This month, if you live in Australia we are offering you the chance to win 12 BOOKS in our latest and greatest giveaway!!

GIVEAWAY OCT 13

In addition to copies of our latest novels we have each added to the pile one book that inspired our work. Alongside Shallow Breath, I’ve chosen The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony. While writing Shallow Breath I read many books on animal behaviours and human–animal bonds, but The Elephant Whisperer stood out amongst the others for a number of reasons. It is a fantastic story – all the better because it is true – of how Anthony rescued a traumatised herd of elephants and rehabilitated them on his private conservation reserve in South Africa. Anthony recounts the great lengths he went to in order to ensure the herd’s safety, and how he managed to form a unique bond with these elephants, after they had witnessed humans slaughter the rest of their herd. I wasn’t just moved by the story, I was also impressed by how Anthony managed to combine realism with idealism when discussing conservation. This delicate line is one my characters struggle with in Shallow Breath, and it is an issue I came across again and again when studying the environmental and animal rights movements. Anthony’s work helped me to develop my own fictional herd of elephants, and my character, Kate, who loves them – and it also proved great food for thought as I considered some of the broader themes of conservation and interspecies relationships found in Shallow Breath. As I finished writing the novel in March 2012, I discovered that Anthony had died suddenly when he was about to begin promoting his new book, The Last Rhinos. I am so thankful he found time to write these books amongst all his other dedicated work to saving the magnificent animals of Africa.

Unless we can allow not only elephants but all wild animals their place in the sun, we can never be whole ourselves.

Lawrence Anthony

1950-2012

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Angela Savage
October 24, 2013 7:34 am

I’m loving this instalation of Writers Ask Writers!

Your choice of inspirational book sounds fascinating Sara. I think striking a balance between realism and idealism when talking about conservation is vital, particularly when talking with children about conservation. Otherwise the state of the world becomes too traumatizing and stultifying. We need reassurance that it’s still possible to make a difference.

Allison Tait
October 29, 2013 11:13 am

Cool giveaway! Hope I win!

JodiGibson (@JFGibsonWriter)
April 11, 2014 5:57 am

Some amazing books, what a fantastic giveaway! :)