SELF-PUBLISHING UPDATE…
After becoming well and truly hacked-off with lots of agents not bothering to reply to my queries – which I still think is very rude and a crappy way of doing things – I dipped a toe into self publishing a couple of years ago, and I’m really enjoying it. Lots of authors who do this will tell you it’s all about “having more control”, about “taking charge” etc, and yes, those are good reasons, attractive and appealing reasons, but it’s about something else too: getting your stories Out There so people can read them, even just a handful of people, instead of having them sit there on your hard drive being read by absolutely no-one. I’ve now self-published ten titles, ranging from a book of poems inspired by Mars and our exploration of it to a biography of Felicette, the first (and only) cat to fly into space. Until recently these titles were only available as ebooks, but I’m starting to make them available as paperbacks too, and that’s proving popular. So, if any of these interest you, feel free to order one…! All available from Amazon.
Meet “THE KENDAL LIBRARY DRAGON”…
Back in the summer I wrote a short story to support a fairy tale-reading marathon being held by Kendal Community Theatre in Kendal Library. I didn’t have long to write it, but the children’s story about a dragon that lived in Kendal Library came together surprisingly quickly, and proved very popular on the day. Afterwards quite a few people asked me if I’d be writing any more stories about it. I hadn’t planned to, it was just meant to be a one off, but the seed was planted and soon I had an idea for a second story…
Long story cut short: I did write a second story, and both are now available in a single, self-published volume called “Tales of The Kendal Library Dragon” which is available from Amazon as both an ebook and a paperback! It’s suitable for readers of all ages.
The original short story – “The Kendal Library Dragon” – introduces the dragon, describing what brings it to Kendal Library to start its new life there. The second story – “Arcturus and the Book of Christmas Magic” – is longer, bolder and has a much bigger special effects budget! Set at Christmas, it is the story of how Arcturus’ curiosity and impatience bring festive chaos to Kendal, which is only ended when a rather famous jolly character intervenes to save the day…
Both stories are set in Kendal, and feature locations in and around the Auld Grey Town. In fact, if you read them, I’m pretty sure you’ll never see Kendal in the same way again…
“FELICETTE – The Space Cat” now published in paperback!
When I was writing “A Cat’s Guide to The Night Sky” I came across the story of Felicette, a French cat that was launched into space in 1963. Felicette’s trip was only a sub-orbital “hop”, lasting just a handful of minutes, but she survived the trip and returned safely to Earth – only to be killed by the scientists who had selected and trained her, so they could dissect her and study how her body had been affected by her trip into space. I was amazed and a little ashamed I didn’t know her story already. But I wasn’t alone in that. The story of the Russian dog Laika is very well known by “spacey” people, but Felicette’s been whitewashed from history, probably because of the shameful way she was treated. I decided to make people aware of her story and set on a kind of personal crusade, writing features about Felicette for magazines, giving public talks and presentations about her etc. I also decided to write a book about her, a properly detailed biography, and eventually I self-published that. But I really wanted to do something more to mark the 60th anniversary of her flight, and last October I finally – with a lot of help from Russell Holden in Ulverston – turned that ebook into a paperback, and that paperback is now available on Amazon.
It looks at the ways Felicette has been honoured since her 1963 mission – a bronze statue of her was recently unveiled in Germany – and looks ahead to how she might be honoured in the far future, by the men and women who travel to make their homes on the planets orbiting other stars. It also includes Felicette-inspired poetry, written by myself, and wonders when another cat will follow in Felicette’s paw prints, perhaps to a future space hotel or even to the planet Mars…
I should make it clear that my book is not a diluted, sugar-coated version of Felicette’s story. It is an honest and often emotional account of what happened to her, and how I – as a writer and an animal lover – feel about it. It is a fact that after her flight Felicette was put to sleep so the scientists could study how her body had been affected by her experience, and I do not skirt around the issues or emotions raised by that. Felicette was not a “brave explorer” or a ”pioneer”. Like Laika she had no choice. So the book is a tribute, not a celebration in any way.
Laika is famous around the world, which is only right and fair. Felicette’s story deserves to be known too.
FELICETTE: The Space Cat” is available now from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FELICETTE-Space-Cat-Stuart-Atkinson/dp/B0CKCVQ3WV
“The Escape” now published!
I have just self-published a new story (can’t call it a novel as it’s only 70 pages long!). “The Escape” is the third of my three planned books featuring Felicette, the cat that flew into space, and it’s a kind of ‘alternative history’ story, looking at what might have happened to Felicette if she had been rescued after returning to Earth, and had gone on to live… That will tell you there’s a happy ending – and she deserves one, even if it’s only in a story – but you’ll still need your hankies ready at the end…
“The Escape” is available now from Amazon, only 99p!
June 21st 2023
My book “A Cat’s Guide To The Night Sky” has now been published in softcover!
In other news, it looks like I’m going to have not one but TWO new books of my own published before the end of the year. One will be a beautifully-illustrated sky-watching guide, published by Penguin, the other will be a fun and colourful “design your own spaceship” flap book, published by Macmillan. I’ll also – hopefully – be starting work on my very first book just about Mars, and you can imagine how excited I am about that! In the meantime I’m busy writing articles and features for various magazines, such as BBC SKY AT NIGHT Magazine, All About Space and Astronomy and editing/updating the astronomy and space sections of a science encyclopedia for a publisher.
Any free time I get (ha!) inbetween all those projects, I’m working on my next self-published novel, which isn’t actually a traditional novel, more like… well, take a look…
Oh, and I’ve just finished working on a space title featuring one of the biggest names on British TV – a genuine cultural icon who is loved by millions around the world. More about that in a while…
SELF PUBLISHING UPDATE: June 21st 2023
I have now self-published more than half a dozen titles. “A Martian Tail” is the fictional story of the first cat to fly to Mars. “Felicette, The Space Cat” is my honest, no-candyfloss biography of Felicette, the first and only cat to fly into space for real. “Witness” is an epic science fiction story, which takes readers far into the future to an Earth conquered by aliens. “Star Ghosts” is the story of how a young girl, orphaned after a terrible tragedy, has her life turned around by the wandering spirits of two starry-eyed animal explorers. “The Greatest Show On Mars” is an exciting science fiction novel describing an against-the-clock hunt for a deadly alien on the red planet. Finally, “Maja’s Dragon” – the story I’m most proud of – is the story of how a young native martian girl has to fight to save her family and friends from the dastardly plans of an evil billionaire, who wants Mars to be home only to his rich and powerful friends from Earth.
All of these are are available in Kindle format from Amazon.
March 27th 2022
Exciting news…
Read all about my efforts to promote the story of Felicette, the first – and only – cat to have flown into space…
Felicette The Space Cat
I’m a lifelong amateur astronomer and “Public Outreach Educator” living in Kendal, in the beautiful Lake District in Cumbria, England. I am the author of 11 children’s astronomy and spaceflight books, and my latest book, “The Solar System” was published by Ladybird in August.
My most successful and popular book to date is “A Cat’s Guide To The Night Sky“, which was in October 2018 by Laurence King.
You can read all about it on my “Writing” page, where you’ll also be able to read about how I have edited or been a consultant on many more astronomy and space titles, and have also written articles on astronomy and spaceflight for many magazines, newspapers and websites.
If you’d like to find out more about my writing, my astronomy “Outreach” work or my activities as an amateur astronomer, just have a browse around this site. But to save you some time…
I am a devoted follower of Mars exploration and missions to Mars, and one of my blogs, “The Road To Endeavour“, chronicled Opportunity’s exploration and study of the huge Endeavour Crater- which she reached after a three year trek south from Victoria Crater – for more than ten years. Opportunity’s mission has ended now but my blog will continue, and you can find it here…
l also write “astropoetry” – that’s poetry inspired by space exploration and astronomy. My poems are on this blog.
I write science fiction too, which you can find here…
On Twitter? So am I! You can read my Tweets here…
I have also written a book about Felicette, the first – and only – cat to have flown into space. I haven’t found a publisher for it yet, but I’ll keep trying. You can read all about Felicette, and my work to make more people aware of her story, here: Felicette The Space Cat
Right, I think that’s everything. But if you can’t find what you’re looking for, then feel free to drop me a line at STUARTATK@aol.com. Thanks for dropping by!
Stuart Atkinson
Stuart Atkinson 