Visit sparks school story

The students of Room 14 with Doug Wilson, pictured back row at left, with (from left) wife Adele, Bill Honeybone from Bateman Publishing, Seven Sharp reporter Erin Conroy and Seven Sharp cameraman.

The kids of Room 14 at Hamilton's Vardon School had never met a writer before.

So when Taupo author and medical professor Doug Wilson called in to see them, they asked him how he did it.

"I said "it's easy"," recalls Doug. That wasn't enough.

"They said "could you write a story about us?" so I said "what room is this?' and then I said (the intro).

Doug thought that would make the youngsters happy. Wrong.

They challenged the researcher, consultant, company chairman and latterly, author, to come up with a rest of a story which - naturally - had them as the heroes.

Back at home, Doug sat down to write, and the story of the adventures of the children from Room 14, titled Don't Mess With These Kids! came to him easily. It begins in a summer camp on the Waikato River takes in guns, escapes and bad guys, and ends with the Prime Minister, the army and the police all involved.

Doug, who was already the author of four published fantasy adventure books for children starring hero Tom Hassler, would send his drafts to to his young collaborators and they would send back their critiques and suggestions.

Originally, Doug had had no inkling that the students of Room 14 were to provide the inspiration for his next novel. He was simply responding to an invitation to visit.

"The teacher (Elysia Gunn) had picked up my original book about Tom Hassler and they did it for reading and then they read the lot, and then one of the kids sent me an email to explain that I had a spelling mistake," chuckles Doug. "So I called into the school to meet them. Nice school, fantastic teacher."

Once he'd come up with a story he was happy with and Room 14 approved of, Doug thought he would just get a few copies printed to give to the children.

He sent the manuscript off to editor Lorraine Day and she liked it so much she sent it on to Bateman Publishers, who accepted it, a great boost. Publishing in New Zealand is virtually impossible to break into and Doug had published the Tom Hassler books himself.

Not only did Bateman say they would publish Don't Mess With These Kids!, they also took Doug's back list of the Tom Hassler books, and will look at any new stories he produces.

Don't Mess With These Kids! was released on Monday and, in an incredible boost, the story of Doug and Room 14 was picked up for a short item on TV One's Seven Sharp. Doug made a trip to Hamilton and the crew filmed him as he went to Vardon School to show his newly-published book to Room 14. Bill Honeybone from Bateman Publishers also arrived and presented a copy to every student. It was, says Doug, "a tremendously exciting" event.

"It was just a fun day. They were very excited."

As was Doug. "You can't not be. You get the energy from the kids ... it was just a nice day for them all."

Will the kids of Room 14 be returning for another adventure? Doug's not sure. He says it will depend on how Don't Mess With These Kid! fares.

"They [the kids] want to know what's next, so I mentioned to them there might be, I don't know if the publishers want a sequel."