“First Breath”, a climate dystopia story, available now in Optopia Zine.

It’s the perfect time of year for some solarpunk fiction! It’s never been sunnier in Southampton. I’m on half term break from teaching, spending lots of time lounging around, baking and reading some of Loren Eiseley’s nature essays for inspiration. And today is exciting because Optopia Zine were kind enough to publish a climate fiction story I wrote in their beautiful third issue! Optopia is a lovely indie zine for cli-fi, art, nonfiction and other bits and bobs to do with building a better world and caring for the environment.

My story, “First Breath”, is about a young couple, Nat and Clove, who are trying to build a future together. But it’s hard when their city is controlled by the evil Acriture corporation, who have a monopoly on breathable air. As Nat struggles with her grueling and unforgiving job, Clove seems to be keeping a dangerous secret that has the potential to destroy the pair’s relationship… or save the city once and for all.