Shark Tale

Kim Harvey
Aug 25
2 min read

Last week i was scrolling with the TV remote and came across Shark with Steve Backshall and the whole household was instantly transfixed. The beauty and variety of these often misunderstood and misrepresented creatures.

Did you know the smallest shark when fully grown is about 30cm and a Blue Shark has fins that resemble an aeroplane!

I feel that any information we can absorb about the water on our planet and the creatures that live in it is vital to the survival of planet earth and with that in mind we are thrilled to welcome shark specialist and author Sophie Maycock to Burford Literary Festival 2025.

Sophie fell in love with sharks “by complete accident”. She said: “After finishing my A Levels, I didn’t know what I wanted to do so decided to take a gap year.

“I volunteered in South Africa with great white sharks, and it was a life-changing experience. I thought I’d have a high-octane, toothy, Jaws moment and come back and sound cool to my friends.

"Instead, I was shocked by what they were like – they were so peaceful and I thought, ‘I love these animals and I want to work with them’.”

After a biology undergraduate degree, Sophie completed a master’s degree in shark behaviour and conservation as well as spending time travelling and seeing sharks in the wild.

During the Covid pandemic, Sophie started a website, Shark Speak, sharing her love for and knowledge of sharks.

She said: “I discovered a weird, little niche. I love science but really enjoy writing. I want scientists to reach out to the public more and close the gap.”

The website caught the attention of Dr Dan Abel who liked Sophie’s writing style and thought she would be a “good voice” for a book he had been offered a contract to write.

Sophie said: “People misunderstand sharks and think they’re terrifying and dangerous. Of course, they are potentially dangerous, but people seem to think they’re more dangerous than they are. You’re more likely to be killed by your toaster.

“I like that they’re misunderstood in that way and maybe I can change people’s minds.