Brenda Peterson
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Brenda Peterson

Science & Engineering | Biographies & Memoirs | Literature & Fiction
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brenda Peterson is the author of more than twenty books for adults and children, including the memoir I Want to Be Left Behind, selected as a “Top Ten Best Nonfiction” book by the Christian Science Monitor and an Indie Next “Great Read,” by Independent Booksellers. One of her most recent nature books, Wolf Nation: The Life, Death, and Return of Wild American Wolves, was selected by Forbes magazine as a “Top Ten Best Conservation Book of the Year.” Her memoir, Build Me an Ark: A Life with Animals was chosen as a “Best Spiritual Book.” Her animal books for children are Leopard and Silkie, Lobos, Wild Orca, Catastrophe by the Sea, and the illustrated art book Crane Maiden. Her new adult animal book, WILD CHORUS: Finding Harmony with Whales, Wolves, and Other Animals is forthcoming spring, 2024 from The Mountaineers. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, Seattle Times, Tikkun, Huffington Post, The Morning News, Utne Reader, Orion, and O, Oprah magazines. Her novel Duck and Cover was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and her most recent novel, a mystery, is Stiletto. A regular contributor to her local NPR stations, Peterson lives in Seattle on the Salish Sea. Many of her work is curated on Medium.com and on her website: www.BrendaPetersonBooks.com UPDATES: My sixth novel, STILETTO, is a mystery, a cinematic, stylish psychological thriller. Narrated in two female voices, Detective Anna Crane and her prime suspect, Big Pharma biochemist, Eleanor Kieran. Mystery fans who loved "Killing Eve" and Into the Woods, will also enjoy the tense duet between Anna and Eleanor in this contemporary mystery set in Seattle's rainswept city. A novel of conscience, accountability, and crime, STILETTO, will keep you wondering until the surprising end. CRANE MAIDEN, the gorgeously illustrated digital book with Chinese artist, Ed Young, is for all ages This book is a love story for people and birds and is glorious on the screen. Light table with cut paper and feathers, Young's timeless illustrations take flight with this new myth of birds, transformation, and climate change. An excerpt is in ORION magazine: https://orionmagazine.org/article/crane-maiden/ AWARDS: CATASTROPHE BY THE SEA selected as "Best of the Northwest" in Sunday Seattle Times and University Bookstore's GIVE BOOKS.Created in partnership with Seattle Aquarium. WILD ORCA: The Oldest, Wisest Whale in the World, has just been selected as a Junior Library Guild book; and National Science Teachers Association has chosen WILD ORCA as an Outstanding Science Book for K-12. WOLF NATION selected as a Top Ten Environmental Book of 2017 by Forbes magazine. The Chinese edition is due out summer, 2023. WILD ORCA children's book due out September, 2018from Henry Holt LOBOS: A Wolf Family Returns to the Wild due out September 2018 from Sasquatch/Penguin OPRAH.com selects YOUR LIFE IS A BOOK: How to Craft and Publish Your Memoir for its inspiration and practical advice. http://www.oprah.com/spirit/New-Self-Help-Books-Advice-That-Works/4 Unlike other memoir books, this new writer's guide includes cutting-edge insights and advice on both indie and traditional publication, as well as time-tested writing prompts and exercises on the craft of writing memoir. An award-winning memoirist and her NYC successful literary agent team up to guide you every step of the way--from life story to publication. "If I were going to write the story of my life, this is the book I'd look to first and last for encouragement, inspiration, and practical advice." --Nancy Pearl, author of bestselling Book Lust series "When you write memoir, you discover the love of your life is—your life." Your Life is a Book LIBRARY JOURAL review: September 1, 2014 Peterson, Brenda & Sarah Jane Freymann. 
Your Life Is a Book: How To Craft & Publish Your Memoir. Sasquatch. Oct. 2014. 256p. notes. ISBN 9781570619304. pap. $16.95; ebk. ISBN 9781570619311. COMM Peterson (I Want To Be Left Behind) and Freymann (founder, Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency) bring decades of experience to bear on the subject of writing and publishing a memoir. Affable, confident, and candid, the authors teach that the process, when done right, can be a journey of personal growth, illustrating their points with poignant examples and metaphors. Part 1, "Crafting Your Memoir," introduces the genre and covers an array of topics: death, abuse, family secrets, food, travel, spirituality, animals, and more. The advice on what does and doesn't work with each topic is razor sharp and is the overall strength of the book. Battle-tested tips, exercises, and prompts close most chapters, providing writers an opportunity to practice and apply their craft. The second half, "Getting Serious About Publishing," offers insightful perspectives on blogging, agents, editors, handling rejection, indie publishing, and more. Discussions of factuality, point of view, drafting, and scenes are excellent but could be expanded. ­VERDICT This is a reassuring introduction to how writers should approach their first memoir and an honest discussion of what it will take to publish one.--Paul Stenis, Pepperdine Univ. Lib., Malibu, CA "YOUR LIFE IS A BOOK is like having a personal writing mentor and practical literary agent guide you every step of the way in telling your life story. Inspiring, instructive, and most of all, inviting, Peterson and Freymann share their own successful writing and publishing experiences with warmth and wit. I wish I'd had this book when I was writing my memoir!" --Sy Montgomery, author of bestselling memoir, THE GOOD, GOOD PIG OUR PICTURE BOOK FREE TO KIDS, TEACHERS, AND HOMESCHOOLERS NOW PUBLISHED ON MEDIUM.COM AT THIS LINK: https://medium.com/@bsp808/when-we-stayed-home-47032a6a2757 My crossover YA novel,THE DROWNING WORLD, is in paperback and ebook. Publisher's Weekly feature interview welcomes THE DROWNING WORLD: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/56286-author-turns-to-self-publishing-with-help-from-podmates.html Carolyn Turgeon, best-selling author of MERMAID, features THE DROWNING WORLD: in her blog, I Am A Mermaid: http://iamamermaid.com/2012/09/04/brenda-petersons-drowning-world/ Our EARLY READER, Seal Pup Rescue, is a Scholastic Book Fair selection. It is the Read on Your Own version of our children's picture book LEOPARD AND SILKIE: ONE BOY'S QUEST TO SAVE THE SEAL PUP, which was selected as a 2013 "Outstanding Science Book for K-12" by National Science Teachers Association. LEOPARD AND SILKIE is featured in a national NPR "LIving on Earth" story at this link: MEDIA: LIVING ON EARTH: http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.html?programID=12-P13-00016&segmentID=6 ABC NEWS welcomes Leopard and Silkie: http://www.katu.com/amnw/segments/Saving-Young-Seals-161579195.html WATCH Brenda's BOOK LUST "You Tube" excerpt on this page below or see the full interview with Nancy Pearl at this link: http://www.seattlechannel.org/schedule/programDetails.asp?title=3031103 LISTEN to an audio excerpt from the new book on National Public Radio read by the author at: http://kuow.org/program.php?id=19037 MORE REVIEWS: "Unusually affecting and radiant...Peterson seeks a meeting of church and earth in this witty, enrapturing account of a spiritual journey of great relevance to us all." BOOKLIST, starred review "A tender, lyrical account, Peterson expresses genuine love for her family and gratitude for their gifts. Peterson always seeks common ground." LIBRARY JOURNAL "Blends her unique autobiography with compassionate and level-headed observations about family, food, religion, life and our relationship with living things. Peterson has a gift for describing her life's many adventures with disarming understatement and narrative poise." KIRKUS REVIEWS "Brenda Peterson's picaresque memoir is a mesmerizing treat, at turns inspiring and hilarious. Her keen-eyed descriptions of the natural world, and a delicious sense of fun, combine beautifully with tales of protecting seals, whales, hope, and other wild things." Diane Ackerman, author THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE "A loving, luminous portrait of an irresistibly intriguing family, told by the most fascinating member of all -- the one who doesn't fit in. It's alive with stars over the Grand Canyon, scents of the sea, menus at family gatherings, and singing a descant. The story is told with such truth and tenderness that you can't help loving the whole family." Sy Montgomery, author of THE GOOD, GOOD PIG "I've been a fan of Brenda Peterson's novels since the witty DUCK AND COVER. But I can't think of another book at all like this memoir -- it's so odd and wonderful. Peterson writes here of family and conflicting faiths with moving and poignant humor." Diane Johnson, author of LE DIVORCE "Brenda Peterson, one of the most eloquent nature writers of our time, takes on human nature. Read this book and share it widely. It is that important." Marc Bekoff, author of of THE EMOTIONAL LIFE OF ANIMALS
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    • Wolf Nation

    • The Life, Death, and Return of Wild American Wolves
    • By: Brenda Peterson
    • Narrated by: Donna Postel
    • Length: 10 hrs and 56 mins
    • Release date: 26-06-18
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 7 ratings

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    • Wild Chorus

    • Finding Harmony with Whales, Wolves, and Other Animals
    • By: Brenda Peterson
    • Narrated by: Kate Coventry
    • Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
    • Release date: 01-04-24
    • Language: English
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    • Listening to Animals

    • Wild Chorus Author Brenda Peterson on What Birds, Orcas, Bears, Wolves, and Dolphins Teach Us About Our World
    • By: Brenda Peterson
    • Narrated by: Brenda Peterson
    • Length: 47 mins
    • Release date: 01-05-24
    • Language: English
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