I’ve been in the climate-tech industry for 15 years. It came to me to write such content because I couldn’t find anything worthwhile to read to my own kids. I wanted to write something that was intentionally positive, something our kids don’t hear enough of as it relates to climate change.
Aaron Arsenault – 10 May 2024
The Back Flap
Super Hurricanes. Raging wildfires. Boiling oceans. As global temperatures skyrocket, a two-degree rise becomes unavoidable. Is the next generation up to the challenge?
While people around the world argued, the experts acted.
At the Climate Action Taskforce, solving the climate crisis is about more than just predicting the next superstorm. It’s about safeguarding the future of humanity. For its Academy, their secret mission is even more desperate- to recruit future Elon’s- now. When the founder who started it all mysteriously disappears, it’s a race against time to develop the brightest young minds of the century -before it’s too late.
For eleven-year-old genius troublemaker Jax Wilkinson, fighting back against bullies has cost him big time. Having pulled his last prank, he’s given an impossible choice when the authorities get involved.
No screens, no contact with the outside world… and no second chances. Can Jax make the cut?
Joining forces with teammates Grace, August, and Kylie, Team 19 must learn to work together to hack it at the Academy- and to survive a catastrophe beyond their wildest fears.
About the book
What is the book about?
The first of a series, The Climate Diaries- The Academy is a 52,000-word/300-page middle-grade novel (ages 9-12 yrs.) that weaves a fact-based, compelling climate narrative with over 30 illustrations, the high jinks kids love, an element of mystery, and lots of adventure!
I set out to touch on the topic by framing the social, scientific, and existential discussion surrounding climate change in a way that kids could relate to, hoping it would calm their fears and leave them eager to learn more.
To elaborate, the world is hurdling past the two-degree warming target. Climatologist Powell Aitkins pioneers several climate-related theories and, with global support from the UN, creates the Climate Action Taskforce (CAT). Their mission is to accelerate the research and deployment of solutions needed to solve the climate crisis. He also creates an Academy to recruit “future Elons”- When he and his research mysteriously disappear, the need becomes even more urgent.
11-year-old Jax Wilkinson (protagonist) is a genius troublemaker. In the inciting incident, Jax pulls a prank that brings serious consequences and is given a difficult choice.
At the Academy, we meet his unlikely teammates, learn about their different backgrounds, and set up the main conflict between Jax and Grace. Teammates August and Kylie often have the unfortunate luck of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but as supporting characters, they add great depth and personality to the core cast. Each kid brings a unique dynamic to the group- differing traits and backgrounds make for enjoyable conflict and (I think!) keep the middle from sagging as they get to know each other.
As the tension increases, we also learn more about Powell’s disappearance, meet Charlie, the head counsellor, (key supporting character) and Chancellor Von Trunkle, Powell’s replacement, (an oppositional supporting character). We also meet a supervillain- I’ll leave it at that!
The book culminates in a flurry that lands the team in the middle of a climate disaster and life-threatening situation. Since I intend this to be a series, I left a nice juicy cliff hanger at the end of Book One, but not before tying up a few satisfying loose ends for young readers.
When did you start writing the book?
2019! It’s been a grind!
How long did it take you to write it?
5 years. From my first character sketch to published novel.
Where did you get the idea from?
I’ve been in the climate-tech industry for 15 years. It came to me to write such content because I couldn’t find anything worthwhile to read to my own kids. I wanted to write something that was intentionally positive, something our kids don’t hear enough of as it relates to climate change. When I looked at other books on the topic, there just so much doom and gloom out there. And dare I say it, we have enough wizard and fart books! I wanted to honour current reading trends, but I set out to do something better.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Lots! I found outlining was key. Even jotting a sentence or two in a matrix about the main point of each chapter, (expository content, conflict, plot advancement, character development, etc.) kept me grounded and gave me a track to run on when I was lost.
What came easily?
Creating the characters. They are borne of many experiences in my own life. Their traits are familiar. I’ve gotten so close to these kids I feel like they’re real!
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
The characters are fictitious, but inspired by my own traits and the traits of people I know, definitely.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
As a kid, (and adult!) I was and still am a fan of Roald Dahl books. There is one chapter in particular in the book I feel he would be proud of. The absurdity of the scenes he’d construct and Quentin Blakes fabulous illustrations made reading enjoyable as an ADD kid. I hope kids enjoy that part of my writing. Although there are a ton of teachable bits in the book, I really wanted to make it as entertaining as possible.
Do you have a target reader?
I think readers from 4th – 6th grade will get the most out of this book, (age 9-12 yrs). That said, I know some 8th graders who’ve read it and who say it was awesome too, so you never know!
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I write character sketches first and really get to know my principal cast. I give them a backstory that may or may not even be used in the book itself. Then, I take a look at the three act structure, the inciding incident, major obstacles, climax, falling action and conclusion and sketch those out. Then I write an outline to meter out the salient points and attempt to string it all together like a bunch of pearls!
Then, I start writing!
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
Absolutely. I think it’s crucial – failing to outline can be a disaster. There is nothing worse than writing for 6 months and finding yourself in a corner plot-wise. The outline may take a up to month or two, but its worth it!
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
When I’m done writing a chapter, usually I’ll go back and read it right away. Likely when I sit down the next day, I’ll read what I wrote the day before after a night’s sleep. If there is anything glaring I’ll change it or add it, but really I’m just looking for cohesion of the story from one chapter to the next. Did I capture all the salient bits? The conflict? The backstory, development etc. Is there a hook to the next chapter that would make a kid want to keep reading? Stuff like that…
Did you hire a professional editor?
I did! It was an experience! Best advice there is do your homework. I did most of the structural /content edits myself and had someone just more or less do a copy edit- she looked at spelling, grammar, sentence structure, etc. and gave me a hard time for all my italics, bolded type, interrobangs and excessive dialogue tagging. I heeded the advice and it was well worth it as the end product now has a more polished feel.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
No, I prefer total silence, or maybe the white noise of a crowd maybe at a café sometimes… Music, animals, spouses and screaming kids are muse killers for me as a writer! I generally need to hermit when I write.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I studied it, but in the end, I chose not to. I wanted creative control on this first novel and to go at my own pace, so I went indie.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
It was somewhat gradual. I consulted several traditionally published and indie authors and in the end made up my own mind. The thought of taking a year to find an agent another to move to the top of the slush pile and yet another to edit and go to market just wasn’t going to happen. I wasn’t going to take eight years to put out a book that was on trend with a compelling narrative. So in the end I opted to hire a traditional publisher who also helps authors self-publish. I did hire some freelance resources too for the edits and illustrations. The publisher did the final design. While I am happy with the end product, I discovered that under their model my pricing would have been way out of whack with what the market could bear. It was a bit of an upsetting turn of events, but in the end, I took my print ready work and started my own imprint and haven’t looked back. For the next one, I will likely go freelance 100% and run the project myself. While I agree, a professional-looking product is super important, it’s really not rocket science! It just takes some curiosity and stick-to-itiveness!
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I had an illustrator do the art and a professional cover designer pull it all together.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I have a very detailed marketing plan for the book. I’ve hired a publicist and we’re going for the gusto. In addition, (since the book is middle-grade) I will be marketing directly to schools and librarians. I even have my first school visit booked on launch day! Whether indie or traditional, we all need to be marketers. That’s why I decided to go indie, at least for this first one.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Decide who you’re writing for. How much you want to invest. And then reevaluate that decision! Some genres/tropes are great for direct to Amazon and can be written and produced with little fan-fare. I chose a pretty expensive route in Middle-grade fiction. I also chose to have illustrations in my book, which drove up the costs even more. If you write to an e-reader crowd great design and covers become less important. Writing for kids however that like to hold physical books (God love ‘em!) is an entirely different animal! The work product must be spot on. Even more so with picture books.
I think you may as well go indie first- the market has changed so much that expending all that time and effort to go traditional just isn’t worth it for a first timer. I think getting a great product out there, some strong sales and a bit of momentum these days might be the way to go…. That can only open more doors with agents and publishers, (at least I hope it will!)
About You
Where did you grow up?
North of Toronto Ontario in a small town on a lake. I was the last generation to grow up pre-internet. It was fun.
Where do you live now?
I live in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, about 30 min west of Toronto.
What would you like readers to know about you?
That writing is a grind! But I’m so glad I did it. I can honestly say I am proud of what I’ve put out there.
What are you working on now?
Launching this book to the best of my ability for another month or two, but then if all goes well, book number two of this series!
End of Interview:
Get your copy of The Academy from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
