TV actress turned children’s author Sammy Winward discovered a potential new heroine for her stories at a book signing event in Warrington.
The former Emmerdale soap star met six year old Matilda Blue Williams from Stockton Heath, who was full of questions for her and gave her best beaming smile when the two had their photograph taken together.
Sammy, who played Katie Sugden in Emmerdale, before leaving the TV hit to further develop her career, said: “Matilda was just lovely, so inquisitive and chatty and she spoke several different languages which for her age was amazing. She was really interested in my book. I told her its main character was very curious – just like her.”
The book, Princess Phoebe Meets the Tudors, is aimed at youngsters aged seven to 12 and is about a time-travelling princess who goes back through the ages meeting famous characters from history.
Sammy, 29, was inspired to write it after the birth of her daughter, Mia, now 10.
She said: “I used to tell Mia stories when she was little and they’d all be about characters from the past. I’ve always been a history buff and loved learning about how different life was centuries ago. I used to look for history books for Mia and eventually I started toying with the idea of writing one myself to encourage youngsters to become more interested in the subject. I wanted to make it informing, but also fun, which is how I came up with the character of Princess Phoebe.
“In the book Phoebe is a real princess, but she’s also a bit of a tomboy and adventurous. That’s the part which I think intrigued Matilda. She asked me lots of questions. It was a delight to meet her. In the end I felt like I was the fan and she was a genuine little superstar!”
Matilda, a pupil of Stockton Heath Primary School, was at the book signing with her dad, Robert Williams, of Warrington.
He said: “To be honest we don’t watch much TV but Matilda is always interested in learning about new places and she loves reading.”
Robert, married to Matilda’s mum, Jo, owns a small electronics engineering firm, and the family have travelled widely. A keen linguist, he speaks Italian, German and Arabic.
Matilda, who has an older sister, Karis, 28, said she is also interested in languages, adding: “One of my favourite places is Stockholm in Sweden and one day I’d love to go to Australia.”
Meanwhile Sammy has just finished filming a new series of the TV drama, Prey, with Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes star, Philip Glenister.
“I play the daughter of Philip’s character. It has been great to do and will be coming to our TV screens shortly,” she said.
Sammy is planning to continue her writing career with further Princess Phoebe adventures.
Matilda Blue Williams, from Warrington, meets Sammy and has her book signed.
