Hello!

Happy November!

Book News . . .

Last month, I mentioned that I’ve been working on a new short story set in the world of my latest novel, Dirt. I’m happy to report that the story is now finished – apart from some final polishing – and will be appearing in a new anthology published by Habitat Press in the New Year!

I’m also eagerly waiting to hear from a team of teenage beta readers, who’ve been given a nearly-final-draft of my novel, Nourish. They’ve volunteered to read the manuscript and give feedback before I do a final edit on the book in time for publication next year.

If you like the idea of reading books before they’re published and giving your opinions, do drop me a line – I’d be delighted to have you on my advance-reader team (whether you’re a teenager or not!).

Reading Recommendation

Sarah Crossan is an unusual YA writer, chiefly because so many of her books are written in free verse. I didn’t realise this when I picked up Toffee at the library, and so the first page took me by surprise. But her poetic writing is so clear and concise that it’s a dream to read! Crossan also tackles challenging themes in her beautifully-told stories – Toffee is about a young girl who runs away from her abusive home, and encounters an elderly woman suffering from dementia.

I am not who I say I am.​
​Marla isn't who she thinks she is.​
​I am a girl trying to forget.​
​Marla is a woman trying to remember.

So if you want to try reading a verse novel (that’s easier to read than prose!), and you like a gritty story, Toffee is the one to go for. (If you want more detail on the grit-level, check the bottom of this email for a content warning.)

Lazy green wins #17

This is my favourite green win because it’s also the laziest action possible – celebrate Buy Nothing Day on 25^th November!

As we enter the season of extreme pressure to buy stuff, this annual campaign is a reminder that the world would be a better place in so many ways if those of us in higher-income countries all consumed a bit less.

Best of all, you can participate by literally doing nothing at all. Spend a day without spending – shop less, live more! And if you really, urgently need a new book to read, there’s always the library!

By the way, last month I mentioned ways of avoiding unwanted energy-guzzling AI summaries when browsing the internet (hello bookmarks!). Since then, Ecosia, the search engine I recommended, have started offering automatic AI summaries – GRRR! But fortunately, you can turn them off with a single click, so I’m still recommending Ecosia for their tree-planting activities!

Do you have any festive eco-tips or book recommendations? Hit reply if you do, I’d love to hear from you!

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Until next time, Happy reading! Laura