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Amazing nature author of 17+ books Brenda Peterson (Wild Orca, Wolf Nation, and Catastrophe by the Sea) talks about her love of nature, getting into writing, finding the kernel of your memoir, wolfs, and much more in this Learning with Lowell interview with your host Lowell Thompson,Check this one out!
About Brenda Peterson (As seen on her website)
Through her work as a novelist and nature writer, Peterson’s curiosity about and respect for nature radiates through her 17 books, which range from her first memoir Build Me an Ark: A Life with Animals, chosen as a “Best Spiritual Book of 2001,” to three novels, one of which, Duck and Cover, was chosen by New York Times as Notable Book of the Year. Her new memoir, I Want To Be Left Behind: Finding Rapture Here on Earth was selected by The Christian Science Monitor among the Top Ten Best Non-Fiction Books of 2010.
Her novels include Animal Heart (Sierra Club Books) and River of Light (Knopf), as well as Becoming the Enemy (Graywolf Press). Her nonfiction books include Living by Water and the National Geographic book Sightings: The Gray Whale’s Mysterious Journey. These works established Peterson as a prominent creative nonfiction writer, extensively profiled in the reference work America’s Nature Writers. Peterson’s bestselling anthology Intimate Nature: The Bond Between Women and Animals is often taught in university courses. Her nonfiction has appeared in numerous national newspapers, journals, and magazines, including The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, Reader’s Digest, Christian Science Monitor, O: The Oprah Magazine, and Utne Reader.
Peterson lives in Seattle. For the past two decades, she has studied and written about animals, especially marine mammals and wolves. She is the founder of the Seattle-based grassroots conservation group Seal Sitters. Since 1993 she has contributed environmental commentary to NPR and is a frequent commentator to The Huffington Post. See her blog and website for online links. Her new picture book, Leopard and Silkie: One Boy’s Quest to Save the Seal Pups, was published by Henry Holt for Young Readers and was a 2013 winner of National Science Teacher’s Association “Outstanding Science Books for K-12.” Her new novel, The Drowning World, part of her fantasy/sci-fi Aquantis Series begun with Animal Heart, is just out in ebook and paperback from Ingram and Espresso Book Machine Network.
Peterson’s new natural history book, WOLF NATION, is out from Merloyd Lawrence Books and receiving excellent reviews. Forbes magazine selected it as a Best Conservation Book of the Year. The new picture books are WILD ORCA: The Oldest, Wisest Whale in the World (Christy Ottaviano Books/Macmillan) chosen by the National Science Teachers Assciation as an Outstanding Science Book for K-12 and a Junior Library selection. LOBOS: A Wolf Family Returns to the Wild(Sasquatch Press) has just been long-listed for the GREEN EARTH BOOK AWARD. And the forthcoming Catastrophe by the Sea is due out on September 24th, 2019 from West Margin Press.
Read more about Peterson’s memoir:
Brenda’s Linked in profile: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=82471851&trk=hb_tab_pro_top
More on Leopard and Silkie at the book’s website: http://www.leopardandsilkie.com
For more on WILD ORCA: http://www.brendapetersonbooks.com/wild-orca/
For more on LOBOS: http://www.brendapetersonbooks.com/intimate-nature/
For more on Catastrophe by the Sea: http://www.brendapetersonbooks.com/face-to-face/
To see all of the Delphinius books please visit the website: Delphinius Publishing
http://www.delphiniuspublishing.com/
The Drowning World is available in paperback from Ingram and also on the Espresso Book Machine Network at this link:
http://net.ondemandbooks.com/odb/selfespress/9780578113975
Or if you’re in Washington state order the paperback through Village Books at this link:
http://www.villagebooks.com/book/9780578113975
Or view on IndieBound website:
A few interesting images from her website:
Dear Lowell,
I just like to thank you for this inspiring podcast with Brenda Peterson. Till this podcast I never hear or read anything about her so I’ll appreciate it so much that I listen to her on your show. A wise and beautiful spirit and I’m eager to read more from her. All the best with your great podcast show, Daniëlle the Netherlands.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it. You might also like the episode with Sy: http://www.learningwithlowell.com/best-selling-science-author-sy-montgomery-discusses-writing-20-books-nature-favorite-unwritten-stories-and-future-goals/
Also, are there people or topics you’d love to see?
Yes, I also did like the show with Sy very much. I only have not shared a reply but I have listen to it when it was available. Now you ask me something about some topics what has my personal interest. I’m a admire of the Canine species and I’m a student of the Dobermann Breed since 2013. My main concern about the purebred breeds in general is their future well being. The list of problems is very long and there is still so less awareness and stewardship to breed for better. The main problem in my opinion is breeding for some specific trait as for example appearance, it never suits any dog or breed. The lack of genetic diversity in breeds is a real threat for healthy preservation. I will not overload you with all the complex matters. I have appreciate and learned from many books and articles from authors who loved also the Canine species and brought awareness. As there are, Mark Derr he wrote for example Dog’s Best Friend. Johan and Edith Gallant they wrote SOS DOG, The Purebred Dog Hobby Re-Examined. Micheal Brandow who wrote his great read A Matter Of Breeding, A Biting History Of Pedigree Dogs. Or the BBC Documentairy (2008) from Jemima Harrison Pedigree Dogs Exposed. These are just a few people I share with you who could describe so well about all what is going on within the world of breeds. Besides this they also are aware how to make a change for better. In short my interest is all about the well being, what includes a broad spectrum, for our purebred breeds. Thank you for asking me Lowell.
I’m glad you liked both episodes! I will be putting out 1 episode a month like Sy and Brenda’s episode.
I grew up on a farm, and loved digging into genetics and breeding animals.I’ll be picking up those books and watching that documentary. Thank you for the recommendations! (Also, consider joining my weekly book, resource, and info mailing list where I share things that I find.)
One last question, if you have the time, is where do you hangout on the internet? I’m trying to find more people like you. 🙂
Thank you again.
Hi Lowell,
The available blogs,articles,researches and studies on the internet was and still is mainly
my source for further education and developing my personal interest.
As for example https://retrieverman.net/ this blog and this one https://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/.
It is also a reason how I come aware of new books, interesting podcast/ YouTube video’s, lectures and seminars.
I still use these days, I’m old school, email to contact authors, breeders, genetics etc. for sharing questions.
Or more information about a certain subject in their personal field.
For awhile I use facebook to learn more and to find like minded people ( also in relation to the breed Dobermann ) .
It didn’t work well for me. The vibe from many groups are so negative and hostile that it isn’t worth the time and energy.
But I was very active and serious when I had a account.
This said through facebook I came across some Dobermann Projects in America and got involved with them.
I also learned much about breeding from a fb group what is called Outcross for Life, with goal more genetic diversity in purebreds.
Facebook is maybe useful for your search to find some people with more or less the same interest as myself. There are so many groups.
I’m not a follower from a certain theory or believe but I appreciate the American Indian nature.
Just reading these days the autobiography of Russel Means. It is valuable also in relation to how we treat animals or better say mother earth.
I don’t know if this information is helpful or I understood your question correct.
Feel free to share with me if it’s not I try to give you a more accurate answer or relevant/specific information.
Also if you have interest in persons I can share you maybe some names.
Thank you for your personal share.
Curious in the future about your thoughts about the books/documentary.
Looking forward to your new episodes.
All the best.