Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

Congratulations to R.Aveen on the release of Animal Listeners: The Awakening of Quinby Clark

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I was thinking about how people would probably be kinder to animals if they could understand what they were saying. Then I imagined a tween getting that ability in our world and the experiences she would have discovering a secret society of people that could speak with animals. The story grew from there.

What inspires you to write?

I want to make a difference in the world, and I feel like writing is my way to do that. I love animals and wish people would be kinder to them, so writing is my method to try to help make that happen.

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?

That animals are important, individual beings just like us, and they deserve our kindness and respect. I particularly hope this story encourages people to adopt dogs and cats from shelters rather than buying from breeders. And I hope it gives the reader appreciation and respect for bats, how amazing they are and the important roles they play in our ecosystem.

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?

I plan to contact all the animal loving people I can, including social media groups, businesses and individuals.

The ebook is available through most online stores, and the paperback can be purchased directly through Amazon, or requested through bookstores. My website has a link to the different places it is available. https://www.animallisteners.com/

What's next for you?

I would like to write the next book in the series. On her summer holidays, Quinby travels with the school to California, and encounters local animals there – opening up another world of animal adventures to readers.

More about the book . . .

Kind-hearted Quinby Clark is stuck living with her horrible family in an ordinary suburb of Sydney, Australia, until the day she starts talking with birds and is invited to a mysterious boarding school for children who can speak with animals.

Thrust into the secret society of Animal Listeners, Quinby discovers she can speak with more animals than anyone else – a fact the school asks her to keep hidden to protect them all from covert factions. After Quinby is wrongfully accused of causing trouble, she and her new friends must prove her innocence while rescuing precious animals. The world desperately needs her extraordinary Abilities, but will Quinby even survive the school year?

A Young Adult contemporary fantasy novel for anyone who loves animals. Join Quinby as she explores the magic of the Animal Listener community hidden within our own world, at a boarding school nestled in the Australian bush by a sandy beach. Meet awesome animals from wild kangaroos, koalas and dolphins, to the school family of bossy cats and loveable pigs. An adventure for the whole family.

Publisher: Animal Listeners Press

More about the author . . .

R.Aveen is an Australian from Sydney who currently lives in Northern Michigan, USA, with her husband and two cats.

She came up with the idea for this book when still in Australia and chose the south coast locale as it wasn't too far from where she was living. However, she started writing the novel in 2020 when already residing in America, which made taking research trips exceedingly difficult. She mostly used memories and the wonders of the internet – luckily, she enjoys doing research.

R.Aveen loves animals, reading, nature, bushwalking, the beach, movies, hanging out with friends, travelling and eating delicious vegan food.
This is her debut novel.

Email: r.aveen@animallisteners.com

Website: https://www.animallisteners.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalListeners/

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/by_raveen/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@by_raveen

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@by_raveen