Supporting the National Literacy Trust

I learned to read when I was three years old. My father taught me, and in full disclosure, I have to say it was an act of desperation on his part: I was what they now call hyperactive. (Then, it was just called being a pain in the backside.) By teaching me to read, he gave me an activity to occupy my mind while I was awake, and the rest of the family got much needed sleep.

It opened up a portal to other worlds: wondrous places that I've enjoyed revisiting throughout my entire life. If I hadn't learned to read, I never would have visited worlds as diverse as Narnia, or Mordor, I would never have shared the journey of the Pilgrim’s Progress, or been enthralled by adventure stories like “Children of the New Forest,” “A High Wind in Jamaica,” and, “The Silver Sword.” I would never have known the emotions of “To Kill A Mockingbird,” or entered the worlds of Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and latterly, Lee Child, Jean Fullerton and Virginia Heath.

As you can see, I consider the ability to read one of my life's greatest blessings.

Unfortunately, it's not a blessing that everybody shares. For many reasons, people are unable to read, or, if they can read, they're not given the opportunity to do so. According to the National Literacy Trust, one in ten people in the UK between the ages of five and eighteen years old do not have a book of their own at home. In the UK! One of the richest countries in the world, where education is obligatory and free at point of service to everybody.

That isn't just sad. It's devastating. Lack of literacy affects mental health, future prospects for a good career, and even life expectancy: a boy born in an area with serious literacy challenges can expect to die 26 years earlier than a boy born in an area where literacy levels are high.

At this time of year, when the spirit of giving is strong, I would like to do something to help people to read, and to fall in love with reading. So, I am planning to give a donation of £1 to the National Literacy Trust for every review of any Caitlyn Callery book that is posted on Amazon, and/or Goodreads throughout the month of December.

Help me to help others share the joy you have found in reading. Just leave a review of any of my books, and let's help more people discover new and exciting worlds for themselves.

For more information about the work of the National Literacy Trust, visit their website, here.