To celebrate the release of The Adventures of Blue Mountain Island, I had the privilege of speaking with the author Joe Shaw, Head Coach of Saracens premier rugby club, about the inspiration behind this remarkable story. Even more special is that 20 per cent of the proceeds will be donated to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, the charity established by Doddie Weir, Joe’s former teammate, close friend and one of Scotland’s most beloved rugby figures.
When I asked Joe what The Adventures of Blue Mountain Island means to him, it quickly became clear that this is far more than a children’s book. At its heart, it is a story about kindness, belonging and helping others, wrapped in a wonderful adventure.
“The book was never intended to be a bestseller,” Joe explained. “I wrote it because I didn’t want my children to lose their imagination.”
What began as a family project grew over five years. Joe started writing with his eldest daughter, Milla, before his son Digby and youngest daughter Indie each added their twists to the tale.
The result is a joyful celebration of childhood creativity. Joe reflected on how quickly children’s imaginations can be crowded out by the distractions and stresses of modern life.
“I could see, particularly with my eldest, how children can quickly get caught up in other things and their imagination starts to disappear. I loved getting caught up in my kids’ creativity and didn’t want to lose that. So, with my wife Emily, we tried to create something special for our family.”
That desire to preserve the magic of childhood lies at the heart of the book. It is also a reminder that adults, too, can lose their sense of wonder amidst the pressures of everyday life. For Joe and his family, creating the story became an outlet for joy, connection, and creativity.
Readers will find themselves transported into a vibrant world shaped by the imaginations of Milla, Digby, and Indie. Through their creativity, they have crafted a story that rekindles the excitement, possibility and adventure that childhood brings.
I was keen to explore the book’s deeper themes. The story depicts an island where animals live together in harmony yet struggle with instinctive divisions and prejudices. Ultimately, it is a tale about friendship, understanding and the power of love to overcome conflict.
I asked Joe how he views the book in the context of today’s world.
“For me, it’s about inclusivity,” he said. “Friendship is what matters. It only takes one person to believe in you to help you become a better person.”
This message is embodied in the friendship between Baxter, a Komodo dragon, and Digby, a fox. As tensions grow between the Komodo dragons, who believe they have a right to dominate the island, and the other animals, Baxter finds himself swept along by the crowd. Yet through Digby’s friendship and belief in him, he finds the courage to choose a different path.
This sense of belonging is reinforced through the term “MIDE,” which appears throughout the story. While it represents the initials of Joe’s family, it also reflects a famous Saracens rugby philosophy: “The strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf.”
Throughout the book, readers are reminded that everyone is on their own journey and that everyone deserves a place where they feel accepted, valued, and loved. It is a particularly important message for young readers as they navigate the challenges of growing up.
Finally, I asked Joe why he chose to donate 20 per cent of the proceeds to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
His answer offered a moving insight into his friendship with Doddie Weir. The pair were teammates at Newcastle, and Joe spoke with great affection about the person Doddie was both on and off the field. Following his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2017, Doddie dedicated himself to raising awareness and funding research to support others living with the condition.
While the book began as a way of capturing something precious for his family, Joe also hoped it could have a wider impact.
“It would be amazing if this project of ours could help make a difference, whether big or small, in supporting a foundation that is extremely close to my heart.”
At its core, The Adventures of Blue Mountain Island is a celebration of imagination, friendship and love. Through both its story and its charitable contribution, it honours the values that inspired its creation: preserving the magic of childhood, supporting others, and carrying forward Doddie Weir’s legacy by helping those affected by MND.
Photograph by Lexi Knight for The Student.
