Meet children's author Siân Lewin

​"If my life were a book, the title would be:
​Life is for Living and I have Lived!" ​

In this fantastical interview, we meet Siân Lewin, a wordsmith residing in the enchanting Vale Belvoir. With a skip in her step and a twinkle in her eye, Siân revels in the art of storytelling, strolling through nature's wonders, and seizing every moment with a joyful heart. Though she once graced the stage as an actor, Siân now spreads magic through the world of homecare and the power of her captivating tales. Delivered through books and spellbinding recordings, her delightful stories spark imaginations and inspire young souls on their whimsical journeys! 

Sian with Theo Paphitis

Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your life.
Hello I am Siân a childrens author. I live in the Vale Belvoir, with my husband and Buddy my Patterdale Terrier. I have 2 children and 5 grandchildren. 3 live in California and 2 in Australia. I originally trained to be an actress and still hope Steven Spielberg will discover me!! After working in new homes for 25 years, I now work in homecare. I love walking, writing,recording my stories and making the most out if life. I am in my 28th house in 63 years!

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​What inspired you to become a children's author?
I have always wanted to write and when I was diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukaemia in 2012 I had the chance. After my chemotherapy I had some time at home and write my first Alfie and Pepper story.

Fast forward to 2020 and a pandemic arrived! With my history I had to shield, so I started writing more stories and wrote a further 8 stories in the series. I also recorded the stories, giving Alfie and Pepper their voices and characters. With Pepper being a Welsh Border Collie she has a soft Welsh accent, plus she is very knowledgable and helps Alfie. Alfie is a Border/Cairn Terrier cross, a cheeky chap,who loves life and learns so much from Pepper. Each story has a little life lesson, like the trip to the seaside and the importance of learning to swim.

What was your favourite book when you were a child?
I loved Little Grey Rabbit by Alison Uttley with beautiful illustrations by Margaret Tempest.

If your life was a book, what would the title be?
According to my husband..."Have you seen my glasses!"
I would call it: "Life is for Living and I have lived!"
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What's your favourite silly word?
Shnuff

Do you think unicorns would make good pets?
Only if they could fly! I think you would need a very large garden.

If you had to describe your writing style using a food, what would it be?
Crumpets

How do you come up with the characters in your stories? Have your ever based them on real people of animals?
Yes they are based on my 2 real dogs, Alfie and Pepper.

Do you have a favourite character in your books? Or do you love them all equally?
I love them all especially Alfie and Pepper, it has kept their memory alive for me.

Have you ever written a story based on a dream you've had?
No not really, they are based on real events.

If you could have any magical power, what would it be and why?
I would love to fly, so I could see my children in Australia and USA when ever I wanted.

If you could live in any fictional world, which one would it be?
I would love to be in a Pride & Predjudice world. I played Elizabeth Bennett at drama school. Love the character and also Mr Darcy.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring one children’s book with you, which one would you choose?
Any of the Mallory Towers stories by Enid Blyton. I went to Boarding School from 10 to 16 years old.

Have you ever written a story from an animal's point of view? What was it?
Not really. The dogs talk to each other.
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Do you have any secret tips for making a story more exciting? Like adding a ninja or underwater city or something?
I have kept my stories quite calm so they are ideal for bedtime stories. The dogs end in bed, to show children it's the best place to be at the end of the day.

How do you think parents and educators can encourage a love of reading in children?
By bringing authors into schools, talking about writing and reading. Having a good library at school. Having writing competitions. Parents reading to their children, until they are old enough to read back. Perhaps act out scenes from books.

Do you have any tips or advice for kids who want to become writers?
Write your ideas down. Pick something you like to write about. Have a begining, middle and end. Keep it simple to start. Have a main character possibly, or like me a couple of main characters.​

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Tell us about your books:
Alfie and Pepper are best friends and live together. Each day they wake up and experience a different adventure. There are 6 adventures available now. The stories include a trip to a farm park, the seaside, a new baby, Christmas Tree, a trip on a narrowboat and a village fête. They meet old and new friends. Each story has a little life lesson. One of my favourite is when the new baby comes to the house and it's about a treat, but not necessarily a physical treat. The treat is seeing their owner meeting their grandson, giving them a nice warm feeling as they settle down to sleep.

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​Where can we find your books?
They are available on Amazon and to order from bookshops

What is your author website? 
www.theadventuresofalfieandpepper.com

Visit Sian's author page

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