My next picture storybook...with illustrations by Kevin Risk!

Tamara Turtle's Life So Far, a picture storybook from the point of view of a red-eared slider turtle bought in a pet store who later ends up at a shelter, has been picked up for publication by Mirror Publishing!  My wonderfully talented husband, Kevin Risk, will be illustrating.

Tamara Turtle's Life So Far is a story told from the perspective of Tamara, a red-eared slider turtle sold as a baby out of a pet store.  She outgrows her small tank just as quickly as the family’s interest in her drops.  She is released into the “suburban wild”, but is fortunate enough to be rescued and taken to the local Humane Society shelter.  She learns about the plight of turtles and other special species that often have a great deal of difficulty getting adopted.  Their needs are very specific and much research on the part of any family that takes on such a pet is needed.

Artwork by Kevin Risk

I am also very excited to announce that, with the help and approval some reptile rescues, particularly Little Res-Q up in Markham, I will be adding a couple of resource pages after the story, with links to sites containing information about red-eared sliders and their needs as pets and links to shelters where you can adopt (not shop!) for these and other turtles.

A percentage of sales of Tamara Turtle's Life So Far will go directly to rescues that work with turtles, including Little Res-Q.  This time when you buy a copy of this book, not only will you be helping an independent author, illustrator, and publisher, you'll be helping rescue turtles!