When Shellie Horst first broached the idea of producing an anthology of hopepunk stories set around the Humber, I was assailed by two conflicting emotions. Excitement at the prospect of being part of a project that featured northern writers with stories based in my local area, and a sense of flailing personal doubt.

How was I going to write a story with a hopeful ending in these difficult times?

It was a challenge. As I pursued the threads of the story, I realised that the core had to be one of community spirit. I know that sounds clichéd, but consider, along with the disasters affecting so many areas around the world there are equally striking accounts of people working together to ensure the survival and well-being of all. One of my favourite authors in the hopepunk genre is Becky Chambers whose work is both thought provoking and comforting. All of her novels/novellas are worth reading, but most relevant here, I think, is her Monk and Robot duology. Capturing this sense of inclusive community spirit was key to developing my characters as they adapted to Britain’s receding coastline.

Integral to the story is the idea that technological innovation could save the human race from the self-inflicted calamity of climate change. On the flip side, the spectre of misuse and/or unexpected consequences of using such technology haunts any new scientific development. This tension between life-saving benefits and radical harm inherent in relying on technology is one of the elements explored in “Hull’s Teeth”. Another key concept, that of natural adaptations to a changing world as a key to long term survival, acts as a counterbalancing element in the story. I wanted to explore the extent to which nature and technology can be mutually supportive.

“Hull’s Teeth” is one of ten stories that engage with the ingenuity, strength and compassion of people and communities as they face a challenging future.