Susan Brocker has written over 50 fiction and non-fiction books for older children and teens, which have been published worldwide. She has a history degree and a love of social history that is reflected in her books. Susan also has a close affinity with animals. Susan talks to NZ Booklovers about Eye of the Dragon.
Tell us a little about Eye of the Dragon.
13-year-old Thomas is determined to keep the dragon he and his little dog Lucy find injured in a cave on the beach a secret. He names the dragon Puff, and the only person he tells is his best friend Huhana. As Thomas faces the usual gang of bullies that torment him, something shifts, and with the help of Puff, he finds the strength to stand up to them. When he rides Puff and she takes him to see the devastation wrought on the once forested hillsides above his town, Thomas even gains the confidence to fight against the developer. As Thomas grows in confidence and even loses his stutter, Puff the magical dragon slips away from his life.
What inspired you to write this book?
This story was inspired by a song I loved that played on the radio when I was a little girl. It was called “Puff the Magic Dragon” and was all about a boy who invented a magical dragon but as he grew up the dragon slipped away. I felt the song was quite sad but beautiful at the same time.
What research was involved?
I carried out a great deal of research about stuttering and about the scourge of bullying. On a happier level, I also researched and read some wonderful legends about taniwha and also dragon legends from around the world.
What was your routine or process when writing this book?
I wrote this book for several hours every day while the story was alive in my mind and the characters, including the dragon, took on a life of their very own.
If a soundtrack were made to accompany this book, name a song or two you would include.
That would of course have to be “Puff the Magic Dragon” which was written and sang by Peter, Paul and Mary, an American folk group famous in the sixties and seventies. The song was adapted from a poem by Leonard Lipton.
If your book was made into a movie, who would you like to see playing the lead characters?
Well, the main character, Puff, would have to be computer generated and I’d love for Weta Workshop to do that.
What did you enjoy the most about writing Eye of the Dragon?
I loved learning about the legends surrounding dragons from across the world.
What did you do to celebrate finishing this book?
I took my much-loved dogs, Loki and Thor, for a long walk along the beach, like Thomas and Lucy in the book.
What is the favourite book you have read so far this year and why?
It would have to be the re-reading of a book I wrote many years ago called The Wolf in the Wardrobe. It brought back memories of my dog Yogi who was the inspiration for the book.
What’s next on the agenda for you?
Eye of the Dragon is the first book in a series I am writing that shows how animals can help children cope with the challenges in their lives. I am currently working on the second novel in this series called Heart of the Horse. This story is about a teenage boy called Rawiri who is seriously injured in a rugby match and gets his mojo back by attending Riding for the Disabled and making friends with a special horse.
Scholastic NZ