Reading from a published excerpt of a new novel: I AM the WOLF, a novel of ecology and rewilding

This week, I thought I'd post a published excerpt from my novel in process, I AM the WOLF, a novel of ecology and rewilding. This excerpt, titled "The Wolves," is published in the academic journal Phenomenal Literature, Vol. 10, based in India.

The excerpt is recorded below for YouTube, and the text is pasted below that.

The Wolves

“The production of animal products for human consumption takes up much land that could be returned to its original wild natural state. Consider all the land and water used for cattle to graze on,” stated Casey, a student in Jamie’s basic physics class in the small, privately funded college where she had taught for nearly three decades.

“The idea,” continued Casey, “is that when everyone realizes that it is unethical to eat other non-human animals and also that we need a planet to live on, that this land will go back to its natural state. Then the animals that live in the wild, such as coyotes, foxes, and wolves, will restore ecosystems that the Earth needs to continue living. Restoring ecosystems is crucial for the planet to continue. And since humans need the Earth, it is in their best interests to defend the Earth. It was humans who reintroduced the wolves in Yellowstone National Park in the United States, roughly in the middle of the country.”

Something howled inside Jamie – and her world felt a little bigger – as she nodded her head and spoke.

“I think I heard about this.”

Jamie thought about the wooded areas that she saw between the pastures of farmland alongside the highway, on the ride to and from the College, and how she felt they could go on forever, over the rolling hills, beyond the point where she could see. She thought about how she imagined she could feel the relief of the air circulating over the Earth beneath the trees and cooling the planet. Again, she smelled the evergreen trees and felt the coolness of the spring breezes caressing her face.

She felt something shift inside of her. A sense of wildness welled up in her and took over her with such violent force that she stepped back.

Casey was speaking:

“The wolves were killed off in Yellowstone Park in the 1930s, when people thought that wolves were dangerous to them. But over the years, there has been mounting evidence that wolves are rightfully more afraid of humans than humans are of them. So, they were reintroduced seventy years later in 1995, and guess what?”

“An entire ecosystem was revived,” answered Jamie.

“Exactly,” said Casey.

“The wolves kept the elk population…,” said Jamie.

“in check. Wolves are natural predators of elk, and in chasing them, the wolves kept the elk from damaging the willow trees. As a result, both the elk and the willow trees thrived,” answered Casey, “Without the wolves, more elk were eating the willow trees...”

“and the absence of willow trees made it harder for the beavers, who also relied on the willow trees as a food source…,” said Jamie.

“and with the reintroduction of the wolves, the willow trees became stronger, providing shade for fish. Even the streams, rivers, lakes, and the creatures who live in them came back,” chimed in Casey.

“Now the willows provide refuge for songbirds,” laughed Jamie, adding, “and that’s how an ecosystem works.”

“We must have read the same article,” said Casey.

Jamie laughed.

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This is Janet Mason reading an excerpt from my novel in process, I AM the WOLF, a novel of ecology and rewilding for BookTube, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

CINNAMON, my most recent published novel, is available on amazon.com: Cinnamon: A dairy cow’s (and her farmer’s) path to freedom: Mason, Janet: 9781958419786: Amazon.com: Books

CINNAMON is also available through your local bookstore and library

(just ask them to order it if they don’t have it).

For more information on my novel THEY, a biblical tale of secret genders published by Adelaide Books click here.

To learn more about The Unicorn, The Mystery, click here:

The Unicorn, The Mystery now available from Adelaide Books — #amreading #FaithfullyLGBT

For more information on my novel Loving Artemis, an endearing tale of revolution, love, and marriage, click here.

To order my book Tea Leaves, a memoir of mothers and daughters, click here.