Not Alone

Product Information

As an ecologist, I was definitely inspired by the wild and in creating a lived-in world that has been altered by a toxic event. In my job I often have to imagine what might survive under future scenarios or after particular impacts, and am too aware of the threats of climate change, air pollution and microplastics – these elements all fed unnervingly easily into an imagined environmentally-caused apocalypse. And that frustration and fear of the slowness of progress too, yet hope and optimism that is both natural and needed in my job. The situation is scary as I could really see this happening to us, (although not AS crazy and bad), it hits close to home for sure. 😳 A stark depiction of how difficult it is for one person to raise a child alone, without support. With hauntingly beautiful descriptions of the natural world, this challenging novel is tough and memorable." I specialise in botany and habitats as an ecologist, so my love of plants, their uses, their ability or not to thrive or adapt, and all those experiences outdoors amongst trees and hedges and rivers definitely fed into Katie’s journey and the world she inhabits. It’s an altered, toxic world, but it is still beautiful.

Even the ending - I couldn't tell if it was a happy ending or not. Or whether it was intended to be a happy ending or not. I spent the whole book not understanding how it wanted me to feel. Yes, it’s a bleak story. And it’s harrowing and heartbreaking. But there’s also a sense of adventure to it, as well as love throughout it and hope at the end of it. Wanting to soften his understanding, Katie assures him, “You get to live every day, you only die once.” Not Alone is a sharp exploration of environmentalapocalypse—and a celebration of pure, boundless love that can survive anything. This triumphant debut finds hope in thedarkest places, and it made me want to be a better person.”

Alright,” I relent, finished, and work on myself, brushing, lathering and scrubbing my skin and hair aggressively in the bathtub, until Harry can bear it no longer and I step out so he can launch himself into the hug and I squeeze him tight. Dust and mould cake the walls of the stairwell, crumbs of mud and dead vegetation littering the stairs. Particles drift in the air, blinking in and out of the muted light. It was a huge benefit to be with other creative people on similar journeys on the course – to feel that connection and shared goal. It made me feel much more settled and determined in this big dream to write published books, and it made me be more open with other people in my life about my writing and become more disciplined and scheduled in my approach. I think the encouragement and support are also massive factors – it’s easy to underestimate how important it is to have a few people like what you’re doing and encourage you, especially when you’re developing confidence in your own writing. Harry (the son) calling everything "nasties" and freaking out about them, but not freaking out about the actually dangerous things

Not Alone kept me breathless with tension. An outstandingly credible and gripping adventure story, rooted in a deep understanding of both ecology and family.' - Emma Donoghue, bestselling author of Room Not Alonekept me breathless with tension. An outstandingly credible and gripping adventure story, rooted in a deep understanding of both ecology and family."

Outside their safe haven, Katie and Harry encounter a world that is forever changed. There are new threats to their safety here, fellow survivors who are determined to start a new population, to save the world they so desperately misunderstood. Katie is pushed to unimaginable lengths as she pushes ahead in search of a better life and as Harry's safety wavers in the balance. As they travel further north, leaving their once safe haven so far behind them, Katie knows how much harder it will be to return if things go wrong. A new discovery forces Katie into making the biggest decision of young Harry’s life; they need to go outside, to venture North in search of answers, and in hope of a better future. There are also moments where the narrative strays away from the literary toward the preachy. Far too late in the narrative we’re told, “They started to find plastic dust in rivers, soils and even the air—and also in the vast oceans, millions of pieces per square metre, all washed there like it was a great big watery garbage dump.” Sure, humanity did this to themselves, and maybe we should all change our ways before it’s too late. But in context it feels like a lecture rather than part of the story. I would have loved for us to have kept in touch as a group and still meet up. However, I do keep in touch with a few of them and we have shared chapters and news with each other and several are coming to my book launch on the 6 April, which I’m so happy about.