Bringing Stories to Life.

Meet & Greet and Book Signing 

​

with author Kendra Coulter

​

Saturday December 13th - 2pm to 4pm

​

 

“An insightful, delightfully unique debut novel.”
— Quill & Quire, starred review

“[A] charming debut...readers are in for a treat.” 
— Publishers Weekly 

“The book is both beautifully written and thoroughly researched and will tug at the heartstrings, making readers feel invested in the fate of Magic and those she encounters.”
— Library Journal

​

​

Please join us for our Holiday Open House on Saturday December 13th at the Stratford Arts & Lectures' BOOK BAR, located inside the fabulous Matilda Gallery & Art Bar, with featured guest Kendra Coulter.

 

The Tortoise's Tale will be available for purchase, and Kendra will be signing books between 2pm and 4pm.  Come by and say hello, enjoy some festive cheer, and holiday treats!

​

The Tortoise's Tale makes the perfect gift to give this Holiday season, and a personalized signed copy is even better!

​

About Kendra Coulter:

​

Kendra Coulter earned her PhD at the University of Toronto and is a professor at Huron University College at Western University, where she leads the world’s first major in animal ethics and sustainability leadership. She is a fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics in England and the author of Defending Animals: Finding Hope on the Front Lines of Animal Protection. The Tortoise’s Tale is her first novel.

 

About The Tortoise's Tale:

​

A century of American history unfolds through the eyes of a giant tortoise with a heightened awareness for live music, the location of edible flowers, and the nuances of human behavior in this spellbinding debut novel.

Snatched from her ancestral lands, a giant tortoise finds herself in an exclusive estate in southern California where she becomes an astute observer of societal change. Her journey is one of discovery, as she learns to embrace the music of jazz and the warmth of human connection.

The tortoise’s story is enriched by her bond with Takeo, the estate’s gardener, who sees her as a being with thoughts and feelings, not just a creature to be observed. The tortoise’s mind and heart are further expanded by Lucy, a young girl who names the tortoise Magic and shares a friendship that transcends species. Together, they witness the estate’s transformation into a haven for industry titans, politicians, and rock stars, each leaving their mark on the world and on Magic’s heart.

The tortoise embraces her role as a muse with gusto and witnesses how diverse human harmonies and the mighty winds of social change both uplift people and tear them apart. Over the course of her lifetime, the estate changes ownership, bringing raucous Hollywood parties, and animals both familiar and unexpected. There are also threats, as the estate’s idyll is not immune to the ravages of a damaged planet. Through each era, the tortoise remains a refreshingly honest and endearing narrator whose unique vantage point illuminates the transcendent power of compassion, the unexpected connections that shape how we see ourselves and each other, and the wide-reaching effects of choice—or the lack thereof.

The Tortoise’s Tale is a whimsical yet profound exploration of humanity’s entangled journey, a call to recognize the interconnectedness of all life, and the potential for healing. Kendra Coulter’s debut novel is a moving portrait of resilience and hope, perfect for fans of Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures.