Green Group discussion
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Do we have other ecofiction authors in this group?
I am an ecofiction author. Temporarily insanse.
I wrote my eco observations line by line so people could not just breeze right through without actually thinking about each line. Trying to avoid the in one eye out the other eye routine so they can get on to the next book. I can tell you straight out, it doesn't work, but I'm not changing the style of my writing.
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I agree, Clare. Being made to experience, whether through a fictional character's eyes or an actual human's, is much more effective.
With first person it's is definitely much more effective at getting the story across, and a much better chance of having a chance of commercial success. There is the risk that that reader is insulated from what the character is actually doing. That is the reader enjoys the character's experience without having to personally risk anything, which is what a good book is supposed to do. But you end with the reader deciding what they will do, if anything, besides buying another book to read, which is the primary goal.
Clare wrote: "Which options do you use, Paul?"I ride an electric motorcycle, walk, and sometimes ride a bicycle. I've used the Metro and Uber once each. All my electricity has been from solar for 15 years, and all my vehicles have been electric for the same time. It's easy to do both now.
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I'm not sure where to post this, but I recently found and quickly joined a group called Citizens' Climate Lobby. I liked their bi-partisan and global approach, but wonder if anyone else knows anything about them.Citizens' Climate Lobby - Political Will for a Livable World
https://citizensclimatelobby.org/
The Other Island: Ben's Story: The sequel to Islands of Time
Barbara wrote: "I'm not sure where to post this, but I recently found and quickly joined a group called Citizens' Climate Lobby. I liked their bi-partisan and global approach, but wonder if anyone else knows anyth..."CCL is a great org. They are effective in reaching out to both sides of the isle to get bi-partisan support for a carbon tax and dividend program. It's still going to be a long, hard struggle to get the votes, but we keep trying.
What's most important for individuals is to rid your life of dirty energy. Change your home's electricity to your utility's renewable energy program, and if you drive a car, switch to one that runs on electricity. Doing those two things will reduce your personal pollution footprint by over 90%.
Dear Barbara,I have belonged to CCL for a couple of years. Have you found your closest local chapter yet? I like the way they are tightly organized with lots of directions, monthly actions, talks t listen t; and I am frankly entranced with their training for talking to Members of Congress we disagree with. Although Invisible, which I totally agree with, howls and yells (justifiably) about our Representative, over three years that we have (cordially) met in CCL style respectful dialogue with him he has made two good environmental decisions and is thinking about joining the Climate Caucus in the House of Rpresentatives.
Looks like I missed a whole lot of messages - Anne congrats on your novel! You cannot be too optimistic. That is the only way...!
Paul wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I'm not sure where to post this, but I recently found and quickly joined a group called Citizens' Climate Lobby. I liked their bi-partisan and global approach, but wonder if anyone ..."Thanks Paul. I have been trying to be at least greener for many years. My rental cottages are, for example, registered in Maine's "Environmental Leaders" program. But - as you point out - there is so much to do. I'm glad to hear that you think well of CCL. Seems a good place to support.
Annis wrote: "Dear Barbara,I have belonged to CCL for a couple of years. Have you found your closest local chapter yet? I like the way they are tightly organized with lots of directions, monthly actions, talks ..."
Hi Annis,
This is very encouraging. I've been consumed the past month with opening our rental cottages and launching my new book (The Other Island: Ben's Story), so could not join the CCL welcome talk, but will do so soon. I think CCL will let me know what chapter we're near right after that. I'd delighted to hear that you've made progress with a recalcitrant legislator using this approach. Thanks.
Barbara
My latest novel, "Green Valley" is now available as an e-book. The preliminary price of $2.99 will not last long!
Great thread - thank you Maia! Can't wait to check out everyone's books! I have a short-ish story, Summer Wings on Kindle (it's free still if you want to check it out- would love any feedback!)I'm working on my first full length Eco-Fiction / Solar punk novel now - slowly but surely :)
Awesome, April, will check it out! I added it to my Want to Read list. Mine is up on Kindle now and I'm working on the print edition for this fall. It's called The Erenwine Agenda and it is visionary ecofiction - I call it a love story about hydraulic fracturing. :-) Keep posting & commenting!
This is a great group! So nice to meet so many other Eco minded authors! Jan - I live outside of Boston towards Providence & my book Summer Wings takes place in Somerville.
I'm reading & enjoying Green Valley by Anne Ipsen right now - was that a post on this thread? Berkshires!
S. wrote: "Hi, I'm Sandy. I joined this group a while ago but it has grown since the last time I checked in. I haven't been very active here in a while. I write a middle grade/YA series called Seed Savers. It..."Hi Sandy - these look great! Just got the first one on Kindle. When my boys are old enough, they can read them! :)
Hi April- I am glad you are enjoying "Green Valley". We are "virtual" neighbors. "Green Valley" takes place near Uxbridge, due north of Providence and I live in Cambridge right next to Somerville.
Hi Maia--Guess I missed this thread. New to the club. My most recent book is "Tales from The Warming" (published by Open Books, 2017, 230 pages). The book's 10 stories expose readers to the human impact of what I call "The Warming" in locations all over the world and across time (2022-2059). Midwest Book Review has been kind enough to call it "riveting, prophetic and impressively well written." It's on club book list. If interested, my publisher is offering a free sample story: http://bit.ly/2pTDTQm .
Thanks for asking,
Lorin
lorinphoto@hotmail.com
Awesome Lorin and nice to meet you! I will check out your book. How have you been finding the promotional work? Congrats on the review! My novel, The Erenwine Agenda, is also available now - it is visionary ecofiction - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3.... Looking forward to connecting further.
p.s. Lorin: Tuvalu!!! My favorite country on earth.
You're kidding? Been there? I'd like to see Viatupu before it goes under! In truth, Tuvalu is #8 on the list of most endangered countries. What a world we've made--or unmade!Lorin
Maia--Just to follow up briefly. May I have your personal e-mail address? I'd like to get in touch with a suggestion about how author members of the group might be of help to each other. But I'd like to make the initial suggestion "off line."
Thanks,
Lorin
Sure Lorin - I only started this thread just so you know, not the whole group! mkg@maiakumarigilman.com :-)
P.S. Tuvalu is on my dream list, Lorin. I used to collect stamps as a kid...then became a Geographer...then an Architect...so you see, I have spent a lot of time daydreaming. :-)
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Help! I just found out need to get at least 10 favorable reviews on Goodreads in order to be listed on ecofiction.com's website. If you have enjoyed reading The Erenwine Agenda, please post a review, and if you have not read it, please do! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
p.s. Lorin and I were emailing about a way to help each other out, maybe this is the start of something.
Amazon also likes a book to have 10 reviews before it feels like offering it up on a random basis for things like books other people looked at, etc.What could be done is to compile a list of eco [fiction, factual fiction, non fiction, poetry] books with less than 10 reviews. People could look at the list and choose a book they would like to read, read it, and leave a review if they liked the book, or if they want to write a review. When a book gets 10 reviews it is taken off the list.
If you want to keep it simple, make it eco fiction, there is more of that needing reviews than anything else.
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Clare & Robert, what have you seen as the most successful strategies for reaching out to readers? Thanks!
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As a constant reviewer I also hope that what goes around comes around.
Clare, do you find it to be true, that reviewing gets reviews? Just curious.
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Anne wrote: " My latest novel, "Green Valley" is now available as an e-book. The preliminary price of $2.99 will not last long!"This week, the i-book version on i-Tunes finally joined the kindle version.
The Erenwine Agenda Maia Kumari Gilman Offering all my books for free this weekend folks! If you feel like reading a warm and fuzzy love story about fracking and an inspiring practical book about reiki, follow my name to the books. 🌹
Mod
Hi everyone! I'm getting back into the swing of reading after kids now back in school (as of today). I know some of you mentioned you had works up online and I have read and reviewed a few of them already. If I've missed yours, please leave me a note here or email me at mkg@maiakumarigilman.com with a link.
Really enjoying reading your good words. I am thinking of writing a blog post with all of my ecofiction reviews in one place, which would be great for amplifying your reach (I'm writing for Thrive Global now so if I can swing it so it has a wellness angle then they will very likely publish the blog post to their several-millons of followers).
Have also launched an anthology project as a fundraiser for hurricane relief (my oh my, I was premature when I lined it up with Hurricane Harvey... jeepers!). Not sure if I am allowed by group rules to post that link here so I will just say, follow my name on Facebook and link to ASEI Arts publishing and you will find the info on the anthology there if you're interested in participating. It is a no-fee/no-pay volunteer project with 100% of profits going to Habitat for Humanity in Texas.
And finally: paperback version of The Erenwine Agenda is available! Not sure if I've posted that here yet. I will be doing a book signing on September 15th in the evening in New Jersey so if you're local, drop by (it's also an art opening for my solo abstract art exhibit). You can email me for details about that if you're in the area.
Whew! I think I've caught you up. And Jan, we didn't stop in Weston MA this time... we went straight through to NH and Maine. Great times. Hope to catch up in person with some of you in time.
Be well. -Maia
Jan wrote: "Maia wrote: "Hi all - sorry have been remiss in keeping up with the conversation here - getting ready for prerelease day for my novel next week! I have a new cover and have been fiddling with it on..."Hi Jan, not sure how I missed this --- sorry to have not replied sooner! Sorry to hear about your mother... she feels to be with you. <3
I loved I Call Myself Earth Girl and even dreamed about it after reading it (good dreams! not haunting dreams). :-)
Best,
Maia
Mod
Hi,Reaching out to see if anyone would like to preview a free copy of "Feasible Planet", a non-fiction book that I am just wrapping up on living more sustainably. I have an editor going through it now, so not looking for help there, but would greatly appreciate any feedback on content (since my friends are far too polite) before I put it out for sale.
I can be reached here or through ken@feasibleplanet.com
Thanks!
Ken :)
From the backcover...
Are we doing enough?
Are you concerned about the state of our planet and hope that governments and corporations will find a sustainable way for us to live? If you do not think about it too hard, that may work, but will it? Left on their own, with drivers of popularity and profits, I am not too convinced that it will.
The missing part of this equation is you and me. Individuals who believe that corporations and governments can do better. Individuals who believe that through action, we can buy a bit more time to develop and implement solutions to our critical issues.
Did I hear a groan out there when you read the word ‘actions’? Do not worry! Most of the actions that I am referring to will not only help save the planet, but will benefit you right away through saving money, time, better health, and having a happier life in general.
Sustainability goes beyond controlling our consumption and pollution. There are key social, political, and economic areas that need to be addressed as well, and there are several steps that individuals can take to help in these areas.
For those of you who feel we could do more, this book is for you and is loaded with actionable activities, the reasons for doing them, and explores why we are not doing them already.
Every journey starts with a first step. Hopefully this book will lead to those first sustainable steps and that will change the world.
Happy to help - what is your deadline? Ken wrote: "Hi,
Reaching out to see if anyone would like to preview a free copy of "Feasible Planet", a non-fiction book that I am just wrapping up on living more sustainably. I have an editor going through i..."
Hi Maia,I am an Indie author with an evil day job, so I have given up on deadlines quite a while ago. I would like to get the book out in the next few months, but if it needs more soak time, so be it.
Any feedback is a gift. If you are interested, please let me know the format you would like (paperback or electronic) and I will get it to you right away !
Ken :)
Ken wrote: "Hi Maia,I am an Indie author with an evil day job, so I have given up on deadlines quite a while ago. I would like to get the book out in the next few months, but if it needs more soak time, so b..."
Hi Ken,
If you'd like more feedback on your book, I'd be happy to be of assistance.
Ken wrote: "Hi,Reaching out to see if anyone would like to preview a free copy of "Feasible Planet", a non-fiction book that I am just wrapping up on living more sustainably. I have an editor going through i..."
I am interested in taking a look at your book (epub or kindle version). I too am an indie author and my latest novel is about sustainability.
Good luck in finding readers!
Green Group
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What bothers me is that there are five parts to the mass consumption cycle.
1) Producing the energy to collect the material, transform the material, distribute the goods, use the goods, get rid of the goods. This is a microcosm of the entire process.
2) The the collection of the raw materials.
3) The manufacturing process, the transformation of the raw materials into finished goods, which ranges from raw chemicals to things we use.
4) Using the mass produced goods
5) Getting rid of the goods once they are spent, which can take many years to accomplish even after they have actually been thrown away or discarded.
I can't find good data about the power production pollution vs the manufacturing pollution but I think the overall manufacturing fallout is much bigger than the greenhouse gasses and smog type pollution from energy generation.
Cleaning up energy production is a place to start but it also might be just a sacrificial goat put out by the manufacturing industry. For example, the power industry is blameless for all the plastic that has been deposited in the oceans.