Escape from Ice Mountain Read online

  I have a pile of books from my new publisher. I’m trying to get through them before I meet the authors. I’m halfway through Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner, which is written in the amazing voice of a dyslexic boy.

  How did you celebrate publishing your first book?

  The first time I saw one of my books in a shop, I was so excited that I caused something of a commotion. I managed to persuade an unsuspecting customer to buy it so I could sign it for her son.

  Where do you write your books?

  Anywhere and everywhere. Here are some of the locations I have written the Ninja Meerkats series: On the 185 and the 176 buses in London, various airplanes, Hong Kong, Melbourne, all over New Zealand, a number of cafes and bars between San Diego and San Francisco, New Quay in South Wales, and my kitchen.

  What sparked your imagination for The Ninja Meerkats?

  The idea came from the publishing house, but from the moment I heard it, I really wanted to write it. It reminded me of lots of action-packed cartoons I used to watch when I was young. I love the fact that I get to cram in lots of jokes and puns, fast action, and crazy outlandish plots.

  The Ninja Meerkats are awesome fighters; have you ever studied martial arts? If so, what types?

  Ha, no. If I was to get into a fight, my tactic would be to fall over and hope that whoever was attacking me lost interest.

  If you were a Ninja Meerkat, what would your name be?

  Hmm, how about Gareth POW! Jones?

  What’s your favorite exhibit or animal at the zoo?

  Funnily enough, I like the meerkats. I was at a zoo watching them the other day when it started to rain. They suddenly ran for cover, looking exactly like their human visitors.

  What’s Bruce’s favorite food?

  Anything with the words ALL YOU CAN EAT written above it.

  If you had a catchphrase like Bruce Force! or Ninja-Boom! what would it be?

  That’s a tricky one. How about PEN POWER!

  If you were a Ninja Meerkat, what would your special ninja skill be?

  I like to think I’d be like Jet, and always working on a new one. When I got into school, I took the Random Move Generator! We used it to come up with new moves, like the Floating Butterfly Punch and the Ultimate Lemon Punch.

  What is your favorite thing about real-life meerkats? Have you ever met a meerkat?

  I was lucky enough to go into a meerkat enclosure recently. They were crawling all over me, trying to get a good view. It was brilliant.

  What challenges do you face in the writing process, and how do you overcome them?

  The challenge with writing the Ninja Meerkats books is mostly about the plotting. It’s trying to get all the twists and turns to work, and to avoid them feeling predictable. When I hit problems, I write down as many options as I can think of from the completely ordinary to utterly ridiculous. Once they’re all down on paper, the right answer normally jumps out at you.

  Which of your characters is most like you?

  I’d like to say that I’m wise and noble like Chuck, but I’m probably more like the Ringmaster as we’re both always coming up with new ways to take over the world.

  What makes you laugh out loud?

  My friends.

  What do you do on a rainy day?

  Play guitar, write, watch TV, or go out with my sword-handled umbrella.

  What’s your idea of fun?

  Answering questionnaires about myself. Actually, tomorrow, I’m going to a music festival with my wife where we will dance and cavort. That should be fun.

  What’s your favorite song?

  There are far too many to mention, but today I think I’ll go for “Feel Good Inc.” by Gorillaz.

  Who is your favorite fictional character?

  Another tricky one, but today I’ll say Ged from the Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula K. Le Guin.

  What was your favorite book when you were a kid? Do you have a favorite book now?

  As a child, I especially loved The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.

  What’s your favorite TV show or movie?

  Raiders of the Lost Ark.

  If you were stranded on a desert island, who would you want for company?

  My wife and son, then probably my friend Pete, as he’s really handy and would be able to make and build things.

  If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do?

  I’d like to go to Canada next. Ideally, I’d like to go and live there for a bit. I’ve never been to South America. There are also lots of parts of America I haven’t visited yet.

  If you could travel in time, where would you go and what would you do?

  I think I’d travel to the future and see what’s changed and whether anyone’s invented a new kind of umbrella.

  What’s the best advice you have ever received about writing?

  Don’t tell the story, show the story.

  What advice do you wish someone had given you when you were younger?

  Everything’s probably going to be fine, so it’s best to enjoy yourself.

  Do you ever get writer’s block? What do you do to get back on track?

  It feels like tempting fate, but I don’t really believe in writer’s block. I think if you can’t write, you’re doing the wrong thing. You may need to plan or jot down options or go for a walk.

  What do you want readers to remember about your books?

  I’d settle for a general feeling of having enjoyed them.

  What would you do if you ever stopped writing?

  I’d do a full stop. If this is for an American audience, I guess that would be a period.

  What should people know about you?

  I’m a very silly man.

  What do you like best about yourself?

  I’m a very silly man.

  Do you have any strange or funny habits? Did you when you were a kid?

  I talk to myself a lot, which is probably pretty common, but the difference is that I don’t listen to what I’m saying.

  An Imprint of Macmillan

  NINJA MEERKATS: ESCAPE FROM ICE MOUNTAIN.

  Text copyright © 2012 by Gareth P. Jones.

  Illustrations copyright © 2012 by Luke Finlayson.

  Cover illustration copyright © 2012 by Domingos de Aquino.

  All rights reserved. For information, address Square Fish, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

  The right of Gareth P. Jones and Luke Finlayson to be identified as the author and illustrator of this work respectively has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

  ISBN 978-1-250-02931-7 (paperback) / 978-1-250-04500-3 (ebook)

  Originally published in Great Britain by Stripes Publishing

  First Square Fish Edition: April 2013

  Square Fish logo designed by Filomena Tuosto

  mackids.com

  eISBN 9781250045003