Storm Rises

When I wrote Iceberg, I had no thoughts of writing more books that would loosely fit an ‘elemental’ theme. But here we are – Storm is here. This book completes the four elements: water (Iceberg), earth (Tree), fire (Volcano) and air (Storm) explores just how a summer beach afternoon can transform into a thunderstorm, as if by magic. And it is magic – science magic.

If I was going to write about air and the things unseen that move it about, I had to understand it. I knew that ‘hot air rises’ but the mechanics of how foot-burning sand heat becomes a thunderstorm were hazy at best.

I looked at clouds from all sides (thanks Joni Mitchell for the ongoing earworm), their shapes, their elevation and more, but I needed more. I got closer, deep inside growing clouds, trying to understand how it all happened.

Each discovery led to more questions, as is always the case with research. I have to understand it well enough to be able to write it simply. And for me that takes time. I gather the knowledge, sit it on my shoulder and begin writing.

Of course this book is about more than just the mechanics of storm-building. It’s also about all the occupants of the beach and how they prepare for, endure, and then recover from the storm. I wanted to connect the storm with the effects it has.

So the beach becomes the stage, the animals the players, the approaching storm the inciting incident. The animals don’t voice their reaction to the storm, they act it. The storm would drown out their voices – if they used voices – so it’s up to the reader to observe what happens.

Animals know a storm is coming. They can read it in the changing wind, the changing waves, the changing temperature. And they prepare, moving to safety and shelter in their various ways.

And when the storm is spent, the animals assess the effects of the storm and resume their lives. Extraordinary.

Jess Racklyeft and I talked about this book with Samantha Forge our A&U publisher (as we have with every project since Iceberg) before I started researching and writing. Once submitted, accepted and edited by Nicola Santilli, it’s my turn to stand back and let Jess respond to my words. It’s a collaboration and the book belongs equally to us and to the largely unseen publishing team who shape my words and Jess’s art into the beautiful book that we offer readers.

Let the storm begin! (oh yes, there are endless puns available)

Click here to find Reviews of another of Claire’s Books – The Flower Garden