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The Wordsmiths Story

Wordsmiths was established in 1998 as a small but dynamic partnership in the publishing sector. We have edited high-profile titles for major publishers such as Jonathan Ball, including Tony Leon’s autobiography On the Contrary, Mark Gevisser’s monumental biography of Thabo Mbeki The Dream Deferred, and Edward Griffiths’s chronicle of the Springbok rugby captaincy The Captains. Our own titles also cover various subject fields.

Among numerous conservation-related projects, we edited Jacana’s celebrated Discover the Magic eco-tourism series, and Trevor Carnaby’s Beat About the Bush. We helped develop Jacana’s guide to Ulusaba Game Reserve, and copy-edited their landmark 2008 publication Roberts Guide to Birds of the Kruger National Park.

rhino-stamp-artwork

Wordsmiths Nature is deeply committed to wildlife conservation. We support a highly effective rhino protection operation. For every wildlife Checklist sold we donate R 5-00 to help fund field work and the prosecution of poachers and rhino-horn agents.

The Plight of the Rhino

These are the wordsmiths

Owen

Publishing Director, author and editor

Owen Hendry is the founder of wordsmiths nature, and researcher and compiler of our wildlife checklists. He has over thirty published titles as author and co-author. His expertise in research and information-presentation shapes the design and development of our new Checklist series.

Lisa

Photography and Graphics

Lisa hendry is a fine art photographic specialist with a thriving newborn photography business in Atlanta, GA. All her photographic work is characterized by a simple, clean style with a strong emphasis on organic components – just perfect for Wordsmiths. Lisa’s imaginative sensitivity to the creative potential of natural light, in particular, gives a fresh vitality to familiar subjects. Her technical skill and eye for detail provide the foundation for our photography and graphics.

Michael

Photography

Michael hendry is a professional wildlife photographer in the making. Many of his photographs appear on our checklist covers, display box banners and marketing posters. He returns to his beloved Kruger Park whenever he can to add to his growing wildlife portfolio.

John

Web design and management

John hendry is the uncomplaining behind-the-scenes engine who gives Wordsmiths a voice and a face. Like all the members of the Wordsmiths team, he is dedicated to the protection of wildlife in South Africa and further afield, and plays an important role in our rhino-protection initiative.

Georges

Marketing and distribution

Georges and Sal Hebert are the owners of Wordsmiths Nature (and yes, there is an ‘s’ at the end of his name!) Georges, a former headmaster, brings management and organisational skills to the company, together with considerable computer and systems expertise.

Sal

marketing and distribution

Sal’s specialist field is biology, which provides a strong academic foundation for her interest in wildlife in general and her particular enthusiasm for birding.

Noel
Noel

Design and Pre-press

Noel McShane is the real person behind our wonderful design partner fabalula. His expertise in both hardware and software covers every discipline in the print industry, from project planning through electronic origination and file creation, to litho and digital production. he applies his creative magic from his home in Nova Scotia to transform our lists of animals and birds into the colourful, engaging wildlife and travel companions that pop off the press at the end of the line.