Trudi Clarke

I'm an environmental biologist who grew out of a bookseller. 

For ten years I was immersed in the world of books and literature, constantly writing and constantly getting rejected. I had nothing of any real value to contribute to the world of fiction. I've always had an instinctive command of written language, but with little experience of the world and no real grasp of human behaviour, my stories were thin and shallow.

In 2001, after recovering from a motorcycle accident, I indulged my lifelong fascination with the natural world and took off for Tasmania on a solo expedition to look for the legendary Thylacine - the Tasmanian tiger.  During my travels there, I witnessed firsthand the destruction of rainforest habitat. It was a pivotal moment that put me on the path to a career in nature conservation. 

During my degree studies I had an idea for a post-apocalyptic novel, and I've been researching and writing it in my spare time since then, whilst also working in field biology and nature conservation: with seabirds in North Wales; coastal wetlands & wading birds in England; the St Kilda mouse in Scotland and rare plants in Portugal. Currently, I'm a Ranger in the Small Isles in Scotland, engaging visitors with the wildlife and landscapes of the Isle of Rum. 

My writing skills have been put to good use in all these roles, for press releases and event write-ups as well as scientific reports. Inspired by my work and travels, I have written several non-fiction nature essays. The essay 'Skink' was written about my travels in Tasmania and gained Specially Commended in the 2002 BBC Nature Writing competition.

The dramatic landscapes in which I work continually inspire me. My love of the natural world is evident in my writing, and I have learned a tremendous amount about human nature and human societies through my travels and research.