Q&A With Jillian Forsberg

I finished reading an early copy of The Rhino Keeper by Jillian Forsberg which will be published on October 22^nd. I am also delighted about doing this Q&A with Jillian Forsberg!

Q: How did you come across Clara’s history for The Rhino Keeper? How long did it take you to research & write the story?

A: I came across Clara’s story in a rather organic way: I met an Indian rhino. In 2020, my husband and then 5-year-old daughter, were heading home from a small wedding reception and stopped at a roadside zoo in Salina, Kansas. Seeking respite from the biting cold, we went into the rhino barn. There, Joya the Indian or Greater One-Horned rhino was stomping and demanding to be sprayed with a hose. I had never seen that species before and was immediately fascinated—he looked like he was plated in armor and was 6’ at the shoulder! I googled to find out more about the species and at the bottom of the Wikipedia page was a stub article about Clara the rhino. I was immediately fascinated by her story and wanted to read a novel about her, but there wasn’t one. So, after about 18 months, I had gathered enough research materials, made a connection with Glynis Ridley who wrote Clara’s Grand Tour, and began writing. I drafted The Rhino Keeper in about 6 months. So, I went from meeting a rhino in 2020 to draft completion in 2022 to publication in 2024.

Q: Without spoiling too much, which scenes did you have the most fun writing in The Rhino Keeper?  One of my many favorite scenes was Maria Theresa, Marie Antionette’s devout Catholic mother calling out that overzealous priest Father Gregor.

A: I had so much fun writing The Rhino Keeper! My favorite scenes were the Leipzig Easter Fair, meeting the porcelain maker Johann Kaendler, and Clara playing in the waves in Cape Town, South Africa. I also really enjoyed writing the scenes in Calcutta, as the research for that was particularly challenging, it was extremely rewarding to be able to fully flesh out a place that I had never been and that is so vastly different than today’s world.

Q: What emotions do you hope readers feel after reading The Rhino Keeper & what lessons do you hope readers learn after reading The Rhino Keeper?

A: I hope readers remember mostly that the creatures we share this planet with are worth saving and loving, despite them not being the most beautiful animals. I hope they remember an animal they loved or something that brought them wonder, as in adulthood we often forget what joy can be had by seeing something remarkable. We have a responsibility to protect large mammals on this planet as they are keystone species and do much for the environment. But beyond the animal piece of this book, I hope people understand that life may take them in many directions, but the best is the one that satisfies their heart and soul. The main character Douwe was offered many opportunities to drift away from Clara in this book and he stuck by her side. That was crucially important for me to convey, and his wanderlust was settled by a beast of wonder.

Q: We were chatting these last few days, and you mentioned that your second book comes out next October & you’re drafting your third! Can you reveal the details about the plot for your second & third books?

A: I took such a big risk with my second book! I wrote a companion to The Rhino Keeper, pulling a minor character into the main character role of their own true story. The best thing about historical fiction is finding those people whose lives make you see exclamation marks. That story is quite compelling! More information will be available soon. The third book…well let’s just say it’s farther back in time than I have ever dared to write before. Funniest thing: all my books have animals!