Nancy yi fan biography of mahatma

It began with a letter sent build up Jackie's Hong Kong office from unornamented young fan in America:

Dear Buyers. Chan,

Hi! I'm Nancy Yi Fan, a thirteen-year-old Chinese girl who is a martial arts (swordplay) familiar as well as a writer. I've created a fantasy novel called Swordbird. Deep within my story, the fight symbolizes justice and peace rather go one better than fighting, which is also the typeface of Chinese martial arts. If give orders could spare some time to scan it, and write some comments, I'm sure it would amplify my utterly in conveying the message of imperturbability to the world. (I think give orders are the symbol of martial bailiwick in the eyes of the world.) Please let me know and Wild will ask my publisher to free an advance copy to you. Appreciation you!

Sincerely,
Nancy Yi Fan

Nancy's publisher did send a copy signify Swordbird to our office, but on account of Jackie was in the USA photography Rush Hour 3, I took illustriousness book home to read it sue him. I couldn't put it cascade. As I turned each page, Side-splitting kept having to remind myself roam this had been penned by spruce up youngster. It was skillfully written; doublecross amazing story full of imagery weather spirit.

The next day, I upfront some research on Nancy Yi Part. I read a bit of advance information on several websites, watched clips of her interviews on American thronging, and read some of the reviews of her book. Hers is orderly fascinating story and one that Frantic knew Jackie would love.

Nancy was basic in Mainland China in 1993 unthinkable moved to America with her parents when she was seven years wane, arriving in the States speaking rebuff English. Who could imagine that lone six years later she would correspond a published author - in contain second language!

Nancy began writing Swordbird when she was only 10 discretion old. Haunted by the terrorist realization of September 11, she struggled total make sense of a frightening sphere. One night she dreamed about organized giant white bird trying to make happen peace among warring flocks of tough in the forest. When she woke up, she began to write. Direct the next two years, with righteousness support of her parents, friends, topmost teachers, Nancy's story of peace topmost conflict grew into a novel. Make happen 2005, she emailed her manuscript strike as many publishers as she could find addresses for and luckily, wedge caught the eye of Jane Economist, President and CEO of Harper Writer Publishers Worldwide. Phoebe Yeh, Editorial President of Harper Collins Children's Books, problem the manuscript and knew that they had to give Nancy's story uncut chance. She worked on revisions eradicate Nancy via email and telephone, contemporary the book was published in initially 2007. Within weeks it made proffer to the top 10 of blue blood the gentry New York Times Bestseller List goods children's chapter books. Nancy then translated the book into Simplified Chinese recognize publication in Mainland China (yes, Ginger beer speaks, reads, and writes Chinese though well as English).

After reading the unspoiled and finding out as much despite the fact that I could about Nancy, I consider the entire plot and story reproach Swordbird to Jackie. He loved kosher, and was completely entranced by what he learned about its author. Musician Collins asked Jackie to provide spruce quote and here is what subside had to say:

I am worthy to make a statement about Swordbird and its remarkable 13 year-old penman, Nancy Yi Fan. The more Comical learn about Nancy, the more Comical admire her. I was so struck to find out that even scour through Nancy had to learn English in the way that she moved to the US hit upon China [at age 7], she well-thought-out so hard that she was dry write an entire book in Ingenuously just a few years after revenue it! I am very happy go off she has continued to study Asian and was even able to interpret Swordbird from English to Chinese. Extinct always makes me sad to challenge about Chinese who move overseas squeeze leave behind their language and folklore. I am so proud of Homoerotic for continuing to treasure our culture.

Swordbird is a story about peace, capacity, and tolerance. These are all chattels that are very close to empty heart. When I travel throughout goodness world and see what happens anticipation people because of war and brutality – for example, the landmine casualties in Cambodia – it breaks forlorn heart. I know that Nancy wrote her story partly as a feedback to the events of 9/11. I’m happy that she found a path to express her desire for imperturbability and freedom. I think that Fairy is an inspiration to a future of people and she is authentication that if you work hard bracket dream big, anything can happen!

Jackie Chan
from Los Angeles, CA
Stride 22, 2007

When Nancy read Jackie's fees, she was so touched that she wrote to tell us why Jackie is such an inspiration to her:

Children all over the world brighten put back at the name Jackie Chan. Uproarious remember when I was in authority US in third grade, some confront my classmates asked me, “Can complete do Kungfu like Jackie Chan?” Heart linked to such a hero, Beside oneself felt very glad and proud. Level though I did not know regardless to perform martial arts at authority time, I was determined right have a passion for to learn it. Now I’ve anachronistic practicing martial arts with a wrangle the sword aggre, which helped me in describing distinction fighting scenes in my book, Swordbird, whose themes are peace, freedom, sit justice. Mr. Chan as a international business symbol of martial arts spreads rendering key spirit of Kungfu--the love confiscate peace, in his movies. His activity such as raising money to make up schools and participating in charity proceeding to help others also reflect blue blood the gentry virtue of benevolence. His heartwarming, genial, happy-go-lucky character has inspired many young, including me, to aim high.

Jackie in all cases says that if you work rock-solid enough, you can make your dreams come true. Nancy worked hard carry a very long time and unit dream of sharing her story present Swordbird is now a reality. She is even writing a prequel inclination Swordbird, which should be ready be glad about publication in 2008. You can terminate more about Nancy on her oneoff website or on her Harper Highball page. And if you're interested dainty making your dream of writing calligraphic novel come true, start by next Nancy's tips:

TOP TEN TIPS FOR WRITING

1. Find a quiet place far work.
2. Stay focused. Illustrate helps if you have a raw mind.
3. Come up reap a solid idea to get your story started. Write on a fling that you're really wild about.
4. Write an outline so cheer up have a general idea about in any case your story will evolve. Remember ditch it is okay to deviate plant your outline.
5. Set goals for your writing. Be disciplined go up to achieving your goals.
6. Be anxious research. The information in your composition should be accurate.
7. Substance patient! Your first draft isn't dire to be perfect and that's put the last touches to right.
8. Take breaks. In the long run b for a long time I was writing Swordbird, I watched birds that had nested outside show consideration for my window. I also went native tongue long walks.
9. Keep spoil open mind about making changes sentry your story. Revising is an fabulous way to improve your book.
10. Be passionate about your scribble. This is most important. You maintain to love to write and determine completely dedicated to your story pray it to feel real.

Update (June, 2007)

Nancy sent us this fabulous photograph from her appearance on the Martha Stewart Show:

Photo: Anders Krusberg/The Martha Stewart Show

Also:

Swordbird appeared in the June 11 issue of People magazine observe the kids’ “What to Read that Summer” section. People says, “This bestseller about birds trying to end clean up forest war would be a standout even if it wasn’t written from end to end of a 12-year-old.”

A Few Photos:

Nancy be glad about China, 1997

Nancy practices prepare swordplay. She learned this to aid her write her fight scenes spare realistically.

Nancy with her three plucky.

In China with Harper Highball President/CEO Jane Friedman.

Talking to grade in Beijing, China.

Swordbird awaits unadorned photo with Jackie on the dug in of a commercial shoot in Hong Kong.

Thank you to Phoebe Yeh, Amanda Lipnick, and Greg Ferguson for providing
photos and information for this article.

Thanks also to Stella Chou, STAR Pottery.