The Snowbirds

The Snowbirds

The Snowbirds is a book for children aged seven plus. I wanted to write a good adventure story for children involving two unusual characters namely the snowbirds who are brought to life by Jack Frost. It is important for me to combine any fantasy elements with a touch of real life in order to help make the characters more believable, and to encourage the thought in the children's mind that it might just possibly happen to me. The theme of ice sculpture has not, as far as I know, been written about in this way and so it immediately makes the story different and hopefully more appealing. I also wanted to create a book that would introduce the more able younger child to the experience of handling a book which is similar in shape and style to the novels their older siblings might be reading, whilst at the same time I wanted to give to older children who might be having difficulties with reading, the opportunity to read a book more suited to their reading ability which does not look too young for them.

In each book I have written I have always tried to create a strong sense of right and wrong and I hope this comes across in the story line. The characters of the Snowbirds Suno and Aisu are formed by their creators Shoji and Orochi, and each get their just rewards in the end.

Why did you decide to leave teaching to write?

I started writing educational books in 1987 and within a few years the income from writing was sufficient to enable me to consider giving up full time teaching in order to pursue a writing career. I continued to teach part time for several years but was then diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis which culminated in a hip replacement operation which unfortunately had complications, it was then I decided that I would concentrate on writing educational books. I have written books for Scholastic, Ladybird, Folens, Harper Collins, Hodder and Stoughton and Stanley Thornes. I was delighted when a National Curriculum home learning series for Hodder Headline was the only one endorsed by The National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations.

Why do you prefer to write fiction for children rather than adults?

I suppose I prefer writing for children because at heart I am a big kid. After being involved with children in school for over twenty five years you get to know a bit about the sorts of stories the children like, and hopefully the kind of stories that fire their imagination, so when I started writing fiction, it was a natural thing for me to write for the audience I was most familiar with. I really admire authors who write detective stories with all their twists and turns and in my small way I try to create interesting stories with slight twists and turns that will keep the children interested.

Please tell us about the characters of Orochi and Shoji.

When I first had the idea for the story it was just going to be about the two Snowbirds, but they had to have a setting, and I thought Japan would be a great place. I had read about the great Ice Sculpture Fair which takes place in Sapporo and thought it would be ideal. Then my thoughts turned to the creators of the Snowbirds and I thought an element of competition between two rivals would be a good starting point. I decided on the names Shoji and Orochi after searching a website dedicated to Japanese boy's names. The two boys are rivals, and enter their village Ice carving competition. They both desperately want to win the competition and while Shoji creates his Snowbird with love and care, Orochi is sneaky and cheats whilst making his. As a result the two Snowbirds inherit their creators characteristics and the story shows what happens as a result.

Why do you love winter so much?

I love all the seasons, and I think each one has its own special delights, but perhaps I do have a special affection for winter especially when it snows. Snow can transform even the ugliest of sights into a beautiful scene with a covering of sparkling white. I love the intricate patterns of frost on windows, the crunch of snow underfoot, and the thick hoar frost on the branches of trees against a clear blue sky. They all make winter a very magical time for me, and of course winter snow means snowmen, tobogganing, giant snowballs, making snow angels and sliding on the slippery ice, all great fun for children. 

How did Sweden inspire you when writing this novel?

I was inspired by a trip to the Halleforsisfestival on Lake Soralgen in Sweden. This is a great ice festival where ice sculptures are carved from huge blocks of ice cut from the frozen lake. On the last day when all the sculptures are completed they place lighted candles in them, and light a giant bonfire. There is music, singing and folk dancing and lots of delicious food. It was while walking among the ice sculptures with their flickering lights that they seemed to come alive, and I thought what if...? The image stayed with me and when I started to think about my story I knew that this was what I wanted to write about.

Please tell us about the book you published last year The Prince, The Fairy and The Fouly.

My previous book with Matador is entitled 'The Prince, The Fairy and The Fouly'  and introduces a brand new character – the Fouly who is the exact opposite of a good fairy (as in fair and foul). He is a wicked character intent on spoiling Christmas for everyone by kidnapping Father Christmas. He nearly succeeds but for the intervention of Rudolph - a cardboard prince and Rosalind – a clothes peg fairy who set off to try and rescue him. Using the 'Lucia Light' they overcome Malicia the Fouly Queen at her Monster Ball, and return home triumphant, but the Fouly follows and using Rosalind's magic wand he creates a fierce Holly Army. Now the battle for Christmas really begins with the Fouly and his prickly army, against Rudolph and Rosalind and all the toys in the house. The question is... Who will win? My inspiration for this book came from 'The Nutcracker' which is a firm favourite at Christmas time. I was inspired by the ballet and I wrote the book in the hope that one day it too would form the basis of a ballet for children. There are lots of elements of dance in the story and I am delighted to say that The Manor Ballet School, based in Edinburgh - which is one of the most prestigious ballet schools in Scotland will be creating a ballet based on 'The Prince, The Fairy and The Fouly' in time for next Christmas.

You live in Cumbria, so how inspirational is that for your writing?

Living in Cumbria is a wonderful inspiration for my writing and also for my painting. I paint watercolours of the Lakeland scenery and I enjoy nothing more than taking my two spaniels Casper and Fergus out and finding a good place to sketch. I live in the north lakes, but the wonderful scenery, the soaring fells and deep lakes, the fabulous skies and sunlit clouds of the Lake District are all close by. Living next to a farm with green fields and trees all around me has helped bring me closer to nature, and since moving here I have really begun to observe things much more closely when sketching and painting, and this in turn has helped me appreciate and include this detail in the observations and descriptions contained in my stories.

What is next for you?

I have already planned out my next book and will certainly be publishing it with Matador. I am working on the illustrations right now, and as soon as I have completed the main ones I will start on the smaller incidental pictures. I have completed a first draft of the story and will begin work on revising it as soon as all the illustrations are complete. In my spare time I take part in art exhibitions during the summer months so I will be trying to fit in some time for painting, and I am really looking forward to the autumn when rehearsals for the ballet will commence.

 


by for www.femalefirst.co.uk
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