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Posted on January 27th 2017
Author Bali Rai to Visit the Academy
Award-winning author Bali Rai will be visiting Years 8, 9 and 10 on Thursday 9 February.
He will be talking about why he writes the kind of novels he writes, how he gets his ideas and introducing his latest book. He will also be running a Writing Workshop for students.
Copies of Bali Rai’s books are available in the library to look at and borrow, and students have been hearing about Bali in assembly and in library lessons. His book, The Crew, is one of our selected DEAR Time books and Mr Nowers and A5 are currently reading it together.
About Bali Rai
Bali Rai was born in 1971 and grew up in Leicester. As a child, Bali wanted to be a footballer or to write stories. Always an avid reader, he hails Sue Townsend, Douglas Adams and Robert Swindells as his writing heroes. Bali grew up reading Dr Seuss and Meg and Mog and his first book purchase was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
He realised he wasn't good enough to play for Liverpool FC and after gaining a politics degree in London he returned to his home city and did a variety of jobs while completing his first novel. Bali set about writing a story he had been thinking about for many years. He wanted to write accessible books for children of all backgrounds, realising there were no British Asian authors writing for children.
Bali Rai writes stories inspired by his working class Punjabi/Sikh background, but his aim was always that his writing should be enjoyed by readers everywhere, irrespective of class or culture. His has the ability to tackle the harsh realities of growing up in the UK and blend this with humour and often an overriding optimism.
To find out more go to www.balirai.co.uk
