BooksChatter: ℚ♫ The Blackfish Prophecy: Terra Incognita and the Great Transition [1]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Rachel Clark to talk about The Blackfish Prophecy (31 May 2016, Fawkes Press, 284 pages), a Young Adult Nature & Natural World novel, book one in the Terra Incognita and the Great Transition series.

"Rachel Clark has created an entrancing story that not only captures the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the native and orca societies which make it so unique, but also the potential for deep and powerful connections between human and killer whale cultures in the wilderness environment. I enjoyed it immensely." - Tim Zimmerman, Associate Producer & Co-Writer of the award-winning movie Blackfish

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

A very warm welcome to Rachel Clark; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

Here at BooksChatter we love music, so Rachel Clark has shared with us her music playlist for The Blackfish Prophecy - enjoy!

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for The Blackfish Prophecy - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"Yes! When I first saw the cover it brought me to tears, which is how I knew it was the right cover.

As with so many things with this book, a synchronous occurrence brought me to the artist, Karen Savory. Someone had sent a thank you note to our home, and the design of the note was exactly what I was envisioning for the cover and inside illustrations of the book. Since before the book even existed I knew that black and white block prints were the natural companions to the story.

I reached out to Karen, reviewed her website, and soon we were working together. We went through a series of months of brainstorming where I described the scene in my mind, and she came back with draft artwork that was so much better than my imaginings. She gave me a couple of options for the cover design, and this was the one that absolutely leapt into my heart. You can see more of Karen’s amazing work at: simplysavoryart.com/."

Who would you recommend The Blackfish Prophecy to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"Everyone. With the caveat that young readers may have a hard time dealing with some of the material.

I typically suggest readers be aged 11-12 and up, all the way to elders. I have had teens, parents, singles, and grandparents reach out to me, some in tears, thanking me for the story. They often tell me it’s unexpected, healing, and ultimately helps them feel hopeful and proactive in today’s world of social and environmental challenges."

If you could / wished to turn The Blackfish Prophecy and the Terra Incognita and the Great Transition series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"Pixar! I’ve long admired and followed their work. AND this book needs masterful animators eager for the challenge of bringing wild and captive orca to life alongside their human brothers and sisters.

Not to mention the kestrel, Fierce, and the epic grandeur of the Pacific Northwest ecosystem.

From the beginning, my dream has been that Pixar finds and loves the story. Then decides to work their magic to bring it to life on screen. Did you know that Pixar changed the ending of Finding Dory (the sequel to Finding Nemo), after their team saw the powerful documentary Blackfish?"

What is in store next?

"The Blackfish Prophecy is Book One of a five book series. I’m currently writing Book Two, The Whale Dreamers.

For now, all I will say is that the ideas, general plots, and titles of each book all arrived like a download as I finished The Blackfish Prophecy. It was as if the books and series wanted me to be there to catch them. I took notes. 😀"

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"A white husky dog and two lynx point Siamese cats keep me grounded, with my heart open.

Yoda, the dog, arrived as a puppy rescued from someone who’d confined him alone in a dorm room for long hours. It was magical to watch this sweet shy terrified puppy come back to life, and back to himself as he gained trust and love in two young boys, my sons.

The kitties, likewise, came as kittens – sisters – and the boys, brothers, could never get over how the kittens were almost separated to go home with different humans. They are very close companions, and the bonds between them, the dog, and all of us humans are a marvel and joy to be part of. As anyone with pets knows."