DHSZ Staff Contribute to a Book about Climate Change

Recently, the Suzhou Writers group published their very first anthology of writing, The Climate for Change. This book is a collection of short stories and non-fiction about climate change.

This is the blurb from the back of the book, which provides some insight into what it’s all about:

Encompassing both fact and fiction “The Climate for Change” has something for everyone within its pages. This book represents the culmination of over a year of work from nine of the writers in the Suzhou Writers Group.

Prepare yourself for a wild ride through an eclectic collection of writing, spanning fictional genres, with all the writing falling broadly within a climate related theme. The works contained in this remarkable book range from enchanting poetry to magical allegorical fairy tales, as well as science fiction dystopias and utopias.

Nonfictional elements of the book include a detailed look at AI’s slightly creepy viewpoint on climate change, a discussion of the potentially anthropogenic nature of earthquakes, real world experiences of the effect of climate change on life in China, and a taxonomy of climate fiction.

With writers from around the world, the work is authentically international, with diverse voices providing a unique perspective on this most challenging of themes. ”The Climate for Change” provides an unforgettable experience that stays with you long after you turn the last page.

The Climate for Change is available on Amazon as a digital Kindle book (it is also part of the Kindle Unlimited Program, so you can download it for free if you are a member), as well as in Paperback and Hardback formats in 16 countries.

What is the Suzhou Writers Group?

Suzhou Writers and Artists Group (SWAG) was founded in 2010. In the beginning, it was a small group of expatriates, and in 2012 SWAG published its first anthology, Letters from Suzhou. This was a collection of letters and poetry describing to friends and family overseas, often hilariously, the delights that confront foreign workers posted or opting to live and work in China.  The SWAG name was changed to Suzhou Writers Group (SWG) on 20th November 2020.

Today, the SWG is a mix of Chinese and foreign writers, including writers from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Malaysia.  Some expatriate members have retained membership after returning to their home country. The addition of accomplished Chinese writers, writing in their second (or third) language, has produced a delightfully cosmopolitan blend. SWG members still regularly meet to discuss their writing. Although Suzhou suffered less severe COVID-19 lockdowns than some Chinese cities, when necessary, meetings are held online, and the Group retained its work rate and integrity.

What is the Dulwich Connection to the Suzhou Writers Group?

There is a strong Dulwich connection to the Suzhou Writers Group. Firstly, two of the members, Qing Zhao and Andrew Gibson both work together in the Dulwich International High School Suzhou Library. One of the members, Erin Garnhum, used to be the head of English at our school and now teaches at Dulwich College (our sister campus).

Steve Howrie (one of the founder members of the SWAG and SWG) used to teach maths at our school before he retired, and still regularly contributes literary events at our school, delivering lectures about his creative work (he is a novelist and musician) to enthusiastic audiences at our annual literary festival. Hannah Gate’s husband also teaches at our school. 

We spoke to Andrew Gibson about his role in the book and he told us that apart from the cover design (that he was solely responsible for designing) that: “It was a team effort: The Climate for Change Anthology Represents the culmination of over a year of work from nine of the writers in the Suzhou Writers group. It is a tremendous achievement and very few people are aware of just how challenging putting a book together can be. We worked together as a team to create the best possible book we could, and we are all very proud of it.”

You can buy The Climate for Change on Amazon using the links below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Climate-Change-Anthology-Writing-Introduced-ebook/dp/B0B1WQ64BG

https://www.amazon.com/Climate-Change-Anthology-Writing-Introduced-ebook/dp/B0B1WQ64BG