A.J. Van Belle
Author, Scientist, and Literary Agent
About
A.J. Van Belle is a scientist with research specialties in microbial ecology, molecular evolution, and ecological statistics. With a PhD in biology and graduate certificates in terrestrial biogeochemistry and college-level writing instruction from Boston University, and an MS in cell and molecular biology and an MA in anthropology from California State University, they’ve taught courses in writing and natural science at Boston University and Babson College. Under their maiden name, Vivelo, they’ve published microbial ecology research in FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Fungal Ecology, and New Phytologist. Their dissertation identifies a cross-ecosystem phylogenetic signal to fungal decomposer succession as well as biological features that correlate with this lineage-specific pattern.
A.J.’s YA popular science book on the real science of fictional dystopian scenarios, A Dozen Dystopias and How to Dodge Them: The Real Dangers Behind Your Favorite Fiction, and their adult popular science book on how fungi inspire the sustainable technology of the future, From Mushrooms to the Moon, are coming soon from Bloomsbury Academic. Their middle grade nonfiction book on the urban heat island effect, Beat the Heat: Cooling Off Cities in a Warming World, is coming in September 2027 from Orca Publishing.
As a fiction author, A.J. is a Rhysling finalist, British Science Fiction Association Award finalist, and Best of the Net nominee, and their work is included in the latest volume of Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction. Their scientific interests are woven into their fiction, which is driven by themes of climate change, systems science, evolution, and the possibilities and limits of technology. They are a literary agent at the Booker-Albert Agency.
Books Coming Soon
A Dozen Dystopias
and How to Dodge Them
​A fascinating examination of the real-world possibilities behind famous YA dystopian fiction, and what teens can do to stop them from actually happening.
Could the countries of North America collapse in the wake of a series of environmental disasters, as they did in the world of The Hunger Games? It might happen if we don't correct course and reduce carbon emissions. Will we fall prey to a fungal infection like in The Last of Us? Maybe-but we could also take steps to minimize the chances of a not-so-friendly fungi takeover.
In A Dozen Dystopias and How to Dodge Them, A.J. Van Belle dives into twelve dystopian fiction scenarios that have gripped our collective interest, the real science of how those not-so-desirable futures could come about, and what we can do to prevent them from happening. Each chapter features relevant current events and lively explorations of related environmental science and cutting-edge technology.
With discussions of some of YA literature's most beloved dystopian novels and thoughtful interviews with well-known authors, including Lois Lowry and Scott Westerfeld, A Dozen Dystopias and How to Dodge Them is as gripping as our favorite futuristic fiction, with an added dose of grounded, science-informed hope.
From Mushrooms to the Moon
We’re at a crossroads as to the direction of our technology (among other things) and we have a few questions ahead of us. Will we work with the Earth or against it as we continue the march of technological innovation? How can we learn from the natural world? Or will we ignore the treasure trove of information around us?
MUSHROOMS ON THE MOON is a voicey look at the technology insights we can gain from fungi. As we look toward an uncertain future and seek equitable solutions, mushrooms have much to teach us, because fungi, the miniscule masters of forest decay, can serve as a living blueprint for an array of technologies that could lead to a more just, sustainable future.
The science of imitating living things and building new tech modeled on Nature’s nifty solutions is called biomimicry, and we’re poised on the edge of taking advantage of all the biological genius fungi have to offer. MUSHROOMS ON THE MOON takes readers on a journey from our own neighborhoods, to agricultural fields, to struggling natural ecosystems, and even into outer space with the newest and near-future sustainable tech that incorporates and is inspired by the magic-like marvels of mushrooms.
