Next month The Lightning Tree will be out in the world! Woo-hoo!
I thought I’d tell you a little bit more about it and what inspired me to write this story.
Introduction
The Lightning Tree is the first installment of The Natural Intelligence Revolution Trilogy. A contemporary Young Adult trilogy infused with magical realism. It takes place in a small Pennsylvanian town, haunted by mysterious killings. 17-year-old Flora Reed suspects that the deaths are somehow connected to her younger sister Fauna’s tragic accident a year earlier. When police take an interest in the boy next door, Carl, he and Flora have to act fast to solve the mystery. Soon Flora and a small group of friends find themselves at the onset of an apocalyptic battle between man and nature, with no one believing their story.
My Inspiration
I love being in nature. For as long as I can remember I have enjoyed going for walks in the woods or by the sea. Whether in Sweden or in Pennsylvania, Germany or in Asia, I seek out nature. When we lived in Jakarta, Indonesia, we loved the people, the culture and stunning surroundings. But city life could be hard because of serious air pollution.
After four years in Jakarta, we moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where there was less pollution. We also lived closer to nature and could go for long walks in the verdant jungle. I often pondered what it would take for mankind to take climate change even more seriously. Then it hit me: what if nature started to strike back? I looked at the huge trees surrounding us in the jungle, and the idea for The NI Revolution took form in my mind.
The Characters
The main characters of The Lightning Tree came to me around the same time that the plot emerged in my mind. Two tragically separated sisters who develop some sort of contact through supernatural means, because they are so close in their hearts. They are a kind of metaphor for how close mankind and nature are. Living side by side but not really communicating.
I loved writing the relationships in the story. Between the sisters Flora and Fauna, between Flora and Carl (swoon!), Flora and her mother Ava, and also, between Flora and nature. I fell in love with all of them and it was actually hard to write “the end” when I finished the third book.
I can’t wait for Flora, Fauna, Carl and all the others to be out in the world so you can meet them!
Love,
Lene
P.S Here is a link to Amazon where you can pre-order The Lightning Tree e-book!
(The physical book will be available for pre-order in a few weeks time.)
Having been one of the lucky beta-readers of the story I must admit: I completely love The Lightning Tree! I can’t wait to read it again once it is out and re-experience this thrilling novel! Counting the days!
Yay, thank you so much Anders!!
Jag längtar efter att få läsa böckerna!
Yay, vad roligt Eva! Tack för all din support! <3
Woohoo, so exciting!!! 😀
Yay, thank you Alice!!
Lene, I love your newsletter and the background detail. I have preordered the book. I believe you are right on point when talking about how humankind and nature are not communicating and are right next to each other. It is crazy. I also have a strong connection to the natural world and feel nature weeping at our arrogance. xo Leslie
Thank you so much Leslie! I loved your words “feel nature weeping at our arrogance”, that’s how I feel too. And I have also preordered your beautiful book The Blue Butterfly and am looking forward to reading it! Much Love, Lene