Editing Jason Steed (Book series)

'''''Fledgling Jason Steed''''', otherwise known as '''''Fledgling: A Jason Steed Adventure''''', is the first novel in the ''Jason Steed'' young adult spy series by British author Mark A. Cooper.<ref name="readitall">{{cite book |title=Read All About It |date=23 August 2010 |publisher=''Sunderland Echo'' |page=Centre spread}}</ref> The book, about an 11-year-old [[martial arts]] expert, is notable for originally being a self-published [[internet]] hit.<ref name="bradenton">{{cite web|url=http://www.thebradentontimes.com/news/2009/09/18/local_news/author_finds_persistence_pays_in_the_book_trade/|accessdate=2009-07-4 |author=
The Bradenton Times - Erica Newport|title=Author finds persistence pays in the book trade|year=2009}}</ref><ref name="agent">{{cite web|url=http://www.barbarajzitweragency.com/authors.html|accessdate=2009-07-4 |author=Barbara J Zitwer website|title=Barbara J Zitwer Authors|year=2009}}</ref> ''Fledgling'' and its sequel, ''Jason Steed: Boudica'', were sold to [[Chicago]]-based publishing company ''Sourcebooks'' in May 2009.<ref name="publishersmarketplace">{{cite web|url=http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/login.php/lunch/archives/005414.php|accessdate=2009-06-03 |author=Publishers' Marketplace website|title=Jason Steed Sold (Must pay to log in)|year=2009}}</ref> The firm is to repackage and republish the first book on September 1, 2010, and the sequel in 2011.<ref name="scribd">{{cite web|url=http://www.scribd.com/doc/30932784/Fall-2010-Trade-Catalog|accessdate=2010-05-26 |author=Scribd.com website|title=Fall 2010 Trade Catalogue|year=2010}}</ref><ref name="authorweb">{{cite web|url=http://markacooper.com/Jasonsteedrules.aspx|accessdate=2009-05-31 |author=markacooper.com website|title=Behind the scenes|year=2009}}</ref><ref name="agent">{{cite web|url=http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/alicea/|accessdate=2009-03-29 |author=Publishers' Marketplace website|title=Barbara J. Zitwer Agency |year=2009}}</ref> In March 2009, ''Fledgling Jason Steed'' was voted the Top Young Adult Book for 2009 by ''Fictionreviewer.com.'' The book "narrowly beat" the [[Twilight (series)|Twilight]] series by [[Stephenie Meyer]].<ref name="ficreview">{{cite web|http://www.fictionreviewer.com/2009awardwinners.htm|accessdate=2009-09-02 |author=Fictionreviewer.com website|title=Book of the year award winners|year=2009}}</ref><ref name="authorquote">{{cite web|url=http://www.authornation.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=111&func=view&catid=34&id=20634|accessdate=2009-05-28 |author=AuthorNation website|title=It Can and Does Happen|year=2009}}</ref> The book was also a finalist in the Young Adult Fiction category of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.<ref name='indieawards">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiebookawards.com/2009_winners_and_finalists.php|accessdate=2009-05-27 |author=Indie Book Awards|title=Winners and Finalists of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards|year=2009}}</ref><ref name='jacketflap">{{cite web|url=http://www.jacketflap.com/bookdetail.asp?bookid=1402239998|accessdate=2010-05-26 |author=Jacketflap.com|title=Fledgling Jason Steed|year=2010}}</ref>
Winner of Beverly Hills Book Awards Juvenile Fiction 2013
==The books==

The original version of ''Fledgling A Jason Steed Adventure'' ([[International Standard Book Number|ISBN]]-13: 9780741449344) was published in September 2008 by Infinity Publishing.<ref name="Worldcat">{{cite web|url=
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/251228949?referer=list_view|accessdate=2009-06-11 |author=Worldcat websitewebsite|title=Fledgling Jason Steed |year=2008}}</ref> The 214-page novel followed the life of  British-born Jason Steed, from his tough babyhood to his adventures as an 11-year-old British [[Sea Cadet]].<ref name="prweb">{{cite web|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/06/prweb2505384.htm|accessdate=2009-07-4 |author=PRWEB website|title=It's the Summer of the Spy at the Museum of Nature & Science|year=2009}}</ref> Cooper originally wrote ''Jason Steed'' as an action/adventure story for his son but, after self-publishing the book, he was "stunned" at the positive reaction on the internet.<ref name="readitall">{{cite book |title=Read All About It |date=23 August 2010 |publisher=''Sunderland Echo'' |page=Centre spread}}</ref><ref name="author interview">{{cite web|url=http://authorsunleashed.blogspot.com/2010/02/interview-with-mark-cooper.html|accessdate=2010-02-28|author=Authors Unleashedwebsite|title=Interview with Mark A. Cooper  |year=2010}}</ref>

The fictional father of Jason Steed, [[Royal Navy]] officer [[Raymond Steed]], was written as a tribute to a real-life British war hero.<ref name="war hero">{{cite web|url=http://www.authornation.com/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Youngest-World-War-Two-WWII-service-death.html&Itemid=109|accessdate=2009-03-29 |author=Authornation.com website|title=Raymond V Steed Youngest World War Two WWII Age 14  |year=2008}}</ref> Raymond Victor Steed was a galley boy on a [[Merchant Navy]] ship when it was blown up after hitting a German mine off the African coast on 26 April, 1943.<ref name="africa">{{cite web|url=http://www.mowbars.plus.com/History/Steed%20RV.html|accessdate=2009-03-29 |author=mowbars.plus.com website|title=A Galley boy Named Raymond Steed |year=2008}}</ref> Raymond, from [[Newport]], was 14 years and 207 days old when he died - just five months after joining up.<ref name="dad">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/6921948.stm|accessdate=2009-03-29 |author=BBC website|title=Honour bid for youngest war hero |year=2008}}</ref> Raymond has been officially recognised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as the second youngest recorded fatality of the British service war dead.<ref name="tregenna">{{cite web|url=http://www.ss-tregenna.co.uk/Pdf/Raymond%20V-1.pdf|accessdate=2009-03-29 |author=ss-tregenna.co.uk website|title=Raymond Victor Steed - Empire Morn |year=2007}}</ref><ref name=CWGC1>{{cite web|url=http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2242585|author=Commonwealth War Graves Commission|title=Casualty details—Steed, Raymond Victor|accessdate=2009-04-22}}</ref>

The original version of ''Fledgling A Jason Steed Adventure'' was voted ''Fictionreviewer.com'''s Top Young Adult Book for 2009, beating the Twilight saga by [[Stephenie Meyer]] in an internet poll of readers.<ref name="goodreads">{{cite web|url=http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1571853.Mark_A_Cooper|accessdate=2009-06-10 |author=Goodreads.com website|title=Mark A Cooper|year=2009}}</ref> The award citation read: "The magnetic appeal for most young teens is the simplicity of the book, fast action and drama. The new ‘Text Age’ teens find it easy to read and fast; something fitting for the modern world they now live in."<ref name="fictionreview">{{cite web|url=http://www.fictionreviewer.com|accessdate=2009-03-29 |author=Fictionreviewer.com website|title=Young Adult Book of the year 2009 Award Winner |year=2009}}</ref><ref name="sourcebooks">{{cite web|url=http://www.sourcebooks.com/products/childrens/young-adult/9781402239991-fledgling-jason-steed.html|accessdate=2010-08-24 |author=Sourcebooks.com website|title=Jason Steed |year=2010}}</ref> ''Fledgling'' was also a finalist in the Young Adult Fiction category of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.<ref name='indieawards">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiebookawards.com/2009_winners_and_finalists.php|accessdate=2009-05-27 |author=Indie Book Awards|title=Winners and Finalists of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards|year=2009}}</ref>.

The new version of ''Fledgling A Jason Steed Adventure'' ([[International Standard Book Number|ISBN]]-13: 9781402239991) is listed as 240 pages long, having been "cut and edited" before republication by ''Sourcebooks''.<ref name="sourcebooks">{{cite web|url=http://www.sourcebooks.com/products/childrens/young-adult/9781402239991-fledgling-jason-steed.html|accessdate=2010-08-24 |author=Sourcebooks.com website|title=Jason Steed |year=2010}}</ref><ref name="googlebooks">{{cite web|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=M4ynqAYqe08C&printsec=frontcover&dq=ISBN+9781402239991&source=bl&ots=frH_BdRUS0&sig=H_xUfsNpIFPSCM1NEXYyirjmbf8&hl=en&ei=lz10TNDTBcyNjAe1ufXaCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdate=2010-08-24 |author=Google Books preview website|title=Jason Steed |year=2010}}</ref> Mark A. Cooper said in a pre-launch interview: "My original version was unedited and longer. Some of the background scenes have been cut in the new version, to make the adventure run faster."<ref name="readitall">{{cite book |title=Read All About It |date=23 August 2010 |publisher=''Sunderland Echo'' |page=Centre spread}}</ref>

HRH Prince William declared in May 2011 that “Fledgling Jason Steed” is his favourite book.

Book 1 '''Fledgling Jason Steed''' Was released in 2008 & 2010 by Sourcebooks inc. ([[International Standard Book Number|ISBN]] -13: 978-1402239991

Book 2 '''Revenge Jason Steed''' was released in March 2012 by Sourcebooks inc. ([[International Standard Book Number|ISBN]]-13: 9781402264290)

Book 3 ''''Jason Steed Absolutely Nothing'''' was released in November 2013  ([[International Standard Book Number|ISBN]] -13: 978-1492259688

Book 4 '''Royal Decree Jason Steed''' Released in October 2014 ([[International Standard Book Number|ISBN]] -13: 978-1500561291

Book 5 '''Face-Off Jason Steed''' Released in May 2016 ([[International Standard Book Number|ISBN]] -13: 978-1533464941

Book 6 '''Nautilus Jason Steed''' Released in December 2018 ([[International Standard Book Number|ISBN]] -13: 978-1790606795

Book 7 '''Fatal Wrath Jason Steed''' Released in April 2021 ([[International Standard Book Number|ISBN]] -13: 979-8724626415


[[Joe Craig]], award-winning author of the ''[[Jimmy Coates]]'' teen spy series, reviewed the new version in July 2010 and wrote: "The pace is unlike any thriller I’ve read before, while the period setting and the backstory built up around the characters mark it out as something different from other action adventure books for a young audience. Basically, you have to check out ''Fledgling: Jason Steed''. He’ll win your heart, then get it pumping with adrenaline. It’s [[James Bond]] meets [[Karate Kid]], and if either of them ever met Jason Steed, they’d be in big trouble."<ref name="joecraig">{{cite web|url=http://markacooper.com/Reviews.aspx|accessdate=2010-07-01 |author=Mark Cooper website|title=Joe Craig review |year=2010}}</ref>

==The author==

The author of ''Fledgling A Jason Steed Adventure,'' Mark A. Cooper, was born in [[Battersea]], South [[London]] in 1963, where he attended [[Battersea Grammar School]]. He moved to [[Launceston, Cornwall|Launceston]], [[Cornwall]], as a teenager, where he attended Torpoint High School. He went on to study at [[Plymouth University]] in [[Devon]]. Cooper worked in shops, factories and banks after leaving university, before moving to [[Sarasota, Florida]] with his wife and son in 2003. He is also the author of ''Moving to the United States of America and Immigration,'' as well as ''A Movement in Time with [[Breitling]] & [[Rolex]] an Unauthorized History''.<ref name="bookdeal">{{cite web|url=http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:fXyd5BHvSfkJ:www.authornation.com/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_comprofiler%26task%3DuserProfile%26user%3D1562+%22fledgling+jason+steed%22%2Bsourcebooks&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk|accessdate=2009-05-03 |author=Mark A Cooper|title=Mark's profile page |year=2009}}</ref> The second book in the ''Jason Steed'' series, ''Revenge, Jason Steed'', is now being edited.<ref name="profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.authornation.com/index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=userProfile&user=1562|accessdate=2009-03-29 |author=Authornation website|title=Mark Florida's profile page |year=2009}}</ref> Cooper signed to a [[literary agent]], the [[New York City]]-based [[Barbara Zitwer|Barbara J. Zitwer]] Agency, in March 2009, and his first two Jason Steed books were bought by Sourcebooks in May 2009.<ref name="agent">{{cite web|url=http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/alicea/|accessdate=2009-03-29 |author=Publishers' Marketplace website|title=Barbara J. Zitwer Agency |year=2009}}</ref> Rumours that ''Jason Steed'' was written under a [[pen name]] by [[Alex Rider]] writer [[Anthony Horowitz]] have been denied by Mark A. Cooper.<ref name="goodreads"/>

==See also==
* [[Portal|Children and Young Adult Literature]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Young adult novels]]
[[Category:Junior spy novels]]
[[Category:Novel series]]
[[Category:Juvenile series]]
[[Category:Fictional secret agents and spies]]
[[Category:Fictional English people]]
[[Category:Books]]

27. http://photogallery.thestar.com/981070

28. http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/gallery/gallery-specials/31770/1/3/prince-william--the-lowdown-on-kate-middleton--039-s-man/1

29 http://www.beverlyhillsbookawards.com/2013-BHBA-Winnners-and-Finalists.htm Winner of Beverly Hills Book Awards Juvenile Fiction