
ISBN: 9781990048708
Paperback / softback
184 Pages
Subjects:
Memoirs
Miriam Sharland's eco-memoir Heart Stood Still is the latest title in the Ka Haea Te Ata series from Otago University Press, a series dedicated to casting light on issues of importance in Aotearoa New Zealand today.
In early 2020 Sharland was nearing the end of a 17-year adventure in Aotearoa New Zealand. A desire to return to family and the familiar was pulling her back to her homeland, England. When Covid put an end to her travel plans, she found herself facing isolation in Manawatū instead. Despite her initial unhappiness, Sharland came to see this strange and unexpected time as a gift – an opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the home she'd known for many years but had not fully seen or appreciated. Her explorations were grounding, and she began to examine what it means to truly 'belong'.
Heart Stood Still is a record of Sharland's journey towards finding healing in the world's natural beauty, a beauty that we must fight to protect in the current climate crisis. It is both a memoir and a lyrical portrait of Manawatū. Through a series of personal essays that follow the pattern of the seasons, Sharland skilfully weaves reflections on her life and family history with observations on the native and introduced plants and animals about her; all tinged with her experience as 'an unsettled settler' in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Readers who enjoy books such as Olivia Laing's To the River (2017), Ingrid Horrocks' Where We Swim (2020) and Patricia Grace's From the Centre (2021) will appreciate the quiet, contemplative nature of Heart Stood Still.
Miriam Sharland is a writer and editor focusing on creative non-fiction, travel, biography/memoir and natural history. Based in England and Aotearoa New Zealand, her essays, reviews and features have appeared in numerous books, journals, magazines and newspapers, and online. These include Dark Mountain, Reader's Digest, The Dominion Post, Headland and Adventure Travel. In 2021 she was awarded a writing grant from the Earle Creativity Trust and in 2022 she was runner-up in the New Zealand Society of Authors Central Districts summer essay competition. Heart Stood Still is her first book.
We understand the importance of accessibility for all of our customers, including those with disabilities. While our website may not currently meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, we are actively working towards compliance and constantly seeking ways to improve the user experience for all of our customers.
To that end, we have implemented a variety of accessibility tools provided by third-party app, AppifyCommerce. These tools include features such as keyboard navigation, high contrast mode, font resizing, and alternative text for images read focus, various cursor sizes. We have also incorporated tools to help with visual impairments, such as screen readers and text-to-speech functionality.
In addition to these technical solutions, we have also made a commitment to providing clear and easy-to-understand information on our website. This includes using simple and straightforward language, providing alternative text for images and videos, and including clear and detailed product descriptions.
We understand that accessibility is an ongoing effort and that there may be areas of our website that are not fully accessible. If you have any difficulty accessing our website or have any suggestions for improvements, please contact us at [email or phone number]. We will make every effort to respond to your request as soon as possible and work towards resolving any issues you may have encountered.
We also strive to provide equal access to our products and services, including our online store and customer service channels. So, we are always open to feedback, suggestions, and ideas on how we can continue to improve accessibility on our website and in all aspects of our business.
Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all of our customers, regardless of ability, have a positive and seamless experience when visiting our website and purchasing from our store. Thank you for visiting our store and for your patience as we continue to work towards full compliance with the WCAG guidelines.