L.M. Fuge is seventeen years old and lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her family and an insane dog. She won the Young Aussie Writers’ Awards in 2008 for her short story True Colours, and her first novel, When Courage Came to Call, was written when she was fourteen and is now published by Random House Australia. She is currently in her final year of high school, and when she’s not writing or studying, she enjoys wreaking havoc with her friends, playing sports and attempting photography.

1. I hope you’re not tired of questions about your age but I think most of us were probably still wondering what we wanted to be ‘when we grew up’ at 16; your focus and discipline are very inspiring. How old were you when you realised you wanted to be a writer and how did your friends and family react?

I never really decided that I wanted to be a writer when I ‘grew up’; I actually still don’t know what I want to be. Writing is just something that I love doing, and it started off as more of a hobby than anything. I used to write in school in ‘creative writing time’, but it wasn’t until I was about ten that I realised how much I loved it and began to write in my free time. At the start, I think my family humoured me. I never let anyone read my work – and didn’t even tell my friends that I was a writer – so they didn’t realise how serious I became about it. They didn’t expect me to get published, and to be honest, nor did I – not for many years to come.

2. ‘When Courage Came to Call’ is filled with gritty, realistic scenes of combat and violence. What sort of research did you do for the book and what other books in the genre do you enjoy reading?

Before I started writing, I did almost no research. What I wrote was based purely on my experience – really only things I’d read or watched. I decided to research after I’d finished the first draft, which in hindsight wasn’t the best way to go, but it ended up okay! I’m more of a fantasy reader, so I hadn’t read too many books in the same genre as When Courage Came to Call (I don’t even know how I ended up writing something like that). I do remember reading John Marsden’s Tomorrow When the War Began, but more than anything it was simply war that interested me.

3.  I bet the kids at school are dead jealous of your author status! How are you handling your success in general and how has life changed for you?

Even though I had my mind set on getting published eventually, it was still a huge shock to get there so soon. It took me quite a while to adjust to the idea, but I think I’m handling it pretty well. Life hasn’t changed a whole lot for me, which is a relief, but my success has changed me as a person. The most unexpected yet most rewarding part of my journey has been media attention – I certainly didn’t expected newspapers, magazines, and even TV to be interested in me. I used to be a really shy person, and still am to an extent, but I think dealing with the media has made me more confident and self-aware.

4. Which of your characters Burns Brightest in your mind and why?

I love all my characters, but Imm by far burns the brightest to me. He intrigued me right from the very start, and there was never any doubt that When Courage Came to Call was going to be written from his perspective. Because of this, I connected with him the most – the story was not mine, but his. He became more than just a character; he was my constant companion throughout the writing journey.

The erstwhile peace-loving land of Zamascus has been suddenly invaded by the army of Inigon. Thirteen year old Imm and his twin brother, Saxon, find themselves thrust into an unimaginably violent, horrific reality. Having just witnessed the gruesome death of their teacher during a bombing raid, they flee to their home to find it empty, their parents gone. After a terrifying flight through their newly-ravaged town, the boys cling together, using their instincts and wits to negotiate the hostile terrain.

When Courage Came To Call is an unflinchingly violent book. It’s hard to believe that this visceral, brutal story sprang from the mind of 16 year old, female first-time author, L.M. Fuge. In this gripping story, Fuge confronts readers with an effective blend of heart-pounding action and realistic dialogue. Vivid descriptions of military force, revolution, and genocide are riveting in their authenticity and drama.

Her characters are beautifully realised: Imm, the brains of the operation, is a thoughtful, sensitive boy; his brother Saxon is equally well-drawn as his impulsive, daring counterpart. Their complementary characteristics and brotherly bond make for enjoyable reading throughout this breakneck-paced page-turner.

There’s not an ounce of fat in this book. Fuge has developed a lean, tight narrative, filled with the gritty realism of war and its senseless slaughter:

It was an old shotgun, not one of the modern semi-automatic rifles of the soldiers. My eyes lifted from the gaping hole that could mean my death, and fixed on the figure clutching the trigger with firm hands.

As the boys encounter other surviving children among the ruins of their town, they forge friendships and build alliances for an eventual resistance. Along the way, Imm questions the politics of conflict, the nature of revenge, his own building rage, and the depth of his own character and courage. Fuge explores the themes of genocide, loss, camaraderie, and personal strength. Her taut, staccato style perfectly echoes the raw, brisk nature of the plot. When Courage Came to Call is a great read, filled with important themes and wonderful lessons about the legacy of violence, the treachery of combat, the importance of friendship, and the well of courage each of us (sometimes unexpectedly) has within us.

When Courage Came To Call – Fuge

April 1st 2010 by Random House Australia

Paperback, 326 pages

ISBN

9781741664447