Publisher's Synopsis
There's a new talking horse in town and his name is RAJALIKA! We only imagine what really goes through the mind of a horse when his eyes open wide, he exhales a loud snort, or trumpets your arrival with the force of a choir. So, step into the world of RAJALIKA SPEAK and discover. There's a new talking horse in town! "No one ever thought of asking me to speak back then and certainly, never guessed I could answer," says RajaliKa (ra-jaw-lee-ka), the royally-bred Arabian stallion gone bad, who finds redemption when he learns to talk, in a tale for children of all ages, from Los Angeles-based author Elizabeth Kaye McCall. Written from a horse's perspective, RAJALIKA SPEAK draws readers into a four-legged world where a handsome, wayward, stallion confronts his feelings about trust, commitment, dealing with life's uncertainties, and the power of expressing oneself in extraordinary ways, after meeting an intriguing young woman named Ka-la. "After all the years I'd been adrift in a sea of humanity, for the first time I'd found my person," explains the horse, whose unusual talents and charisma are revealed, as memories of his past fade away. "Like so many friends, or couples, we began a routine early on," reflects the naturally outspoken equine in a contemplative moment, in this original work of juvenile fiction. "As I think back on our early life together, I'm reminded how much one life, one action, can impact a course of events," he adds. Inspired by a real-life horse who discovered a destiny his illustrious ancestors never imagined, RAJALIKA SPEAK is reminiscent of The Little Prince meets The Alchemist, sprinkled with the ancient Hawaiian healing process Ho'oponopono. Illustrated by Dani Bowman, an autistic teen animator with a gift for graphic design, RAJALIKA SPEAK sparkles with visual expression, from the moment he packs his feed bucket and lands near Hollywood. Elizabeth Kaye McCall is an author, journalist, and media consultant, who specializes in the horse industry, travel, and entertainment. McCall worked as the horse industry liaison for the acclaimed equestrian spectacle Cavalia on its inaugural North American tour. A lifelong equestrian, her book The Tao of Horses: Exploring How Horses Guide Us on Our Spiritual Path shows how horses transform the way we see the world and handle challenges. Her articles have appeared in USA Weekend, Los Angeles Times, Cowboys & Indians, America's Horse, The Hollywood Reporter, and more. She and RAJALIKA SPEAKS' illustrator first met at The Los Angeles Times Book Festival. Illustrator Dani Bowman is a 19-year-old college student, who aspires to be the Temple Grandin of her generation. She founded her company Powerlight Studios at age 11 and began working professionally at 14, partnering with Joey Travolta, and teaching animation to others with autism at his summer camp program around the country. RAJALIKA SPEAK includes 33 of Bowman's color illustrations inside the book, along with front and back cover art. "Life has a funny way of creating coincidences . . ." explains the horse, in this book with something for all. Discover RAJALIKA SPEAK, the talking horse of a new generation(TM).
