 |
| Helen Falconer |
1) What inspired you to write "The Changeling"?
The inspiration for The Changeling: Moving to Mayo in the west
of Ireland introduced me to Irish mythology. For example, in the local
museum there is a display of the sort of iron fire tongs that mothers
used to hang over the cradle to stop the fairies from stealing their
baby. When my best friend’s little daughter Alana died, I wrote a story
in which she didn’t die but was stolen by the fairies. This book is
dedicated to her.
2) How did you come up with the character's names? Are they based on your life?
The names in the book are
often heard in the west of Ireland; most of them are borrowed from my
children’s friends! I love the name Aoife; it is the irish spelling of
Eva, and pronounced similarly (Ee-fah) but looks very different on the
page, which I thought was important to avoid confusion between the fairy
and the human child.
3) What power would you choose as a changeling and why?
If I could choose any power as a changeling, I would want to fly – just for the fun of it.
4) Which books influenced your life the most?
The
Narnia books were very important to me as a child. As both child and
adult I have read and re-read Moonfleet by J.Meade Falkner. Also, Lorna
Doone by Richard Doddridge is a fabulous romantic adventure, and
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte is the best love story ever.
5) What are you working on now? What is your next project?
Currently, I am working on the sequel to The Changeling – I have to
deliver it to my editor by the end of August, although it's not out
until next June. And then I have to write the third book!
Don't forget to check out my review for "The Changeling" here.
No comments:
Post a Comment