SLJ Talks to 13-year-old Author, Nancy Yi Fan
Joan Oleck -- School Library Journal,05/30/2007
It's not often that a 12-year-old e-mails a manuscript to HarperCollins and sees her book in print a year later. But that's exactly what happened for Nancy Yi Fan, 13, author of Swordbird (HarperCollins, 2007), the tale of how squabbling blue jays and cardinals, with help from a mystical white bird, unite to defeat a tyrannical hawk.
What's even more impressive is that Fan, who moved to the U.S. with her parents in 2001, has only spoken English for six years. (She also spent grades six and seven back in China.) SLJ spoke with the Florida-based eighth grader about her amazing achievement, how she's become an inspiration to other kids, and the "prequel" that's now in the works.
What's it like to be 13 and have a book at your age?
It feels like flying. Walking into a bookstore and seeing my book on the shelf gives me a really weird and funny feeling. Or sometimes I go to school, and a classmate will say, "Oh you're the one who wrote the book." Yet I feel kind of normal, too; it's something special, like a hobby. And I know I'm a young writer and have a long way to go. I'm working on my second book; it's called Sword Quest—it's a prequel to Swordbird. I think what I really enjoy—the greatest part of it—is I get to receive e-mails from other kids who tell me how I inspired them to write as well.
Where did your interest in birds come from?
I remember when I was in kindergarten, I used to run full-speed flapping my arms and jumping from low walls. I'm just amazed at their songs, their colors, their diversity.
I read that the story was inspired by the events of September 11.
The summer I finished second grade, I went to New York City for a vacation with my parents. I went to the observation deck of the World Trade Center. I remember it was a sunny day and it was windy on top. It was a startling contrast to what happened on 9/11; so many innocent people died. It made such a deep impression.
Then, in fifth grade I was reading about the Revolutionary War and still watching birds. So I had this weird dream in which cardinals and blue jays were wearing britches like in the Revolutionary War, and they were fighting because they'd been tricked. The dream was very vivid. I could hear the wings beating, and I also saw a great white magical bird with a sword. It's certainly not every day you see a bird with a sword! So when I woke up I wanted to turn it into a story. And because of 9/11 and the war, I wanted to express the importance of peace and freedom. Because birds are very peaceful creatures. When they defend territory, they usually solve problems by singing out their threats instead of fighting.
Is it true you sent this manuscript in to HarperCollins cold, without an agent?
I sent it to HarperCollins by e-mail. I sent it to the president and CEO of HarperCollins. I'm just a kid who believes hard work pays off. And the president and CEO was very surprised and passed it on to the president of the children's division and the children's book division and a nice lady told me they were going to look at it because they were interested. It was very, very surprising.
Did any adults help you along the way?
I thought I knew all about birds but then I discovered there are lots of species divided into subspecies. The autonomy of birds, their habits. So I went to my local library [the Onondaga County Public Library in Syracuse, NY] and the librarian was very helpful. She showed me lots of books, and after I checked them out, I loaded them onto a cart and pushed it out, and the librarian smiled. And other people thought it was very bizarre to see a kid pushing a cart full of books.
Do you have any messages for other kids trying to write?
I would tell them they should never give up writing. It's forever a blessing to be able to write. I would also tell them don't be afraid to try something and just go for it.
What are some of your hobbies?
One of my hobbies is martial arts, a branch [of martial arts] called swordplay. This connects to the swordplay in my book Swordbird. When I was writing Swordbird I found there were places in the battle scenes that could be a little smoother. That is when I went to China for two years. It's convenient in China to find a kung fu coach and you can find little light swords, and I asked the teacher if I could learn some moves. After a few weeks I could wave the sword about and knew the basics of swordplay.
What is Sword Quest about?
This is a story of how Swordbird and his friends went around the world to find a sword. Because [the book takes place] around the world there will be more bird species, not just North American species.
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| Submitted by: | Allison Gamache 9/21/2009 2:55:54 PM PT |
| Occupation: | Writing |
My friend and I love to write and would love to get our books published, but we are a little afraid because we don't know what to do. My friend wants to wait till we are older, adults, but I really want to see it on a bookshelf at a place like Borders soon! I am wondering what we should do? Should we go for it or wait? If we go for it what will we do? Please help we are only 12 but we have a lot to say/write.
| Submitted by: | He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named 9/3/2009 12:03:44 AM PT |
| Location: | California |
| Occupation: | Amateur writer/7th grader |
Don't get me wrong, I'm just giving my input. Anyway...I didn't really love your book, for a few reasons, namely the villain and its 'coincidental' relation to Redwall. The villain has no motive or back story. What happens after he enslaves everyone? Nothing. He just sits there, rubbing his hands and cackling in evil glee. You should expand on him in another book and make him more interesting. The redwall part is pretty easy. It's about a bunch of woodland animals who are fighting to defeat a woodland animal with an army. It starts out exactly like Brian Jacques' Martin the Warrior. Badrang the Tyrant is building Fortress Marshank with an army of slaves. Turnatt is building Fortress Glooming with an army of slaves. There is a rebellious slave, and his name is Martin. There is a rebellious slave, and his name is Miltin. I could go on but you get the point.
Anyway, you're an inspiration to me, but not for your writing. I am just in awe at how you got published without any agents and such by Harper-Collins, a hugely famous company. How did you do it?
Go to kidpub.com. You can see really quality writing there. Awesome kid writers there. Really great. Super good. Fantastic.
I'm just trying to say that if you put a book down and your first thought is 'I can do better than that', the writer can improve on it vastly.
No hard feelings,
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named
| Submitted by: | Ellie Cullen 7/2/2009 10:44:45 AM PT |
| Location: | london |
| Occupation: | Kid |
HAHA My story is published, I am 8 :P
| Submitted by: | sandi hadzalic (hdzlc@aol.com) 11/26/2008 8:42:34 PM PT |
| Location: | ia |
| Occupation: | student |
hi.I just found out about you.it is very inspiarable.I also write books.I am 12 years old.I am working on a new book called The School Paper.it is going to be out in 1 year.
| Submitted by: | Shannon V. Meara (shannonpuppylover@comcast. net) 11/26/2008 2:13:00 PM PT |
| Location: | florida |
| Occupation: | student in middle school |
dear nancy
I love your book so much. It has so much meaning and i too was super sad when 9 11 happened. I was personally hurt for my uncle richy died that day for our country as a firefighter and i miss him very much. now my cousins arre in the air force and just got back from the war. I miss them so much. They are home and save but i dont get to see them that much. I hope you have a blessed thanksgiving and again i love your book.
your fan
Shannon
| Submitted by: | Emma Lee Cavanaugh (emmuhlee@mchsi.com) 11/19/2008 9:30:06 AM PT |
| Location: | Frontenac Mn |
| Occupation: | Kid |
Nancy, I am a 12 yr old from MN.I just wanted to tell you that I am extremly jealous of you.Also I'm writing a book called The Tale of the Barnswallows(No its not about birds) Thanks for all that inspiration Love, Emma Lee
| Submitted by: | amina guo 11/13/2008 11:48:05 AM PT |
| Location: | michigan |
HI NANCY!!!! I'M YOUR BIGGEST FAN!!!!! i HEARD THAT YOUIR 3RD BOOK IS SWORD MOUNTAIN...WHAT'S IT ABOUT?? i LOVED YOUR 1ST BOOK THE BEST. PLEEEEZ GIVE ME YOUR EMAIL!!!
lOVE, FUTURE WRITER, AMINA GUO
| Submitted by: | dara blackstone 11/5/2008 8:33:13 PM PT |
| Location: | Hawaii |
| Occupation: | Future Writer |
hey nancy, im a 12 year old from Hawaii and I am writing a book. I love to read and it amazed me that people could draw you into another world through writing. My book is about a girl who is taken from her world and left on a couple's door step. She is taken back to her world and finds she is really an elf princess.
| Submitted by: | Richard Liu 9/20/2008 3:17:42 PM PT |
| Location: | Oakville, Ontario |
| Occupation: | Aspiring writer |
Whew, you've given me some inspiration for my book. I'm currently in 5th grade and preparing to write one, thanks a lot for writing your story. It's really given me something to elaborate on. Thanks again :D
| Submitted by: | H. Black 8/28/2008 9:31:00 PM PT |
| Location: | America |
| Occupation: | Writing of magic |
I really liked Swordbird Nancy, I like the hawk, even though a classic
villain, exciting and evil. I am currently working on my own book about
animals but a bit more realistic. I am a writer and as one I think that you
should be proud, writing and getting published is no easy thing. Keep up
the good work girl, you never know what will happen. And to all young
writers out there, it was hard getting publish and I was turned down many
a time. Never give up even if people say its junk. Just revise and try again,
don't let' em beat you.
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