VIRCH, the New YA Sci-Fi Novel from Laura Resau

Interview with Laura About Virch

Available for pre-order here (June 4, 2024 release)!

You’ve written ten books so far, and none of them have been in the sci-fi genre. What inspired you to write your first sci-fi book?

Sci-fi and speculative fiction are my first loves, as far as genre. Books like A Wrinkle in Time sparked my dream to become a writer from the time I was a kid. This might be surprising to readers of the books I’ve written so far, which mostly fall into the category of “contemporary” and “realistic” with touches of magic. My dad’s a scientist, so science has always been fundamental to my perspective on the world. I’ve always loved it when scientific discoveries and mysteries and theories spark my imagination.

Many years ago, I read a philosophy article by Nick Bostrom called “Are We Living in a Computer Simulation?” It blew my mind—I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I started jotting down story ideas in my notebooks, made a file folder for the potential novel, and touched base with it every now and then to keep fleshing out ideas. About a decade ago, I committed to actually writing and finishing it, then revising it with my writing group, family, friends, agent, and editors. Since I was juggling other projects, it was a long road, but I enjoyed the ride and I’m thrilled with how the book manifested.

What was most rewarding and most challenging about writing your first sci-fi novel?

I loved writing a book that asks the huge, timeless, existential questions about reality that philosophers have been examining for millennia. These are the kinds of questions that have fascinated me since I was a child. It felt exciting to use a framework of ancient wisdom for a futuristic sci-fi story that lets the characters explore these timeless themes. It was also fun to write a book that mostly takes place in just a few days, allowing a really breakneck pace. This story has a big twist in it that completely thrills me, and I love seeing readers’ reactions to the revelation—it bends their minds and makes them see existence in a whole new way.

As far as challenges, in early drafts, I wasn’t sure how much time and space to devote to world-building. For example, I was uncertain about how much detail I should go into with new technology or how much futuristic slang to include. Some of my sci-fi expert friends like Todd Mitchell and Parker Peevyhouse gave me great advice on how to navigate these issues.

I also had trouble keeping the length down. In earlier drafts, I lingered in scenes to develop character, setting, and themes, but the pace suffered. I realized that to pull off the thriller elements, I really needed to keep things moving along swiftly and let the plot take the lead. There are still meaningful character transformations, relationships, themes, and settings, but there’s a strong momentum now, and it’s much more of a page-turner.

What are some of your favorite sci-fi books?

As far as books for kids and teens, as I mentioned, A Wrinkle in Time was a favorite of mine (and of many kids/YA authors of my generation!) It really expanded my concept of existence and time and space and possibility, which is what I hope Virch will do with readers.

The Girl with the Silver Eyes was another novel that I read over and over as a kid. It’s about a girl who has mental telepathy (with a scientific explanation). For me, as a scientist’s daughter, this meeting of science and special powers made a big impression. William Sleator’s House of Stairs was another novel that affected me in an existential way. It’s a thought-provoking story about a group of teens who find themselves in a structure of endless stairs that they’re trying to escape. I also enjoy exciting, futuristic sci-fi books by contemporary YA authors like Veronica Rossi and Amy Kathleen Ryan. Parker Peevyhouse is fantastic at writing mind-bendy books that really make you think. M.T. Anderson’s classic, Feed, makes you ask ethical and social questions about where our technology is leading us.

As far as books for adult readers, I’m a big fan of Blake Crouch’s mind-trippy Dark Matter and Recursion. I love sci-fi novels inspired by phenomena in physics, neuroscience, computer science, and the like—while still having well-developed characters and relationships. And I’ve always gravitated toward non-fiction about theoretical physics, from classics by Steven Hawking to more accessible, contemporary books by Michio Kaku. I stumbled across The Simulation Hypothesis by Rizwan Virk after I’d finished my manuscript— it’s a great non-fiction read for anyone who wants to further explore these mind-bending possibilities.

Can you tell us more about Virch?

My aim was to offer mind-bending, fast-paced YA sci-fi with heart. Here’s a short summary:

In the year 2154, virtual reality is an enticing escape… but just for the privileged. For others, like sixteen-year-old Liv, reality means living by a contaminated bay that’s sickened her little sister to the brink of death.

Liv is determined to find a cure. She ventures to a mysterious tropical island to infiltrate a tech empire owned by the world’s most powerful man. When she encounters his son, Wolf, she’s shocked. He isn’t the shallow celebrity portrayed in the virtual world—he’s an idealist with heart, committed to righting his father’s wrongs. And when Wolf promises to help save her sister, he might just capture Liv’s heart, too.

But as Liv and Wolf confront a danger beyond anything they could have imagined, they must unravel the deadly scheme at the core of the tech empire. And their world starts to crumble . . . just as they’re falling in love.

Rooted in futuristic science and ancient wisdom, Virch explores truth and illusion, human and environmental rights, and the forces of love behind it all.

Virch will be released on June 4, 2024, with Owl Hollow Press, and available through your favorite bookseller. I hope you love it!

xo,

Laura

Picture Book Collaboration with Paty Gualinga! Colaboración de un Libro Ilustrado con Paty Gualinga!

[Hay una version en español en el fondo de esta pagina!]

I’m over the moon to finally announce this new book deal that’s been in the works for a while! The picture book is entitled Stand as Tall as the Trees: How an Amazonian Community Protected the Rain Forest. It will be published in Summer 2023 with Charlesbridge Publishing…. an English version and a Spanish one! It’s co-written with the inspiring Indigenous rights leader, Patricia Gualinga, of the Kichwa community of Sarayaku in the Ecuadorian Amazon. It will be illustrated by the fabulous Ecuadorian artist, Vanessa Jaramillo. We’re thrilled to be working with brilliant editor, Karen Boss and the entire Charlesbridge team.

Here’s some background on how this came to be! When I was researching my novel Tree of Dreams (Scholastic), I spent time in the Ecuadorian Amazon with an Indigenous Huaorani (Waorani) community. I had fascinating conversations with several people there about book projects they were interested in doing. We agreed that I’d come back to their community in a year or two, prepared to help them bring their creative ideas to fruition.

Sadly, about a year after I left, an oil company started doing seismic oil exploration on their land… this involves planting dynamite around their forest home. Their land became a danger zone, and they had to shut down their ecolodge. Since they’re off-grid, I haven’t been able to communicate with them directly. I felt heart-broken and upset and worried about them. I followed the Huaoranis’ struggle to defend their land from oil companies, and learned about other Amazonian Indigenous groups facing these issues. I kept my eyes open for opportunities to support and collaborate, to help get the message out.

With my guide, Pegonka, in his Huaorani community in the Ecuadorian Amazon

During that time, I kept seeing articles about Patricia Gualinga, an Indigenous leader from the Amazon, who was facing death threats and attacks for her work. Her Kichwa community of Sarayaku successfully defended their sacred rain forest from an oil company that invaded their land with no prior consultation. Their case became famous, and led the way for Paty and her family and neighbors to broaden and strengthen Indigenous movements to protect land and culture in the Amazon. Paty has since traveled all over the world, connecting with other Indigenous leaders and joining forces to promote ancestral land rights.

As I read about her, I was particularly fascinated by how she combines spirituality with science in her conservation and human rights work. I took a leap and reached out to see if Paty was interested in collaborating with me to tell the story of her community’s victory. I felt deeply grateful and completely elated when she said yes! It’s been a huge honor to work with Paty on this project.

Image from Amazon Watch, a non-profit organization that supports indigenous people in defending their land and culture

When we spoke via Skype, Paty told me about her childhood growing up in the rain forest. She talked about the plants, animals, and mystical beings within the forest… and how her experiences as a young person informed her future activist work. Even in that first conversation, her story came alive, and I could vividly imagine what a gorgeous and powerful illustrated book it would make.

I think it will fill a big gap in children’s literature. As far as I know, it will be the first picture book about environmental activism in the Amazon… and the first memoir picture book by an Indigenous Amazonian leader. It’s so important to bring these issues into kids’ consciousnesses at a young age. This issue of standing up to destructive practices in the Amazon has an effect not only on the rain forest and the cultures within it, but the entire world. The Amazon is the lungs of the earth… when the rain forest is healthy and thriving, it protects us all from climate change.

Vanessa Jaramillo’s beautiful notebooks from her and her husband’s company Honrarte. This gives you a sense of her gorgeous style of art.

Paty suggested her illustrator friend, Vanessa Jaramillo, to do the art. We all fell in love with her gorgeous illustrations that show cultural sensitivity and authenticity. Vanessa’s husband, Santiago Utitiaj, is from Shuar Indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and they are both active in educational, environmental, and artistic endeavors there. (Together, they own an company called Honrarte, which makes beautifully designed notebooks— you can see more of her artwork there). Paty and the Charlesbridge team and I are thrilled with Vanessa’s artwork, and love how she’s bringing the story to life!

Vanessa Jaramillo, la ilustradora del libro

Thanks for taking the time to read this post and share in our excitement! Paty and I can’t wait for you to read this book with the kids in your life!

If you’d like to read more about Paty’s work:

Huff Post Essay by Paty

Amazon Watch article on Paty

Monga Bay article on death threats Paty faced

Wikipedia entry on Paty

If you’d like to connect with Paty:

Facebook

Instagram

xo,

Laura (Spanish version below! Version en español abajo!)

¡Estoy muy feliz para anunciar este nuevo contrato de libro que ha estado en proceso por este año pasado!

El libro ilustrado se titula tentativamente CON LA CABEZA EN ALTO: cómo una comunidad amazónica protegió la selva. Será publicado en el verano del 2023 con Charlesbridge Publishing ... ¡Una versión en inglés y una en español! Está coescrito con la inspiradora líder de derechos indígenas, Patricia Gualinga, de la comunidad Kichwa de Sarayaku en la Amazonía ecuatoriana. Sera ilustrado por la maravillosa Vanessa Jaramillo, una artista ecuatoriana. Estamos encantadas de trabajar con la brillante editora, Karen Boss y todo el equipo de Charlesbridge.

¡Aquí hay algunos antecedentes sobre cómo surgió esto! Cuando yo estaba investigando mi novela TREE OF DREAMS (Scholastic), pasé un tiempo en la Amazonía ecuatoriana con una comunidad indígena Huaorani (Waorani). Tuve conversaciones fascinantes con varias personas sobre proyectos de libros que les interesaba hacer. Acordamos que yo regresaría a su comunidad en un año o dos, preparada para ayudarlos a realizar sus ideas creativas.

Tristamente, más o menos un año después de que me fui, una compañía petrolera empezó a hacer una exploración sísmica de petróleo en sus tierras ... esto implica plantar dinamita alrededor de su hogar forestal. Su tierra se convirtió en una zona peligrosa, y tuvieron que cerrar su ecolodge. Como están fuera de la red, no he podido comunicarme con ellos directamente. Me sentía muy triste y preocupada por ellos. Seguí la lucha de los Huaoranis para defender su tierra de las compañías petroleras, y aprendí más de los otros grupos indígenas amazónicos que enfrentan estos problemas. Mantuve mis ojos abiertos para oportunidades de apoyo y colaboración, para ayudar a difundir el mensaje.

Durante ese tiempo, empezé a ver artículos sobre Patricia Gualinga, una líder indígena de la Amazonía, que enfrentaba amenazas de muerte y ataques por su trabajo. Su pueblo Kichwa de Sarayaku defendió con éxito su selva sagrada de una compañía petrolera que invadió sus tierras sin consulta previa. Su caso se hizo famoso y abrió el camino para que Paty y su familia y vecinos ampliaran y fortalecieran los movimientos indígenas para proteger la tierra y la cultura en la Amazonía. Desde entonces, Paty ha viajado por todo el mundo, conectándose con otros líderes indígenas y uniendo fuerzas para promover los derechos ancestrales de la tierra.

Mientras leía sobre ella, me fascinó cómo ella combina la espiritualidad con la ciencia en su trabajo de conservación y derechos humanos. Di un salto y extendí la mano para ver si Paty estaba interesada en colaborar conmigo para contar su historia de la victoria de su comunidad. ¡Me sentí profundamente agradecida y completamente eufórica cuando dijo que sí! Para mi, ha sido un gran honor de trabajar con Paty en este proyecto.

Cuando hablamos por Skype, Paty me contó sobre su infancia en la selva tropical. Ella habló sobre las plantas, los animales y los seres místicos dentro del bosque ... y cómo sus experiencias como joven informaron su futuro trabajo activista. En esa primera conversación, su historia me pareció muy vivida y viva, y pude imaginar qué hermoso y poderoso libro ilustrado sería.

Paty sugirió su amiga ilustradora, Vanessa Jaramillo, para hacer el arte. Todos nosotros, nos enamoramos de sus hermosas ilustraciones que muestran autenticidad cultural y sensibilidad. El esposo de Vanessa, Santiago Utitiaj, es de la comunidad indígena Shuar en la Amazonía ecuatoriana, y ambos participan activamente en actividades educativas, ambientales y artísticas alla. (Juntos, son dueños de una empresa llamada Honrarte, que fabrica cuadernos de hermoso diseño; puedes ver más de sus obras de arte allí). Paty, el equipo de Charlesbridge y yo estamos encantados con la obra de arte de Vanessa y nos encantamos como ella esta dando vida a la historia.

Creo que el libro llenará un gran vacío en la literatura infantil. Hasta donde sé, será el primer libro ilustrado sobre activismo en la Amazonía ... y el primer libro ilustrado de un líder indígena amazónica. Es muy importante llevar estos problemas a la conciencia de los niños a una edad temprana ... este problema de las prácticas destructivas en el Amazonas tiene un efecto no solo en la selva tropical y las culturas dentro de ella, sino en todo el mundo. La Amazonía es los pulmones de la Tierra ... cuando la selva tropical es saludable y próspera, protege contra el cambio climático.

¡Gracias por tomarte el tiempo de leer esta noticia y compartir nuestra emoción! ¡Paty y yo tenemos muchas ganas que leas este libro con los niños de tu vida!

Si deseas leer más sobre el trabajo de Paty:

 Huff Post Essay by Paty

Amazon Watch article on Paty

Monga Bay article on death threats Paty faced

Wikipedia entry on Paty

Si quieres conectarte con ella:

Facebook

Instagram

Abrazos!

Laura

Tree of Dreams Book Launch Party Recap!

Hello, dear readers!

A thousand thanks to everyone who came to my book launch party for Tree of Dreams! I had loads of fun, and I hope you did, too!

I’m grateful to Everyday Joe’s Coffee House in Old Town, Fort Collins, for hosting… their space is GORGEOUS and the staff is super-friendly and helpful!

My talented friends Gloria Garcia Diaz and Mary Dean sang my favorite song, Gracias a la Vida… it made my heart soar!

There was chocolate galore… and I was so proud of our guests who ate almost ALL the chocolate… you are kindred souls, my friends!

There was an all-ages self-directed chocolate-tasting station… I absolutely love orchestrating these chocolate-tastings… and I’ll be doing this at many of my upcoming book events in Colorado, Maryland, and California, too!

I had fun chatting with friends— new and old— and signing books (thanks, Old Firehouse Books for selling books there!)

I had slides of my Amazon rainforest research playing on a loop throughout the party, along with a rainforest soundtrack of birds and insects and raindrops… I also did a short presentation about my research in the Ecuadorian rain forest and chocolate farms, factories, and shops.

And of course, no book launch would be complete without some live heavy metal music… courtesy of my 12-year-old rock star son, Bran! ;-)

His dear librarian from Harris Bilingual Elementary School, Martha, started a mosh pit and I joined her in the head-banging…

I did giveaways in Spanish and English for my other books…. to enter, you had to write your name and favorite rain forest animal or plant… sloths are definitely getting popular these days! And there’s a bit about sloths in my book…. :-)

Thanks so much for swinging by! If you didn’t make it to the book party in Fort Collins, I hope to see you at one of my other events this spring! And I hope you love Tree of Dreams! Don’t forget to check out the chocolatey book club party guide and many other resources I’ve created for you!

xo,

Laura

Fun Book Club and Educator Guides for TREE OF DREAMS!

Hello, dear readers!

I’m so excited to share my new novel, Tree of Dreams, with you! I’ve been busy preparing some fun resources for book clubs, teachers, and librarians. In designing these materials, I drew on my background in teaching ESL, as well as the many writing workshops I do with students of all ages.

Kids and teens in deep contemplation, observing chocolate with all their senses, during the chocolate-tasting I led at the Colorado Book and Arts Festival.

I had a blast creating these guides and I hope you have a blast using them! Just click on the links in blue to get to a downloadable pdf file for the guides and jpg for the poster.

Grow Your Heart Poster — (see image above). Perfect for your classroom or library, this is a colorful poster encouraging reading, empathy, and connection. Easily downloadable, high-resolution, for up to an 18” by 24” poster.

I just took these pics of the guides on my computer screen to give you a sense of what they’re all about! They’re each several pages long, so be sure to follow the links for the full documents you can download. :-)

Chocolatey Book Club Party — Ideas on what to serve, how to decorate, what to wear, what to listen to, what to discuss, what to do for fun, and how to get free, signed bookmarks!

Literary Chocolate Tasting — Instructions for delicious, fun, literacy-focused activities you can do while eating chocolate!

Chocolate Tasting Handout — A printable place mat for chocolate samples, with a chart to record observations about the chocolate, as well as descriptive words to spark ideas.

Grow Your Heart Educator Resources — Common Core and STEM connections. Includes book summary, instructions on creating a Grow Your Heart community, pre-reading, discussion, writing, extension activities, and author bio.

Taking Action— This is a guide with ways to take action to protect our environment and help indigenous people in the Amazon rain forest defend their lands. Includes a meaningful writing activity for kids and teens.

If you do end up using any of these guides, please let me know how it went! I’d love to hear your feedback!

A STARRED review from Kirkus! This was the first review that came in, and I was over the moon!

Another lovely review! This one is from School Library Journal!

Thanks for swinging by! You can find more resources, including links to video clips, on the Tree of Dreams page of my website.

xo,

Laura