🎙 INTERVIEW: Mischief, Myth & The Writing Life w/ Francesca Simon
​** This is a LIVE interview with author Francesca Simon about the craft of writing and reality of building a writing career. Attendees will be sent a recording after the interview. **
​How do you reinvent your voice after decades of success in one genre? What can ancient myths teach us about identity, longing, and the stories we still need to tell?
​For over three decades, Francesca Simon has delighted readers with her beloved Horrid Henry series, her playful Viking adventures, and her myth-infused tales for young readers. Now, in her first novel for adults, she turns toward the darker edges of folklore, offering something as haunting as it is beautiful.
​Join us for a conversation with Francesca Simon as we explore her writing life across genres and audiences, and dive into her latest book, Salka—a passionate retelling of the myth of The Lady of the Lake.Â
​We’ll explore:
​Francesca’s shift from children’s books to adult fiction
​How her academic background in medieval literature shapes her stories
​What it means to retell ancient myths with modern resonance
The role of story in making sense of outsiders, loss, and belonging​Her writing habits, creative process, and what she’s learned from a life in books
​About Francesca Simon
​Francesca Simon spent her childhood on the beach in California and started writing stories at the age of eight. She has since written over 60 books, and wrote her first Horrid Henry book in 1994. Horrid Henry has gone on to conquer the globe; his adventures are published in 27 languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. In 2009, in one of the proudest moments of her career, Francesca was awarded a Gold Blue Peter badge. Her opera with composer Gavin Higgins, THE MONSTROUS CHILD, based on her novel, premiered at the Royal Opera House in 2019. Her cantata THE FAERIE BRIDE, also with Gavin Higgins, premiered at the Aldeburgh Music Festival in 2022. She was appointed MBE in the 2023 New Year Honours. Francesca is also a passionate ambassador for children’s literacy, a 500 Words judge, and is a former trustee of the World Book Day charity.Â
​Your London Writers' Salon Hosts:
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​Parul Bavishi and Matt Trinetti are the co-founders of the London Writers' Salon, creators of the webby-nominated Writers' Hour daily writing sessions, and hosts of the London Writers' Salon podcast.
​Parul Bavishi has been an editor for over a decade. In addition to running LWS she helps thriller, YA and non-fiction writers level up their craft and get published. She writes and edits for the Story Grid. She has worked as an editor and literary scout at Random House, Quercus & Eccles Fisher. She analyses TV hit shows (Killing Eve, Ozark, Game of Thrones) on the Story Grid Showrunners Podcast.
​Matt Trinetti is a writer, publisher, TEDx speaker, and facilitator. In addition to running LWS, Matt designs programs to help unfulfilled professionals pursue creative work, start businesses, and reinvent their careers. Matt's work has appeared in Quartz, Observer, Creative Mornings, and on his blog GiveLiveExplore.
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