Hello!
Happy June!
Book News . . .
Last week I spent a very enjoyable evening meeting members of the Northfields Community Library YA book group, talking about Dirt and writing and imagination activism! If you think your library, school or book group would welcome a visit, do get in touch.
Dirt has been out for a few weeks now and it’s been wonderful hearing readers’ opinions! My favourite comments so far include:
“Dirt is such a good book that it’s definitely in my top three!” (R, age 11)
“After reading Dirt it should make other young people feel hopeful and want to take action because I think I know what the moral of the story is – it’s to create a more beautiful and better future and if the moral reached in the reader’s heart and mind like it did in mine then I think that we could be seeing more green life and show more of Earth’s true colours.” (T, age 13)
“The magic of DIRT is that it offers a hopeful and inspiring way out of this darkness that is pragmatic and practical, with characters you root for (pun most definitely intended). It's a story that has much to offer adults as well as younger readers. Highly recommended!” (M, age - grown up!)
I’d love to know what you think of it! Online reviews make all the difference to book visibility, so if you’d like to help new readers discover Dirt, please post a sentence or two at any of these review links: Amazon, Waterstones, Goodreads, Habitat Press. Or you can hit reply to share your thoughts with me directly!
If you don’t have a copy yet, remember you can claim the eBook for free this month only – just reply ‘Dirt please’! For paperbacks, you can order Dirt at the Waterstones website, direct from the publisher, or your favourite online bookshop.
My other book with a different publisher, Enough, has now had its publication date pushed back to next year. It’s rather frustrating (and I’m so sorry if you’ve pre-ordered and have been awaiting your copy) but the publishing industry is a peculiar beast and not one that can be tamed by me! I’ll keep you posted . . .
June Reading Recommendation
This month, I want to recommend a book by the brilliant Wren (Lauren) James, who is a particular hero of mine both for setting up the Climate Fiction Writers League – of which I’m a proud member – and for writing fantastic novels. The book is called Green Rising, and is set in a near-future world on the brink of ecological catastrophe. It’s an action-packed thriller about three teenagers who develop a strange new power, and the storytelling is witty and romantic at the same time as tackling themes of geoengineering, corporate negligence and civil disobedience! It’s a YA eco-classic.
Lazy green wins #12
Pack a fork! Today, June 16th, is World Refill Day and an excellent reminder to carry our reusable water bottles, keep cups and, yes, cutlery! We need to end our single-use culture, and while food packaging poses a tough challenge, it really isn’t hard to stop throwing away coffee cups, bottles, stirrers and straws.
Keep a fork in your pocket or bag and you’ll never need to use throwaway cutlery again. (It also makes me feel a bit like a magician, producing a shiny fork out of nowhere like flowers from a hat, but perhaps that’s just me). There are often discounts to be had when you present a reusable cup and you can get beautiful reusable stainless steel straws if bubble tea is your thing. Surely everyone has ditched single-use plastic bottles by now, right?!
Reject the throwaway! Refuse, reuse, and keep recycling as the last resort.
Do you have any top reading recommendations or eco hints? Drop me a line if you do!
Remember, this month is the last chance to get your free eBook; hit reply with the words ‘Dirt please!’ (and feel free to tell a friend!).
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Until next time,
Happy reading!
Laura
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