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Posted by Pennsylvania

January 18th 2010

I read in one of your answers that you prefer the Noble Warriors to Wind on Fire. I've only read the first Noble Warriors book and I can't deny that I was hooked, however I didn't feel the ridiculous attachment that I feel towards Bowman and Kestrel. Maybe your readers simply prefer the first series they read the way I do or maybe each series affects each of your readers differently. However I can say that no matter how you look at it your writing is genius and I can only aspire to write a novel that affects as many people as yours have. You've been such an inspiration to me and I just wanted you to know that. Thank you

William Nicholson responded:

I do know what you mean. I too have a strong attachment to Bowman and Kestrel. It's just that I do feel in the Noble Warriors I've been able to dive deeper. You sound like you're a writer yourself. If so, I wish you happiness with your writing - a wish that will come true. Success is harder to achieve, I wish you that too, but the joy of writing comes first.

Posted by Laura ;)

January 18th 2010

Hello! Before I ask my question,I just wanted to say,that I really love your books! I have to say that I prefer the Noble Warriors trilogy to Wind on Fire...I'm not sure why,though! I've read the series *3 times* now,and I still haven't got tired of the books. I don't think I ever will :) Each time I read them,I get the same feelings of excitement,and fear,and sadness,that I experienced the first time I read the books. Oh,and The Wildman has to be my all-time favourite character from a book...he just sounds so... wonderful :D Anyway,here's my question: I think that in some ways,Wind on Fire,and Noble Warriors,are quite similar. There are 3 'protagonists' in each of the books. Two of the characters seem to get on quite well with each other (or in the case of Kestrel and Bowman,they get on very well..seeing as they're related!),and one of the main characters starts off as 'the enemy'...he doesn't get on well with the other two. Then,after a while,the three characters become very good friends...and basically..'save the day'. ... Admittedly The Wildman and Mumpo aren't really very similar,and I suppose the relationship between Seeker and Morning Star,and the relationship between Kestrel and Bowman,are very different too... *And* Kestrel dies in the last book :( But there are a few similarities,I guess ^^ So,I was wondering,did you write it like that,with all those small similarities on purpose,or was it subconscious? Either way,I really love your books...thank you for writing in a way that can bring people so much pleasure :)

William Nicholson responded:

The overlap wasn't deliberate at all. I think I imagined that I was creating something very different when I was working on the Noble Warriors. But the fact is, I'm the same person, with the same concerns, so I suppose the parallels you note come from inside me. And now that I think about it, I was consciously aiming to take the kind of world I'd created in the Wind on Fire and go a lot deeper. I'm really pleased that you like the Noble Warriors, because most of my readers either prefer the Wind on Fire, or have never read the Noble Warriors. But it's my favourite too.

Posted by Tracey Heggs

January 18th 2010

This are questions from my year 9 students who have been reading 'The Wind Singer':Did you draw on any elements from your own life experiences when writing the novel? How did you create the names for your characters?

William Nicholson responded:

In a way everything in my books comes from my life's experiences. Obviously I haven't had fantasy experiences, but I've had the emotions that lie beneath them: fear, longing, wonder, love. As for the names, I worry about them a lot, because I want each name to carry a little of the feel of the character. Often I change my names several times when writing. With minor characters I write down words that describe the character and then shift a few letters, so 'cherish' becomes 'Chirish' or 'barker' becomes 'Baraka'.

Posted by Alex

January 17th 2010

Hi, here are my questions you kindly agreed to answer for my blog. You can view it at www.litblog.co.uk. You write for books for younger people and older people. Do you have to consciously change your writing style much when writing for a specific age group? You have created many memorable characters. How do you go about the process of creating a character? How is your planning or construction of a plot affected by whether it is a novel or screenplay? How do you decide what your next project will be? What is the most difficult thing you have written? Emotionally or technically. Could be a short passage rather than a whole project. It seems a long time since you announced your next book Rich and Mad. What is it like waiting so long for a book to be released? Thanks so much. Alex.

William Nicholson responded:

I don't consciously change my style when writing for younger readers, but I think maybe subconsciously something changes. I do have a strong sense of the sort of person I'm writing for. I create characters by starting with an emotion, like anger, or compassion, or pride, and building up from there. I always want to know what my characters want, and what they fear. Plots for books can be much longer than plots for films. There's about one-fifth of the material in a screenplay. Otherwise the plotting process is much the same. When deciding on my next project I usually look to do something that gives me a change of pace and mood, to keep myself fresh. From fantasy to reality, from something sad to something funny. I have a lot of possible projects lining up waiting for me. Often when the time comes I don't do the one I expected, but pick the one that suddenly feels right. The most difficult thing I've written is always what I'm writing right now, because I'm in the middle of it and I don't yet see how it's going to work out. Once the first draft is done things go much more smoothly. It has been a long time waiting for Rich and Mad. My publishers were keen to get everything right about its launch. But in the meantime I've been writing away, so I actually have two books coming out this year - the other is an adult novel.

Posted by Victoria Rose Marchand

January 14th 2010

Do you have any intention to make the Wind on the Fire trilogy into a film?It would be wonderful if you did, as they have been some of the most thought-provoking and wonderful books I have read.

William Nicholson responded:

A frequently asked question, and the answer is in the FAQ section: in brief - I wish it could happen, but it doesn't look like it right now. But I'm really pleased you like the books.

Posted by Miriam

January 14th 2010

Hello, I am a woman of 26 years old, a couple of days ago, casually I saw a film on tv called FIRELIGTH. I had never seen it, I didnt even knew it existed, nor the year, nor the director... well, I would like to tell you that this film is the BEST I ever seen in my life. I never had any favorite movie as have many people but now I have. The entire film is absolutely well made, the actions of the protagonists (amazing), the music, the screenplay...I wish there were more films like yours nowadays. Today is very dificult to find really good movies that arrive into the heart of the viewers. so i want to encourage you to make more films as director, it would be wonderfull. best wishes Miriam

William Nicholson responded:

Thank you. I love it that my film lives on, even though it had very little success when first made.