Lauren St.John author page

Lauren St John biography

Lauren St John is a British author and conservationist, born in December 1966 in Gatooma, Rhodesia (now Kadoma, Zimbabwe). Raised on a farm and game reserve named Rainbow’s End, she grew up surrounded by animals, including a pet giraffe, which inspired much of her writing. After studying journalism in Africa, she moved to London, where she worked as a golf correspondent for The Sunday Times for nearly a decade.

St John’s debut children’s novel, The White Giraffe, was published in 2006 by Orion Children’s Books. The story follows Martine, an orphan who moves to a South African game reserve and discovers a magical connection with a rare white giraffe. The book is the first in the Animal Healer series and has been praised for its vivid portrayal of African wildlife and themes of conservation. It won the 2008 East Sussex Children’s Book Award and was shortlisted for several other regional awards.

Following the success of The White Giraffe, St John authored the Laura Marlin Mystery series, beginning with Dead Man’s Cove in 2010. The first book in the series won the 2011 Blue Peter Book of the Year Award. She also wrote the One Dollar Horse trilogy (2012–2014), which follows a teenager’s journey into the world of competitive horse racing, and the Kat Wolfe Investigates series (2018–2021), featuring a young detective and animal lover.

In addition to her children’s fiction, St John has written adult books, including biographies of musicians Steve Earle and Seve Ballesteros, and a memoir titled Rainbow’s End, published in 2007. Her young adult novel, The Glory, published in 2015, is a stand-alone equestrian thriller.

A passionate conservationist, St John is an Ambassador for the Born Free Foundation and the founder of Authors4Oceans.org, an initiative promoting environmental awareness among young readers. She is also a Patron of Mane Chance Animal Sanctuary. Her work continues to inspire readers with its blend of adventure, mystery, and advocacy for wildlife preservation.

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Book lists featuring Lauren St. John