Overrun : Dispatches from the Asian Carp Crisis

Intelligent investigative writing meets experiential journalism in this important look at one of North America’s most voraciously invasive speciesPoliticians, ecologists, and government wildlife officials are fighting a desperate rearguard action to halt the onward reach of Asian Carp, four troublesome fish now within a handful of miles from entering Lake Michigan. From aquaculture farms in Arkansas to the bayous of Louisiana; from marshlands in Indiana to labs in Minnesota; and from the Illinois River to the streets of Chicago where the last line of defense has been laid to keep Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes, Overrun takes us on a firsthand journey into the heart of a crisis. Along the way, environmental journalist Andrew Reeves discovers that saving the Great Lakes is only half the challenge. The other is a radical scientific and political shift to rethink how we can bring back our degraded and ignored rivers and waterways and reconsider how we create equilibrium in a shrinking world.With writing that is both urgent and wildly entertaining, Andrew Reeves traces the carp’s explosive spread throughout North America from an unknown import meant to tackle invasive water weeds to a continental scourge that bulldozes through everything in its path. Short DescriptionFrom aquaculture farms in Arkansas to the bayous of Louisiana; the last line of defense has been laid to keep Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes. Overrun takes us on a firsthand journey into the heart of a crisis. Sales and Market BulletsThe impact of the invasion of the Asian carp can be likened to the ecological damage the kudzu vine has had on native North American flora.Overrun was submitted for ABA Indies Introduce.Several species of heavy-bodied cyprinid fishes are collectively known in the United States as Asian carp.Asian carp are voracious eaters, able to consume 5 to 20% of their body weight each day, and prolific breeders, making up as much as 80% of the biomass in some dominated habitats. If no additional management actions are taken, their invasion of the Great Lakes is almost certain.AudienceCurrent events readersRegional readers in the areas affectedReaders interested in science and the environmentReaders of nonfiction Target any news or experts talking about the Asian CarpTargeting regional locations through Facebook ads and timing around any media hitsFocus efforts on regional media outlets along the Mississippi River and near Great Lakes, i.e., Minneapolis Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune, local NPR affiliate stationsObtain a regional outline of the issue from author/editor, specifically the U.S. cities most affected (Duluth, Fort Wayne, Cleveland, Chicago, Hot Springs, Little Rock, Thibodeaux, Minneapolis)Pitch to national talk radio focused on current affairs and environment issues, i.e., CBC’s The Current, NPR’s All Things Considered, PRI’s Living on EarthPitch to national current affairs magazines, i.e., Maclean’s, This Magazine, The Walrus, The Economist, Newsweek, Time Magazine, etc.Pitch to Toronto-based television programs (and other U.S. cities pending travel plans), i.e., CTV’s Your Morning, TVO’s The AgendaPitch to major national newspapers across U.S. and Canada, i.e., Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, New York Times, etc.