Clemency has plenty to crow about with best-selling book
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A WICK primary school teacher is flying high after reaching an Amazon best-seller list with her debut novel.
Clemency Crow, a teacher at Newton Park Primary School since 2017, lives up to her name with her new children's book called Taking Wing, about people who can turn into crows and other birds.
And the fantasy novel got into an Amazon best-seller list last week – reaching number seven on the Books About Birds category, and second place on the Hot New Releases for Children’s Magic Adventure, topped only by Rick Riordan’s new Percy Jackson novel.
"I returned home at the weekend from a really successful book launch in Lincolnshire and it's just been getting better and better," Clemency said.
"I was so thrilled when I saw my novel had reached a place on an Amazon best-seller list – thrilled and very shocked. I never thought that would happen with my writing."
Clemency did a book tour of North Lincolnshire from the date of publication on July 12, consisting of seven workshops at five schools in three days.
“The tour was exhausting but incredibly rewarding and I was able to call on all my teacher training to give the kids a thrilling experience," she said. "One daunting workshop saw me in the school hall, with just one member of staff and over 100 children. It was manic but great fun.”
As well as the workshops, the book tour had two evening events – one was an informal networking opportunity for authors and publishers, and the other was the official launch of Taking Wing. Both events were hosted by The Rabbit Hole, an independent bookshop in North Lincolnshire.
The book launch was very well attended and the children had a fantastic time making bird-feeders and masks, Clemency explained.
“Before I published Taking Wing, I read it to my class of P4s," she said. "I got loads of great feedback from it, a mixture of positives and advice, which I took on board before publication. Reading is incredibly important for children. At Christmas and at the end of the school year, I write my class an original short story starring each of them.
"The aim is to have a good laugh and encourage them to read more.”
Taking Wing is a fantasy adventure novel for children aged over 10. Its story, packed with danger and adventure, is about tribes of people who can turn into birds. Twelve-year-old Freya meets a boy with yellow eyes and learns about the guardians, and how an age-old war has prevented them from fulfilling their purpose.
She goes on to find new friends in the Crow tribe and must solve a mysterious crime that began the war. Can they bring the guardians together before they destroy each other?
“My last name provided some of the inspiration for the book. Since before I was primary school age I've thought it was pretty cool to have an animal last name as I've always been interested in animals.
"I’ve always thought crows get a raw deal out of literature. They’re usually portrayed as the evil sidekicks of wicked witches, while cute birds like owls capture readers’ hearts.
"In folklore, these two birds are more similar that you’d think, both having sinister meanings,” said Clemency.
Clemency did some serious research into the much-maligned corvids and the more research she did the more she found that crows were "very special birds".
She said: "They were revered by Native Americans, and by the early Norsemen, but our society – which values good looks above anything else – overlooks what these birds have to offer. As far as I'm concerned, this needs to change.
"I'd never have realised what amazing birds crows are if I'd never had the incentive of my last name to learn about them."
Caithness children and adults are invited to take part in a Taking Wing book launch at John O’Groats on Saturday, August 17. It will take place in a marquee in the car park, starting at 4pm.
Taking Wing is available to buy from Amazon.
