S.F. Said is a distinguished author of fantasy, science fiction, and children’s books. He was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and spent a few years in Jordan before moving to London. Growing up in the Iraqi diasporic community in London, Said was surrounded by a rich and diverse cultural background that would later influence his writing. After graduating from the University of Cambridge, he worked as a speechwriter and press attaché for the Crown Prince of Jordan’s office in London for over five years.
Said’s passion for writing led him to pursue a Ph.D. in 1997, focusing on the lives of young Muslims in Britain. However, he left academia to concentrate on film journalism for the Daily Telegraph and writing for children. His work as a film journalist brought attention to much ‘world cinema’, including contemporary Islamic cinema.
Said is an award-winning author, with his first book, Varjak Paw, winning the Smarties Prize for Children’s Literature. His second book, The Outlaw Varjak Paw, won the BBC Blue Peter Book Of The Year. His third book, Phoenix, was chosen to represent the UK on the IBBY International Honour Book List and was shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award. His latest book, Tyger, has been hailed as his “best book so far” and has won several awards, including Children’s Fiction Book Of The Year at the British Book Awards, Children’s Book Of the Year (Older Fiction) at The Week Junior Book Awards, and was Foyles Children’s Book Of The Year and Waterstones Children’s Book Of The Month. Like his other books, Tyger is illustrated by Dave McKean and published by David Fickling Books.
Said has also written extensively on children’s and young adult literature for both the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph. He is a respected voice in the literary world, and his work continues to inspire and captivate readers of all ages.