Mammoth Rider: SJ Poyton's Long Road to Publishing

About this episode

SJ Poyton shares her nearly 20-year journey to publish her sci-fi children's novel, Mammoth Rider, discussing its themes and representation.

Here’s a story that will encourage many of our listeners: SJ Poyton’s epic journey to publication has spanned nearly 20 years, and her perseverance has paid off with the release of her sci-fi children’s novel, Mammoth Rider. Think Jurassic Park, but much more plausible. In this episode, SJ and Julia Golding sit down to discuss the environmental themes behind the book, as well as the importance of including neurodiverse characters in a way that portrays their unique minds as simply being part of who they are, and even as a part of their gifts. SJ and Julia go on to decide how one should name a mammoth, before speculating about which mythical creature they would wish to introduce into the real world. To learn more about SJ, and to order your own copy of Mammoth Rider, visit https://www.sjpoyton.com/   (00:04) Introduction to SJ Poyton and Mammoth Rider (00:47) A 19-Year Journey to Publication (04:35) What Mammoth Rider Is About (06:56) How Mammoths Could Help Fight Climate Change (09:05) Greenland, Nyala, and the White Mammoth (12:15) Neurodiversity in the Book and in SJ’s Life (17:10) Dyslexia Representation in Fantasy (21:01) Writing the Sequel to…

People in this episode

Host: Julia Golding

Guest: SJ Poyton

Topics covered

• publishing journey
• sci-fi children's novel
• neurodiversity
• environmental themes
• fantasy creatures

Keywords

• SJ Poyton
• Mammoth Rider
• neurodiversity
• publishing
• environmental themes
• fantasy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Oxford Centre for Fantasy

Books & works: Mammoth Rider

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