We’d like to introduce talented, debut author Fleur Philips! Her book I Am Lucky Bird tells a chilling coming-of-age tale…When her mother mysteriously vanishes from the small town of Plains, Montana, 12-year-old Lucky Bird’s childhood comes to an abrupt end. Left to defend herself against her suddenly abusive grandmother, Marian, and forced to endure the twisted predatory games played out by Marian’s lover, Lucky soon finds herself trapped in a nightmare.

I Am Lucky Bird addresses mature themes such as teenage homelessness, rape and incest. So why is Fleur compelled to write about such issues in her book?

In a recent blog post, she explains, “I feel a need to connect with my characters because, in a way, I want to help them. I want to give them hope and let them see that life can be good. I feel like a guardian when I write — I can create an unfathomable situation, but in the end, can turn it into something magnificent. And this gives me strength.”

While the book does its part to share the story of Lucky Bird and her struggles, Fleur is making a difference in her local community by confronting some of these problems. As a volunteer with WriteGirl, Fleur acts as a mentor and creative writing coach for at-risk teen girls at a local high school. It’s an incredible program where 100% of the girls involved graduate from high school and go on to college. These girls are dealing with difficulties such as teen pregnancy, tough home environments, gangs and all the other normal dramas of high school. WriteGirl offers a two-hour sanctuary for these teens to express themselves through writing exercises and interaction with mentors who truly care about them.

I Am Lucky Bird is the last blog tour of the year for BookSparksPR. You don’t want to miss this one! Contact kim@sparkpointstudio.com to sign up.