Francesca Simon writes: SALKA, Lady of the Lake, started life as a cantata called The Faerie Bride. My friend and opera collaborator, the composer Gavin Higgins, suggested we turn the medieval Welsh legend about a lake faerie who marries a shepherd on condition he never strikes her three heart-blows into a piece for two voices, […]
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Salka is a passionate retelling of a haunting myth, a tragic romance that echoes through the ages. Faber will publish Salka: Lady of the Lake in April 2025. Francesca’s first novel for an adult readership is an exquisite and tautly moving tragedy told by multiple voices, both a richly woven retelling of an ancient Welsh […]
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A recording of the libretto Gavin Higgins created with Francesca Simon, called The Faerie Bride, will be released on CD. The production, which is a Horn Corncerto for horn and orchestra, features Ben Goldscheider (horn), the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and Jaime Martin as conductor. In telling the tale of The Faerie Bride, Gavin […]
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Francesca Simon is very proud to be a judge for this year’s BBC 500 Words competition. This year she’s joined by author and Waterstones Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, author Charlie Higson, author Malorie Blackman, author and comedian Sir Lenny Henry as well as singer song-writer Olivia Dean. Entries close on 8th November at 9pm so […]
Read more »Francesca Simon is backing the leading reading charity, The National Literacy Trust, and their new campaign ‘Libraries for Primaries’. The initiative, run with Penguin Books, aims to ensure that every child at primary school has access to a dedicated library or reading space. Francesca visited Portcullis House in Westminster on 8th November 2023 to celebrate […]
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Francesca visited Buckingham Palace to receive her MBE from His Majesty King Charles for services to literature. Here she is at the Palace with her husband and son, proudly showing her insignia.
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Francesca recently appeared on BBC Breakfast to mark the return of 500 Words, the BBC’s most successful children’s writing competition. Francesca is one of the competition judges, alongside Malorie Blackman, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Charlie Higson and Sir Lenny Henry. She is pictured here with the presenters and to the left, Jonathan Douglas, CEO of the National […]
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To celebrate the publication of Francesca’s new book, Two Terrible Vikings: Feast with the King, and her event at Jorvik Viking Festival – Jorvik are giving away a signed set of her books. To be in with a chance of winning Two Terrible Vikings, Two Terrible Vikings and Grunt the Beserker and Two Terrible Vikings: […]
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Francesca Simon has been awarded an MBE for services to literature in King Charles’s first ever New Year Honours list. Later on this year she will visit either Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle to receive her honour in person from one of the Royal Family. Many congratulations to Francesca! This exciting news appeared in The […]
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Have you ever wondered what it would be like if your parents wanted you to behave badly? That’s what life is like for two Vikings, Hack and Whack. Enjoy this clip of Francesca reading from her new book Two Terrible Vikings here. Two Terrible Vikings is out now, illustrated by Steve May, and you can […]
Read more »Did you know Horrid Henry has a website all of his own? It has all the books and lots of fun things to see and do…
