I Wish I’d Written: Dan Smith

Dan Smith chooses the first book he ever fell in love with.

Choosing a favourite anything is difficult for me, but a book I wish I had written? That’s really tough. The Lord of the Flies is a contender – for the island and the beast and the terrible tragedy. Or Holes for its clever plotting and colourful characters. Or The Outsiders for being golden and just so cool.

But I’m going to choose The Runaways by Victor Canning, for being the first book I ever fell in love with. The story begins during a storm, with teenager ‘Smiler’ escaping police custody after being accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Smiler has nowhere to go – his only parent is his father, always away at sea – so he ends up on the run, moving from place to place, finding shelter wherever he can. Meanwhile, a cheetah named Yarra escapes from Longleat safari park and finds her way onto Salisbury plain to have her cubs in privacy. Both lives become intertwined as the runaways try to survive and hold on to their freedom.

When I had that book in my hands, I was Smiler. I felt his isolation and his fear. I felt his joy when he found kindness. I was right there with him and Yarra, in the wilds of Salisbury plain. And for, a few moments, ten-year-old Dan was as resourceful and brave as Smiler was.

The Runaways by Victor Canning is available from Farrago, ‎ 978-1788423489, £8.99 pbk.

The Wintermoor Lights, book 2 in Dan Smith’s new Night House Files for Barrington Stoke, is out now, 978-0008700508, £7.99 pbk.