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Posted by Patrik

March 18th 2010

where do you live, this is a school project thx

William Nicholson responded:

I live near Lewes, in East Sussex.

Posted by emer gillespie

March 18th 2010

Just to say that I was asked along to the readthrough of Retreat from Moscow yesterday. I found your play quite extraordinary. My sympathies shifted this way and that. At dinner last night I chewed it over with several people who hadn't even been there! Trying to communicate all the ground that had been covered! A long time since I have seen a play that provoked that much of a response in me. Just what one longs for from the theatre but rarely gets.

William Nicholson responded:

I really appreciate you taking the trouble to pass on your response. The play comes from the deepest parts of me, so it means a lot to me when people respond strongly. I was superbly served by the actors, the astonishing Juliet most of all. Let's hope it goes further.

Posted by Emily

March 17th 2010

I absolutely adore the Wind on Fire books and I've always wondered if they will be made into movies at any point? I would love to see it all unfold on screen and find out if all you were describing is as I imagined it when I read it. Thank you.

William Nicholson responded:

One day, maybe. But I need a producer with deep pockets who can bring the books to life. I don't want it done on the cheap. So meantime your imagination is the movie.

Posted by geo

March 16th 2010

Hi, I'm new to writing and wanted to ask you how long does it take you to write a screen play? (My fav movie is gladiator and I think it's brilliant). Do you do anything differently when starting a novel then when starting a screenplay?

William Nicholson responded:

Studios usually allow twelve weeks for a first draft. It can be done in three days. But what follows takes longer - the re-writing. It's standard to do at least three drafts. I've done as many as twenty. So you can end up working on a screenplay for several years. As for the difference with novels - the story planning process is the same, but novels are far slower to write, and contain far more material. A screenplay is a sprint, a novel is a marathon.

Posted by ole

March 15th 2010

When were you born,can you tell me about yor teenages and some about when you were children. whitch bok did you start whit. i like your boks very much and i hav read all of your fantasy books this are for a school project in norway. from big fan

William Nicholson responded:

I was born January 12 1948. As a child I played with toy soldiers in the garden, and made secret camps with my friend Tim, and tracked the grownups without them knowing. Years later I learned they had known all the time. As a teenager I found life harder, I was both clever and shy, and I longed to have a girlfriend long before I ever had one. I wrote books all the time, but they were no good. My first complete book was a sort of James Bond story, which excited me greatly. But it was no good, of course. There you are, a few details for your project. I hope you enjoy doing it.

Posted by Lisa

March 14th 2010

Dear William Nicholson, I have been teaching The Wind Singer for several years now and have designed curriculum that I think is effective quite engaging to the students on a number of levels. The idea that this might be the last year I can teach it is quite dismaying to me. Our book supplier just informed me that the book is not longer in print--iand, it shows no signs of a reprinting any time soon! Is it true that the novel will no longer be available for purchase? (I've been purchasing at least 60 copies each year for the past several years. The students enjoy it so much they usually buy the sequels to the trilogy on their own.) Recently, I have searched for a quest fantasy to teach instead of your novel and have not been successful. Please advise as I would very much like to continue working with The Wind Singer!

William Nicholson responded:

I'm not aware that this is true. I'll check. UPDATE - I've checked - all the Wind on Fire is in print. I'm afraid your book supplier is making a mistake. Would you like to be put in touch with the publisher, Egmont?