Elaine Miller Bond is the author of THE PUPFISH HERO: Who Found Bravery and Buckets . . . AND SAVED A SPECIES! (Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association) a picture book biography of courageous and compassionate fishery biologist, Edwin “Phil” Pister. She is the author and photographer of WILD COLORS OF THE WEST, RUNNING WILD, and LIVING WILD (Heyday Books) — fun board books about wildlife and wild places.

She photographed the scientific book, THE UTAH PRAIRIE DOG (University of Utah Press), by Dr. Theodore Manno and wrote the foreword to his second book, SWAMP RAT (The University Press of Mississippi). Her photographs have appeared on Discovery Channel Canada and publishing credits include Science, NPR online, BBC Earth News, The American Naturalist, The Washington Post, Scholastic (My Big World with Clifford), Bay Nature Magazine, and scientific and popular books. Within days of publication, her photo-essay, breaking the news of first-ever-documented clustering monarch butterflies in Berkeley’s Aquatic Park (Berkeleyside), was shared 21,000 times on Facebook

She earned her Master of Philosophy degree in Environment and Development from the University of Cambridge in England and her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Physical Geography (double major, high honors) from the University of California at Berkeley.

Bond began her career as Senior Science Writer for the University of California Natural Reserve System, where, in addition to writing periodicals and other environmental publications, she wrote grants for, developed, and coordinated a field-based program for at-risk high school students, motivating some to study ecology and pursue higher education. She currently lives in wildly inspiring Washington State.


About Her Writing & Photography — Print & Online

Interview on Substack (with Laura Atkins)

Interview in Berkeleyside (by Kathleen Costanza)

Blog for Women's National Book Association, San Francisco Chapter

Interview in Diablo magazine (with Tracey Taylor)

Slide Show & Author Talk for new book, THE PUPFISH HERO:

With Mono Basin Historical Society, March 2024

“Featured Author” at Riverside Elementary School (San Pablo, CA) in the West Contra Costa Unified School District — where I was as student, myself, kindergarten through senior graduation! Thank you, Riverside School, for the inspiration to keep creating and sharing! May every student keep loving books, writing, and the wonders of our world!

photos by Connie J. Miller (upper, bottom, left) and Ana at Ken’s Tours, Lower Antelope Canyon, AZ

I’ll go anywhere for a prairie dog photo! Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, NE