I have just had published a book for children about samurai. It is called Real Samurai.
It is full of specially commissioned colour plates by James Field. We rather enjoyed doing it, and have included some rather good scenes, including some spectacular banners worn by the messengers in samurai armies.
Last October was a celebration, because it saw the publication of my fiftieth book: The Samurai and the Sacred.. A week later I was off to Japan again to research future projects. The main one is about Japanese Castles prior to the Sengoku Period. These include the northern stockades and the Korean-style fortresses of Kyushu. It will be published by Osprey later this year.
My forty-ninth book was in the Campaigns Series and is on the Siege of Osaka 1614-15. Richard Hook has done the plates, and I have chosen three scenes: the attack on the Sanada maru, as viewed from down in the ditch; the night battle across the Honmachi bridge, and the dramatic scene when Toyotomi Hideyori prepared to ride out in a last desperate attempt to save the castle!
You will see some old stuff in Warriors of Medieval Japan, because this is my three Warriors books (Ninja, Ashigaru and Monks) bound together, BUT I have added a completely new section on samurai and have considerably revised the other three. There are also lots of new pictures, so it REALLY is worth buying!