Stonington library’s Seaside Series opens with author Ret Talbot

Talbot to discuss resurgence of white shark population in the western North Atlantic

Author Ret Talbot will be joined by scientific illustrator Karen Talbot, who created the images and maps in the book. Photo by Upsplash.

June 23, 2026

By Staff

STONINGTON—The Stonington Public Library’s will welcome author Ret Talbot on July 1 as part of their annual Seaside Series. Talbot will be presenting from his book Chasing Shadows: Unravelling the Mysteries of the Great White Shark from 12:00-1:00 at Small Cove Park.

Return of the white shark to Maine waters is an ‘extraordinary conservation success story.’ Photo courtesy of Stonington Public Library.

According to a press release, Talbot is an award winning independent journalist, author and science writer who frequently covers animals and oceans for publications like National Geographic, Discover and Mongabay. Chasing Shadows: Unravelling the Mysteries of the Great White Shark is Talbot’s most recent book length project, the release said. He wrote the book with shark biologist Greg Skomal about the resurgence of the white shark population in the western North Atlantic. “Ret's favorite place to be is in the field with scientists, learning their stories and the stories of the animals and ecosystems they study, and then telling those stories to a general audience,” the release said.

Talbot will discuss Chasing Shadows and the return of the white shark to Maine waters as “an extraordinary conservation success story but one with serious considerations for authorities, resource managers, public safety officials, and anyone who recreates in the ocean,” the release said. He will be joined by scientific illustrator Karen Talbot, who created the images and maps in the book and who has worked closely with shark biologists to illustrate our local sharks, including white sharks. The release said that she will gladly add a hand-drawn remarque of a white shark to the title page of any books purchased at the event.

The Seaside Series is held every Wednesday in July and August from 12:00-1:00 at Small Cove Park, 6 Atlantic Avenue, Stonington (behind Camden National Bank. For a full list of events, please visit www.stonington.lib.me.us.