The Will of Heaven : An Award-Winning Memoir Series (Elephant Books Non-Fiction)
What began as a search to understand elephants became a journey of discovering who I was. In The Will of Heaven series, I share my story of overcoming homelessness and addiction and how I eventually found myself on the grass plains of Kenya, overlooking Heaven—a group of wild elephants I’d followed through books and research since I was eight years old.
At 35, I found myself back in a classroom, starting with a fifth-grade education and a 12-year-old tutor who taught me how numbers communicated with each other like pretty words on a page. I worked my way through statistics and calculus, one equation at a time, over six years until I finally earned a degree that takes most people four. My journey is proof that anything is possible, that’s it’s never too late to begin, to change your life, or follow your dreams. As someone once brilliantly said to me:
“How old will you be if you don’t?”
Why Readers Love This Series
A powerful nonfiction series, blending real-life elephant stories with personal human experience.
Among the most moving memoirs to read, exploring resilience, transformation, and connection.
Combines unforgettable elephant stories with depth, meaning, and true-life inspiration.
Book One
The Will of Heaven: An Inspiring True Story About Elephants, Alcoholism, and Hope
The Will of Heaven is a powerful nonfiction book about animals and an inspirational sobriety story. Rising from the courtrooms of her past to the grass plains of Kenya, Debbie Ethell transforms her life while pursuing a lifelong dream of working with wild elephants.
This deeply personal story weaves together unforgettable elephant stories with a journey of resilience, purpose, and healing. It is especially compelling for readers drawn to the category of “Best Addiction Memoirs” and true stories of transformation.
When a Book Actually Changes You
To say the least, I sit here knocked on my ass!
Simply epic and life changing.
I have read many books on a variety of topics (for both education and pleasure) and can say with 100% certainty, that I enjoyed and learned a lot from many of them. They all made me smarter, more open-minded and better at what I do but, none of them left me floored or speechless. Someone in my life told me when I was a young boy that if I am lucky, one day I will read a book that will change my life forever. This person told me to be ready as it will literally knock me on my ass.
To SAY THE LEAST, I SIT HERE KNOCKED ON MY ASS!
I received Debbie’s book on a Sunday and the second I began to read it, I did not want to put it down. For the next 3 days, every spare moment I had was dedicated to reading her book. To describe the words in her book as epic and profound is a massive understatement and does it no justice. To describe the author and every person she speaks of in this book as courageous is an understatement and does them all no justice. To read about every person she talks about with such amazing detail and love is indescribable. To say this book has profoundly effected every thought, idea, emotion, and feeling is also an understatement. Finally, to say that I had to clean my reading glasses off from all the tears coming down my face is a huge understatement.
There are many mornings I wake up, take a deep breath and ask myself if there is hope for people and society as a whole. For people to stop being distracted by all the imaginary nonsense and what I like to call “stuff collecting” and focus on what’s important. Debbie Ethell’s brilliant mind and courageous heart give me great hope that wonderful people exist and are pushing us in a good direction.
If this book does not sell millions of copies, there will be millions of people who are missing out on a story of truly amazing people and animals.
I want to thank Debbie Ethell from the bottom of my heart for having the courage to open her heart and tell her story. You, all the people and elephants in your book, once again, give me great hope and belief in human nature.
Mike Stuchiner
Amazon Review – Nov 22, 2019
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book Two
Elephant Mountain : A Remarkable True Story About Elephants, Fate, and Echoes from the Past
In the second part of her elephant conservation memoir series, Elephant Mountain continues Debbie Ethell’s journey through wildlife conservation and personal discovery. Drawn by a fascination with an elephant skull, she is swept into a gripping true story rooted in mystery and intrigue.
What unfolds is a haunting historical account involving a tragic love story between two individuals, each killed by elephants they raised. This nonfiction book about animals blends investigative discovery with emotional depth, revealing the complext relationship between humans and elephants.
FAQ’s
Yes, they are based on my own real experiences in elephant conservation and personal transformation.
The series is generally recommended for readers aged 11 and older, as it deals with some mature and emotionally difficult themes. While it is accessible to older children and teens, certain material may be disturbing, so parental guidance is advised. The books also explore challenging real-life events and reflect the idea that understanding difficult history is important, even when it is uncomfortable.
They combine real elephant stories and science with a my own deeply personal experience of getting sober.
Yes! They are often chosen as good books to read for book clubs due to their themes of resilience and transformation and, of course, the powerful elephant stories.