Sharing Our Horizon

Sharing Our Horizon is our first book with a selection of poems and photographs from our blog, especially created to help raise funds for animal rehoming shelters.

We are delighted the book is available in paperback, Apple Book, ebook and Kindle format.

The paperback edition can be ordered through local bookshops, Indie Bound,  Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Fishpond, Adlibris, Bookshop, Waterstones, and any other high street and online bookstore connected to the Ingram distribution network, as well as through Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon France, Amazon Australia and all other Amazon sites, worldwide.

The Apple Book can be downloaded from Apple Books in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

The ebook is available on Barnes & Noble Nook, Google Play, Wook, Gardners and many more.

The Kindle edition is available via Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Australia, Amazon France, Amazon Japan and Amazon worldwide.

The book contains sixty poems and sixty photographs from Whippet Wisdom that capture daily moments in the Scottish Highlands with our adopted whippets, Eivor and Pearl.

The majority of poems are a modern take on the ancient Japanese poetry forms of haibun, haiku and tanka. Traditionally, these poems begin with quiet poetic observation and conclude with a moment of philosophical or spiritual insight. They are written in rhythm with the seasons and the fluctuations of the weather within those seasons.

Like the traditional haiku poets, I would describe haiku as a way of life, a way to look and marvel at nature and see the magic in the ordinary. To me, this is very much in the spirit of how our dogs look at the joys of the everyday and the beauty nature offers. By capturing these moments in a few words others can experience a glimpse of what we see and connect it to their own experience.

For those who are interested in finding out more about the history of these Japanese poetry forms, the book offers a helpful section ‘About the Poetry Forms’ at the back of the book as well as a Bibliography for further reading.

The overall theme of the poems and images is how rewarding adopting a rescue dog can be, how they enjoy being part of a pack and how they thrive when allowed to spend time in natural settings. The natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands is visible in the images throughout.

Sixty per cent of net profits from the sale of this book are shared with animal rehoming charities at the end of each financial year. The remaining forty per cent will be invested in future projects.

FURTHER DETAILS:

Author: Xenia Tran; Photographs by Xenia Tran.

Cover and Print Book Design: John Hubbard.

Ebook Design: Darlene Swanson.

Publication Date: 30 September 2018.

Published by: Holistic Linguistics, Nairn, UK.

Paperback Edition ISBN: 978-1-9164704-2-2
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-9164704-0-8
Kindle Edition ISBN: 978-1-9164704-1-5

Please click on the cover for a peek inside …

… or scan the QR Code below:

DISTRIBUTION:

Libraries and Bookstores can order Sharing Our Horizon through Indie Bound, Gardners, Barnes & Noble, Peter Pal, James Bennett and all other Ingram Global Book Group Distribution Partners.

REVIEWS:

Cathy Ryan from Between the Lines – Books ‘N’ Stuff posted a beautiful review in which she says:

‘I enjoy the poetry, prose and photographs to be found on Xenia’s blog Whippet Wisdom, very much. Xenia has put together a wonderful selection of her work in her debut release, Sharing Our Horizon.

If you’re a dog and/or nature lover this could be a book for you or a lovely gift for someone you know, and at the same time you’d be helping rescue centres care for and rehome abandoned and abused animals, with 60% of the proceeds going to animal charities. Inside Sharing Our Horizon there are a collection of beautiful photographs and poems, stunning scenery and two gorgeous rescue whippets having fun and enjoying life in the Scottish Highlands. Beaches, glens, forests, sea views and mountains – this book has them all, the photographs complemented by wonderful tanka, haiku and haibun (and vice versa). Here’s one of my favourite verses …

‘when days cool down
sky unfolds her warmest
blanket of colours’

Calming and inspiring, it’s the perfect book to dip into and appreciate anew each time.’

To read the full text of Cathy’s post please click here.

Anna Rashbrook from So Where’s the Snow? says:

‘I don’t usually do book reviews, but this book just blew me away! Like me, many of you followers are dog lovers, Haiku writers and a great many are photographers. This book has it all!

Xenia shares her Highland journey through the seasons with two adopted whippets, a poet and a camera. Beautifully presented in ebook and real book, 60% of the net profits each year will be shared with re-homing charities, what more could you want! Christmas is coming!!!

Of course, she’s a Word Press blogger too!’

WHAT READERS HAVE SAID:

‘Inspiring poetry with lovely photographs. Xenia’s combination of photography and poetry makes you want to pick up this book again and again! Eivor, Pearl and Xenia share their experiences in the Highlands and make me want to go out there and wander the trails and let the gorgeous landscape inspire me!’ (Frank, USA)

‘Your lovely book arrived and brightened my day. It’s precious. It’s lovely.’ (Martin, UK)

‘What a lovely book! I enjoyed reading it and the photos are a delight. I shall give a donation to our local dog charity in your name.’ (Carole, UK)

‘This is such a beautiful book, I love everything about it. The poems and photographs are simply lovely. I am deeply moved and have just made a donation to our local rehoming charity.’ (Christine, UK)

‘A beautiful, soulful book. “Sharing Our Horizon” combines poetry, breathtaking scenery and two rescued whippets – Pearl and Eivor. Xenia Tran, the author, follows these dogs through the seasons, and the sparse, lovely poetry seems to illuminate their inner lives, the landscape, and ultimately, our inner lives.’ (Laurie, USA)

At the end of the 2018-19 tax year we are delighted to have sponsored two kennels at the SSPCA (Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), one kennel for the Macau Greyhounds at the Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary and made a donation to DOTS (Dogs on the Streets). You can read more about these donations in Thank You for Spreading the Love.

At the end of the 2019-2020 tax year we are delighted to have donated food bowls, dry food, wet food, senior food, dog treats and other items from their wish-list to DOTS (Dogs on the Streets) who have done the most amazing work during the Covid-19 pandemic helping the homeless and their dogs. You can read more about this donation in Supporting Dots.

At the end of the 2020-2021 tax year we are delighted to have donated food bowls, dry food, wet food, senior food and dental chews from their wish-list to DOTS (Dogs on the Streets) who have continued to do the most amazing work for the homeless and their dogs during the pandemic. You can read more about this donation in Our Continued Support for Dots.

At the end of the 2021-2022 tax year we are delighted to have donated £105 from our proceeds and royalties to Give a Greyhound a Home (GAGAH), a non-profit organisation dedicated to rehoming ex-racing greyhounds and ex-working lurchers throughout Scotland, run by a dedicated team of volunteers who give their time and effort for free. You can read more about this donation in Supporting GAGAH.

At the end of the 2022-2023 tax year we are delighted to have sponsored two kennels at the SSPCA (Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) at SSPCA Caithness & Sutherland and SSPCA Lanarkshire, in memory of Eivor and Pearl. You can read more about this donation in Resting by the Loch.

With love from Xenia xxx