Willow Roots presents

Starseedreams
NEWSLETTER

Issue #5- September 2026

💌 Opening Message

The past few months have brought me even closer to the natural world around me. Here in Ecuador, I have found myself spending more time learning about, caring for, and protecting the incredible creatures that share this part of the world with us.

From volunteering at a marine rescue to joining beach clean-ups and environmental education projects, my work and creativity have once again begun to weave themselves together in unexpected ways. And, as often happens, those experiences have already found their way into a new story.

📚 Book Updates

I’m very excited to share that I have written another book for my Animal Chronicles series!

This story was inspired directly by my experiences at the marine rescue. It follows a young turtle who is born without a design or pattern on his shell. As he travels through the ocean and experiences new adventures, he slowly begins to develop a completely unique design of his own.

There is something very special to me about watching an idea grow out of real experiences with animals and nature and then become a story of its own.

I’m hoping to have this new book released within the next couple of months, so keep an eye out for it!

🌟 Project Spotlight

Marine Rescue & Conservation

One of the newest chapters in my Ecuador journey has been volunteering at a marine rescue here in Ecuador. The rescue is home to several different species of animals, including aquatic and land turtles, birds, and other wildlife.

Among the residents are two Galápagos tortoises, Lucia and Marco. Marco is an incredible 98 years old! There is also Rony, a Galápagos penguin; Mochita, a sea turtle who is missing one of her arms; Panchita, a crocodile; as well as several brown pelicans and blue-footed boobies.

The primary mission of the rescue is to rehabilitate animals and, whenever possible, return them to the wild. Unfortunately, some animals have injuries or conditions that make returning to the wild impossible. For animals like Mochita, the rescue becomes a permanent home where they can continue to receive care.

Spending time with these animals has given me an entirely different perspective on the stories I write about nature. They aren't simply characters or ideas anymore. They are individuals with histories, personalities, and very different paths through life.

🌱 Personal Reflection

There is something humbling about standing beside an animal whose life has been shaped by circumstances completely outside of your control.

Volunteering at the rescue has reminded me that caring for nature isn't always about grand gestures. Sometimes it is feeding an animal, cleaning an enclosure, watching carefully, learning its habits, or simply being present.

It has also made me think about the relationship between humans and the natural world in a deeper way. We are not separate from these creatures or the environments they inhabit. What happens to the ocean, the beaches, the forests, and the animals living within them eventually becomes part of our story too.

And sometimes, those lessons become stories of their own.

🤝 Community Corner

Alongside the marine rescue, I have also begun working with a group that organizes beach clean-ups and environmental education for children.

The group teaches children about marine life, including whales and turtles, while helping them understand why keeping our beaches and oceans clean and healthy matters.

I love the combination of education and action. Children aren't simply being told that the ocean is important. They are learning about the creatures who live there and then taking part in caring for the environment themselves.

It feels very connected to the kind of work I have always loved: learning through experience, creativity, nature, and community.

If you would like to learn more about supporting conservation in the Galápagos, the Charles Darwin Foundation supports scientific research and conservation efforts throughout the islands. You can learn more or make a donation through their website:

Support the Galápagos through the Charles Darwin Foundation

There is also the Galapagos Conservation Trust where you can learn more about the Galapagos, plan a visit, or support by making a donation or adopting an animal!

Learn more about the Galapagos 

🔮 Looking Ahead

There are quite a few things taking shape for the months ahead.

I’m looking forward to continuing my work with the marine rescue and the beach clean-up and education group, while continuing to learn from the animals and environments around me.

I’m also hoping to have the newest Animal Chronicles book released within the next couple of months. I’m especially excited to see this little turtle make his way into the world and discover what design will eventually emerge on his shell.

Sometimes we begin a story knowing exactly where it is going. Other times, we simply follow the trail and see what develops. This one has definitely been the second kind.

✨ Closing Note

The more time I spend working with animals and exploring the natural world around me, the more I am reminded that there are stories everywhere.

Some are written in books. Some are written in footprints on the sand, patterns on a shell, feathers, scales, waves, and the changing landscape around us.

I’m grateful to be listening to some of those stories right now, and I’m curious to see where they lead next.

📖 Quote of the Month

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
— Albert Einstein