About Felice Arena

Felice Arena is one of Australia’s best-loved children’s writers. He is the author and creator of many popular and award-winning children’s books, including the Boyz Rule series and the Girlz Rock series, as well as Wish, Bravo Billy, Breakaway John, Dolphin Boy Blue, Mission Buffalo, of course the Specky Magee books and the forthcoming Sally and Dave: A Slug Story. For more information about Felice and his books visit his website at: www.felicearena.com.

Read a Q & A with Felice Arena

 

About Garry Lyon

Garry Lyon  debuted with the Melbourne Football Club in 1986, at 18 years of age. He retired 14 years later with Best and Fairest and leading goal kicker awards, Victorian and All Australian selections, and 226 games under his belt. He captained the Demons for 7 years, as well as Victoria, and coached the Australian International Rules Team for 4 years. He is now a writer for the Herald Sun, and works on television with Channel 9 and radio with Triple M.

Read a Q & A with Garry Lyon

 

Will there be another Specky book? What modern day footballer is most like Specky? Read on to find out the answers to these questions and more.

Questions for Felice:

Puffin: Specky is a very determined character, did you base him on someone in particular?

Felice: Well, when I first came up with the idea to write Specky, I thought of Garry, because he was the 'Specky' of our school when were growing up back in the Victorian country town of Kyabram. But as the series developed, the character has definitely taken own his own traits – and I suppose also he has a bit of both Garry's and my personality thrown in.

Puffin: Growing up in school what was your experience of football like?

Felice: I only played footy a couple of seasons at school, and lunch time kick-to-kick with my mates. I was more into swimming (at State level) and that took up most of my time. I was also into soccer and basketball. But I was always an avid AFL fan. When I was a kid I wore my Geelong jumper with the number 9 all the time (Michael Turner was my favourite player at the time).

Puffin: In Specky Magee – A Legend in the making, what would you say are the biggest challenges for Specky?

Felice: There are a couple of challenges for Specky to overcome in this next adventure. But the biggest one would have to be learning how to deal with his friends and team-mates when they don't want him around. And will this affect his footy and his dream to play in the AFL one day?

Puffin: How do you feel knowing that the Specky Magee series has changed the reading habits of children in Australia?

Felice: I feel very privileged and humbled to be able to do what I love for a living. For most writers, the biggest reward is just hearing that readers love their stories. But it's even better when readers write to say that they didn't like reading much "until they picked up your book." That has been happening to me with Specky, and it's the greatest feeling in the world!

Puffin: Is this the last Specky Magee book or are there many more challenges for Specky to face in a sixth book?

Felice: No, this isn't the last. There's definitely another Specky Magee book coming! In fact, Garry and I have just started writing it. And, yes, there are going to be more challenges, twists, and turns . . . and of course, more footy action.

 

Questions for Garry:

Puffin: Football is a pretty competitive game, and players like Specky Magee are faced with many challenges on and off the field, what would be some of the biggest challenges you had to face on and off the field?

Garry: I guess the biggest challenge I faced were the things that actually affect your ability to play the game that you love so much. Injuries that prevented me from playing, or performing to my best were the things that I hated the most. It's very frustrating sitting on the sidelines watching your team mates play.

Puffin: In this the 5 th Specky Magee book, Specky returns to his old school to find his old mates have turned against him. Do you think a lot of AFL players experience this when they return home or change clubs?

Garry: No, I don't think it is something that AFL players have to worry about too much. Players tend to realise that team mates leaving their club to play with another side is just a part of the business of football today, and they don't tend to hold grudges. If they happen to return to their original club they would, on most occasions, be welcomed back with open arms.

Puffin: Which modern day footballer do you think Specky most emanates?

Garry: I think Specky is a combination of a number of modern day footballers. He probably resembles James Hird, from Essendon, more closely than any other. Blond hair, can play almost anywhere on the ground, is an inspiration to his team mates, kicks plenty of goals and wears the same number on the back of his jumper, (5). I'm not sure Hirdy can take big speckies as well as our hero, Specky!!

Puffin: Is it important for footballers to have other hobbies other than football?

Garry: It's really important for footballers to have interests outside of football. If all they did was sit around, when they weren't training or playing, thinking or worrying about football they would go a bit stale and it would probably lead to a drop in their form.

Puffin: How do you think Specky would handle being drafted for the same team as Grizza and Screamer?

Garry: I don't think it would worry Specky too much. The rivalries that we have as schoolboy footballers rarely continue on into our adult lives, so I think that Screamer, Grizza and Specky would all become pretty good team mates at AFL level.