About Bravery

Bravery: A Baby Sea Turtle’s First Adventure is a children’s book, beautifully illustrated with full-page watercolor paintings.

It tells the story of a loggerhead sea turtle hatchling figuring out what/who she is as she begins to emerge from her egg, deep underneath the sand. She must navigate her way to the surface of the sand, along with her siblings, and then make her way safely to the ocean to begin her adventurous life as a sea turtle.

Picture of Bec standing on Topsail Island Beach wearing her turtle patrol shirt with her arms held out to the side with a sea turtle nest roped off in the background
Closeup photo of four baby sea turtles being helped into the ocean

The story is told from the baby sea turtle’s perspective. The imagery of the journey is both realistic and creative.

Author, Bec Martin, has volunteered for several years with the Topsail Turtle Project, a program of The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, located in Surf City, North Carolina. As a volunteer, Bec has observed many sea turtle nests and has been present when the hatchlings have emerged and made their way to the ocean. 

**This conservation work for protected sea turtles at #KBSTRRC and on Topsail Island is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 24ST05.

Turtle patrol volunteers smiling with a baby sea turtle egg after a hatching
Closeup photo of baby sea turtle being helped into the ocean
topsail-sea-turtle-project-logo

Book foreword provided by Kathy Zagzebski, Executive Director of The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. 

Bec hopes to inspire children all over the world to be brave, aided by the memory of this endearing story.

Reading level: 7-9 year olds

Meet the Author

From her previous work as a life coach, to her current role as a preschool teacher and children’s book author, Bec Martin loves to encourage others! She enjoys hanging out with her husband, two grown kids (as much as possible), and her dog, Sophie. She adores flowers, beach walks, and of course, sea turtles!

Bec has been a volunteer with the Topsail Turtle Project for several years as both a beach walker and a nest sitter. She has loved anything related to sea turtles since she was a young girl. This story came to Bec after observing many sea turtle nests hatch.

Meet the Illustrator

After retiring in 2019, from 30 years in IT sales in the Washington DC area, Lisa T. Myers went back to her roots and passion for creating art. As her artistic journey continues to mature, she has been focused on mixed media abstract art.

Lisa states that abstract art is wild, passionate, and imaginative. Her work is fun and whimsical. She does commission work and is a member of the Art League of Leland, the Wilmington Art Association, the Brunswick Art Council, and the Cameron Art Museum.

To learn more about Lisa’s work, visit her website here or follow along on her Instagram.

“It takes bravery to write a book, and Bec Martin is definitely brave. In “Bravery: A Baby Sea Turtle’s First Adventure,” Bec imagines what a hatchling turtle might experience as they make their way from the egg, through the nest, across the sand, and to the ocean. Her engaging imagery of the journey is both realistic and creative. I encourage everybody to read, to imagine, and to find their inner bravery!”

-Kathy Zagzebski, Executive Director of The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center surf City, North Carolinalogo

A FEW THINGS I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT, BY THE AUTHOR

Shout out to my friend and fellow author, Noelle Salazar, for some of my favorite historical fiction reads and my sidekick, @sophie_thesheepadoodle.

Interview the Author🐢

  • "I have loved sea turtles ever since I was a little girl and was so excited to start volunteering with the Topsail Turtle Project, as a beach walker, when I quit working in the corporate world and had a more flexible schedule. Being fortunate enough to observe several sea turtle nests hatch, I started wondering what the experience was like for the tiny hatchlings. I imagine the majority of their early actions are instinctual, but I like to imagine the emotions they “might” be feeling."

  • "I had absolutely no idea how to get the manuscript from the blog post format it originated as into a physical book! Getting started was the hardest part. Fortunately, everything is a Google search away! I am also blessed to have an author friend who expertly guided me through much of the process. Thank you to J.M. Wallace!

    Pro Tip: don’t be afraid to ask for advice and guidance."

  • "Definitely seeing the finished product!! I also love getting pictures of children holding my book, or having it read to them by somebody they love."

Want to read Bec’s featured interview with Shoutout North Carolina for more details? ✨

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org!

Hardcovers available where books are sold. Paperbacks available on Amazon.