I know it’s April Fools Day, but today’s special guest is no joke. When Sandy Fussell talks, you should listen. Today marks the release of Shaolin Tiger, the third title in Sandy’s amazing Samurai Kids series, and, to celebrate, Sandy agreed to drop in as a guest blogger and tell us all about the genesis of her series.

Thanks for being here, Sandy – and congratulations on the release of Shaolin Tiger.

Sandy Says:

How did one book suddenly become a series of four.. and maybe more… ? I am still shaking my head in amazement. It seems only fitting that April Fool’s Day is the release date for Shaolin Tiger, the third book in the series. It’s as if someone has played the most wonderful joke on me.

My life as an author began with the big phone call: ‘We (Walker Books Australia) would like to publish your ms…” and it was soon followed by more calls: “We would like to illustrate your book…” and “How would you feel about turning this book into a series…”

Writing a series has been a challenging journey. I have had a chance to develop my characters and get to know them much better. Kids write to me with their own ideas and it’s a huge reward to see how involved they have become in the story. I’ve had the opportunity to explore and expand my love of eastern ideology, martial arts and Japanese culture with an audience eager to listen. Much to my surprise, I enjoy visiting schools as an author speaker.

But it hasn’t all been easy. Samurai Kids, which became Book 1: White Crane had no hooks in place for further plotlines. Much of the dialogue was based on the repartee between Sensei Ki-Yaga and his students which focussed on the kids’ ability to achieve despite what others would perceive as obvious physical handicaps. This, and Sensei’s eccentric witticisms, could potentially become tedious.

The story itself was based around the children learning the Samurai skills they needed to compete at the annual Samurai Trainee Games. It was episodic in nature and complete in itself. So how could I turn it into a series?

The first idea came from my 8 year old son. After I finished reading him White Crane he said, “I love it mum, but where are the ninjas?” Before I could explain there weren’t any, he answered himself: “I know. They’re in book 2.” At that time it wasn’t a series but when the time came, I ‘borrowed’ his idea. Knowing that the samurai and ninja were traditional enemies who often worked in secret together despite their open disapproval of each other, I knew I had rich pickings for a story about friendship and espionage. Then I also realised that Ki-Yaga, in order to give his students the best possible training, would expose them to other skills. Not only those of the ninja (in Book 2: Owl Ninja) but the Shaolin monks in China (in Shaolin Tiger) and the clandestine Chinese ninja (in Book 4: Monkey Fist).

My other immediate problem was in White Crane I had hinted at Sensei’s flaw, his great weakness. He had done something terrible and possibly been punished with transformation into a Tengu, a black crow mountain priest capable of taking bird and human form. Now I had to come up with a more concrete explanation. I had to determine what, if anything, he had done and was he or was he not a Tengu. The grey area had to become black and white. With some more 8 year old expertise I’ve resolved that one. Keep reading and you’ll see…

The problem now is where does the series end? I know the geographic location and I know the catalyst but how many steps and how many journeys lie in between? And how much should an author pay an 8 year old plot consultant?

Thanks for being here, Sandy. And congratulations not just on the release of Shaolin Tiger, but also on yesterday’s announcement that youahve been shortlisted in the CBCA’s Children’s Book of the Year Awards.

You can find out more about Sandy by visiting her website or her blog. You can order Shaolin Tiger online at Fishpond.