This month we take a look at the Jack Courtney Adventures, a series of three eco thrillers for 10+ readers. The Courtney family debuted in Wilbur Smith's first novel for adults and have appeared in numerous books since, spanning over fifty years writing. With the assistance of author and travel writer Chris Wakling, and after numerous requests from fans, Wilbur Smith decided to create a series for young readers reimagining the Courtney family in modern times. The star of the books is our teen hero Jack Courtney, who after a quiet life living in the UK, is compelled into a life-saving mission when his parents go missing in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Through the books Wilbur shines a light on environmental concerns, global resource problems and wildlife conservation - issues that were always close to his heart.
There are three books in the series, Cloudburst, Thunderbolt and the latest additon, Shockwave.
Sadly, the author, Wilbur Smith died in 2021, aged 88. He left a rich legacy of 49 books and the establishment of the Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation which cemented Wilbur's passion for empowering writers, promoting literacy and advancing adventure writing as a genre. The foundation's flagship programme is the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize.
We were lucky enough to ask Wilbur Smith a few questions on the publication of the first in the Jack Courtney series, Cloudburst, and we have reproduced a selection below.
Tell us about the inspiration behind Cloudburst?
The Courtney family, and where their children are living in today’s world, which is in danger of disappearing before our very eyes. The fictional Courtney family appeared in my first novel, When the Lion Feeds. Since then the Courtney’s have become the longest running family saga in publishing history, spanning over 20 books and fifty years. Our hero, Jack Courtney, a teenager, is caught between his parents who want to protect the rainforest of the Congo and his uncle, who wants to destroy it for profit.
You are known as an author of books for adults and have sold 130 million copies worldwide. What made you decide to write for children?
I wanted to explore the resource curse of Africa and was inspired by what young people are doing to question what is happening with the environment. It felt like a good idea to try to speak directly to them through my characters and my writing.
Tell us about the process of writing the book?
All of my work with co-authors begins with me and my fictional universe. Usually I am prompted by my fans on Facebook asking me what has happened to a certain character – what are they up to now? I will then revisit that novel and begin to ask myself my own questions. Once I have some answers, ideas come to me for new stories and I share them with a carefully selected co-author, and we work on an outline which then develops, draft by draft, into the finished novel.
What are the main themes of Cloudburst?
The resource curse of Africa and the vanishing rainforests are central to Cloudburst. But my timeless themes of love, betrayal, and brother against brother are framed in a coming of age story, which is something that took me back to one of Jack’s forefather, the 16 year old Hal Courtney in Birds of Prey, who in 1667 boards a ship with his father Sir Francis Courtney, to seek their family fortune sailing around the Cape of Good Hope.
Do you think the adventure genre for children – boys and girls – needs invigorating for a new generation of readers?
Having an adventure is the only way you are certain to learn something about yourself and your world at the same time. If that is not available to you then read an adventure story which may broaden your horizons in a similar and unexpected ways. The Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation is dedicated to celebrating and furthering the craft of adventure writing. Twenty percent of our receipts from Cloudburst will be donated to the Foundation which helps young people learn more about adventure writing.
What are you hoping that readers will take away from reading the book?
I hope they will learn something about Africa, about the cruelty and kindness of mankind, the beauty of nature and wildlife and something about themselves in the process.
What kind of stories did you read as a child?
I was a keen reader on my parents’ remote ranch growing up in what is now Zambia. I enjoyed reading Biggles books and Just William as well as the works of John Buchan, C.S. Forester and the original master of adventure, H. Rider Haggard.
The Jack Courtney Adventures :
Fourteen-year-old Jack is on a safari holiday with his parents, the wealthy founders of a conservation charity. His friends Amelia and Xander are on the trip too – so far, so idyllic but then his parents are kidnapped by mercenaries.This is a taut, tightly plotted thriller which puts young people firmly in the driving seat.....read the full review and download the first chapter of Cloudburst.
This second Jack Courtney Adventure is every bit as edge-of-your-seat-entertaining and environmentally aware as its predecessor, Cloudburst - think Alex Rider with conservation conscience. With its unrelenting sense of danger underpinned by serious environmental and social issues Thunderbolt is an adventure with ethics....read the full review and download the first chapter of Thunderbolt.
On the pretext of making a film for his mother's environmental protection work, Jack wangles an expedition to the Arctic with his friends Amelia and Xander and cousin Caleb. But Xander's investigations into the mysterious backers funding their adventure raises Jack's suspicions. Read more about Shockwave.
*** For a chance to win a copy of all three books click on any of the book pages!
And you can find Wilbur's books for adults here.