It was winter in Melbourne, and the anti-cyclonic weather system that brought day after day of dullness and drizzle showed no signs of dissipating. The city seemed to have sunk into a murky malaise. I looked out the window of my spare bedroom, which also doubled as my writing room, and scanned the empty street below. No one was out. It was after 6 p.m., and COVID-19 lockdown restrictions meant that we were not allowed to leave our homes.
Fighting off a creeping melancholy, I returned to my desk and stared at the flickering black line on the laptop screen. It was rare for me to write in the evening; I was usually more motivated in the mornings. But during lockdown, the structure of my days had become as hazy as Melbourne’s mid-winter skyline. As I settled, I heard the faint tinkling of a bell. My rescue cat, Q, sauntered into the room and deposited himself at my feet. He was my regular writing companion and usually napped for hours on the shag rug beneath the desk as I tapped away. I smiled to myself. His timing was always impeccable; he seemed to know the exact point at which I returned to my manuscript. For countless months, he’d been the solitary, nonjudgmental witness to my bouts of frustration and elation as I tackled the task of writing my memoir. And he stayed by my side as I began my second book – a young adult fiction novel titled ‘A Cat Called Q and the Magic Globe.’ Such was my love for him that he inspired me to include a feline hero in the novel based on his delightful idiosyncrasies.
A deep, low purr erupted from Q’s throat as he curled into a ball and dozed. I re-entered the fantastical world of Opimae – a land I had created for the book. The greyness of my lockdown reality dissipated as I concentrated on concocting the furred, flippered, and feathered friends helping my heroine, Sheri, save Opimae from a vain, avocado-obsessed overlord. Opimae was a place I could explore without restrictions, where I could conjure enchanted landscapes and create quirky characters that would ultimately prove to Sheri that there was magic around her and within her. Opimae was a place where saving creatures also meant saving their environment and where Sheri could uncover her inner strength and help others find theirs. I introduced Q as a bossy, magical, mischievous, sandwich-loving cat. Bringing him to life within the pages was such fun! I hoped he would resonate with young readers, who may even be swayed to adopt their own black rescue kitty.
Although ‘A Cat Called Q and the Magic Globe,’ was my first work of fiction and included creatures inspired by both my imagination and the real world, most of my life had largely revolved around telling stories about animals and nature. Throughout my career as a broadcast journalist, I was passionate about covering issues related to the environment and the species that depended on it. I’d also written and produced numerous documentaries, most of which focused on these themes.
My memoir and first book, ‘A Dolphin Called Jock,’ tells the deeply personal story of the bond I formed with an injured wild dolphin named Jock. This book explores how Jock helped me heal from the scars of my traumatic childhood. I finally wrote my memoir after learning about dolphins dying in the river where Jock had once lived. I knew I had to share my remarkable, sometimes traumatic experiences to help other people appreciate the incredible intelligence and complexity of dolphins. I hoped it would lead to a greater awareness of the need to protect them and their ocean home. I also felt that exposing my own brutal truth might, in some way, help others heal. I was thrilled when my memoir was eventually accepted by a Canadian publisher and released internationally under its new title – ‘The Dolphin Who Saved Me.’
Several months later, I completed the children’s fantasy that was so close to my heart – ‘A Cat Called Q and the Magic Globe.’ While I was reviewing the manuscript, I began writing my third book, another non-fiction. Again, it focused on animals and the importance of connection. I was prompted to write the book after learning about the distressing trend of adopted animals being abandoned and surrendered as people returned to their ‘normal’ lives post-lockdown. Shelters were overwhelmed by the demand and the cost of living crisis has only added to that. Having adopted companions from shelters myself, I felt compelled to help. The book, titled ‘Sheltered’ delves into the themes of deep bonds, love, and devotion between rescue animals and the people who save them through real-life stories. ‘Sheltered’ will be published in September. I hope that it will inspire others to consider adopting a rescue animal and raise awareness about the crucial work of welfare organizations.
As I now reflect on all three books, I am proud that I have consistently used my voice to advocate for our animal friends. I strongly believe that we are all interconnected within the remarkable matrix of life on this planet and that we rely on each other for survival. Animals help us reestablish our bond with nature, through caring for individuals of a species other than our own. Reconnecting with the natural world can ignite our passion to protect it which, in turn, also helps other living beings. Whether it’s the creatures of the oceans or those on land, I hope that my writing endeavors contribute to fostering a deeper appreciation and respect for animals and the environment more broadly. Animals may not be able to tell their own stories, but it is up to us to share theirs, whether in a fictional or real-world setting. People write books for various reasons, but it is my clawed, pawed, finned, feathered, and fluked friends who truly inspire and motivate me and will continue to do so.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melody Horrill is an award-winning Australian environmental journalist, freelance media manager, speaker, and author of three books. She is well known in South Australia for raising awareness about dolphins and marine conservation. She is co-chair of the Jane Goodall Institute’s Cetacean Committee and Ambassador for Kangaroo Island Dolphin Watch. She lives in Melbourne with her fourteen-year-old rescue cat, Q, and partner Grant. She is a passionate animal and nature lover and likes nothing more than spending time beside or in the sea.
Although Melody spent many years writing for broadcast media, her memoir ‘A Dolphin Called Jock,’ was her first book. It was published across Australia and New Zealand then internationally under a new title – ‘The Dolphin Who Saved Me.’ The book focuses on connecting with nature and her extraordinary friendship with a wild, injured dolphin which helped her heal from a childhood deeply impacted by domestic violence. Dr Jane Goodall endorsed Melody’s memoir book – which led to her involvement with the Jane Goodall Institute’s Cetacean Committee.
Her debut young adult fantasy ‘A Cat Called Q and the Magic Globe’ also focuses on the theme of connecting with the natural world. It also explores the power of discovering and believing in your magic, even during challenging times. The feline hero of the novel is based on Melody’s thirteen-year-old rescue cat, Q who is also her constant writing companion. As a young girl, Melody loved reading fantasy and escaping into worlds such as Narnia in C.S Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. She dreamt up the ‘Globe’ story as a child and is thrilled that, many years later, it has come to life. Melody is passionate about animals and protecting the natural world and loves nothing more than spending time on and in the water and hanging out with her favorite feline friend! Her third book, a non-fiction titled ‘Sheltered’ will be published in September 2024.
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About the Author
