Strong Stuff – A. F. Stone

“Strong Stuff brings to life a world rarely addressed in fiction – that of a young carer and a working class heroine – with Northern humour and poignancy. The vivid descriptions of its location almost render Sheffield as a character itself. A book that I’m still thinking about weeks after reading” – Ellen, Sheffield Telegraph

Strong Stuff is the story of Ruby, a young carer who finds her world turned upside down when her mother dies. She is forced to live with her estranged father on the wrong side of the tracks, where her life as a teenager really begins.

Ruby finds love and friendship in the most unlikely of places – but when forces conspire to take it all away, she must fight to keep what matters to her, at all costs.

Author proceeds from this book will go towards supporting the work of Roundabout: www.roundabouthomeless.org. SRL Publishing have also announced they will match Amy’s donation.

Roundabout is South Yorkshire’s local youth housing charity providing shelter, support and life skills to young people like Ruby, aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

In addition to helping young people source appropriate accommodation, they offer wraparound care including practical and emotional support from dedicated key workers. Their key services deliver comprehensive programmes of training, involvement and empowerment which help young people break the cycle of homelessness and develop long term independent living skills.

Thanks to Amy for choosing to support this critical work.

To find your local youth housing charity visit: www.eyh.org.uk/en/

Read the first chapter here.

A.F. Stone

Amy Stone grew up in Stoke-on-Trent. She moved to study English Literature at the University of Sheffield, where she now works. Amy was short-listed in the short story category for the Bridport Prize in 2017.

More about A.F. Stone