Francesca Simon
About Author
Francesca Simon, author of the bestselling Horrid Henry books, has a new series about two naughty Viking children, Hack and Wack, and the second book featuring Grunt the Berserker is now available.
Francesca was born in the US and attended Yale and Oxford universities. She worked as a freelance journalist before becoming a full time writer. Francesca has had many books published; her Horrid Henry books and CDs have sold 20m copies in the UK alone. She is also the author of Costa-shortlisted The Monstrous Child. Francesca lives in North London with her family.
Steve May is an animation director and illustrator. Steve has illustrated books by Jeremy Strong, Philip Reeve, Harry Hill and Phil Earle, as well as the Dennis the Menace series. He lives in North London.
Interview
Two Terrible Vikings and Grunt the Berserker (Faber & Faber Children's Books)
February 2022
Imagine having parents who WANT you to be bad! Hack and Wack are proud to be the worst Vikings in the village, but have they met their match in Grunt the Berserker?
Author Francesca Simon tells us about her Two Terrible Vikings books that include facts about the Vikings within a fast-paced, funny story about two young - and very bad - Vikings!
Q&A with Francesca Simon
1. How did you first start writing for children, and what is your career highlight to date?
I wrote my first book for children just after my son Joshua was born in 1989. It was rejected by every publisher, but I continued to get ideas. After a year of trying to get published, my first book, Papa Forgot, was accepted, and I became an author. My career highlight is definitely turning my YA novel The Monstrous Child into an opera, which premiered at the Royal Opera House in February 2019.
2. What sparked the idea for Two Terrible Vikings? Can you tell us a little about the series?
I love funny stories about wild, rebellious children, and I love Norse mythology, so I'm surprised it took me so long to get the idea for Two Terrible Vikings. One day I started thinking about what kind of children most Viking parents would want. Wouldn't they want their children to behave badly, because how else would their kids grow up to be fierce and strong?
So the series is about the riotous adventures of two young Viking twins, Hack and Whack, their pet wolf Bitey-Bitey, and their friends: Dirty Ulf, the girl who hates baths, Twisty Pants, who likes bragging about how many trolls he has fought, and misfit Elsa Gold-Hair, the village goody-goody whose catch-phrase is 'That's naughty'.
3. You've written about the Vikings before, why did you want to revisit them for younger readers?
Vikings are pirates, who raid, rob, and love fighting. Because Hack and Whack are young Vikings, they can steal boats, escape to neighbouring islands, track trolls and rampage in the forest. They can run wild and the freedom this gives me is endless. There's also scope for lots of humour. Vikings parents would say: 'No axes at the table!' and 'No sharing!'
4. Did you still need to research this period for the details you include in your stories?
I always do research, especially about daily life. I always read a few Norse sagas before I write, to get into the mood. I have a notebook I write down lots of fun facts and fragments, and re-read this before I start writing.
5. Can you share three of your favourite Viking facts that you include in these stories?
a) The words WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY come from the Vikings. Wednesday is WODENSDAY and Thursday is THORSDAY. So we reference the Vikings without knowing it every time we say those words.
b) Vikings did not read or write.
c) Berserkers were crazy warriors who wore bearskins and were fearless in battle. The big bullies of the Viking world.
6. Your two young Vikings, Hack and Whack, are terrible. Why did you want such naughty characters? Do you enjoy writing about children who like to break the rules?
I do love rule-breaking characters, it’s true. I admire their energy, and the scope for mayhem. We are well-behaved in real life, and it's fun in stories to let our inner imps out.
7. As they are Vikings, is it easier for them to get into trouble than when you're writing about modern children?
They get into trouble for different things; sharing, for example. It's certainly easier for them to have adventures, free from parental supervision.
8. You give your characters great names - how do you think of them?
Vikings gave people terrible nicknames, so I keep lists of them. Believe it or not, Eystein Smelly–Fart was a real name. I also enjoy making up funny names, so I am always on the look-out for good ones.
9. Who is your favourite supporting character?
I love Twisty Pants, because he is always boasting and lying. It's huge fun to write a character like that.
10. How do you think you would have coped with life as a Viking child?
Dreadfully! I get seasick, so boats are out. I like to read and the Vikings didn't have books. The only thing I would have enjoyed was all the storytelling.
11. Are you planning more adventures for Whack and Hack?
I've just finished book 3, Hack and Whack Feast with the King, which includes the story of when Hack and Whack babysit for Dirty Ulf's little brother, Fire Hazard, and how they manage to get rid of winter guests who won't leave.
12. Where and when do you prefer to write? Will there be more Horrid Henry adventures?
I always write in my office at the top of the house. I am currently working on a novella based on a cantata I wrote with Gavin Higgins, which is premiering at Aldeburgh in June 2022. It's about the Welsh legend of the Lady of the Lake.
I've written 100 Horrid Henry stories, so I think that’s enough for the moment.
13. What is your favourite escape from your desk?
I have just started to learn to play the banjo, which I love. I keep the banjo in my office so I can practice whenever I need a break.
Two Terrible Vikings and Grunt the Berserker
Two Terrible Vikings
