Hi, I'm Sophie: writer and curator of Gatherings for the Natural World. I started out writing novels about life, love and loss. These days, through books and gatherings, I bring people closer to the ocean, the forest and the creatures we share them with.

My debut, The Girl with Nine Wigs, tells the story of my battle with illness through my nine wigs. The book travelled further than I ever imagined: it was published in over 20 countries and adapted into a film, and Alibaba is now developing a Chinese remake. My latest novel, The Possibility of You, is a love story between two millennials in Paris, about loneliness and unfulfilled dreams in the age of social media.

Over the years, my writing turned more and more towards nature. It began with The Whispering Forest, an audio story I created with WWF Netherlands to support their campaign to protect Europe's last primary forests. In support of Sea Shepherd I published The Girl and the Shark, inspired by my real-life shark hero Cristina Zenato. My children's book Shark Heroes is the first part of my Ocean Trilogy. I am now writing the second part, Whale Warriors, which comes out in Dutch in spring 2027. The thrird and final part will be Coral Knights. I am represented by Komedia Management, who handle the English-language rights to the Ocean Trilogy. 

From an artist hub at Danzigerbocht 59 in Amsterdam I curate Gatherings for the Natural World: dinners, screenings and evenings around the ocean and the jungle that bring people together for the wild places we need to protect. Our jungle evenings donate all proceeds to Junglekeepers. Our vegetarian ocean dinners tell the true story of the ocean and support ocean conservation. Interested in hosting or joining a gathering? Do get in touch.

The Girl and the Shark is self-published, so you won't find it in regular bookshops. To order a copy, email me at sophie@sophievanderstap.nl, or if you're in New York, visit McNally Jackson."

Thank you for visiting! 🦈