Simon Higgins Launches Monkey Fist

My blog has been sadly, badly neglected of late. I have been been having too much fun! Blame it on the Book Week whirl and the wonderful Ipswich Festival of Children's Literature. These past weeks have reinforced to me why I write for kids and have inspired me to continue writing and reaching out to our young readers, writers, story-tellers and story-listeners.

So where to begin? Backwards has always been a direction that has worked well for me. So tonight I am revisiting the launch of Monkey Fist by author and extroadinary person all round - Simon Higgins. Simon is a master oral story teller, an expert on many things Japanese and a Taikai practitioner. I had to confess - in person, how embarrassing - that I hadn't read any of his books based in Japan - even though I own them all - because I know I am going to love them (I had a peek) and am just a little worried a line might sneak across from one of his books without me knowing it. Call me a wimp but I once wrote a song and stole a whole line from Jummy Buffet without realising. I am actually very strong - and not a wimp! - because it is taking all the willpower I have not to get started on the Moonshadow series.

The launch began with Simon transporting the assembled group from the lawns of historic Woodlands of Marburg to a tori gate in Japan. We watched spellbound as Simon performed a sword ceremony in honour of Monkey Fist. The sword hissed as it slithered from the scabbard. And around me I hear whispered oohs and aahs.

He was a very hard act to follow. So I kept it simple and if you want to know what I said I rather like the way Belinda Jeffrey described my (very short) speech on her web site here (She's a very talented writer and I recommend you read her excellent debut YA novel Brown Skin Blue).

One Blog Tour End and Another Begins

My blog tour is over. I am sad, thrilled and exhausted. Also amazed. I don't where all these Samurai Kids books keep coming from but I close my eyes and think - and luckily, up pops another idea.

I want to say a huge thank you to my hosts - for their time, web space and support. Some are writers, some are storytellers and all are readers, passionate about children's books.

And now it is my great pleasure (and huge fun) to swap hats and host Claire Saxby and her brand new picture book - Sheep, Goat and the Creaking Gate. What a great title and we'll be delving into where that came from when Claire visits here on Thursday 20 August.

MONKEY FIST BLOG TOUR Day 10 - Words and Pictures

It's blog tour day 10 - the very last. Today I'm visiting Words and Pictures – Writer and artist Jeffery E Doherty will be interviewing me about writing illustrated novels – the artwork, graphics and working with an illustrator.

The complete tour schedule is here for anyone who wants to hit the rewind button and go back a day or two.

Tomorrow I am back in the office writing again, working on my bext book Mexica Runner. It's set at the end of the Aztec empire when the Spanish attack and the story opens with Atl, imprisoned in a box, waiting to be sacrificed.

MONKEY FIST BLOG TOUR Day 9 - The Book Chook

It's blog tour day 9 and I'm visiting the The Book Chook where writer, reviewer and children’s literature advocate Sue Stephenson will be interviewing me about how my children’s reading experiences have influenced my writing. The Book Chook is also the editor of Literacy Lava, a wonderful magazine focusing on childhood literacy. It's free and I recommend subscribing. I already do!


Visit the Samurai Kids website to download a one-act classroom play based on the Samurai Kids series.

Tomorrow you can find me at my last tour stop Words and Pictures – Writer and artist Jeffery E Doherty will be interviewing me about writing illustrated novels – the artwork, graphics and working with an illustrator.

The complete tour schedule is here for anyone who wants to hit the rewind button and go back a day or two.

MONKEY FIST BLOG TOUR Day 8 - Alphabet Soup

It's blog tour day 8 and I'm visiting Alphabet Soup magazine where editor Rebecca Newman is interviewing me about my research techniques and asking questions to discover whether all that historical research is really any fun.

Visit the Samurai Kids website to find a Webquest for How to Build a Samurai Ryu

Tomorrow you can find me at The Book Chook where writer, reviewer and children’s literature advocate Sue Stephenson will be interviewing me about how my children’s reading experiences have influenced my writing. The complete tour schedule is here.

MONKEY FIST BLOG TOUR Day 7 - Writing Children's Books with Robyn Opie

It's blog tour day 7 and I'm visiting Writing Children’s Book with Robyn Opie where Robyn Opie, author of more than 75 books including "How to Write a Great Children's Book" and the novel “Black Baron adn I are discussing Zen and the Art of Writing for Children – my view on why the series has been so successful.

Today I'm also visiting schools in Canberra with Lynette of Asia Bookroom. We'll be visiting Amaroo School and Rosary Primary School.

Visit the Samurai Kids website to find lots of great craft activities including how to make an origami samurai helmet or a ninja mask from a T-shirt

Tomorrow you can find me at Alphabet Soup magazine where editor Rebecca Newman will be interviewing me about my research techniques and asking questions to discover whether all that historical research is really any fun. The complete tour schedule is here.

MONKEY FIST BLOG TOUR Day 6 - Sally Murphy's Writing for Children

It's blog tour day 6 and I'm doing two things at once. Isn't cyberspace wonderful? Today I'm visiting Sally Murphy’s Writing For Children Blog to talk with Sally Murphy (author of many books for children including the verse novel, Pearl Verses the World) about book promotion and how to harness cyber resources.

I'm also speaking in the evening at Canberra's Asia Bookroom. More details about that here.

Visit the Samurai kids website to find media related information or click here to visit the Samurai Kids Forum.

Tomorrow you will find me at Writing Children’s Book with Robyn Opie where Robyn Opie, author of more than 75 books including "How to Write a Great Children's Book" and the novel “Black Baron” and I will be discussing Zen and the Art of Writing for Children – my view on why the series has been so successful. The complete tour schedule is here.

MONKEY FIST BLOG TOUR Day 5 - Tales I Tell

It's blog tour day 5 and I'm visiting Tales I Tell where Mabel Kaplan, storyteller and author of Connie and the Pigeons, is interviewing me about how my interest in Japanese and Chinese history has influenced the series. Mabel uncovers the meaning of Monkey Fist, the first person ever to ask me what the title means.

Visit the Samurai kids website to read an interview with Riley Lee, Australia's first Shakuhachi Flute Master. Riley was one of the five musicians who stood on top of the Opera House and played to welcome in the new millenium.

Tomorrow you can find me at Sally Murphy’s Writing For Children Blog where I will be visiting Sally Murphy (author of many books for children including the verse novel, Pearl Verses the World) to talk about book promotion and how to harness cyber resources. The complete tour schedule is here.

MONKEY FIST BLOG TOUR Day 4 - Spinning Pearls

It's blog tour day 4 and I'm visiting Spinning Pearls where I'm talking with author and manuscript assessor Sally Odgers (too many books to name but the Jack Russell Dog Detective series and the e-Manual (Giving our Kids) A Reason to Write are just two examples) to discuss ‘the hour of the rat’ and how I get to Japan and China inside my head.

Visit the Samurai kids website to and click on the interactive map of feudal Japan to learn more about life in Samurai times.

Tomorrow you can find me at Tales I Tell where storyteller and author Mabel Kaplan interviews me about how my interest in Japanese and Chinese history has influenced the series. Mabel uncovers the meaning of Monkey Fist. the first person ever to ask me what the title means. The complete tour schedule is here.

Off to Canberra and the Asia Bookroom

I'm really thrilled to be heading to Canberra's Asia Bookroom. Like a bee in a honeypot can't compare to Sandy in a bookstore specialising in Asia titles with lots of history and books about Samurai Japan on the shelves. I'm taking my piggy bank and hoping to get some Korean history books to supplement my research for Samurai Kids book 5. It's hasn't been proving easy to find out the information I need to know - but I am confident I'll find lots of useful and interesting 'got-to-have' books on Thursday.

Come along - 6pm on 6 August, to hear a few tales - some tall and some true - about writing Samurai Kids, children's literature, researching 17th century Japan and my latest release Monkey Fist. More information here.

MONKEY FIST BLOG TOUR Day 3 - Lets Have Words

It's blog tour day 3 and I'm visiting Lets’ Have Words where I'm talking to Claire Saxby, children’s author (latest release Sheep, Goat and the creaking gate August 2009) about the unique challenge in writing a historical novel about a group of children with disabilities.

Visit the Samurai kids website to find out more about the Kids and their spirit guides or print Samurai Kids cards.

Tomorrow you can find me at Spinning Pearls where I will be visiting author and manuscript assessor Sally Odgers (too many books to name but the Jack Russell Dog Detective series and the e-Manual (Giving our Kids) A Reason to Write are just two examples) to discuss ‘the hour of the rat’ and how I get to Japan and China inside my head. The complete tour schedule is here.

MONKEY FIST BLOG TOUR Day 2 - Orangedale Journal

It's blog tour day 2 and I'm visiting Orangedale Journal where Dale Harcombe, poet and children’s author (latest release The Mystery of Goanna Island) is interviewing me about writing Samurai Kids.

To find out more about life in 17th century samurai Japan visit the Samurai Kids website and download a fact sheet. Fact sheets cover a range of topics such as legendary samurai, gutsy girl samurai, sword testing on criminals, seppuku, castle defences and more.

Tomorrow you can find me at Lets’ Have Words where I will be talking to Claire Saxby, children’s author (latest release Sheep, Goat and the creaking gate August 2009) about the unique challenge in writing a historical novel about a group of children with disabilities. The complete tour schedule is here.

MONKEY FIST BLOG TOUR Day 1 - Dee Scribe Writing

It's blog tour day 1.

An easy day for me. Niya Moto, the narrator of the Samurai Kids series is doing all the talking. Check out his interview at Dee Scribe Writing where Dee White, author of the recently released YA novel, Letters to Leonardo will be finding out what it’s really like to be a Samurai Kid. "My name is Niya Moto and I’m the only one-legged samurai kid in Japan. Usually I miss my foot and land on my backside. Or flat on my face in the dirt."

Visit the Samurai Kids website and take a quiz to see Which Samurai Kid Are You?

Tomorrow you can find me at Orangedale Journal where Dale Harcombe, poet and children’s author (latest release The Mystery of Goanna Island) will be interviewing me about writing Samurai Kids. The complete tour schedule is here.

MONKEY FIST BLOG TOUR

My virtual pen is ready and my virtual decorations are all in place. But the smile is real and the books are very real too.

Tomorrow it all begins. Join me at Dee Scribe Writing where Dee White, author of the recently released YA novel, Letters to Leonardo will be interviewing the narrator Niya Moto of Monkey Fist to find out what it’s really like to be a Samurai Kid.

MAILBOX MONDAY - Monkey Fist Arrives

In my mailbox - Samurai Kids Book 4 - the jade green one! And it's an appropriate colour because in Monkey Fist the Samurai Kids journey into the Forbidden City to rescue Kyoko.

Is it good manners to post a snippet from one's own book? Probably not but I'm much too excited to be worried about that today. Tomorrow maybe I'll feel a bit self-indulgent and guilty but today I just feel ecstatic.

Dark shapes cover my eyes. They stick their fingers in my ears and slap their ghostly gloves in my face. The White Crane screeches in fright.

Waking with a jolt from the nightmare, I can't see the shadows in my imagination any more. They are real now. Somewhere close by.

"Taji," I whisper.

No answer. That's not good. With ears like the Golden Bat, Taji should be awake.

MAILBOX MONDAY

Number of books in my mailbox this week - zero! It's a good thing as I have a small pile in my review tray and last week I went to Sutherland Library.

It's the best library I've ever been to and I keep my membership even though I don't live there any more. It's worth the 45 min trip each way just to borrow and return books. They have a great range of historical non-fiction. This trip I borrowed What Life was Like On the Banks of the Nile, Isak Dinesen's Africa, Sudan: Ancient Treasures, The Legacy of Ancient Egypt, Magic Stones: The Secret World of Ancient Megaliths, Portraits of Africa, Sahara Man, The British Museum: Africa, The Ancient Egyptians: Life and Customs and Journey to Mauritius. Yes, I am researching my next historical novel. No it's not about Ancient Egypt!

The most exciting thing in my mailbox this week was the chapter heading illustrations for Monkey Fist (Samurai Kids Book 4) out in August this year (I think!)). It's such a wonderful thing to see my characters come to life in Rhian Nest-James' drawings. I'll do a post on Rhian's artwork shortly. Just magic. I am not a visual writer. I don't see pictures in my head, just words. But the words have their own physical dimension. I found this hard to explain and no-one seemed to understand. Then one day I heard Ursula Dubursarsky speak and she said the same thing! And look at the great books she writes. The Red Shoe and Theodora's Gift are all time favourites of mine.