tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100151843220275390.post6814883163748274313..comments2019-07-24T20:05:00.295-07:00Comments on The Lost Book Worm: Earth GirlBadWolfManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09939109221919644932noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100151843220275390.post-14314971155468335042016-02-24T22:32:39.142-08:002016-02-24T22:32:39.142-08:00I had the opportunity to email back and forth with...I had the opportunity to email back and forth with this author about her amazing books, and I got her permission to quote her email to me as I think it adds something to this book. I hope everyone enjoys.<br /><br />Dear James,<br /><br />I'm delighted that you didn't just find Earth Girl personally helpful, but professionally helpful as well. I hear from people with a whole range of disabilities, but I'm always especially interested to hear from someone with dyslexia. Apologies that the reason takes a bit of explaining.<br /><br />I started writing Earth Girl when I was recovering from a long period of disabling illness. Not that it's one you ever seem to totally recover from (I've been having a flare up for the last few weeks which is why I'm slow replying to you), but I was improving to the 70% of normal that I think is about the best you can hope for. As I often say, after a long period of not being able to leave the house, I started writing about a girl who couldn't leave this planet.<br /><br />I had a couple of thoughts very strongly in my mind when I was writing Earth Girl. One was that people with many different disabilities have the same issues of facing prejudice and feeling different and isolated. The other was that the UK Equality Act 2010 defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. What struck me about that definition is that society decides what is a normal daily activity, so what is regarded as a disability can change with changes in society or technology. The particular example that I kept thinking of was dyslexia, which wasn't a problem until writing was invented and society started expecting everyone to be able to read. Similarly, as Jarra points out several times in the books, no one would have known she had a problem if she'd been born before the invention of interstellar portals.<br /><br />It's wonderful to hear that you weren't just able to identify with Jarra, but you recommend Earth Girl to help people better understand those with disabilities. I'm honoured.<br /><br />Best wishes,<br /><br />Janet Edwards BadWolfManhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09939109221919644932noreply@blogger.com