The Story Behind In the Shadow of an Elephant by Georgie Donaghey

Guest Post by Georgie Donaghey

Georgie Donaghey is on the blog to generously share her touching and emotive story behind the heart-rending book, In the Shadow of an Elephant. This is a book of intense meaning, of beauty, life, earth-shattering loss and of an epic forge of bonding. These themes are all further amplified through the depth and exquisiteness of the illustrations; touching heart and soul through dance and movement, pops of colour, light and shade. Tender, emotional and sublime.

Blurb:

One terrible night the ground rumbled, and dark shapes appeared in the distance. A cracking sound tore through the air, Lualani’s life was changed forever.

‘Don’t be afraid. ‘I will look after you.’ Jabari reached out his hand. A life-long friendship set on the edges of the African Savanna. Through life’s challenges they will embrace the joys of dancing in the shadow of an elephant.

After losing my mother a couple of years ago to Lewey Body Dementia and Cancer, I wanted to write about death. Rather than focus on death more a celebration of life.

While researching, I came across the beautiful Lualeni. Her story inspired me.

One terrible night the ground rumbled, dark shapes appeared in the distance. A cracking sound tore through the air, Lualani’s life was changed forever.

In the Shadow of an Elephant is a gentle story about sorrow and determination. Of friendship between boy and elephant set on the African Savanna. Through life’s challenges, they will embrace the joys of dancing in the shadow of an elephant.

Within 24 hours of submitting my manuscript to a publisher, it had been accepted. To further celebrate this story’s success, the book sold out before going to print. In the Shadow of an Elephant was released in April at the Creative Kids Tales Writers’ Festival.

I felt an immediate connection with Lualeni. My excitement grew with the discovery of her first calf. Born in 2018 the young one had been named Lulu. My first book released in 2016 was called Lulu.

Now a proud foster parent of Lualeni through the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, I hope In the Shadow of an Elephant might help raise awareness about poaching with the Australian reading public.

Georgie Donaghey is a published author, editor, mentor, radio host and founder of Creative Kids Tales. Her picture books include Lulu, released by Wombat Books, Clover’s Big Ideas, published by Little Pink Dog Books, and In the Shadow of an Elephant, due for release in 2019. Besides publication in the Heat Anthology (for adults) she is also the publisher of The Creative Kids Tales Short Story Collection Vol 1 & 2. Her stories feature on Kinderling Kids Radio. Lulu can also be enjoyed by young travellers through both the Virgin and Qantas inflight entertainment channels. You can learn more about Georgie at the following channels:

Website: www.georgiedonaghey.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgie.donaghey,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/CreativeKidsTalesNetwork/ or

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgiedonaghey/.

You can order a copy of In the Shadow of an Elephant through the ‘Contact Us’ page on Georgie’s website www.georgiedonaghey.com.au.

In the Shadow of an Elephant: Little Pink Dog Books

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