“There is A Season” – A Wild Care Novel
Local author Susanna Graham-Pye is donating $2.00 per book ($10 each) from the sale of her newly published novel, There is a Season, to Wild Care in Eastham. (Books purchased in Wild Care’s lobby, $10 each – 100% of proceeds to Wild Care.)
Wild Care treats and releases injured, sick, or orphaned native wildlife. The organization also educates the public in an effort to prevent wildlife casualties and engage people in the idea of conservation through volunteerism. During its decades-old existence, Wild Care has treated more than 22,000 birds, mammals and reptiles from 275 different species. Typically, it receives 1,200 to 1,400 creatures per year. Roughly half of those creatures arrive on Wild Care’s doorstep as a result of injuries and habitat loss, both due to human activity. Wild Care is committed to educating people about how to avoid harming our animal neighbors.
(Author, Susanna Graham-Pye)
Over the years, Graham-Pye has worked as a journalist for local newspapers, earning national recognition for her coverage of rising energy costs on Cape Cod, first place regional awards for coverage of human services, religious issues, and feature writing. Of all of the stories she has covered, features have always been her favorites.
Graham-Pye said one story she especially enjoyed following was that of a determined Cape Codder, Karen Von den Deale, who gained a reputation for rescuing and caring for wild animals in her backyard. Soon her home was filled year-round with injured wildlife, and her successes saving lives soon gave birth to a full-fledged clinic: Wild Care, founded in 1994.
“I love hearing about people’s lives,” Graham-Pye says. “While the character, Bea, in my novel is quite different from Karen, she definitely served as inspiration. Bea shares Karen’s fierce passion for the plight of wild animals trying to survive alongside people.”
Graham-Pye first wrote a profile story about Von den Daele in the 1990s and subsequently wrote other stories about Wild Care’s remarkable work.
The clinic grew too large for Von den Deale’s small Brewster home and moved to its current location in Eastham. The nearly 30-year-old organization recently dedicated a state-of-the-art waterfowl rehab tank to Von den Daele.
About There is a Season Judy Bullard, chairman of Wild Care’s board of directors, says, “I loved it—such a delightful story, nice characters, and of course I loved reading about the animals! And personally I related to all of the musings about family and the environment and all of the threads of commonality and connections that unite us.”
Graham-Pye said of her novel, “Harry, the other main character, marvels at the fact the world is full of people—each of whom has a unique, interesting tale to tell. He often worries about how few stories we get to hear in a lifetime.”
PURCHASE: There is a Season is $10 per book and is currently available in Wild Care’s Lobby (with 100% of proceeds to Wild Care), or at BookSmith in Orleans and other local bookstores ($2.00 per book donated to Wild Care). It is also available through Graham-Pye’s website ($2.00 per book to Wild Care), HoundHillHappenings.com. (Books purchased through other online outlets will not benefit Wild Care.) Read the back cover, below.
Back Cover: Click to view larger image.
SWEPT FROM THE SEA – AN ANGEL AMONGST US
This gorgeous little Blue Angelfish is one of the tiniest and most unique patients we've ever had at Wild Care. Photo courtesy of the New England Aquarium.
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DID YOU KNOW??
Wild Care has a state-of-the-art seabird therapy pool, which allows seabirds and waterfowl to exercise on running water. This will help our bird friends recover more quickly so they can get back to their watery habitats!