Here how the inspiration from this story came from a "what if" moment while Penny was hiking with friends in the mountainous Tsitsikamma region of South Africa where she lives, how she had to change the ending of her novel because her character insisted on it, and how after years in fact-based journalism she rediscovered her childhood joy in telling made-up stories.

Penny Haw worked as a journalist and columnist for more than three decades, writing for many leading South African newspapers and magazines before yielding to a lifelong yearning to create fiction. Her stories feature remarkable women, illustrate her love for nature and animals, and explore the interconnectedness of all living things. Her children's book, Nicko was published in 2017. It was followed by a work of contemporary fiction, The Wilderness Between Us in 2021. Penny's debut historical fiction, The Invincible Miss Cust is based on the life of Britain and Ireland's first woman veterinary surgeon, Aleen Cust and will be published by Sourcebooks in October 2022. A second work of historical fiction will be published, also by Sourcebooks, in 2023. Penny lives in Hout Bay near Cape Town with her husband and three dogs, all of whom are well-walked.

To learn more about Penny, click here.