ClimateFiction middle grade
Climate Women
12/06/24 15:37 Filed in: Climate Fiction
| Guest Blog by Kathryn Williamson Art, Feminism, Climate Activism |
Visit : Kathryn Williamson
| I believe that healing the climate is connected with healing ourselves, which includes listening to our creativity and the small seeds of yearning we have. Listening, learning, encouraging each other in community. Even though I haven’t met these women, I feel in community with them. I want to grow from the wisdom they provide, I want to meditate on their words and feel affected by them. And the process of painting helps me do that. |
| Note: This is very much a work in progress. More image of paintings coming soon, pending approval by authors. |
The Forgiveness of Whales
11/06/24 10:33 Filed in: Eco Adventures
Guest Blog By T.K. Thorne
It is my honor to introduce T.K. Thorne as my guest blogger. She wrote this fascinating piece about whales, which immediately caught my attention. T.K’s blog resonates with me as I have recently published The Gray Whales Lament: An Eco Adventure (Book 2 of The Four Elements Cli-Fi Trilogy).
Retiring as a police captain in Birmingham, Al., T.K. Thorne turned to crime with a trilogy of murder, magic, and mayhem in the “Magic City Stories” (House of Rose, House of Stone, and House of Iron) where a rookie policewoman discovers she is a witch. A deep dive into the past produced award-winning historical novels about famous, unnamed women briefly mentioned in the Bible (Noah’s Wife and Angels at the Gate) and two nonfiction works of civil rights (Last Chance for Justice and Behind the Magic Curtain: Secrets, Spies, and Unsung White Allies of Birmingham’s Civil Rights Days). TKThorne.com
Until recently, scientists thought humans were the only species with the specialty brain neurons responsible for higher cognitive functions like self-awareness, a sense of compassion, and language.
They were wrong.
Fifteen million years before humans, whales began evolving these special glial cells, and now a strange phenomenon is occurring off the Baja coast of Mexico.
Humans have been slaughtering Pacific whales there for a long time, first with harpoons, now with sonar from Navy ships. Whales live a long time, up to a hundred years. Some whales alive today still bear the scars of harpoons. Many scientists believe that it is implausible to think the whales do not remember this or associate humans with death and anguish.
Yet, in the same area where humans hunted them nearly to extinction, then tortured them with sonar, whales are approaching humans and initiating contact. A N.Y. Times article detailed the experiences of the reporter and the stories of locals who tell about mother whales approaching their boats, sometimes swimming under it and lifting it, then setting it gently down. Almost all the stories involve the whale surfacing, rolling onto its side to watch the humans–reminiscent of the surreal moment in the movie, Cast Away, when a whale rises from the night sea to regard Tom Hanks with an eye cupped with starlight, an eerie intelligence, and a gentleness that moves us, for we know the massive creature could kill the castaway with a nudge or a flick of a tail fluke.
These real grey whales off Baja swim close enough that people invariably reach out to touch them, and they allow it. One person, reflecting on the experience said, “I have never felt more beheld.” It seems reasonable—given the position the whales place themselves in—that they seek the contact. In many cases, a mother whale will allow her calf to do the same. There is no food involved in these exchanges, only a brief interlude of inter-species contact and rudimentary communication: I come as friend.
Why?
Where will humans be in another hundred years? I suspect we will be technologically advanced, but emotionally pretty much the same, even in a thousand years or ten thousand.
But what about a million years? Ten million? Can we evolve (if we survive) to a more sane, more rational, more loving species with a broader sense of our place in the universe and in life itself? Is it possible that these creatures with 15 million years of intelligent evolution on us, might regard us as a young species, children who don’t really know better, and grant us leeway for our mistakes? Grant us . . . forgiveness?
We have a need for that forgiveness, not only from our treatment of whales, but of each other. We have enslaved, tortured, raped, and slaughtered each other. We have recklessly used the resources of our planet.
Yet I read about humans risking their lives to free whales trapped in nets.
People offering aid to neighbors. . . to strangers.
Teachers, nurses, and soldiers whose daily life is one of giving.
We have much need for forgiveness, yes, but we are capable of great acts of cooperation, of kindness, love, and sacrifice. Perhaps that is what the whales see in us when they watch us use our clever hands to free them from heavy rope nets, nets that we have left carelessly in their domain, as children leave their toys strewn across the floor.
Even whales have enemies, and they do not hesitate to defend themselves when attacked and even take the battle to the enemy. Humpbacks have been observed defending not only their own against attacks of orcas, but other mammals, other whales, sea lions, fur seals or walruses. Interestingly, they only attack mammal-eating killer whales, not orcas that primarily feed on fish.
Perhaps they understand that—like the orcas—all humans are not the same.
Perhaps they are waiting for us to become our best selves, believing, or hoping we will evolve into worthy fellow creatures on this blue-and-cream jewel that is our world.
T.K. Thorne writes about what moves her, following a flight path of curiosity, reflection, and imagination.
It is my honor to introduce T.K. Thorne as my guest blogger. She wrote this fascinating piece about whales, which immediately caught my attention. T.K’s blog resonates with me as I have recently published The Gray Whales Lament: An Eco Adventure (Book 2 of The Four Elements Cli-Fi Trilogy).
Retiring as a police captain in Birmingham, Al., T.K. Thorne turned to crime with a trilogy of murder, magic, and mayhem in the “Magic City Stories” (House of Rose, House of Stone, and House of Iron) where a rookie policewoman discovers she is a witch. A deep dive into the past produced award-winning historical novels about famous, unnamed women briefly mentioned in the Bible (Noah’s Wife and Angels at the Gate) and two nonfiction works of civil rights (Last Chance for Justice and Behind the Magic Curtain: Secrets, Spies, and Unsung White Allies of Birmingham’s Civil Rights Days). TKThorne.com
Until recently, scientists thought humans were the only species with the specialty brain neurons responsible for higher cognitive functions like self-awareness, a sense of compassion, and language.
They were wrong.
Fifteen million years before humans, whales began evolving these special glial cells, and now a strange phenomenon is occurring off the Baja coast of Mexico.
Humans have been slaughtering Pacific whales there for a long time, first with harpoons, now with sonar from Navy ships. Whales live a long time, up to a hundred years. Some whales alive today still bear the scars of harpoons. Many scientists believe that it is implausible to think the whales do not remember this or associate humans with death and anguish.
Yet, in the same area where humans hunted them nearly to extinction, then tortured them with sonar, whales are approaching humans and initiating contact. A N.Y. Times article detailed the experiences of the reporter and the stories of locals who tell about mother whales approaching their boats, sometimes swimming under it and lifting it, then setting it gently down. Almost all the stories involve the whale surfacing, rolling onto its side to watch the humans–reminiscent of the surreal moment in the movie, Cast Away, when a whale rises from the night sea to regard Tom Hanks with an eye cupped with starlight, an eerie intelligence, and a gentleness that moves us, for we know the massive creature could kill the castaway with a nudge or a flick of a tail fluke.
These real grey whales off Baja swim close enough that people invariably reach out to touch them, and they allow it. One person, reflecting on the experience said, “I have never felt more beheld.” It seems reasonable—given the position the whales place themselves in—that they seek the contact. In many cases, a mother whale will allow her calf to do the same. There is no food involved in these exchanges, only a brief interlude of inter-species contact and rudimentary communication: I come as friend.
Why?
Where will humans be in another hundred years? I suspect we will be technologically advanced, but emotionally pretty much the same, even in a thousand years or ten thousand.
But what about a million years? Ten million? Can we evolve (if we survive) to a more sane, more rational, more loving species with a broader sense of our place in the universe and in life itself? Is it possible that these creatures with 15 million years of intelligent evolution on us, might regard us as a young species, children who don’t really know better, and grant us leeway for our mistakes? Grant us . . . forgiveness?
We have a need for that forgiveness, not only from our treatment of whales, but of each other. We have enslaved, tortured, raped, and slaughtered each other. We have recklessly used the resources of our planet.
Yet I read about humans risking their lives to free whales trapped in nets.
People offering aid to neighbors. . . to strangers.
Teachers, nurses, and soldiers whose daily life is one of giving.
We have much need for forgiveness, yes, but we are capable of great acts of cooperation, of kindness, love, and sacrifice. Perhaps that is what the whales see in us when they watch us use our clever hands to free them from heavy rope nets, nets that we have left carelessly in their domain, as children leave their toys strewn across the floor.
Even whales have enemies, and they do not hesitate to defend themselves when attacked and even take the battle to the enemy. Humpbacks have been observed defending not only their own against attacks of orcas, but other mammals, other whales, sea lions, fur seals or walruses. Interestingly, they only attack mammal-eating killer whales, not orcas that primarily feed on fish.
Perhaps they understand that—like the orcas—all humans are not the same.
Perhaps they are waiting for us to become our best selves, believing, or hoping we will evolve into worthy fellow creatures on this blue-and-cream jewel that is our world.
T.K. Thorne writes about what moves her, following a flight path of curiosity, reflection, and imagination.
Climate Fiction Adventures
22/03/24 10:11 Filed in: Environmental Fiction
(Claire and granddaughter Sonia at the Paperworks Local Exhibit)
As a writer and reader, what inspires you? What drives your curiosity? What questions are you seeking answers for? What are your passions? What do you hope readers will remember as they close the last pages of your book?
While working on Book 3 of The Four Elements Cli-Fi Trilogy, I visited the exhibit at Paperworks Local: Extinction and Resilience, which “delves into the astonishing adaptability of Nature amidst the relentless shifts in our environment, driven by both natural forces and human actions. It casts a spotlight on the myriad life forms at the brink of extinction and also celebrates the unyielding resilience of nature and humanity alike.” The artists who created this exhibit were captivated by the natural world. This parallels exactly the underlying theme of my climate fiction!
What inspires me, no drives me, to write cli-fi—a genre you may not have heard of? That’s right, not sci-fi but cli-fi, which investigates the consequences of climate change, and imagines a hopeful future. It is a daunting topic.
My burning question—pun intended—as an environmental writer has morphed into: How can I, as a fiction writer, inspire the next generation of young people to understand what is happening to our planet, and motivate them become wise stewards of planet Earth? After all, they will soon be voters.
In Book 3 of the trilogy, I plan to explore the ways in which animals and plants are already adapting to climate change, and the way in which humans are adapting, too. To prepare for the book I’ve been reading: Hurricanes Lizards and Plastic Squids, by Thor Hanson, and Braiding Sweet Grass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
I would love to hear about what inspires you to write your own stories? Contact me at: cldatnow@me.com
The Gray Whale Eco Fiction
16/11/23 11:00 Filed in: Eco Adventures
Writing for Animals
“Endangered species are reminders that we are interconnected, that animals across the globe are vital threads in the tapestry of life.” World Wildlife Fund
Through stories about #endangered animals set in a changing #climate, my #eco fiction features courageous tweens and teens determined to take action to save the animals they love. Although I do not sugarcoat the truth, my stories are hopeful. They show that #endangered species can recover thanks to the efforts of dedicated conservationists, scientists, and policymakers.
Read More…
“Endangered species are reminders that we are interconnected, that animals across the globe are vital threads in the tapestry of life.” World Wildlife Fund
Through stories about #endangered animals set in a changing #climate, my #eco fiction features courageous tweens and teens determined to take action to save the animals they love. Although I do not sugarcoat the truth, my stories are hopeful. They show that #endangered species can recover thanks to the efforts of dedicated conservationists, scientists, and policymakers.
Read More…