swirl around Duncan as he discovers his life’s work as a carver, and finds his way through a thicket of unearthly encounters as deep and mysterious as the Northwest rainforest where the novel’s action takes place.
“Wolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker is a rare gift, an insight into an earlier Quileute world, an alternative to coming-of-age as we know it today.”
A Novel
By Terri Tavenner
“Wolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker is a rare gift, an insight into an earlier Quileute world, an alternative to coming-of-age as we know it today.”
About The Book
Ancient Quileute legends, mythological creatures and spirit helpers
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Indie bookstores can purchase Wolf~Whale~Flicker through Ingram.com.
Wholesale orders of six or more books receive a discount. Contact the author to receive your code.
About The Author
I lived and worked in Quileute territory for over twenty years. During that time, I was tasked with documenting tribal elders on video tape and developing Quileute-specific curriculum for the tribal school. In 1989 I participated in the historic Paddle to Seattle which inspired the resurgence of modern Northwest canoe journeys.
My experience working with the Quileutes was transforming for me, much as young Duncan in Wolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker is transformed by his adventures. The Quileute elders were my mentors. They encouraged me to write, to pass on lessons for future generations. This novel fulfils my promise to them and sets the stage for a sequel.
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Praise for Wolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker
In a place and time, not so long ago – Wolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker is a story about a culture that exists now, in our own time. Terri Tavenner is immersed in our culture so understands our history, traditions, customs, language and beliefs. The author writes from a perspective of insight and cultural authenticity.
Wolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker reveals the past, present and future: a presence that defines reality. Secrets hidden in shadows. What is true and what is expected. I know the story well.
James JaimeElder and member of the Quileute Tribe at La Push, Washington.I’ve worked with Quileute elders to record their evolving lifeways and language for over 50 years. So, I can say with assurance that Wolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker is true to the spirit of the Old People and their perspective.
At the end of any traditional Quileute ceremony, the elders would congratulate a successful host family saying “Wát̓alich tiˀasóstoˀo! You did it all right.” That praise certainly applies to author Terri Tavenner and her debut novel.
Dr. Jay Powell, KwashKwashAnthropological LinguistFrom the depths of the coastal rain forest, Terri spins a tale of tradition and enchantment. Deafened by a blow from his alcoholic father, Duncan is taken in by an older Quileute couple. Deaf and deficient in the senses of this world, Duncan has an extraordinary sense of another.
Annie looked at Duncan and spoke slowly. “You are a boy who is fast becoming a man,” she said. “You are part Chickasaw, part Quileute, but also hókʷat̓, so this I do not understand. Sometimes, not often, Helpers come to a hókʷat̓, a Whiteman. But the spirits have talked to you, have taught you a song and a dance, and that is something everyone has seen. Now you must learn to understand your tamanawis, to find your taxílit.”
As Duncan discovers his gifts he finds himself in the middle of a powerful battle with the forces of power and greed. Powerful helpers from the Land In-Between guide and inform him — the Bear, Uwaltsa, Chief Flicker — as Duncan learns to go between worlds and struggles to free the Old Carver and protect his vital powers.
As a librarian who serves Young Adults, I find much here that will resonate. Audiences will appreciate the intricacies of the worlds Tavenner builds. Moments of transformation by shape-shifting beings and a central character charged by circumstances and the spirits builds to a momentous and challenging match. Wolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker is a rich treasury of cultural information and an entrancing story.
Lee MicklinLibrarian and Teacher, RetiredWolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker is a rare gift, an insight into an earlier Quileute world, an alternative to coming-of-age as we know it today.
The novel is a matchless opportunity to venture between worlds — Native and White, the Old Ways and current times, ordinary life and the realm of Quileute spirits. Duncan, a 9-year-old kid rendered deaf by a drunken beating, seems an unlikely guide, but he leads us deep into these contradictory worlds.
Vickie JensenDocumentary Photographer and Co-author of Quileute Language/Culture Books
In a place and time, not so long ago – Wolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker is a story about a culture that exists now, in our own time. Terri Tavenner is immersed in our culture so understands our history, traditions, customs, language and beliefs. The author writes from a perspective of insight and cultural authenticity.
Wolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker reveals the past, present and future: a presence that defines reality. Secrets hidden in shadows. What is true and what is expected. I know the story well.
James JaimeElder and member of the Quileute Tribe at La Push, Washington.I’ve worked with Quileute elders to record their evolving lifeways and language for over 50 years. So, I can say with assurance that Wolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker is true to the spirit of the Old People and their perspective.
At the end of any traditional Quileute ceremony, the elders would congratulate a successful host family saying “Wát̓alich tiˀasóstoˀo! You did it all right.” That praise certainly applies to author Terri Tavenner and her debut novel.
Dr. Jay Powell, KwashKwashAnthropological LinguistFrom the depths of the coastal rain forest, Terri spins a tale of tradition and enchantment. Deafened by a blow from his alcoholic father, Duncan is taken in by an older Quileute couple. Deaf and deficient in the senses of this world, Duncan has an extraordinary sense of another.
Annie looked at Duncan and spoke slowly. “You are a boy who is fast becoming a man,” she said. “You are part Chickasaw, part Quileute, but also hókʷat̓, so this I do not understand. Sometimes, not often, Helpers come to a hókʷat̓, a Whiteman. But the spirits have talked to you, have taught you a song and a dance, and that is something everyone has seen. Now you must learn to understand your tamanawis, to find your taxílit.”
As Duncan discovers his gifts he finds himself in the middle of a powerful battle with the forces of power and greed. Powerful helpers from the Land In-Between guide and inform him — the Bear, Uwaltsa, Chief Flicker — as Duncan learns to go between worlds and struggles to free the Old Carver and protect his vital powers.
As a librarian who serves Young Adults, I find much here that will resonate. Audiences will appreciate the intricacies of the worlds Tavenner builds. Moments of transformation by shape-shifting beings and a central character charged by circumstances and the spirits builds to a momentous and challenging match. Wolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker is a rich treasury of cultural information and an entrancing story.
Lee MicklinLibrarian and Teacher, Retired
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