I’m thrilled to share that WW Norton is picking up my narrative nonfiction book on tortoises — a subject close to my heart.
It’s taken me more than two years to get here. I’ve read countless books and innumerable research papers. I’ve formally interviewed nearly a hundred experts and held casual conversations with many more, taken two seven-week reporting trips and several (much) shorter ones, and attended several conferences. I’ve chased tortoises in the Mojave Desert, the island of St. Helena, South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, and the Galápagos islands.
The most important thing I’ve learned: Tortoises, quietly charming creatures with a never-give-up attitude, are a lens into the planet. With them as my animal guide, I’ve gained a fresh perspective into some of today’s most urgent challenges of conservation, environmental preservation, and climate change.
But of course tortoises can’t speak for themselves. This is where the humans enter the picture. I’ve met numerous people out on the front lines of tortoise conservation who have opened their hearts and shared their struggles, hopes, dreams, and successes. Their lives and experiences anchor my stories. No matter the question — “Why do tortoises live so long?” or “Are they intelligent?” or “How did they get to such remote islands?” or “How are they important in restoring ecosystems?” or “What do you do with 25,000 confiscated tortoises?” — I’ve learned something new from everyone I’ve met.
Holding all this together is the theme of adventure travel. Tortoises live on every continent except Antarctica and on many islands. I’m taking readers to the islands, deserts, savannas, and jungles that tortoises call home including some of the most remote places on the planet that many people have never heard of, or are unlikely to ever visit. It’s quite the global tour.
Now my dream is taking a huge leap forward! WW Norton is such a great home for my project. They’ve brought out numerous books that inspire me, including “Beloved Beasts” by Michelle Nijhuis; “Crossings” by Ben Goldfarb; ‘Koala” by Danielle Clode; “The Bald Eagle” by Jack E. Davis; “A World on the Wing” by Scott Weidensaul, “Many Things Under a Rock” by David Scheel, and many others.
Am I close to being done? Nope! But I’m homing in on it. Upcoming research includes travels to Asia, two islands in the Indian Ocean, and East Africa. There’s still another year of work ahead, at least.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me on the road so far — conservationists, biologists, paleontologists, researchers and more. Your encouragement means the world to me!
It’s an honor to work with a wonderful agent (Jessica Papin at DGB) and editor (Amy Cherry at Norton) who believe in this project and share my enthusiasm.
I look forward to sharing more details as we move closer to publication. Stay tuned!