Fia and the Last Snow Deer by Eilish Fisher
Verse novels have become very popular recently and we have a guest blog from verse writer, Eilish Fisher. Answering several questions set by her publisher, we get a bit of insight into her novel.
What is it about writing in verse that particularly appeals to you as an author?
I love the way poetry lets us, as writers, hand the story over to the reader and allow them to tap into the emotional core of the story without the author’s interference. To me, writing in verse is simply trusting the reader to know their own heart. It’s saying, “here, I believe in your ability to take this story, emotionally and internally, and make it into something for yourself, this is yours to grow.” When you add beautiful illustrations like Dermot’s, you can give the reader everything they need to build the story for themselves. It’s our job as verse novelists and poets to accessibly lay those words at the feet of our young readers and prove to them that poetry belongs to them as well.
The connections between animals and humans are central to the book, both with Fia and Solas but also Mish and Wolf. Why did you decide to put those bonds at the heart of your story? What do you think is particularly special about human/animal friendships?
Our relationship with the natural world is, as we all know, at crisis levels. I really believe that a significant part of repairing that damage has to do with celebrating our relationships with other animals and species. The bonds formed between Fia and Solas, Mish and Wolf speak to us because they are so familiar. I wanted to show that fighting for that love and connection is brave and necessary; that once we step into our place as a part of, not separate to the natural world, the healing begins.
The novel features several strong female characters, Fia, Gerd and the Deer Mother, all three of whom show their strength in different ways. Was it important to you to write and fearless women?
It’s always important for me to write strong, fearless women because women are strong and fearless. I was very conscious that I was writing about an historical era with little archaeological information of social norms and traditions which gave me the opportunity to write those characters and their society freely and with an emphasis on equality. Saying that, I will always write strong women, regardless of the culture in which they exist!
Similarly, I felt it was important to write a male character who’s strength was in his kindness and support of those women. Mish is equally fearless, but in a different way.
Why did you decide to set the novel in pre-historic Ireland? Are the traditions of Fia’s village are inspired by real Irish legends and myths?
I read an article about a recent archaeological discovery that placed humans and reindeer together in Ireland in the paleolithic period. I had already learned about the various northern European and British traditions and mythologies of horned reindeer goddesses with solstice and sun associations. It made me wonder if there was something similar here, a goddess that existed for the indigenous Irish population thousands of years before the arrival of the myths and legends we know and love today.
What do you hope that readers take from FIA AND THE LAST SNOW DEER?
That one person can make a profound and far-reaching difference. That there is always hope and sometimes we need to go against society and stand up for what is right. From the beginning, Fia is at odds with her village, but she doesn’t back down and is willing to make the right sacrifices to keep her people alive. It takes courage to look at a broken world and still believe that you can make it better.
What are you working on next?
At the moment I’m working on another middle grade verse novel. This one takes place in contemporary Ireland in a rural town in the Wicklow mountains. Like Fia there are animals, spooky creatures, and a strong female protagonist. There is also a lot of Irish folklore and a good helping of ghosts!
Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Federation.
