As world leaders meet to tackle climate change at COP 27, writer, zoologist and presenter Nicola Davies talks here about the inspiration behind her double Carnegie nominated The Song that Sings Us – the story of a world like ours, but where the rules of nature have never been completely forgotten, and the peril of exploiting fossil fuels was recognised from the start…
My favourite object in the British Museum is an anorak. It’s beautifully constructed, light as a leaf and completely transparent. It isn’t a high-tech modern garment but a traditional Inuit parka, made for summer hunting, from a kayak. The material it’s made from is the epithelial lining of a seal’s gut, sewn together with sinew, that swells when wet, to make the seams watertight. I love it not just because of the ingenuity in use of materials and the excellence of its design, but because it symbolises a deep knowledge of, and connection with, the natural world.
All over the planet, indigenous cultures embody both the inventiveness of the human mind and the lessons learned from Nature, the most uncompromising teacher. For people living, like Inuit, in direct contact with their environments, respect for natural resources was the rule and the consequences of breaking it were starvation, disease and death. The rewards were not only survival but a sense of belonging, purpose and deep meaning. Concepts that we see as new in the modern age – recycling, reusing, repairing, sustainability – were hard wired into belief systems and cultural practices.
What has allowed us to break the rules for so long was the discovery of fossil fuels. We could step out of the day-to-day current account of the carbon cycle and plunder 60 million years of stored photosynthesis in the form of coal, oil and gas.
And that, of course, is what’s got us into the potentially civilisation-ending crisis that we’re in.
But just supposing we had never completely forgotten those lessons from nature. That we had either never found fossil fuels, or found them and realised what the dire consequences of exploiting them would be? That is the world that I imagined in creating The Song That Sings Us, a global human civilisation fuelled by renewable energy and still abiding by the rules that nature originally taught us.
Another strand to my fantasy world is one of the forces that has kept humankind within the bounds set by nature’s parameters, and that is the voice of other living things. In the world of my novel there are humans able to tune into animal thoughts. I didn’t want to create a Disney-esque situation where animals are just little avatars of humans. So, the voices of animals in the story are sometimes hard to interpret and true communication requires commitment on both sides.
If this sounds to you like a rather dull utopia, don’t worry, there are baddies! They are called the Automators. Their motivation is personal gain, money and power and they can see that by converting the world to dependence on fossil fuels, whose supply they control, they’ll get just what they want. The way they sell this to the general population is by promising to end the ‘tyranny of nature’ and when that doesn’t work, they resort to the time-honoured methods of violence and oppression.
At the heart of the story are three children, the offspring of a rebel leader who has opposed the Automators’ rise. There are animal characters too who give readers a perspective on the world that they may not have had before. From the first moment the protagonists are thrown into a maelstrom. There are chases and disasters, separations and surprising alliances, love stories and fights. I wanted to give my readers a really exciting ride with lots of emotional engagement and thrills, but I also wanted to make them feel, that in our world, all is not lost. The Automator forces in the real world are very powerful and they would like us to despair, to assume that the fight is lost before it’s begun. Despair suits them very well. It will allow them to hold onto the reins of power even as they drive us all over the precipice of environmental disaster. They portray the changes that are needed as impossible, they focus on all we will lose in a greener, sustainable world. They never speak about what we will gain, a better life for more of earth’s inhabitants: a future that we can look forward to instead of dread; hope and renewal instead of an apocalypse that even the very rich will struggle to survive.
I wanted my readers to feel that change is possible, and that change can happen very fast if everyone works together. And the first change that is required is simple, but huge: to know what the Inuit knew which is that we are all one kin, all life, interdependent, one great family. From that profound realisation all other things flow.
– Nicola Davies
The Song that Sings Us has been nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nicola Davies) and the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration (Jackie Morris). Get your copy here. Learn more about the Yoto Carnegies here.
Welsh independent publisher Firefly Press has received a bumper FOUR nominations for the 2023 Yoto Carnegies.
The Blue Book of Nebo by Manon Steffan Ros, and The Red Gloves and Other Stories by Catherine Fisher are both nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing. And The Song that Sings Us written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Jackie Morris is double nominated for both Yoto Carnegie Medals for Writing and Illustration respectively.
Firefly Press Publisher Penny Thomas says: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to have four Carnegie nominations this year; this is a huge achievement for our small, quality children’s fiction list and we’d like to congratulate all the authors and the illustrator on their wonderful work!
‘These nominations are also a testament to the creative power in Welsh children’s fiction at present; these writers and illustrators are all based in Wales, and all nominated titles are immersed in Welsh landscape and culture, with strong environmental themes.’
The Song that Sings Us written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal winning artist Jackie Morris is a stunningly beautiful environmental epic adventure, featuring an alternative world threatened by a terrible weapon called ‘the greenhouse’. It was described by The Guardian as ‘Storytelling on the most poetic scale – strange, bloody, grand and unforgettable.’
Nicola Davies says: ‘I put my heart and soul into The Song That Sings Us and I’m so happy that this wonderful nomination demonstrates readers understand this story and the message it carries, that all life is one kin, one song.’
Jackie Morris adds: ‘This is the first time Nicola and I have worked together, and I am so proud that the illustrations I have done for this lyrical tale of adventure have been recognised with a nomination.’ Jackie will also be illustrating the second book to be set in the world of The Song that Sings Us – Skrimsli! due out in autumn 2023.
Manon Steffan Ros’ translated YA novel The Blue Book of Nebo, adapted by the author from her award-winning Welsh novel Llyfr Glas Nebo, is an deeply moving post-apocalyptic story of a mother and son’s survival and relationship after a nuclear fallout, set in north Wales. Described as ‘a gentle, yet powerful read about how we live and what we pay attention to’ by the Irish Times.
Manon says: ‘I’m absolutely honoured to be nominated. The Carnegie especially means a great deal to me as I can remember seeing the word on the cover of some of my favourite books when I was younger and learning to recognise it as a sign of a great read!’
The short story collection The Red Gloves and Other Stories by Catherine Fisher, illustrated by Anne Glenn, contains nine haunting, magical stories based on Welsh and English myths. It was described by Booktrust as, ‘A masterful mix of truth and the supernatural that will leave readers feeling discomfited and looking over their shoulders for whatever it is they can’t quite see, long after they’ve finished reading.’
Catherine Fisher says: ‘I am delighted and honoured that The Red Gloves and Other Stories has been nominated for this year’s Carnegie Medal, along with so many other wonderful books. I hope it means more people will read and enjoy these stories!’
Magazine editor and bookseller Lucy Mohan is to join Welsh indie Firefly Press in a new role as editorial assistant, with a remit to identify and work with new and diverse audiences.
The appointment marks a continued expansion to the Firefly editorial team following the appointment of senior editor Rebecca F. John last month, and increased hours for staff across the company.
The part-time role is funded by the Books Council of Wales and represents a significant opportunity for the children’s press which celebrates its tenth anniversary next year, said Publisher Penny Thomas.
‘Lucy clearly has a real love of children’s and YA books, and experience working with young people in creative writing,’ said Thomas. ‘With a small, busy team at Firefly her appointment will give us bandwidth to look at who we are publishing for and ensuring we are doing everything we can to reach new readers, particularly from underrepresented communities in Wales and across the UK. We’re really grateful to the Books Council of Wales for funding this innovative role.’
Lucy Mohan says: ‘I’ve been a fan of Firefly for a long time and I’m absolutely honoured and thrilled to be joining the team. Children’s and YA books are a huge passion of mine and so I cannot wait to help bring new books to life and share them with readers.’
The Books Council of Wales says: ‘We are very pleased to be able to fund this opportunity that continues the work of ensuring diversity, inclusion, and equity in the publishing landscape of Wales.’
Mae addasiad Cymraeg o nofel gyntaf gyffrous Lee Newbery, The Last Firefox (Y Llwynog Tân Olaf), yn arwain pedwarawd o deitlau a gyhoeddir yr hydref hwn mewn menter newydd gan y cyhoeddwyr annibynnol Cymreig arobryn Firefly Press. Mae’r teitlau yn cynnwys addasiadau o The Clockwork Crow (Y Frân Glocwaith) gan Fardd Llawryfog Pobl Ifanc Cyntaf Cymru Catherine Fisher a’r teitlau ffeithiol Fantastic Football (Pêl-Droed Penigamp) a Rampaging Rugby (Rygbi Rhempus) gan Robin Bennett.
Meddai’r cyhoeddwr Penny Thomas:
“Wedi deg mlynedd o gyflwyno darllenwyr ifanc i ffuglen o safon yn Saesneg rydym bellach ar daith gyffrous i ychwanegu llyfrau Cymraeg i’n catalog gyda’r teitlau bendigedig hyn. Ni allem ofyn am well straeon i ddechrau ‘na ‘Y Llwynog Tân Olaf a Y Frân Glocwaith, ynghyd a hiwmor gwallgof Rygbi Rhempus a Pêl-Droed Penigamp. Rydyn ni’n falch iawn bod Lee Newbery am ymuno â’n rhestr o awduron ar gyfer ei deitl Cymraeg cyntaf ac yn edrych ymlaen yn fawr at gyhoeddi pedwar llyfr gwych Cymraeg yr hydref hwn!’
“Hoffem ddiolch o galon i’r addasyddion, y dylunwyr a phawb yn y Cyngor Llyfrau a roddodd gefnogaeth wych i’r teitlau hyn.”
Mae Y Llwynog Tân Olaf yn antur ffantasi hudolus o sut mae bachgen yn canfod cryfder mewnol trwy helpu creadur hudol. Mae ‘na ddigonedd o deimlad a hiwmor yn y stori gyntaf hwyliog hon gan Lee Newbery, wedi’i darlunio gan Laura Catalán. Mae wedi’i hanelu at ddarllenwyr ifanc naw oed a hŷn.
Rhyddhawyd y fersiwn Saesneg gan Puffin Books yn gynharach eleni i ganmoliaeth uchel a daeth yn Llyfr y Mis Waterstones. Mae’r fersiwn Gymraeg wedi’i chyfieithu gan Siân Northey, sy’n cyfleu harddwch y stori dwymgalon hon. Mae’r stori yn dathlu amrywiaeth dynol ac wedi’i hysbrydoli gan brofiad yr awdur o fynd drwy’r broses fabwysiadu gyda’i ŵr.
Dywedodd Lee Newbery: ‘Fel siaradwr Cymraeg, mae hi wastad wedi bod yn uchelgais gennyf i gael un o fy llyfrau ar gael yn y Gymraeg. Rydw i wrth fy modd bod The Last Firefox wedi dod o hyd i gartref yn Firefly ac wedi dod o hyd i gyfieithydd gwych yn Siân Northey. Fedra’ i ddim aros i weld Y Llwynog Tân Olaf mewn siopau llyfrau, ysgolion a llyfrgelloedd ar draws Cymru ac ar gael yn y ddwy iaith.”
Lee Newbery
Enillodd The Clockwork Crow, gan yr awdur ffuglen a bardd enwog Catherine Fisher, Wobr Tir na n’og a chyrhaeddodd restr fer Gwobr Llyfr Blue Peter. Wedi’i gosod yng nghanolbarth Cymru Fictoraidd llawn eira, mae’n dilyn stori’r plentyn amddifad Seren a’i hanturiaethau hudolus gydag adar sy’n siarad. Nid yw yn siwr os yw’r adar yn dweud y gwir neu beidio. Addaswyd y fersiwn Cymraeg, Y Frân Glocwaith, gan Mared Llwyd.
Fantastic Football (Awst 2022) a Rampaging Rugby (Awst 2021) oedd y ddau gyntaf yng nghyfres Stupendous Sports Firefly gan yr awdur plant a’r entrepreneur Robin Bennett. Mae’r llyfrau hyn yn llawn ffeithiau diddorol, cwestiynau cwis, rheolau a thactegau am y chwaraeon poblogaidd. Maen nhw’n cael eu haddasu gan Elinor Wyn Reynolds (Pêl -droed) a Ion Thomas(Rygbi). Dyma anrhegion perffaith i ddiddanu’r teulu adeg gemau pwysig Rygbi a Phêl-droed sy’n cael eu cynnal yr hydref hwn.
Manon Steffan Ros
Dywed yr awdur a chefnogwr pêl-droed Manon Steffan Ros yn ei chyflwyniad i Pêl-Droed Penigamp:
“Mae’r llyfr hwn yn cynnwys llwyth o ffeithiau difyr am bêl-droed nad oeddwn i’n gwybod amdanyn nhw o gwbl—a dwi yn ddipyn o nyrd pêl-droed! Bydd darllen y gyfrol hon yn gwneud ichi swnio’n gallach na chyflwynwyr Sgorio a Match of the Day. Felly mwynhewch y darllen – a gadewch i ni i gyd weiddi C’MON CYMRU!!
Bydd y pedwar teitl ar gael mewn siopau llyfrau, llyfrgelloedd ac i’w harchebu ar-lein o 27 Hydref 2022 drwy https://fireflypress.co.uk
A Welsh language adaptation of Lee Newbery’s blazing debut novel, The Last Firefox (Y Llwynog Tân Olaf), leads a quartet of titles published this Autumn in a major new move by award-winning Welsh independent publishers Firefly Press. The others are adaptations of Firefly titles The Clockwork Crow (Y Frân Glocwaith) by former Wales Young People’s Laureate Catherine Fisher and non-fiction titles Fantastic Football(Pêl-Droed Penigamp) and Rampaging Rugby (Rygbi Rhempus) by Robin Bennett.
Publisher Penny Thomas said: ‘Following ten years of introducing young readers to quality fiction in English we are now at an exciting stage in our journey in adding Welsh language books to our catalogue with some wonderful titles. We couldn’t ask for better stories to start with than Y Llwynog Tân Olaf and Y Frân Glocwaith, and the crazy humour of Rygbi Rhempus and Pêl-Droed Penigamp. We’re delighted that Lee Newbery is to join our list of authors for the Welsh language edition of his debut title and very much looking forward to publishing four great books in Welsh this autumn!’
‘We’d like to say a big thank you to the adaptors, designers and everyone at the Books Council of Wales who gave wonderful support to these titles.’
Y Llwynog Tân Olaf is anenchanting fantasy adventure of how a boy finds inner strength by helping a magical creature. Heart and humour abound in this fun, fast-paced debut tale by Lee Newbery, illustrated by Laura Catalán, aimed at young readers age nine and upwards. The English version was released by Puffin Books earlier this year to critical acclaim and was a Waterstones children’s book of the month. The Welsh language version has been translated by Sian Northey, capturing the beauty of this heart-warming tale which celebrates diversity and draws inspiration from Newbery’s own experience of going through the adoption process with his husband.
Lee Newbery commented: ‘As a Welsh speaker, it has always been one of my goals to have one of my books available in Welsh, so I’m thrilled that The Last Firefox has found a home at Firefly and found a great translator in Sian Northey. I can’t wait to see Y Llwynog Tân Olaf in bookshops, schools and libraries across the country and be available in both languages.’
Lee Newbery
The Clockwork Crow by renowned children’s fiction writer and poet Catherine Fisher, won the Tir na n’og Award and was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award. Set in a snowy Victorian mid Wales, it follows the story of orphan Seren and her magical adventures with a talking crow who may or may not be telling the truth. The Welsh adaptation, Y Frân Glocwaith, is by Mared Llwyd.
Fantastic Football (August 2022) and Rampaging Rugby (August 2021) were the first two in Firefly’s Stupendous Sports series by children’s writer and entrepreneur Robin Bennett. These books are packed with interesting facts, quiz questions, rules and tactics about both sports for young fans and players. They are being adapted by Elinor Wyn Reynolds and Ion Thomas respectively and will provide perfect gifts to entertain alongside the major Rugby and Football tournaments taking place this Autumn.
Manon Steffan Ros
Award winning writer and footie fan Manon Steffan Ros says in her introduction to Pêl-Droed Penigamp : ‘This book contains loads of fun facts about football that I didn’t know about at all — and I’m a football nut! Reading this book will make you sound smarter than the presenters of Sgorio and Match of the Day. So enjoy the read — and let’s all shout C’MON CYMRU!!’
All four titles will be available in bookshops, libraries and to order online from 27 October 2022 via https://fireflypress.co.uk
