Historical fiction The Tortoise’s Tale by Kendra Coulter has hit the shelves.
The story follows a giant tortoise who is snatched from her ancestral land and taken to an exclusive estate in southern California, where she becomes an observer of societal change.
This journey leads the reptile to embrace live music and experience human connection as she bonds with the estate’s gardener, Takeo, who sees her as a being with thoughts and feelings rather than a creature to be observed.
In an interview, anthropologist and author Kendra said witnessing Jonathan — a 193-year-old giant tortoise and the world’s oldest land animal — served as an inspiration. “He was taken from the Seychelles to the governor’s mansion on the island of Saint Helena, where he lives to this day. I began to imagine how much Jonathan has seen — The Tortoise’s Tale is the result,” she said.
Kendra leads the world’s first major in animal ethics and sustainability leadership at Western University in Canada. She has previously published nonfiction works on sustainability and animal protection.
The Tortoise’s Tale is her debut novel.
“The primary purpose of my life is to improve and save animals’ lives,” she said.
“I’ve enjoyed writing for scholarly, public, and governmental audiences for many years. Expanding to fiction and being able to really engage with the power of emotion — to invite people to learn about and empathise with animals — is such a thrilling new chapter,” she added.
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