Turtles without a Sandy Beach

Turtles Without a Sandy Beach is more than just a book— it’s a journey through memory, survival, and healing. Told through the lyrical power of poetry and grounded in real-life events, this collection weaves together the voices of Sri Lankan Tamil survivors whose lives were shaped by the long and devastating civil war.

Through striking nature photography and deeply personal trauma narratives, the book brings readers into three distinct but connected worlds: the haunting memories of those who lived through the war in Sri Lanka, the often-overlooked role of wildlife and the natural world amidst conflict, and the ongoing lives of refugees who now call Australia home.

Divided into three poignant parts, Turtles Without a Sandy Beach explores the emotional terrain of war and exile. It reflects on the enduring scars of trauma, while also tracing the slow, fragile path to healing. This is a book that listens—to the silence after the bombs, to the whispers of the forest, and to the resilience of those who have endured the unimaginable.