Ask the Author: Lynne Kelly

“Ask me a question.” Lynne Kelly

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I just read Song for a Whale and loved it! Do any of your other books focus at all on Deaf culture or ASL? I would love to read more books like this.
Lynne Kelly Hi Terri! I'm so happy you enjoyed reading Song For a Whale. My others don't have a Deaf or ASL focus, though in my latest book, The Secret Language of Birds, Nina from Song For a Whale is the main character. She'll reconnect with Iris in a few of the chapters and they'll have a better relationship before.
For more stories about Deaf culture and history, check out Ann Clare LeZotte's Show Me a Sign series-- it's a fascinating historical fiction trilogy that takes place on Martha's Vineyard, and the author herself is a Deaf librarian.
Thanks for getting in touch!
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Hi, Lynne! Can you tell us two or three sign language words that you find delightful, humorous or striking?
Lynne Kelly Thanks for your question, Evan! Here are some favorites: one sign for "empathy" is to sign "understand," but near the heart instead of the head.
A sign for a bad memory looks like you're etching a scar on your forehead.
And of course, whale! As Iris shows her dad in Song For a Whale, we hold the hand in a letter "Y" shape, which looks like a whale's tail, and move it up and down like a swimming whale. Animal signs are some of the most fun, since they often look like a characteristic of the animal. The sign for "turtle" is adorable! Savvy ASL does some great "Marine Monday" videos-- here's one where she shows the signs for many ocean animals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmj6s...
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Hi Lynne Kelly, you were recently on video chat with a fourth grade book club and I was one of them! You are a really nice person and we were really excited to meet you! Bye the way, did you remember the names? I was Sophia.
Lynne Kelly Sophia! I'm so sorry, I thought I'd answered your question a long time ago, but I just saw it here and it looks like I hadn't done that. Yes, I enjoyed chatting with you and the rest of the book club! I hope you're having a good summer so far and reading some good books. Thanks for writing to me!
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Hello! My question to you is about the book Song for a whale. I am currently reading this book and I am in love with it. Is this book based on a real character? And, is Blue 55 real? Thank you so much.
Lynne Kelly Hi, Indira! Happy to see you're enjoying Song For a Whale. Iris isn't based on any one person, but has characteristics of many people I've known. (That's probably true for most characters in books). Blue 55 is based on a real whale! The real-life whale is the 52 hertz whale, also known as 52 Blue or the Lonely Whale. A recent episode of the podcast This American Life, "How To Be Alone" has a segment about the whale.
Thanks for getting in touch!
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How did you come up with the story of "Song for a whale"?
Lynne Kelly I saw a post about the 52 hertz whale and was fascinated about this whale who sings a song like no other. I kept thinking about what his life would be like, and soon started writing about him. Then I thought about who the character would be who'd feel a strong connection to him and would try to reach out to him in some way, and came up with Iris.
Thanks for your question, Sophia!
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I was so caught up with the authenticity of your main character in Song for a Whale, that I wondered if you have a hearing loss yourself?
Lynne Kelly Thank you, Pam! No, I do not have hearing loss but my connection with the Deaf community is through my work as a sign language interpreter. Though I've worked in the field for a long time and have known many Deaf people, I realize that's not the same as life experience, so my publisher hired two Deaf women to read the manuscript to check for cultural accuracy and authenticity. Some of my really late edits were because of their feedback.
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