Author SF Said was born in Lebanon, but has lived in London since he was two years old. He wrote his first novel Varjak Paw while working as a speechwriter for the Crown Prince of Jordan, and then as a film journalist. His latest novel, Tyger, was named Foyles Children's Book of the Year 2022. It is so very definitely something; a text that dances with shadow and light and illustrations that pull and tease the words until something strange and alchemical happens to them. SF says that authors like Roald Dahl, Ursula Le Guin and Rudyard Kipling made him who he is. Their books shaped his mind as did all the comics and music he loved as a child, from Star Wars to The Sandman. His flat walls are covered with books, records and videos – literally thousands of them. I still don't have any plans to write a second Phoenix, though people do often ask me if there's ever going to be a sequel. The story that I wanted to write ends where that book ends. But I would be totally honoured if you wanted to write another story about my characters and worlds!

Phoenix : Said, S. F., author : Free Download, Borrow, and Phoenix : Said, S. F., author : Free Download, Borrow, and

However, when I get the chance, I love to read to my little sister. The first books I read to her was your incredible Varjak Paw duology. I should point out that she's not much of a fiction reader herself, and yet she loved both books and was sad (as I was) to see them come to an end. It was incredible to read the stories again, and understand them on a deeper level now that I'm older. I got actual chills reading through the endings of books 1 and 2 for what might possibly be the hundredth time. This book explores themes such as power, fear and war in a way that would never be too overwhelming or complicated to a younger reader but it has the right level of depth and intrigue for older readers alike.I am the BFG and I don’t like bullies who hurt other cats. There was a little girl called Sophie, now she was saying you’re naughty two cats! Let’s take you home.” And finally, I use initials because my name is Arabic, and very hard to pronounce if you can't speak Arabic! So initials just seemed easier for me. But it's true that a lot of other writers do it too - JK Rowling, CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien - I'm not sure why. Maybe it just looks sort of writerly? The truth about Phoenix is that I was just trying to write a story I wanted to read myself. I've always loved space stories, from Star Wars onwards, and wanted to write a really great one for young readers. Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy Tyger - and in the meantime, I'll do my best to answer your questions:

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When is Varjak Paw 3 coming out? What will it be about? Will there be a Varjak Paw collection (Varjak Paw 1,2,3,4,5,6,7.......)?Thank you for saying that Tyger sounds great and that you'd like to read it - that means a lot! I honestly don't know when it will be ready to publish, but my agent wants to see something this summer, so hopefully it won't be too much longer. And yes, William Blake's Tyger poem is one of the inspirations. I can't say too much about it, but I did write a blog post about Blake which might have a couple of hints - this is the link if you want to read it.