Author Archives: Wren James

Two of our members, Marissa Slaven and Michael Muntisov, have both written about a near-future world suffering the effects of climate change. Even though Marissa lives in Canada and Mike in Australia, they were able to catch up over Zoom to talk about their books. Here’s an extract from their conversation. MARISSA: You know, asContinue reading “Marissa Slaven and Michael Muntisov discuss their new thrillers”

I am really proud to have written a book about young activists. The young are all too often dismissed as naïve and ill-informed, when they are often quite the reverse. Clear-sighted and unburdened by the baggage of political bias or tribalism or the potential drag of adult experience, they see the world with an energyContinue reading “Young activists – to be encouraged! by Anthea Simmons”

Rachel Griffin talks about her debut novel, out now with Sourcefire Books. Tell us about your new book. The Nature of Witches is a young adult contemporary fantasy set in a world where witches have long maintained the climate but are starting to lose control. It follows Clara Densmore, an Everwitch whose rare magic isContinue reading “Rachel Griffin talks about YA The Nature of Witches”

It’s been raining all week here in Houston, which is to say, I haven’t been sleeping. For most of my life, I loved the sound of a thunderstorm lulling me to sleep. But after surviving more floods, tropical storms, and hurricanes than I can count on both hands, the sound of thunder now triggers anxiety.Continue reading “Weather as Antagonist in Climate Fiction by Sim Kern”

Mary Woodbury interviews Fiona Barker about her new picture book Setsuko and the Song of the Sea, out now. I run Dragonfly.eco, an exploration of world eco-fiction, which includes a database of hundreds of novels about humanity’s impact on our natural world, including the omnipresent climate disruption. Being a mother and aunt, I have oftenContinue reading “Fiona Barker talks about her new picture book”

All art is political – even children’s books. Especially children’s books. Fairy tales cover everything from social satire (The Emperor’s New Clothes) to the politics of adolescence (Little Red Riding Hood). The Gruffalo explores our mistrust of the other. Burglar Bill evinces sympathy for the criminal underclass. And as readers get older, the parallels become even more direct: Philip Pullman’s His DarkContinue reading “Writing about politics for kids – how much can they understand? by Tom Huddleston”

Ele Fountain talks about her new Middle Grade release Melt, which is out now with Pushkin Press. Melt is an Arctic adventure. It’s the story of two teenagers from very different backgrounds. When their worlds collide on the melting ice, friendship, courage, and ancient knowledge are what they must rely on to survive.  How doesContinue reading “Ele Fountain talks about MG novel Melt”

During lockdown, I have revised a story-in-progress to take account of our COVID-19 pandemic, and I know I have not been alone in doing so. I have shifted the setting of my novel to a time, post-pandemic, when my characters are resuming their ‘normal’ lives. The pandemic is still in their thoughts, suppressed for theContinue reading “Where to Place Climate Change in Fiction: Background or Centre Stage? by Anne Charnock”

Anthea Simmons talks about her new release Burning Sunlight, a climate change YA novel out this month with Anderson Press about teenage activists. How do themes of the environment play into your plot and the lives of your protagonists? The environment is absolutely front and centre in Burning Sunlight. It is the issue which bringsContinue reading “Anthea Simmons talks about YA novel BURNING SUNLIGHT”