"I've been to the Isle of Wight once and I loved how historical it was. I'm excited to come back", the author of famous children books Horrid Henry has told the County Press, ahead of her appearance at the Isle of Wight Story Festival.
Best-selling writer Francesca Simon is among the stellar line-up of guests who will be at the event this month.
She will be talking about her Two Terrible Vikings stories.
She said she is particularly excited "given the Island was a big stopover point for Vikings who were busy raiding in the 9th century."
The author said she has always been interested in disobedient children and the relationship with their parents.
She said: "I got the idea because I was thinking Vikings are pirates but they're still families and you still want your kids to behave at home however badly they're behaved outside of home."
Francesca read medieval studies at university and said this book was a chance to combine her love of writing with her academic interests.
This will be the second time Francesca has visited the Island.
Her husband lived near the former Camp Hill prison when he was younger and they paid a trip to see his "old haunt".
She said: "My husband is an army brat and his dad was stationed there when he was very little.
"It was interesting to see where he lived. That was fun for both of us.
"So we spent a day visiting his old haunt and a day doing what I wanted to do which was to visit old iron age barrows and forts and things like that."
Asked whether the Island could be an inspiration for her next best-seller, she said: "You never know!
"Islands are very interesting. Who knows. It's always difficult to say where inspiration comes."
On her next trip, Francesca has a different objective in mind: inspiring the next generation of readers.
She said: "Reading has always been an incredibly important part of my life and one of the things I like about festivals is seeing parents bringing their children to come and meet and talk to an author and also for children to realise that books don't appear out of the air."
The Isle of Wight Story Festival takes place between February 15 and 17.
Francesca will be appearing on the Saturday (17).
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