Greg Skomal with Ret Talbot (NASW Member)—Chasing Shadows: My Life Tracking the Great White Shark

Advance copy: Backstories on books by NASW members

Chasing Shadows

CHASING SHADOWS:
MY LIFE TRACKING THE GREAT WHITE SHARK
Greg Skomal with Ret Talbot (NASW Member)
William Morrow, July 11, 2023
Hardcover $29.99, ebook $14.99, audiobook $23.35
ISBN-13:‎ 978-0063090835
ASIN: ‎B09G6S6NL2, Audiobook ASIN: B09HWYN3R7

Talbot reports:

When the pandemic hit, I was unable to complete fieldwork necessary for the book on which I was working, and my agent, who also represents shark biologist Greg Skomal, suggested we collaborate to tell the story of the resurgence of the northwest Atlantic white shark population. Having previously covered Yellowstone wolves, I liked the idea of writing about the restoration of an apex predator, especially to an ecosystem with such a pronounced overlap with human activity.

Ret Talbot

Working on the proposal was challenging. My work often involves embedding with scientists in the field and telling their stories through firsthand reporting. Because of the pandemic, I instead had to rely on weekly phone interviews with Greg, along with scientific papers, videos, and books. This approach undoubtedly informed our book, setting up deeper dives into the history of shark science and the mind of the shark itself.

We opted for narrative nonfiction, where we could bring the reader on a journey experienced largely through the eyes of Greg and reporting on the species he’d dreamed about since childhood.

To me, the obvious starting point for the sample chapter was the day in 2018 when the first fatal white shark attack in Massachusetts in over 80 years occurred. It wasn’t so much the attack, but rather that Greg, leading a tour boat of shark enthusiasts who’d paid to see white sharks in the wild, passed the same beach moments before the attack. The juxtaposition of the elation at seeing white sharks and the tragedy unfolding on the beach felt like the emotional heart of the story.

Our agent sold the book at auction the same week as another fatal shark attack, which probably helped the sale—a fact about which I remain conflicted. This is a book about shark science, not shark attacks. During revision, the editor asked to change the book from third to first person, feeling the first person voice provided greater clarity.

My advice to aspiring science writers is to seek out collaborations with interesting scientists with whom you share a passion and use those collaborations to bring science to a broader audience.

Contact info:

Ret Talbot: 949-315-9222, ret@rettalbot.com, http://www.rettalbot.com/, @RetTalbot, @ret_talbot @RetTalbotAuthor
Book: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/chasing-shadows-greg-skomalret-talbot
Publicist: Joseph Papa, 804-721-5945, joseph@josephpapapr.com
Agent: Susan Canavan, 617-756-0612, susan@waxmanagency.com

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Banner image adapted from original photo by Ret Talbot.

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Advance Copy

The path from idea to book may take myriad routes. The Advance Copy column, started in 2000 by NASW volunteer book editor Lynne Lamberg, features NASW authors telling the stories behind their books. Authors are asked to report how they got their idea, honed it into a proposal, found an agent and a publisher, funded and conducted their research, and organized their writing process. They also are asked to share what they wish they’d known when they started or would do differently next time, and what advice they can offer aspiring authors. Lamberg edits the authors’ answers to produce the Advance Copy reports.

NASW members: Will your book be published soon? Visit www.nasw.org/advance-copy-submission-guidelines for information on submitting your report.

Publication of NASW author reports in Advance Copy does not constitute NASW's endorsement of any publication or the ideas, values, or material contained within or espoused by authors or their books. We hope this column stimulates productive discussions on important topics now and in the future as both science and societies progress. We welcome your discussion in the comments section below.