My Uncle Brian and Cherrill for your unwavering support; and my godparents Ann and Andrew for your thoughts and prayers.

My soul protector Alessia for carrying me through the darkest times from near and afar. My two guardian angels Karen and Hayley for saving me again and again – I cannot thank you two enough.

My mum and dad, who were there with me every step of the way along this hard path. Now we can smile again, there is only light ahead …

And my two wonderful boys, Zach and Leo, you kept the fire burning in me. I love you with all my heart and always will.

Finally, arigatō gozaimasu to all my readers, librarians, teachers and booksellers. You have waited a long time for this book. Your patience and continued support are appreciated.

Thank you,

Chris

What was your inspiration for the Young Samurai books?

I’ve always dreamed of being a samurai. That period in history was such an exciting time and the samurai were the greatest warriors to have lived. The Young Samurai books are a way of living that dream!

Do you plot in advance or let the story develop as you write?

I always plot out the entire story before starting the writing process. I use this plot as a ‘rough guide’, since often the story will diverge in different directions as the characters take hold and live a life of their own. Somehow the book always ends up where I’d planned it to go. When I first came up with the idea for Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior, I knew the end of the third book and the ninth book!

If music be the food of love, what do you think writing is?

The elixir of learning! Writing stretches the mind, taking it beyond its usual boundaries, and it allows one to embark on fantastic journeys of the imagination.

What hobbies do you have and how do they influence your work?

My main hobby is martial arts, so clearly my knowledge of samurai and ninja skills forms an important part of my writing. In particular, it allows me to describe fight scenes in true detail, so that the reader really believes they’re participating in the fight and taking the punches!

Do you ever encounter writer’s block and, if so, how do you overcome it?

I have regular little blocks that I overcome with a run or a walk or a cookie! But once I suffered a month-long block due to creative exhaustion. The solution: two weeks in South Africa with no computer or mobile phone, and just a bunch of giraffes, lions and cheetahs for company! Now I use hypnotherapy – this is a fast route to my subconscious!

Did you ever take any writing classes or specific instructions to learn the craft?