Wolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker: A Novel

(Paperback)

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Ancient legends, mythological creatures, and spirit helpers swirl around Duncan as the teen 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. As the Quileute people transition from traditional lifeways into a modern world of outboard motors, grocery stores, and working for wages, young Duncan grows up with his Quileute Indian relations and with the spirit powers that inhabit tribal territory. The story follows Duncan as he navigates between the modern world and the world of the supernatural.
Duncan is apprenticed to Howeto, a masterful but malevolent wood carver who has stolen the soul of the ancestral "Old Carver." Howeto will stop at nothing in his quest for power. As his own carving skill matures, Duncan vows to release the ancestor's captive spirit, but only if he can survive Howeto's deadly manipulations. A photograph of murky figures carved on the wall of an ancient tkali longhouse are brought back to life in a newly built longhouse, intended to entertain tourists. Awakening the spirit of tkali, the secret Wolf Dance Society, has awakened much more than contemporary replication of traditional Quileute lifeways. Without Howeto's permission, and following his own vision, Duncan recreates a carved wall panel. The wolf, the whale, and the flicker on the panel have awakened the songs, dances, and vision that once guided traditional Quileute society. Will Duncan's sincere desire to use his gift and become a carver in the old way be overshadowed by Howeto's greed and jealousy How will the tkali return

Reviews

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. The novel is a matchless opportunity to venture between worlds --- Native and non-Native, the Old Ways and current times, ordinary life and the realm of Quileute spirits. Duncan, deafened by his father's drunken beating, seems an unlikely guide, but he leads us deep into these fascinating and contradictory worlds.
Vickie Jensen, Documentary Photographer and author.
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Guided by mentors and supported by his community, Duncan immerses himself in the art of carving, confronts personal challenges, and grapples with the profound impact of colonization on his community. Along his path, he learns from a bear, flicker, wolves, and orcas as he walks between worlds, each encounter deepening his understanding. Through his transformative journey, Duncan finds his place in preserving and reviving the culture of the Quileute people while illuminating the power of art, the significance of community, and the resilience of indigenous cultures. Terri Tavenner has told a beautiful story of transcendence and transformation.
Eva Petoskey, Kchi Wiikwedong Anishinaabeg Elder
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From the depths of the coastal rain forest, Terri spins a tale of tradition and enchantment. Duncan is taken in by an older Quileute couple. Deaf and deficient in the senses of this world, Duncan has an extra-ordinary sense of another.
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 Micklin, Librarian, Teacher

Author Bio

I wrote Wolf ~ Whale ~ Flicker based on the Quileute "Old People's" way of looking at the world. The story draws heavily on personal exposure, oral history, and historical narrative. I lived and worked on the Washington Coast in Quileute territory for many years, in the 1970s and through the mid-1990s. 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 and the resurgence of the Northwest cedar canoe. My experience working with the Quileutes was transforming for me, much as young Duncan is transformed by his adventures.
My mentors were the elders. They encouraged me to write, for there are lessons to pass on as reference points for future generations. This novel fulfils my promise to them, and sets the stage for a sequel. I'm a first-time author. Currently, I live in northern Michigan with my husband Rick and various critters.