Fire Season by Ho Min Ru is shortlisted for the 2026 Author of Tomorrow Award, 16-21 Category. 

About Fire Season:

During a record fire season, an old matriarch elephant leads the last of her herd across a savannah turned to ash, following fading memories of water while flames close in from all sides. Animals and humans are forced into the same narrowing corridors of land, where fences, gunfire, and panic fracture the herd and claim the weak. When the fires finally pass, the matriarch reaches a polluted, shallow waterhole with only a few survivors, standing as a scarred remnant of a world that has burned beyond her memory.

An interview with Min Ru: 

WNSF: What is your favourite book? 

Min Ru: My favourite book would probably be Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. I still remember reading it for the first time - it took me on such an emotional rollercoaster. The way Charlotte Brontë made me feel as though I was travelling alongside Jane herself is what made me fall in love with the novel. The Gothic elements, symbolism and foreshadowing all came together to paint such a vivid story in my mind.

WNSF: Who is your favourite author? Or one who has inspired you and why? 

Min Ru: I think William Shakespeare has inspired not only me but millions of others. I've always loved the plays and stories he created. Whether they made me laugh or brought me to tears, I enjoyed every one of them. Shakespeare had a remarkable understanding of human emotion, allowing him to create incredibly complex and realistic characters. He captured what it truly means to be human, crafting emotional landscapes that I have always admired.

WNSF: What is your favourite subject at school? 

Min Ru: My favourite subject at school would be psychology. I've always been fascinated by it, which probably explains why I care so deeply about emotions. The human mind is extraordinary - how we think, react and feel has always intrigued me. Whenever I write, I hope my stories leave an emotional impact on readers, whether that feeling is joyful, heartbreaking or thought-provoking.

WNSF: What does ‘adventure writing’ mean to you? Why did you choose to try your hand at an adventure story? 

Min Ru: To me, adventure writing is about taking readers on a journey through their imagination. Sometimes that path is clear and hopeful, while other times it is rough, uncertain and filled with obstacles. No matter where it leads, the journey itself shapes the reader. I chose to write an adventure story because I wanted to step outside my comfort zone. I also wanted to create an adventure that reflected the world we live in today - a world that often feels as though its path is becoming increasingly rocky and uncertain.

WNSF: If you could ask an author anything, what would you want to know? 

Min Ru: I would ask, "How do you know when you're truly satisfied with the story you've written?" How do you know when it's just right, like Goldilocks? Sometimes I finish writing a story and wonder whether it needs something more or whether I've already said too much. I think it takes a great deal of confidence and trust in yourself to know when a story is complete.

WNSF: Who would you consider one of your heroes and why? 

Min Ru: One of my greatest heroes would be my family. Yes, I know that's technically more than one person! I feel incredibly fortunate to have a family who have always supported and encouraged me. They have shaped me into the person I am today. Being surrounded by people who love me has given me the confidence to express myself through writing and to embrace my emotions rather than hide them.

WNSF: What is the most adventurous thing you would like to do, or place you would like to visit and why? 

Min Ru: I'd love to visit a place that feels as though it has come straight out of a storybook - a lush green landscape with waterfalls, wildflowers and vines weaving through the trees. Animals would roam freely in their natural habitat, while the sounds of nature filled the air. I think being surrounded by that kind of beauty would feel like embarking on my own adventure, one led entirely by nature.

WNSF: Where do you find inspiration for your stories? 

Min Ru: I usually find inspiration in current issues affecting the real world. I like to explore these topics through my stories because they help me build meaningful messages that I hope readers will connect with. So many people are facing challenges in their lives, and if my writing can make even one person feel seen, understood or less alone, then I feel I've achieved something worthwhile.

WNSF: If you could time travel, where would you go and why? 

Min Ru: If I could travel through time, I would probably visit the nineteenth century. Many of my favourite novels were written during that period, and I would love to experience the world that inspired them. I'd be fascinated to see what society was like, explore the landscapes and witness everyday life during such an influential era in literature.

WNSF: What three words would you use to describe your story? 

Min Ru: Heartbreaking. Scorched. Resilience.

WNSF: Congratulations on your brilliant story, and good luck for the next stage of the competition!