Matt Haig facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matt Haig
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Haig at the 2024 Edinburgh International Book Festival
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| Born | 3 July 1975 Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England |
| Occupation |
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| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University of Hull |
| Genre | Speculative fiction |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Spouse |
Andrea Semple
(m. 2013) |
| Children | 2 |
Matt Haig (born 3 July 1975) is a well-known English author and journalist. He writes many different kinds of books for both kids and adults. His stories often involve speculative fiction, which means they explore "what if" ideas, like aliens or time travel.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Matt Haig was born in Sheffield, England, on 3 July 1975. He grew up in a town called Newark in Nottinghamshire. Later, he went to the University of Hull where he studied English and History.
Writing for All Ages
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Matt Haig is a very busy writer! He creates books for children and grown-ups. One of his non-fiction books, Reasons to Stay Alive, became a huge bestseller in the UK. It stayed on the top 10 list for many weeks.
His children's novel, A Boy Called Christmas, was even made into a movie. This film was produced by big companies like StudioCanal.
Popular Books and Adaptations
Matt Haig's novels often have unique and sometimes dark twists on family life. For example, Dead Fathers Club is a story about an 11-year-old boy dealing with his father's ghost. His children's book, Shadow Forest, is a fantasy adventure. It won the Nestlé Children's Book Prize in 2007. He later wrote a sequel called Runaway Troll.
In 2013, he published The Humans. This book is about an alien who takes on a human identity. The alien has to learn about human life while trying to complete a special mission.
In 2017, Haig released How to Stop Time. This novel tells the story of a man who looks 40 but has actually lived for over 400 years! He has met famous people like Shakespeare and Captain Cook. This book was also chosen to be made into a film. The actor Benedict Cumberbatch was even considered for the main role.
His book Reasons to Stay Alive won an award in 2016. How to Stop Time was also nominated for an award in 2017.
In 2020, Matt Haig's novel The Midnight Library came out. It's about a young woman who gets a chance to explore different versions of her life. She visits a special library between life and death. There, she tries to find the life where she feels the happiest. This book was very popular and was even adapted for radio.
His book The Comfort Book was released in 2021.
Life Beyond Books
Matt Haig is married to Andrea Semple, whom he has known since they were teenagers. They live in Brighton, Sussex, with their two children, Lucas and Pearl. They also have a dog. Their children were homeschooled, meaning they learned at home.
Matt Haig has openly shared that some of his non-fiction books are inspired by his own experiences. When he was 24, he went through a difficult time with his mental health. He still sometimes experiences anxiety. He has also been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. These experiences have helped him write stories that explore feelings and challenges in a way that many readers find helpful and understanding.
