About Author and Illustrator
C. J. Biggin
C. J. Biggin is the author and illustrator of IYANWA and FAHLI, a middle-grade fantasy adventure series that centers around a unique perspective of life and death, self-determination, and the bond that binds siblings, and friends together.
Biggin grew up in North London, UK, and didn’t begin writing until later in life.
Before that, he told stories through music, performing at venues from London to California. He's an award-winning designer, has written a play, and had songs featured in films and television. He's illustrated several books, and had the privilege of illustrating Highlights Magazine.
Biggin was inspired to write IYANWA and FAHLI after drawing a picture of a little boy sitting on a fox, carrying a backpack stuffed with twigs.
When he's not writing, you can find him behind the piano writing melancholic songs (because he can't play fast) or illustrating. He lives in Southern California.
FAQs
I love to play the piano, and also sing a little. I used to sing a lot, but now I'm happy to create songs and record them on my phone! I've also recently taken up Tang Soo Do Karate! Yep - I'm late in the game, but it's so brilliant; the discipline, the exercise, and being reminded that I'm not quite as flexible as perhaps I once was!
I also love to work on designs, which means building user-centered designs which solve people's problems, or sell products. Mainly my interests outside of work center around writing.
Oooh, good question! I rarely write without ambient music in the background and it's often the type of music that gives you a sense of an environment, or space in a world that you can't capture in silence. I'll change it up when I'm feeling the pressures of a particular scene. When I started writing IYANWA, I was listening to a lot of soundtrack music. I wanted the book to be filled with heart, as well as suspense. My favorite artist is Hans Zimmer, and I listened to him throughout the process probably a million times. It is amazing how music can influence your writing, and I definitely felt that when creating IYANWA! Hannah Parrot was my key artist when writing FAHLI - which was very atmospheric, and soundtrack-centric, which was perfect for envisioning the characters in the world! I recommend writing to music - it's amazing!!
Absolutely! I'm excited to share IYANWA with a broad audience and tackle the difficult conversations through the adventures that IYANWA brings!
I offer author visits for KS1, KS2 and Grades 3–6, combining storytelling, illustration and Q&A.
I am also excited to share free classroom activity kits for FAHLI and IYANWA. The FAHLI activity kit can be found on the FAHLI microsite, or here.
For inquiries, get in touch at wildrunpress@gmail.com
Nope, I didn’t have one. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to. If something has ever helped you feel safe or strong when you needed it, that counts ... then you’ve had your own version all along.
I'm pleased as punch to say that the prequel to IYANWA called FAHLI will be out this summer! And what's more exciting for me is I'm now embarking on the third book in the series, which will be a sequel to the prequel (so chronologically it'll be book 2, then 3, then 1)! More to come soon on that one. Apart from that, I have a few other ideas up my sleeve, which I'm hoping will make it out, a couple of them picture books :) Stay tuned!
IYANWA is available at most online bookstores, and you might even spot it on the shelves at Barnes & Noble .
If you want to jump straight in, you can grab a copy here:
I really appreciate you taking the time to explore Izzy’s story!
