Shona Riddell

Shona Riddell is an author, journalist and podcaster from Wellington, New Zealand. She has written three books: Guiding Lights (Exisle Publishing, 2020); Trial of Strength (Exisle Publishing, 2018); and The Tale of the ANZAC Tortoise (2015, illustrated by the New Zealand Defence Force artist Matt Gauldie).[1]

Books

Guiding Lights (2020) is a maritime history book about female lighthouse keepers around the world, including Mary Jane Bennett, New Zealand's only appointed female lighthouse keeper, who ran Pencarrow Lighthouse in Wellington from 1855–1865.[2][3]

Trial of Strength (2018) is a history book about New Zealand and Australia's Subantarctic islands, from early exploration and sealing to colonial settlements (Riddell is descended from two Hardwicke settlers[4]), farming, shipwrecks, and ongoing conservation efforts to make the islands predator-free. The book includes information about the Auckland Islands, Campbell Islands, Antipodes and Bounty Islands, Snares Islands, and Macquarie Island.[5][6][7]

The Tale of the ANZAC Tortoise (2015) is an illustrated book about two children who travel back in time to Gallipoli during World War I and witness a wounded soldier giving a tortoise to a war nurse. The story was inspired by a tortoise in Riddell's family and was the subject of an episode from the New Zealand documentary series Great War Stories.[8][9] The book was illustrated by former NZ Army artist Matt Gauldie.[10]

Podcast

Riddell is the creator and host of the New Zealand podcast Swim Chats, which features fortnightly interviews with swimmers, coaches, marine scientists, and others. Guests include New Zealand coach and English Channel triple crossing world record holder Philip Rush, and American ultramarathon swimmer Lynne Cox.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Kanowski, Presented bySarah (21 January 2021). "Lighthouses, daring rescues, and an ANZAC tortoise". ABC listen. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  2. ↑ Green, Kate (20 November 2020). "Guiding Lights: New book tells stories of women lighthouse keepers through the ages". Stuff. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  3. ↑ Spencer, Ruth. "Review: Guiding Lights: The extraordinary lives of lighthouse women". Kete Books. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  4. ↑ Riddell, Shona (27 September 2018). "Adventures and misadventures on the wild and remote subantarctic islands". Stuff. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "Trial of Strength on the "Islands of Despair"". RNZ. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  6. ↑ Lightbourne, Amie (6 December 2018). "Book Review: Trial of Strength, by Shona Riddell". Booksellers New Zealand's blog. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  7. ↑ Barnes, David (24 November 2018). "Engaging survey of stories from wild southern outposts". Otago Daily Times.
  8. ↑ "Great War Stories 3 - Gallipoli tortoise |". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "WWI-surviving tortoise gets his own children's book". Newshub. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  10. ↑ Mcconnell, Rhiannon (11 April 2016), "Anzac tortoise's story of surviving Gallipoli and stowing away to NZ turned into book", Stuff, retrieved 18 August 2026
  11. ↑ "Swim Chats podcast". Shona Riddell – Writer & Swimmer. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
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