Ask me a question

  • Ask me a question, I love receiving them. As soon as I reply, you'll get an email containing my answer which will also be posted on this web site.
  • Please take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions to make sure I haven't answered your question before.
Your Name:
Your Email Address:
Your Question:
Please enter the code above in the text box below:

Search past questions

Submitted by visitors to this website

Posted by Shannon

May 15th 2010

I am a huge fan of the movie Gladiator and had in fact read your original script while it was being filmed at the time. One of the main reasons I believe that made the movie so successful was because of your writing and the passion you brought to the story. Why haven't you worked with Ridley Scott since? I saw Robin Hood last night and was incredibly disappointed. I think if you had been a part of it, it would have been a completely different movie. Just curious. Shannon

William Nicholson responded:

I have written a screenplay for Ridley Scott since Gladiator, but it hasn't been filmed - the studio didn't go for it. I haven't seen Robin Hood yet myself. I'll be very interested to see it. It takes so many elements to go right on a film to get it to work well, and with Gladiator I think we all just felt we got very lucky.

Posted by opwonya jerolyn

May 15th 2010

i must say you are like the coolest writer ever but id love to know where you got those wonderful ideas,especially in ;The slaves of mastery and the continuation and beginning books. it was just toooooooo cool and sooo original! I noticed the many mixed up traditions and the way you make them so interesting, seriously, im intrigued and would love to know this wonderful inspiration of yours. bye,you rock!

William Nicholson responded:

You're dead right when you talk about mixed-up traditions - everything in my head goes into the pot, like making soup. A bit of Bible, a bit of the Beano, a bit of Buddhism, a bit of hippy idealism, a bit of low-rent Tolstoy, a bit of all the things that have happened to me in my longish life... That's the glory of fantasy writing: there are no rules. Except it all has to hang together somehow and make sense to the reader. Try it yourself, it's the best fun.

Posted by STEPHEN TINTO

May 14th 2010

I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY PARTICULAR BOOK ON SCREENWRITING YOU WOULD RECOMMEND.

William Nicholson responded:

I've never used any book on screenwriting, so I'm afraid I can't help. I'm sure there are good books out there, but in the end your best learning tool is watching and analysing great movies.

Posted by Carla

May 14th 2010

Hello, I'm a big fan of yours, and being portuguese I would like to ask you if you ever heard about the portuguese true love story of king Pedro and Ines de Castro, the queen who was crowned after death, in the 14th century. I love your work and I must confess that I would love to see you taking this amazing story, and spreading it to the whole world, maybe giving it life through a film... Despite I believe you already know the story, I leave you a link with some details of it. Thanks.

William Nicholson responded:

I don't know the story. I'll take a look. Thanks.

Posted by Luke Warwick

May 12th 2010

Hi, soo I live in Australia and fell in love with your 'Wind on fire' trilogy many years ago. I've been looking to buy these books but there impossible to find in Brisbane, where I live. Is there hope of a re-print of this trilogy in the near future...? Haha... Or if not, could you make it so :). Love your work.

William Nicholson responded:

The books are all in print. Either ask your bookshop to order them, or get them online on Amazon. Great that you like them so much.

Posted by Ben Willis

May 11th 2010

I am a teacher at a primary school in hampshire and we have just finished 'The Wind Singer' as our Guided Reading text. I have been amazed at how much the children (yr 5) have been able to get out of your book, but particularly impressed with the responses of one of the children. He has a real flair for writing and would love to be a novelist himself. I was approached by his mother this evening, who asked if it was possible for him to send you a sample of his work in response to your book. I would love to see what you make of his efforts too, so, I guess I am asking if there is an address that I could have, which would ensure the work gets to you? If there is, then please drop me an e-mail. kind regards Ben (Lymington Juniors)

William Nicholson responded:

Send the sample to me via my publisher - the address is on the first page of all the books - and they'll send it on to me. Usually I try to discourage being sent would-be writers' work, because there's just so much of it out there, but in this case I think it's really worth it.