Children's Author
The Silver Shadow (coming in 2025)
By Mariesa Dulak & Alea Marley
A little girl finds a baby shark stranded in a rock pool. She tries to help it, but her big brother Sam and his friends have other ideas. Can she protect the shark until high tide? A story about siblings, protecting the natural world and standing up for what you believe in.
‘Seeing my characters come to life through an illustrator’s work is the best feeling. I’ve been lucky to work with publishers who have an eye for the perfect ‘pairing’ and super-talented illustrators who bring their own unique style, skill and energy to every project.’
Mariesa Dulak
The Inspiration
This book was inspired by my dad’s adventures when he was growing up in Barbados. One day he and his friends found a baby shark in a rock pool. They caught it, sold it to a fisherman, and spent the money on sweets. But when they got home the sweets were gone and no-one believed them. That’s when my dad realised that perhaps the shark had been more special than the sweets.
I loved this story as a child. Finding a shark in a rock pool sounded magical and scary all at once. Sharks are incredible creatures. They were around before the dinosaurs and are a crucial part of the ocean’s ecosystem, but sadly many shark species are now on the brink of extinction.
Alea Marley is a children’s illustrator living and working by the seaside in England. Like my own, Alea’s family roots are from Barbados.
