I got started on the Peter Blue series following a pivot away from my career in environmental business. In short, I gave up on the world of grownups, who will invariably put short-term economic imperatives ahead of long-term environmental gains that are good for people, planet, and that ultimately make good business sense.

Instead, I began working with the upcoming generation, who are now 9 to 12-year-olds. They get the urgency of climate change and can’t wait for one of their big ideas to become part of the solution. They also still believe in magic and oneness of nature. 

The story telling behind the Peter Blue series grew along with the teaching materials. Working with teachers and scientists to develop lesson plans, I quickly found that my characters and their adventures made good springboards into all kinds of learning activities.

But while the lessons are of course science-based, the eco-adventures of Peter Blue and his friends exist foremostly as entertainment – and that’s a promise!

Having said that, if a reader were to join the dots linking overconsumption and extreme weather with the enemy Anthrog demons born from garbage dumps, who show up as killer storms, then so much the better. But having this extra layer of awareness, should neither add nor detract from the full enjoyment of a page-turning story.