as possible.
Who is your
favourite writer?
My favourite author as a child was Edward Eager, who wrote about
magic adventures. I also really liked Beverley Cleary, whose Ramona and Henry
Huggins books are published here. My favourite author now is Anthony Trollope, a
Victorian novelist who wrote 47 very long books.
How many books have
you written?
I’ve written over 40 books.
What was your first
book called?
“Papa Forgot” published in 1993.
Where do you write?
On a computer in my very messy office in the attic of my Victorian
house.
Why did you want to
be an author?
I’ve always enjoyed writing, and started writing fairy tales when I
was 8 years old, so it is never too early to start. I used to be a journalist,
but I became an author after my son Joshua was born in 1989. I started to get a
lot of ideas, and began writing them down. It did take me over a year to have my
first book accepted, however. I started writing because I kept getting ideas—I
think it’s because I love reading, and I was reading a lot of children’s books
to him.
Can you give me any
writing tips?
Ideas are everywhere, and you must listen out for them. Your stories
will be more fun if you give them a twist. So, if you want to write about
football, what about an alien football match, or a pets’ football match? It’s
always easier to write the beginning and end first, and the middle last. Think
of where your character is at the beginning, and what they are like, and how
they are different at the end. The middle bit is what changed them. The best way
to learn to be a writer is to be a reader.
Do any famous
footballers like your books?
I don’t know but maybe one day we’ll spot Michael Owen sitting with a
Horrid Henry book between goals!
Happy reading! Francesca Simon