'Ever since I was young, I have always loved reading. Whether it was phonic books, Penguin fact books or even simple picture books, I loved the hobby. I still do. What (or who) inspired me to actually create a book was Linda Chapman’s 'My Secret Unicorn' series in Year Four. I started gathering ideas, but it didn’t go so well, because I was writing by hand instead of typing. In Hong Kong, I also wanted to be an author and, as the years moved on, the idea of being an author clung on to me. Then the most random ideas in the most random places came to me. I was sitting in the car moments ago, thinking about my recent favourite authors, A. F. Steadman (Skandar series) and J. K. Rowling (Harry Potter). I had been reading the Skandar series in Barcelona and I felt pulled by it. My book is slightly similar to Skandar. It has illegal tamers (riders), exciting twists and an unexpected ending. It is about a boy – James Meadway – settling in a grand castle, the Okrina School of Creature-Training, who finds out a secret can possibly kill him and his creature if found out. He makes new friends, misses his parent and sister (parent, not parents) and spends days trying to cover his secret actions.'
Amena T, 7W
If you would like to take a look at Amena's book, 'James Meadway and the Stolen Creatures', please click here.