Nick Arnold
Encyclopedia
Nick Arnold is the author of the award winning series, Horrible Science
and Wild Lives
. Arnold's first published works appeared as a result of a project he was working on at the University of North London
, when he was trying to teach young children. A positive review was written about him, and he started to write the "Horrible Science" books. His books are illustrated by Tony De Saulles
.
Nick is the middle child of 3 brothers. His older and younger brothers are both alive today. His mother is 24 years older than he is. Nick has an okay experience in school, describing it as "neither happy nor unhappy but somewhere in-between". He loved reading, writing and history but hated maths and didn't really engage in physical activity. In answer to the FAQ "did you like science at school", Nick's honest answer is " 'not especially - it was never horrible enough for me.' Apart from biology, of course!". Arnold left school with many history qualification but decided to become a writer. He found it hard to get published however. He became an editor in London hoping that "working as an editor might help him get his own books published". In London, he struggled to find work. He was so desperate that he took up a job editing science books. Nick began to write articles with a friend named Vip. Some of these ended up in the Guardian
newspaper. Eventually he was out of work an decided to write books so wrote to every publisher in Britain requesting work. Scholastics pitched to him the concept of a series named "Horrible Science", and Arnold soon wrote Ugly Bugs. An illustrator for Scholastic named Tony De Saulles
was hired as the illustrator for the series. This book was released alongside Blood, Bones and Body Bits, and the high sales solidified the series. In 1998, he broke his arm whilst performing a Horrible Science show. He finished the show and signed books before being rushes to the hospital. In 2004, Arnold became the first British author to tour China. He and Tony De Saulles
filmed a TV show there and promoted the Chinese edition of the Horrible Science series. In 2006, Arnold founded the Appledore Book Festival after leading a campaign to save 6 libraries from closure. He is the Book Festival Director. In 2008, Arnold gained worldwide publicity after locating the site of the Battle of Cynuit, which had previously been lost for over 1000 years.http://www.nickarnold-website.com/biography.htm
Horrible Science
Horrible Science is a spin-off series of books of Horrible Histories written by Nick Arnold , illustrated by Tony de Saulles and published in the UK and India by Scholastic. They are designed to get children interested in science by concentrating on the trivial, unusual, gory, or unpleasant...
and Wild Lives
Wild Lives
Wild Lives is a spin-off of Horrible Histories and written by Nick Arnold, author of Horrible Science. It takes you on journeys with various animals in a journal-type format.Here is a list of the books in this series:...
. Arnold's first published works appeared as a result of a project he was working on at the University of North London
University of North London
The University of North London was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with London Guildhall University to form London Metropolitan University. The former University of North London premises now form the new university's north campus, situated on...
, when he was trying to teach young children. A positive review was written about him, and he started to write the "Horrible Science" books. His books are illustrated by Tony De Saulles
Tony De Saulles
Tony De Saulles is a British author and illustrator currently residing at Gloucestershire, England with his family. He is a former book designer and then he became an illustrator for children's books. He illustrates the Award winning series Horrible Science by Nick Arnold.-Awards:* 2004 Aventis...
.
Nick is the middle child of 3 brothers. His older and younger brothers are both alive today. His mother is 24 years older than he is. Nick has an okay experience in school, describing it as "neither happy nor unhappy but somewhere in-between". He loved reading, writing and history but hated maths and didn't really engage in physical activity. In answer to the FAQ "did you like science at school", Nick's honest answer is " 'not especially - it was never horrible enough for me.' Apart from biology, of course!". Arnold left school with many history qualification but decided to become a writer. He found it hard to get published however. He became an editor in London hoping that "working as an editor might help him get his own books published". In London, he struggled to find work. He was so desperate that he took up a job editing science books. Nick began to write articles with a friend named Vip. Some of these ended up in the Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper. Eventually he was out of work an decided to write books so wrote to every publisher in Britain requesting work. Scholastics pitched to him the concept of a series named "Horrible Science", and Arnold soon wrote Ugly Bugs. An illustrator for Scholastic named Tony De Saulles
Tony De Saulles
Tony De Saulles is a British author and illustrator currently residing at Gloucestershire, England with his family. He is a former book designer and then he became an illustrator for children's books. He illustrates the Award winning series Horrible Science by Nick Arnold.-Awards:* 2004 Aventis...
was hired as the illustrator for the series. This book was released alongside Blood, Bones and Body Bits, and the high sales solidified the series. In 1998, he broke his arm whilst performing a Horrible Science show. He finished the show and signed books before being rushes to the hospital. In 2004, Arnold became the first British author to tour China. He and Tony De Saulles
Tony De Saulles
Tony De Saulles is a British author and illustrator currently residing at Gloucestershire, England with his family. He is a former book designer and then he became an illustrator for children's books. He illustrates the Award winning series Horrible Science by Nick Arnold.-Awards:* 2004 Aventis...
filmed a TV show there and promoted the Chinese edition of the Horrible Science series. In 2006, Arnold founded the Appledore Book Festival after leading a campaign to save 6 libraries from closure. He is the Book Festival Director. In 2008, Arnold gained worldwide publicity after locating the site of the Battle of Cynuit, which had previously been lost for over 1000 years.http://www.nickarnold-website.com/biography.htm
Awards
- Aventis Prize (Best Children’s Science Book, 1997 - Ugly Bugs and Blood, Bones and Body Bits, 2004 - Really Rotten Experiments)
- Rhone-Poulenc Junior Science Book Prize (Blood, Bones and Body Bits)
See also
- List of children's non-fiction writers
- Horrible ScienceHorrible ScienceHorrible Science is a spin-off series of books of Horrible Histories written by Nick Arnold , illustrated by Tony de Saulles and published in the UK and India by Scholastic. They are designed to get children interested in science by concentrating on the trivial, unusual, gory, or unpleasant...
- Wild LivesWild LivesWild Lives is a spin-off of Horrible Histories and written by Nick Arnold, author of Horrible Science. It takes you on journeys with various animals in a journal-type format.Here is a list of the books in this series:...
- Tony De SaullesTony De SaullesTony De Saulles is a British author and illustrator currently residing at Gloucestershire, England with his family. He is a former book designer and then he became an illustrator for children's books. He illustrates the Award winning series Horrible Science by Nick Arnold.-Awards:* 2004 Aventis...