The Will of Heaven | An Inspirational Sobriety Memoir

The Will of Heaven is an inspirational sobriety memoir and one of those rare true stories about addiction that stays with you long after the last page. It follows Debbie Ethell’s journey from homelessness and addiction to a life in elephant conservation, where her path becomes intertwined with true elephant stories that reflect her own fight to survive and rebuild.

Book cover for The Will of Heaven, a true story about addiction featuring true elephant stories; shown in watercolor as a girl and an elephant reach out to each other.

An Inspiring True Story About Elephants, Alcoholism, and Hope

For those seeking an inspirational sobriety memoir, this raw and unflinching true story of addiction, recovery, and redemption DOES. NOT. DISAPPOINT. Woven together with fascinating true elephant stories, it will leave you breathless, hopeful, and forever changed.

Author smiling at a bookstore book signing with The Will of Heaven, a sobriety journey like any other.

The author, Debbie Ethell, at a book event in Petosky, Michigan.

Author in side profile standing in front of a row of elephant bones researching her elephant books.

Elephant Mountain

Continue the journey with Elephant Mountain, the second book in The Will of Heaven series, where the story of the Oregon Zoo elephants reveals a haunting mystery that will keep you turning pages until the very end.

Read On…

What People Are Saying…

Recognized as a top-ranked true story of addiction and a BookLife Prize favorite, The Will of Heaven has captivated readers and critics alike. These reviews reflect the emotional power of a memoir that masterfully blends a scientist’s personal recovery with unforgettable true elephant stories of the Kenyan wild.

Congratulatory badge for The Will of Heaven by Debbie Ethell, featured in BookAuthority’s Best Alcoholism Books of All Time, with award seal and book cover.
-BookAuthority Award #7 out of 1000
Quote from BookLife Prize 2020 praising the exemplary prose of The Will of Heaven by Debbie Ethell.
-BookLife Prize 2020
Quote from BookLife Prize 2020 praising the exemplary prose of The Will of Heaven by Debbie Ethell.
-Kyrsten Schenck
Quote from BookLife Prize 2020 praising the exemplary prose of The Will of Heaven by Debbie Ethell.
-Michael Leiser
Quote from BookLife Prize 2020 praising the exemplary prose of The Will of Heaven by Debbie Ethell.
-Michael Stuchiner
Quote from BookLife Prize 2020 praising the exemplary prose of The Will of Heaven by Debbie Ethell.
-RK Hansen
Quote from BookLife Prize 2020 praising the exemplary prose of The Will of Heaven by Debbie Ethell.
-Runar Ness
Quote from BookLife Prize 2020 praising the exemplary prose of The Will of Heaven by Debbie Ethell.
-Sarah Bader

Purchase Options

*All formats are available everywhere books are sold

BOOKS

This is one of the good books to read on life! Order your paperback or hardcover at Barnes & Noble, Powell’s Books, Amazon, or anywhere books are sold.

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powell’s books
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Book cover for The Will of Heaven: A true story of addiction and recovery told through true elephant stories in Kenya.

EBOOK

Looking for one of those books that stays with you? The Will of Heaven is one of the best memoirs to read on sobriety, elephants, and hope. Get your digital copy on Everand, Barnes & Noble, Kindle, or at any major retailer.

Everand
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eBook cover of The Will of Heaven: An Inspiring True Story About Elephants, Alcoholism, and Hope by Debbie Ethell displayed on a tablet.

AUDIOBOOK

Love to listen on the go? The Will of Heaven was listed as one of the best elephant audiobooks available on Audible. A sobriety journey that will move you to tears, remind you of the resilience of human spirit, and leave you with a profound appreciation for elephants. The best part … it’s read by the author! Stream on Audible, Barnes & Noble, or wherever you listen.

Audible
Barnes & Noble
Audiobook cover of The Will of Heaven: An Inspiring True Story About Elephants, Alcoholism, and Hope by Debbie Ethell with headphones resting on top.

The Will of Heaven
Book in Pictures

Side profile of Edwin Lusichi in green jacket and hat smiling brightly at Debbie who is mid-sentence wearing a blue sleeveless dress with pink scarf. There is a large crowd behind them.
With elephant keeper, Edwin Lusichi, in Nairobi, Kenya
Debbie holding a microphone, dressed up in a long, velvety green/yellow sleeveless dress, long black satin gloves, hair pulled back exposing large gold hoop earrings. Her head is leaned back as if she is signing into the microphone or laughing. Behind her is a curtain of bright blue metallic streamers.
Hosting an event…wasted
Debbie with her hair pulled back in a bun wearing a tan shirt and a metal elephant necklace is resting her hand underneath the tusk of a large elephant standing right next to her. The elephant's eye is nearly level with Debbie's and you just see their two heads side by side.
An orphaned elephant in Tsavo NP, Kenya
Debbie wearing a red and blue Diamonds softball uniform on the mound mid-pitch. Next to her is the first baseman and an umpire crouched into position.
Early days of softball pitching
Debbie standing on a tall rock in the foreground off to one side beaming for the camera. She is wearing a silver metal elephant necklace and a khaki shirt. Below her is a herd of about 20 wild elephants standing in the shade of a tree.
First day in Voi, Kenya
The Huskies North Marion softball team just after the state championship game holding a trophy. Debbie is sharing the trophy with another player.
My Hall of Fame softball team after the state championship
Five-year-old Debbie wearing a tank top and shorts hanging off the side of a tractor smiling for the camera. She has long blonde hair and large brown eyes.
On the farm at five years old
The packaging of a Lumilite Flashlight. On it is a photo of Debbie and male friend dressed in hiking gear standing on tall rock pointing at something in the distance.
Cast in a Lumilight flashlight campaign
A view from behind showing a tiny boy, aged three, holding hands with Debbie wearing a black jacket and black and white tights, as they walk down a railroad track.
With my nephew and favorite tiny human
Debbie standing in front of a red colored waterhole with several elephants playing in the mud behind her. The sky is bright blue with several large puffy clouds.
A waterhole in Voi, Kenya
Four girls dancing for the camera lined in a row facing the camera. Debbie is in the middle and you can see people dancing in the background.
The night I earned the name “Disco” at Taft College
In the middle of a tense softball game. Debbie, in full catching gear, holding her mask is on the mound speaking with her sister, Carrie, the pitcher. Carrie's long brown hair is woven into several long french braids down her back. They are both in uniform and look serious.
My sister and I in the state championship gmae
A shot of Mishak Nzimbi, a black man wearing a bright green overcoat and a hat. His arms are crossed over the half-door of a stall. He looks warm and friendly.
The elephant whisperer himself, Mishak Nzimbi
A poloroid shot of Debbie with her hair pulled back and several large bloody cuts etched on her cheek. She is in the make-up trailer on the set of "Under Suspicion."
On the set of “Under Suspicion”
Debbie wearing a Huskies uniform on the mound in the middle of a pitch in a softball game. There is one infielder and an outfielder behind her crouched into position.
Varsity softball pitcher in high school
A black and white photo of a film set, outdoors. Three actors, of which Debbie is in the middle, are sitting in the grass with a picnic atmosphere, while a cameraman behind a huge camera is off to one side and a man holding a clapper is standing behind them. Everyone is looking at someone off-screen speaking to them.
On the set of “The Moritifed Man”
Debbie surrounded by the two Edwins: Edwin Ibrahim on her left and Edwin Lusichi on her right. All are smiling brightly for the camera.
The two Edwin’s in Nairobi, Kenya. My driver (L), the elephant keeper (R).
Black and white headshot of Debbie for the author photo of The Will of Heaven book. A side profile of Debbie's face showing her laughing, eyes closed, long eyelashes, white teeth and long blonde slighly curled hair cascading down her shoulders. She is wearing a black shirt.
The author photo for The Will of Heaven taken by Dave Lutz
Two little girls in matching outfits. On the left is Debbie's sister Carrie, aged three, and Debbie aged five. They are wearing red striped dresses sitting on a yellow box smiling for the camera.
My baby sister Carrie and I
Debbie standing far away on a large rock surrounded by water. Trees frame the view and sun beams down from above. The New York skyline overlooks the lake.
Taking a quiet moment in Central Park, New York
Lumilite Flashlight packaging showing Debbie and male friend sitting in front of a tent next to a large lake. There is a canoe pulled up on shore next to them. They are in hiking/camping gear and a backpack is resting against a blue tent.
Cast in a Lumilite flashlight campaign
Debbie in a Cleopatra costume, with a purple and pink colored corsette and long dress, with a black wigand bangs and heavy eye makeup with her hand extended to a gentleman, also in costume, dressed in all black like one of Caesar's guards, who is eating out of her hand. They are in front of dressing room lights backstage at the Portland Opera production of "Julius Caesar."
Backstage at the Portland Opera’s production of “Julius Caesar”
Laura leaning back in a seat on a bus. Her bright blonde hair is just below her ears with three small rubber bands pulling back the hair from her face. She has a huge smile and is wearing a light blue tank top with tan skin.
Beautiful Laura…missed but never forgotten
Side profile shot of Debbie and an elephant looking at each other. Debbie's hair is pulled back into a bun and she's wearing a gray backpack. The elephant is large and red-colored and has a curvy shaped ear that was previously cut and now healed in a unique pattern.
Meeting the matriarch Lesanju
Three girls sitting on a ledge overlooking an enormous mountain not far in the distance. Laura, laughing wearing shorts and sunglasses, Debbie in the middle turned back and laughing with her eyes closed wearing a baseball cap and tank top and shorts and Stephanie caught mid-sentence saying something to Debbie also wearing a short sleeve shirt. It looks like the three are having the time of their lives climbing Mt. Adams.
Laura, myself, and Stephanie in the early days of sobriety climbing Mt. Adams
Debbie and a fellow actor in a high school classroom set of Mr. Holland's Opus between takes. The boy has an afro of red hair and Debbie is dressed like she is in the 1970s. They are sitting at a desk smiling for the camera.
On the set of “Mr. Holland’s Opus”
Debbie embracing a fellow actor posing for the camera. Debbie is wearing a layered, brightly-colored skirt with white fluffly half-shirt while her partner, the actor Courtney Gains, is wearing all back. The photo was taken moments after the two won a Rhumba Dance competition.
Moments after winning a Rhumba competition with the actor Courtney Gains (Children of the Corn, Sweet Home Alabama)
Half-body shot of Leslie and Debbie. Leslie is wearing a long dress with black sweater, red glasses, and shoulder-length blonde hair. Debbie is in her cap and gown for her college graduation.
Leslie and I at my college graduation…a lifelong dream for us both
Four friends smiling for the camera. They are all dressed up. Debbie is on the right standing with the actor John Leguizamo and another couple on the left.
WIth John Leguizamo and friends at the premiere of his one man show
Black and white headshot of Debbie, aged 17. She has shoulder length blonde-hair and is smiling warmly for the camera with perfect white teeth and big brown eyes.
My first acting headshot, age 17
Close up of Edwin Ibrahim, Debbie's friend and driver in Kenya, wearing a white fedora hat, crisp white business shirt with a suit jacket smiling widely for the camera.
Edwin Ibrahim (my driver and friend) in Kenya
An image of Leslie, Debbie, and Tina all smiling brightly for the camera. Leslie is wearing dark glasses, has shoulder-length blonde hair and wearing a white dress, Debbie is wearing a black dress with a black chunky necklace and Tina is wearing a black and white dress with shoulder-length blonde hair. This image was taken at the wedding where Debbie was ordained to marry her friends, Matt and Kristen.
Leslie (L) and Tina (R) celebrate at Matt Johnson’s wedding, where I was preordained to officiate the ceremony