Simon Higgins is the writer of critically acclaimed historical adventures set in Asia, where he has trained and competed in the 500 year old art of Iaido: duelling as practiced by Edo Period Japanese warriors. His Moonshadow and Tomodachi books reveal the exciting, magical world of the shinobi (ninja), and the honour code of the medieval samurai. Simon spent years in law enforcement, as a police officer, prosecutor and finally, a licensed private investigator, working on murder cases.

Since 1998 he has seen a dozen novels published, including 2 bestsellers (Thunderfish & Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast), 2 Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Books of the Year, and short-listings for the Ned Kelly Crime Fiction and Aurealis Fantasy Awards.

In 2007 he won the Fellowship of Australian Writers National Literary Award for an unpublished novel set in medieval Asia. In 2008 Simon came fifth in Iaido’s World Titles in Kyoto, Japan before His Imperial Highness Prince Munenori Kaya, and co-hosted the Aurealis Awards in Australia before an audience including Her Excellency the governor of Queensland.  Simon holds a black belt in Iaido, awarded by masters from the All Japan Iaido Federation, but regards himself as ‘merely an earnest beginner’.  He speaks a little Japanese and is a student of the Buddhist philosophy known as Zen.

He teaches creative writing, demonstrates the hypnotic and graceful martial arts he trains in, and promotes literacy in schools throughout Australia. He has been a guest lecturer in several Australian universities, and taught creative writing in international schools in Asia.

Simon’s novels have been chosen for study by numerous Australian schools as Asian history and culture curriculum texts. His Moonshadow ninja series is published in Australia by Random House, and in several other countries including the United States with Little, Brown, the publishers of  the Twilight series.

In 2010 Simon was made an Ambassador for Asia Literacy by the Australian government’s Asia Education Foundation. He has spent time in China, is a big fan of Feng Shui and traditional Chinese medicine, and is currently studying both Mandarin and Kung Fu.

For other Recent News, please check out the Home page Posts. For more information, cool videos, research images, book covers and artwork…please explore the site!

With June 2011 comes the publication in the United States of

Moonshadow: The Nightmare Ninja

He serves the Grey Light Order, heroic spies loyal to the Shogun. Moonshadow controls animals with his mind, wields a sword with uncanny skill.  But the jaded warlord Silver Wolf plots to rekindle old hatreds and tear Japan apart. He is raising a massive army.

Only Moonshadow and the order stand in his way.

To rescue the White Nun, a legendary mystic, the young shinobi must survive the warlord’s henchmen: cool-headed bounty hunters, a vengeful gangster and powerful agents of the oldest ninja clan.

Among them is an assassin who uses no force, weapons or poisons. He also has a special  interest in Moonshadow’s new companion, the girl spy Snowhawk.

ISBN10: 0316126268     ISBN13: 9780316126267

Thus the Moonshadow saga continues in this exciting novel, which is also a standalone tale and was first published in Australia as Moonshadow: The Wrath of Silver Wolf and in Indonesia as The Young Ninja 2.

It can be ordered as a hardback or Ebook. A paperback edition is on the way.

Click Here for Ordering Options for Moonshadow: The Nightmare Ninja

First US Reviews

Moonshadow the Nightmare Ninja was surprisingly good… as their mission began to unfold it was almost non-stop fighting… recommend this book to someone between the ages of ten to thirteen…extremely easy. If you have any interest in ninjas, whatsoever, this book is definitely worth checking out…

Troy F. for Well-Read Spartans

…an exciting adventure …a disgruntled gangster, a human battering ram, and a gifted dandy who can attack within the victim’s dreams…Higgins’s passion for medieval Japan comes across in his writing – a helpful glossary provides advice for readers, and Higgins skilfully works the terms into the course of the narrative…action and mysticism combine to make a fun read…

CS for goodreads

Publication March 1st, 2011

Available in paperback and ebook from Random House Australia

Moonshadow: The Twilight War

Elude every snare. Dare the impossible. Confront your terror.

Click Here for More Information, Ordering, or Downloading a 300 dpi Cover Image

The author’s comment: ‘Along with yet more fascinating ninja-culture secrets and accurate medieval swordplay, this nail-biting tale propels readers even deeper into Japanese folklore, as they – and our heroes – confront perhaps the wildest ancient Yokai of them all!’

June sees the American release of Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast under the equally cool US title of Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja. Published by the brilliant Little, Brown of New York, who brought the world the hugely successful Twilight saga, Rise of the Ninja comes in hardback with this awesome dust jacket, and as a Kindle e-book.

Click Here for Ordering Options for Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja

ISBN: 978-0-316-05531-4

First US Reviews

‘Combining details about Japan’s early Tokugawa era and its warrior culture with action-packed, fantastical storytelling, Higgins crafts a thrilling tale of honor and friendship…move over, Alex Rider.’

Kirkus

‘…good old-fashioned adventure set in medieval Japan…exhilarating opening sequence…nonstop action…the pacing is so intense…the language is modern, but the setting, clothing, tactics and tools are well placed in their time period…once drawn in by the opening words, “for glory or destruction,” readers will be satisfied by the length and polished writing and will look forward to forthcoming sequels.’

Booklist

‘Higgins…is in top form when detailing personal combat, but also excels at portraying Moonshadow as a young man on the verge of doing great things while still plagued by fears and self-doubt. Though action is at the core of this tale, Higgins also brings to it history, brains and heart.’

Publishers Weekly

‘The swordplay is fast and furious, and Japanese terms and places are integrated in a manner that reluctant readers will find accessible. This adventure is part spy novel, part magic, and all fun.’

School Library Journal

AVAILABLE October 2009

at all good book shops and on-line!

The much-anticipated

Moonshadow:

The Wrath of Silver Wolf

Both a sequel to Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast and a  stand-alone adventure, Moonshadow: The Wrath of Silver Wolf promises to satisfy existing fans of the unfolding ninja saga and to snare even more!

Moonshadow: The Wrath of Silver Wolf is   published by Random House Australia and again features brilliant anime artwork by Ari Gibson and The People’s  Republic of Animation. The novel has been nominated for an Aurealis Fantasy Award.

Author Simon Higgins says ’this outing promises yet more cunning shinobi spycraft, accurate traditional swordplay, and a nail-biting plunge into the supernatural world of the ancient Japanese yokai!’

Download your free TEACHER’S NOTES here! Teachers outside Australia & New Zealand please note; the US title of Moonshadow: The Wrath of Silver Wolf will be Moonshadow: The Nightmare Ninja (publication 2011).

First Review

‘…delivers the thrilling, stylish fight sequences that today’s young anime-literate readers demand…its foundation in authentic Japanese mythology, history and culture…Moonshadow is a terrific hero…a perfect formula for boys and girls aged 12 plus, mixing the best elements of anime, fantasy, spy thrillers and medieval action.’

Australian Bookseller + Publisher, October 2009

Meanwhile, Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast, which was short-listed for an Aurealis Fantasy Award, has become the Number 3 book on Angus & Robertson’s national Australian Top 5 for 10 Years & Over chart. Eye of the Beast has also just been published in Germany, the US edition with Twilight publisher Little, Brown is only months away, and the Indonesian translation is set to appear shortly…

German Edition

‘Moonshadow-Das Schwert Des Grauen Lichts’ (Sword of the Grey Light) cbt / Random House Germany

Indonesian Translation

‘The Young Ninja: Dia Yang Tak Tersentuh Maut’ (Eye of the Beast) Bentang Pustaka

A Busy Twelve Months!

Moonshadow’s author enjoyed a busy year including literature festivals, residencies and school visits all over Australia, travel for research (and an international Iadio contest!) to Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, teaching creative writing in an international school in Singapore, training for a national competition and Black Belt grading before visiting masters from the All Japan Iaido Federation, planning and charting Moonshadow 3 and beyond, and finally, having fun ‘teaching’ Iaido to the fabulous Shae Brewster on Saturday Disney! For more on that, including pix, please see the Author page, and to view the actual SD segment, please visit the Cinema page.

Saturday Disney TV shoot

Published by Random House Australia at the start of August 2008 with a double-sized print run, Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast  has already gone into reprint. Excited readership feedback and rave reviews have been universal, Viewpoint Magazine declaring the book  ‘a thrilling and engaging novel’.

Moonshadow  is also shortlisted for a 2008 Aurealis Award, Australia’s premier speculative fiction prize. 

Translation rights have sold to Germany and a two-book deal has been signed for the novel and its sequel with major US publisher Little, Brown who are now part of the mighty Hachette group. 

Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast

Random House ISBN 978-1-74166-283-2

Fragile peace dawns in the land of the samurai.

Any death, man or beast, must be accounted for.

Moonshadow is the youngest agent of the Grey Light Order. As spies for the Shogun, the order must stop fanatical lords re-igniting civil war.

Moon’s first mission: use his unusual powers to steal the plans for a foreign secret weapon that could forever change the way battles are fought. His lurking enemies: a legendary assassin, rogue samurai and perhaps most dangerous of all…a mysterious, beautiful girl.

Secret allies. Advanced sword skills. Unique powers. And courage. Will it be enough to save a world?

Download your free TEACHER’S NOTES here:

Teachers outside Australia and New Zealand please note that Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast is titled Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja in the US, and The Young Ninja in Indonesia.

Moonshadow 1 Teacher’s Notes (PDF format)

Reviews:

‘Lightning-fast action and gripping intrigue. Higgins’s grasp of Japanese sword skills and spy craft is masterful!’

John Flanagan, Author of Ranger’s Apprentice

‘Moonshadow is the perfect ninja…honourable, brave, and deadly. Higgins has populated his world with all the exotic locations and ice-hearted villains you could possibly desire…an adventure you’ll never forget! Moonshadow is a terrific read, and deserves to be a smash!’

Sean Williams, Author of The Changeling and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

‘This is a thrilling and engaging novel that will excite young fantasy readers.’

Viewpoint Magazine, Spring 2008

(Paradise Photo by Wayne Jones)