If you live life without a net, what happens when you fall?

Kathleen Cremonesi knew early on she wanted to be different. Determined to avoid following in her mother’s footsteps to an ill-fated marriage, Kathleen left Oregon in her early 20s to travel across Europe. On a whim, this former administrative assistant with wanderlust took a job as a dancer in an Italian circus and, working her way up, became an ostrich-riding, shark-taming showgirl.

Kathleen bonds with the exotic animals that could strike and kill at any moment, but instead bring her a peace she has never known. And when she stumbles into the arms of Stefano, the sexy elephant keeper, she finds a man who understands her wild spirit.

With thrilling prose and vivid descriptions, Kathleen takes the reader around the Mediterranean, where she discovers unexpected friends and learns how to cook, forgive, and love — across language barriers.

Kathleen Cremonesi's profile page

• Winner, IPPY

Kathleen Cremonesi now lives near Eugene, Oregon, with her husband and a family of cats and dogs. She had the honour of volunteering at a Thai elephant sanctuary that she still supports with charitable contributions. This is her first book.

“Kathleen's journey toward self-discovery is enthralling . . . the descriptions of life in the circus, the animals, and the spectacle put on every night vividly take readers into the experience.” — Publishers Weekly

“Cremonesi’s memoir is saturated with descriptive language and emotion . . . Readers looking for stories of self-discovery, as well as fans of Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants (2006), will enjoy this title.” — Booklist

"Love in the Elephant Tent is a perfect coming-of-age memoir filled with beautiful scenic descriptions, fascinating adventures, and an emotional journey through the human heart that will have you engrossed until the very last page." — A Cup of Tea with that Book, Please

"One of the most invigorating descriptions of backstage life that I have ever read . . . Whatever your views on circus animals, Cremonesi’s experiences will definitely provide food for thought. Her book is recommended reading for anyone who wants to know what life in the circus is really like." — Blasting News

“If you love the circus, you will love this memoir. If you hate this circus, you will still love this memoir. . . Her writing voice is as interesting and rich as the experiences she shares in the book. She may have found love in the elephant tent; I found a fascinating woman in the pages of a book.” — Bibliotica