Louise Cusack - The Making of

Shadow Through Time:

My main focus as a writer has always been to become skilled enough to do justice to my "little princess" story which began its development as a fairy tale when I was eight.  I'd just learned that my ancestors were common Irish immigrants, and with the delusions of grandeur that only an eight year old can admit to, I began fantasising instead that I was a kidnapped Russian princess hidden inside a normal Brisbane family (Cusack does sound like Cossack if you say it quickly).

At the time, my younger brother was a constant nuisance to me - as younger brothers generally are - so I invented a sweet and loving twin brother who was conveniently missing, and I fantasised about his rescue and our loving reunion.

As I grew older, the story naturally became more complex, the characters more real, and the dangers more secretive and horrifying.  Sometimes years would go by when I never gave it a thought, but then it would appear in my mind again and the experiences I'd had in real life would have altered it subtly, adding depth and texture.

Finally, after writing long enough to reach publication standard, I was ready to tell the story of "the little princess" who returns to her world as an adult with no memories of her childhood to help her survive.  One book turned into three as the other important characters demanded their time too, but I'm thrilled with the result and still unable to believe that my passion for this story has transferred so beautifully onto the page.  It is truly an inspired piece.

Destiny of The Light took eighteen months to write and subsequent novels in the series took twelve months each.  Book two Daughter of The Dark was released in June 2002 and Glimmer in the Maelstrom in June 2003.  If you're curious you could look at my lovely Map of Ennae Ian Irvine made for me.

In the course of researching this trilogy I've spoken to Qi Gong 'Ironshirt' martial arts practitioners, emergency room nurses, Medieval sword-fight enthusiasts (and boy are those swords heavy!), a currently-serving soldier, psychic healers, people who can read auras, policemen, psychiatrists and a funeral director.

Most important of all, I've gone home to the park where I used to play as a child, to swing again on my favourite swing and remember with wonder the fantasy I'd created so long ago that made a perfectly ordinary childhood sparkle with magic.