Children from 34 primary schools who work with Flying High English Hub took part in a huge virtual author event on World Book Day, with award winning children’s author, SF Said. 

The writer of Varjak Paw, The Outlaw Varjak Paw, and Tyger, amongst other books, SF Said shared his journey of becoming an author with the children. He talked of his inspirations and journey to becoming published for the first time, recounting the many rejections of his work along the way.

Children joining the event came from 34 schools who work with Flying High English Hub spanning Nottingham City, Nottinghamshire, Derby City and Derbyshire, most of whom had arrived at school dressed as their own favourite story book characters for World Book Day. 

Finley Lunn (age 11 years) is a pupil at Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy and said, “S.F. Said talked about how he became an author and it was really inspiring. The fact that he has been rejected so many times by different publishers…I think it was 90...really shows how resilient he is! On his 91st try a publisher said yes and look at him now! At lunch time, me and my teacher looked on Amazon to order his books for our school!”