Author Chat with Nikki Sheehan, Plus Giveaway!

I haven’t heard of a school that has done it, but there is a hugely successful version by British choreographer Matthew Bourne that was my inspiration. It’s sometimes called the Gay Swan Lake, but I love that it turns the usual assumption of girly swans on its head and shows just how masculine swans can be (the men do not wear tutus!) I took this as my starting point for Johnny’s growing physical strength.

The death of Johnny’s father means that his mother must move from their house to a small apartment in the city where she finds a job. Their family dynamics change dramatically, but realistically. Please talk about what it was like to write about this family structure and how it is central to Johnny’s growth as a character.

I’m glad you say that it was realistic, because it’s usual for a family where one parent has gone to suffer financially as well as emotionally. Although it’s not comfortable or pleasant for Johnny, his mum, or his little brother gradually they adapt, and elements emerge in their new situation that are okay. For example, Johnny loves the view from the apartment building at night, he finds solace on the roof, and overcomes his fear of heights. And of course, with the increase in responsibility he now has since his mum has to work full time, she begins to consider him more as a person, not just a kid.

After moving to a new school, Johnny becomes the bullying target of a popular kid, Liam. Liam seems to be a reluctant bully —it has become his role to play and he sees no way to stop. How did the relationship between Johnny and Liam evolve while you were writing? Why is it important?

Ah, Liam! Actually one of the things I’m most happy with is that I wrote a scene from the bully’s point of view. Although it wasn’t essential for the plot, seeing Liam at home and with his friends (who he believes rely on him to be dominant), helped me to understand him better and then write him more con- vincingly. But I also wanted to show that sometimes people get stuck in roles, and that bullies are struggling too. Bullies aren’t some “other” type of kid, they’re not all bad, and there are always reasons for their behavior. Of course, Johnny isn’t aware of this, but when he beats Liam near the end of the book and other kids start being deferential to him, he sees how easy it would be to step into Liam’s role.

Let’s talk about the magic in the story — Johnny actually begins to sprout real feathers on his chest the more he decides to “live the role” his teacher has assigned him. What led you to include this element of fantasy? Why is it import- ant to the story?

I was asked if I thought the feathers should be metaphorical, but I didn’t see the point in that. Kids at this age change physically, and in some ways a child and an adult are as different as a horse and a giraffe, so I thought that giving him some feathers would show the oddness of the situation. He’s turning into something he never thought possible. He’s becoming strong, brave, self-actualizing, and, yes, a swan!

Would you say that Johnny turns his fear of being different into a personal strength? Why or why not?

Yes, and I suppose he could’ve opted to be ordinary, but maybe because the kids at his new school only knew him as Swan Boy, he was free to make his own decision. If he had grown up with the same set of friends I could see how his decision could have been harder. But in the end, it’s the courage of his little brother in revealing his anxieties that gives Johnny permission to be the person he was turning into, so you could say that his little brother inspired him to fly.

What surprised you while writing SWAN BOY?

Lots of things! I’m not much of a plotter. I know the set up, the start and the ending, and the middle is a mystery until it happens. But for this book I actually had the set up wrong. I was sure that the main character was going to be a girl. I wrote the first few scenes, but something didn’t feel right. So I temporarily gave him/her a gender neutral name and just carried on writing until I was sure, and Johnny became Johnny!

You dedicate the book “To everyone who dared to leap and knew that they would fly.” Can you explain what you mean?

Growing up is hard to do. It takes incredible courage to follow your instincts, make your own decisions and follow through with action. I wanted to dedicate the book to everyone who wants to do something extraordinary and is willing to face disapproval to do it. The kids who are talented at something other kids don’t think is cool, the ones who are too tall, but never slouch, the gay kids and trans kids who don’t pretend, the ones with no parental support who work hard at school so they can go to college. Those kids. They are the heroes who aren’t afraid to risk ridicule, failure or bullying. And they are the people that society needs.

What is the most important thing you want young readers to take away from SWAN BOY?

Be brave, be strong, be yourself. That is all.

END 

Meet Swan Boy!

When Johnny’s father dies, his family must leave their home, move to a tiny apartment in a busy city, and start life over. Without his old friends to support him, he becomes the favorite target of a bully at his new school. When all hope for fitting in seems lost, a chance encounter with a swan sparks a series of events that result in Johnny playing the lead in his school’s all-boy version of Swan Lake. His teacher wants him to live the role, and when feathers start sprouting on his chest, Johnny begins to understand his true potential.

But will he be strong or brave enough to beat his bullies, take care of his brother, support his mother and find a place for himself among all of the chaos in his life?

This magical coming-of-age story will touch anyone who has struggled with insecurity, change, grief, and the difficulty of listening to their inner voice to find the strength to become his or her own unique individual.

Meet Niki Sheehan!

Nikki Sheehan is the youngest daughter of a rocket scientist. Sheehan achieved a first class degree in linguistics and worked as a subtitler on Coronation Street and The Simpsons. She later studied developmental psychology and journalism and continues to work as a freelance journalist and copywriter, specializing in parenting features. Sheehan has three children and is also a story mentor with Little Green Pig (Ministry of Stories) helping children to access their creativity. In addition, Sheehan is also one of three organizers of Brighton Rocks Books, the first mini festival of children’s writing in the area. Sheehan is also the author of Who Framed Klaris Cliff? published by O.U.P in 2014. She lives in Brighton, U.K.

Swan Boy

By: Nikki Sheehan

Release Date: October 11, 2016 

*GIVEAWAY DETAILS* 

Five winners will receive an advanced reader’s copy of Swan Boy (US only).

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