Online for Authors Episode 12-3-24

​Whale Songs and Wildflowers: Trapped in the Dark with Author Cynthia Reeves

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Cynthia Reeves, author of the book The Last Whaler. Cynthia Reeves is the author of three books of fiction: the Arctic novel The Last Whaler; the novel in stories Falling Through the New World, winner of Gold Wake Press’s Fiction Award; and the novella Badlands, winner of Miami University Press’s Novella Prize. Her short stories, essays, and poetry have appeared widely. Most recently, her short story “The Last Glacier” was featured in If the Storm Clears, an anthology that concerns the sublime in the natural world.

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I recently had the pleasure of chatting with author Cynthia Reeves about her latest novel, The Last Whaler. Set in the unforgiving Arctic landscape of 1937-38, it follows a couple stranded on a remote whaling station, fighting to survive the polar darkness, bitter cold, dangerous animals, and dwindling food supplies.

Cynthia first got the inspiration for this story while on an artist residency in Svalbard, Norway, where she came across a beach littered with beluga whale bones. After uncovering a few tantalizing historical details about a 1930s whaler named Ingal Svensson who harvested hundreds of belugas each year, her imagination took flight. Two years of intensive research later, The Last Whaler was born.

One of the things I admire most about Cynthia's writing is how she weaves meticulous historical details into a compelling fictional narrative. Every fact, from the mechanics of whaling to the flora of the Arctic tundra, is painstakingly researched. Yet these details flow seamlessly into the story, immersing you in the characters' world without overwhelming the plot.

The book unfolds through a dual timeline, following both the couple's harrowing ordeal in 1937-38 and the husband Tor's guilt-ridden return 10 years later. Cynthia masterfully handles the transitions, keeping you grounded in each era while slowly revealing the mystery and tragedy that connects them.

While the novel centers on Tor's transformation, it was the character of his wife Astrid that I connected with most. A brilliant but stifled botanist, Astrid's physical and emotional journey through the months of total darkness was both agonizing and utterly relatable as a woman. Her storyline brings to life the little-known history of early female scientists who battled harsh conditions and societal constraints to pursue their passions.

Whether you love immersive historical fiction, gripping survival stories, or multi-dimensional characters, I highly recommend diving into The Last Whaler. Cynthia's evocative prose and impeccable research will transport you to the stark yet strangely beautiful world of Svalbard and the people who once tried to tame it.

I'm already eager to check out her next book, which will explore the ill-fated 1897 attempt to fly a hot air balloon to the North Pole.

What's the most fascinating or surprising bit of history you've learned from a novel? Comment and let me know. I'm always on the hunt for my next great read!

PS. Want your very own signed copy of The Last Whaler? Head over to the Novels N Latte Book Club on Facebook for a chance to win. 

Purchase The Last Whaler on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3WxCDBv
Ebook: https://amzn.to/3WBlSpa
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