Tag: marginalisation

For the Love of Books #14

In this book post I thought I would give a nod to our younger characters, in two wonderful YA books that, like all books of this genre, are for readers of all ages. The first of my recommendations is inspired by the fact that it is LGBTQ+ history month.

The Magic Fish, by Trung Le Nguyen

The Magic Fish is a wonderfully unique story that carries powerful messages about identity, acceptance and love. It’s a long time since I read a graphic story, and this re-introduction was a great reminder of the power of graphics. The animations are beautifully descriptive and require few words to illustrate what is a complex journey for our main character, Tien. From the outset, it may appear like a small story, but this is the story of a boy living in social margins, an immigrant story among others things, and one that offers astonishing depth.

Tien has a story to tell his parents, but communication is difficult: they are refugees struggling to learn English, while Tien doesn’t know the words in Vietnamese to come out to them as gay. The answer lies in fairy tales – a language that Tien and his parents share. With the help of fairy tales, family and friends, Tien discovers how to tell his story to those close to him, how to accept himself and ultimately navigate the world. It is a novel told with interlinking storylines weaving between reality and fairy tales, so sweet and poignant and with an ending that is utterly heart-warming.

The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman, By Robin Gregory

Born in 1892, a baby boy is found tucked inside a wooden fishing basket by the nuns of San Miguel de las Gaviotas. So begins Moojie Littleman’s journey of fantasy, magical realism, and miracles that are as real as the visiting extraterrestrials.

“He arrived on the heels of an earthquake. A minor hiccup as disasters go, the murmur rippling undersea, causing dories in the bay to bob and spider crabs to flood the beach like a ghostly pink tide.”

Moojie ends up in the care of his hard-hearted grandpappy. It’s an unsympathetic home for a biracial and partially-disabled boy with unique and tender magical gifts, and an innate empathy for humans, animals and nature. Until he answers the call of the wild, and discovers kindred spirits. So begins a series of trials as Moojie is called to a great destiny. But can he survive one last terrifying trial?

It is a magical tale of love, belonging, and pilgrimage, unique and inspiring and creatively told, with prose that comes alive on the page, lyrical and enchanting. It is a story that oozes with optimism, speaks of possibilities, and has you believing that miracles really do exist.

What are you reading?

 

 

FantasyCon 2021

Nearing the end of September and the month has flown by. Last weekend involved a trip to Birmingham to join FantasyCon 2021, an annual convention celebrating the weird and wonderful worlds of SFF.

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Firebird Book Award

I’m delighted to share the news that Return of the Mantra has won a Firebird Book Award!! It’s wonderful to have recognition for the story. Affiliated with Speak Up Talk Radio in the USA, it’s an inspiring initiative linking the awards with a charity supporting women and children in homeless shelters: while books receive recognition, shelters receive gifts – win win.

I had the opportunity to be interviewed by radio host, Pat Rullo. To listen to the interview download, click here.

And to check out my author page, click here.

It was wonderful to speak with Pat yesterday, who got me thinking about various aspects of the book, my writing journey, and my creative life in general. From the African inspired landscapes in Return of the Mantra, the motivation behind the inspired mythology, to issues around representation and marginalisation in characterisation. The main character just happens to fall in love with another woman. It’s not what the story is about, it’s just part of her backstory, encompassing coming-of-age love. The story backdrop focuses on exploitation of the natural world, while along the way, exploitation of people is revealed, in particular, women and children, as well as the marginalisation of beliefs. Moving forward with the series, it interests me to see what societies go through when systems are overthrown and oppression is challenged. I hope you’ll agree that The Warder offers some insight into how characters evolve and change amid new freedoms and surrounding upheaval.

Overall, the interview got me thinking about the power of stories. Because of the charity that the awards are linked to, it seemed apt to expand on the themes of exploitation in the book, including domestic abuse and sexual exploitation. Having worked with women in various roles, in particular in a women’s refuge here in the UK, it was important for me from the beginning to have a broad range of women’s experiences represented. These are issues often not spoken about, which can leave those effected feeling marginalised. In the book I represent these issues in a non-graphic way, while focusing on messages of empowerment, and the bonds formed from people supporting one another. Together with challenging stereotypes (including different forms of love, complex women, hero underdogs, men who nurture and feel fear as well as courage…) and reflecting society, I was left with the thought of how stories can help harbour feelings of self-worth, affirmation and empowerment.

What are you reading?