[photo: Sue Ratcliffe]
Appearing:
Author Website
www.livimichael.com
Livi Michael’s first children’s book, FRANK AND THE BLACK HAMSTER OF NARKIZ, was published in 2002. It’s funny, fantastical and a must for all hamster-lovers. Most hamsters are tame, gentle and seemingly happy to be left alone; Frank is different – he’s a hamster with a mission and his motto is ‘Courage!’ Frank’s adventures continue in Livi’s second book, FRANK AND THE CHAMBER OF FEAR.
The Basics
Born: March 15th 1960
Jobs: University lecturer, Writer of books for adults
Lives: Diggle, Saddleworth
First children’s book: FRANK AND THE BLACK HAMSTER OF NARKIZ
The Books
Livi Michael has written four books for adults and began to write for children in 2000 when she wanted to amuse her seven-year-old son over the summer holidays. She started writing when she was seven years old and never stopped! If she hadn’t been a writer Livi thinks she would have been “a very sad person or, alternatively, an Arctic explorer�?. The FRANK titles are special for their humour and originality and appeal hugely to readers of fantasy fiction as well as to animal-lovers.
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| Angel Stone Puffin Books ISBN: 0141319232 |
The Whispering Road Puffin Books ISBN:0141317035 |
Frank and the New Narkiz Puffin Books ISBN: 0141317000 |
Livi Michael has two sons, a dog called Jenny – and of course a hamster called Frank!
There are more FRANK titles to come and Livi is moving to a new area with THE WHISPERING ROAD, a historical novel, the story of children on an amazing journey in search of their mother.
What She Says...
“My book (FRANK AND THE BLACK HAMSTER OF NARKIZ) is about my hamster, Frank, who is very adventurous and fond of escaping. This made me wonder where he thought he was going and I looked into the history of hamsters, which was fascinating. Before 1930 they all lived in the wild in Syria. One day a scientist discovered a mother and her twelve babies, and all the hamsters kept as pets in the world today were bred from this original thirteen. Now no hamsters live in the wild at all – they all live in cages in our houses. At this point I knew I had a story…�?
Livi’s advice to would-be writers:
1. Make time to write.
2. Don’t give up.
3. Keep asking questions.
What They Say About Livi Michael
“FRANK AND THE BLACK HAMSTER OF NARJKIZ is a vividly imagined hamster-eye view of the human – and animal – world which deserves to shoot right to the top of the charts.�?
The Independent Magazine
“The story(FRANK AND THE BLACK HAMSTER OF NARKIZ), told with uncanny empathy, describes the world through hamster eyes; but it’s also about freedom and captivity, and how surprisingly difficult it is to choose between the two.�?
Mail on Sunday
“I loved it – I know children will too…original, exciting and very funny.�?
Jacqueline Wilson on FRANK AND THE BLACK HAMSTER OF NARKIZ
“Forget your cosy memories of ‘Tales of the River-bank, there are real tensions as Frank battles to save his furry friends from the ghastly Vince, who has recently read that hamster fur is the new ermine and is rapidly turning pets into pelts. A funny, exciting read that also manages to impart a remarkable amount of factual information about hamsters.�?
The Scotsman on FRANK AND THE CHAMBER OF FEAR
Awards
Livi Michael has won awards for her adult fiction – The Faber Prize and The Arthur Welton Award and has had several shortlistings.
FRANK AND THE BLACK HAMSTER OF NARKIZ was shortlisted for the Branford-Boase Award.
Publisher
Puffin: www.puffin.co.uk