Gisela (Gigi) Sedlmayer was born on 19 May 1944 in Potsdam, a suburb of Berlin in Germany.
Gisela (Gigi) Sedlmayer and her family escaped to the West just before the infamous wall went up. They moved around in Germany until finally settling in Munich where Gigi studied architectural drafting and met Albert in 1965, marrying in December 1967. She worked as a civil draftsperson in various private consultancies in Munich.
Hearing that her uncle was a writer, she tried to write short animal stories herself. Nothing further came of it, but she developed a love for the written word and started to consume books
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In May 1975, Gigi and her husband moved to New Zealand. Because of language challenges, she started a handicraft business. As a specialty, she made colourful parrots of which she sold thousands in a few years.
In 1988, they decided to adopt and became adoptive parents of twin girls the year after. They lived in New Zealand for 18 years and moved to Australia in September 1992.
Two years later Gigi was diagnosed with cancer. After the operation and radiation, she just vegetated, but she was always there for the girls, always thinking that she probably is dead in a few years anyway. After few years she was still alive, and her brain started to work again. So, she told herself, ‘Get a grip on yourself and make something out of your life’.
And so she thought about the time when she was writing short stories and getting inspired again seeing her husband Albert writing the story of their adoption. Since her English became better, she thought to give it a try to see how it would work out.
Albert taught Gigi how to use a computer and so she developed many short stories. She sent them in for competitions and sometimes got very good reports back. None made it for the first prize, but it gave her confidence to go on writing. And one day, the idea for the Talon series came to her.
Now Gigi loves writing, but she also loves travelling, 4*4 touring, gardening and enjoys good adventure DVD’s or going to the movies.
Talon Book 1: Come Fly With Me
Nine year old Matica lives in a remote village on a dry plateau in the Andes of Peru with her Australian missionary and schoolteacher parents. Matica has a growth handicap and is trapped in the body of a two year old, causing her to be rejected by the local people, who do not allow her to play with their children.
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With patience and a sense of adventure, Matica befriends a pair of condors. A strong bond and love develops between them. She rescues the egg the condors, Tamo and Tima, are trying to protect from poachers and nurtures it to hatching. The egg hatches on her 10th birthday. She names the new fledging Talon. This is the beginning of many incredible adventures with Talon and Matica. It is a story of hope, determination and love.
Talon Book 2: On The Wing
What Matica has dreamed ever since she first befriended the condors is actually happening. And now the adventures begin. Matica is finally accepted into the community because of an incredible event. The people from the village love to see her with Talon and demand she tell them everything her incredible adventures with the condors
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Happy now to be small, Matica can do what she has always dreamed of – fly! Her closeness to Talon creates a seemingly impossible feat. In the meantime, her friendship with Amos continues to grow… The scores of adventures with her beloved Talon help Matica to heal and gain confidence in herself, and the people in her life.
Talon Book 3: Flight For Life
Thrilling drama and fascinating journey and adventure with Matica and her father. Will Talon rescue them?
A handicapped girl and her father embark on a journey of adventure to the next bigger town, to buy more supplies and the air tickets for their holiday.
Spider monkeys, pumas, chameleon, critters and even bugs all enrich this lively adventurous story, not least of which is the ultimate test of courage when her father is bitten by a poisonous spider on their way home.
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Not knowing what to do, Matica calls to her condors for help. The wait until they arrive is the hardest thing she has ever had to endure.
Journey with Matica through her adventures, laughter and tears. Enjoy the feeling of friendship, love and camaraderie between Matica and her condors, Talon, Tamo and Tima.
Talon Book 4: Connected
Matica lives in the small village of Pucara with her brother, mom and dad, who is recovering from a near-death experience. Her 11th birthday is coming up and the things she is about to encounter proves she is very brave.
Events take a sudden turn when she is invited to see Elcano, the very old and frail father of the village elder Pajaro. Not once, but three times he summons her. She is afraid of him but he fascinates her. He calls her ‘his daughter’ Why? The amazing things he is about to tell her could be life-changing, things she had never thought about.
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Matica nearly jumps out of her skin at what she is told. ‘Who me?’ she questions herself. ‘Really me?’
Will Matica be able to cope with these life-changing disclosures?
In the midst of all this, the poachers are back, looking for eggs and birds – and Talon.
TALON, CONNECTED is far more than a kids’ story. It is a story about growing up, friendship, and the challenge of moral choices and respect. Ride along during the ongoing adventures of Matica and her best friends, the condors Talon, Tamo and Tima, characters many readers already know and have learned to love.
Talon Book 5: Encounter
The poachers are back – and they are looking for Talon! They are doing everything in their power to capture him, and if they can’t get him alive, will kill him. Determined to get him at all costs the poachers run up against the might and will of Tamo, Tima and Talon.
It is war. The poachers against the condors, Matica and the Indians – with the poachers even taking hostages to win the war.
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With the help of Tamo and Tima, Talon and Matica do the impossible knowing they have to capture and stop the poachers or they will be back.
Between the poachers shooting at the condors, the crows playing their part, and Tamo being shot and injured, Matica goes above and beyond to help her beloved condors.
Action-packed from beginning to end, Talon Encounter will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Talon Book 6: Windsong
More thrilling adventures with Matica and Talon.
The poachers are gone and the birds are safe. Now Matica is becoming anxious thinking of the upcoming holiday to Australia – she does not want to go, or leave her birds. But Talon, understanding her misery, helps to ease her mind.
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With distractions all sides, Matica soon finds herself involved in current happenings – the letting go of Elcano’s ashes from the top of the Andes, and near tragedy of Crayn falling while climbing up the mountain. The condors play a vital role in saving the day.
Talon shows Matica the puma and her cubs. But things go wrong when the female puma smells them and attacks. Will they escape the big cat?
As a birthday surprise for Matica, Aikon asked the birds to fly with her for the whole day. The birds agree and the thrilling adventures she has now with near misses, the finding of old bones, snakes and spiders, Talon Windsong adventures will keep you turning the pages and on the edge of your seat.
I love it , Thank you Mike.