Eilish Fisher on Fia and the Last Snow Deer and novels in verse for early teens

This month, we are delighted to share with our Macaw subscribers the enchanting and myth-inspired tale Fia and the Last Snow Deer by Eilish Fisher, featuring breathtaking illustrations by Dermot Flynn. Set in a wintry, prehistoric Ireland, the story follows Fia and her loyal snow deer Solas as they embark on a journey filled with danger and hope, seeking the legendary Deer Mother to save their village from unending winter. In this exclusive Q&A, Eilish discusses the inspirations behind her lyrical and original novel, the vivid landscapes that shaped the setting, and the creative collaboration that brought this powerful story about friendship, courage, and renewal to life.

 

What inspired you to write Fia and the Last Snow Deer?

 

Whenever I take long walks in the woods, I am always thinking about stories. It’s like the fresh air and trees let my mind relax enough to put all the thoughts I have collected together. Fia came about after reading an article about the discovery of a reindeer bone in Ireland that was dated to the paleolithic period. This bone had cut marks on it, which made it clear that both humans and reindeer existed in Ireland together in this period. That article popped into my mind while walking through the woods on the winter solstice and the story just came together.

 

We were really struck by the landscape the book is set in, which is described so vividly. Is it inspired by anywhere in particular?

 

I grew up in Vermont in the United States, in the eastern corner of the state next to Canada. We have very long, cold, snowy winters there that can feel endless and I remember by February sometimes it was hard to remember what summer actually felt like, or what a land covered in green and leaves looked like! I tapped into these memories and that feeling of desolation when writing Fia’s landscape.

 

What do you hope young readers will take away from the story and how it unfolds?

 

I think there are a few things that I hope readers will take away from the story. First, doing what is right can be hard and might not align with what others want from you, but that you have to be true to who you are and what you believe. Second, while we can be strong individually, asking for help and working together makes us even stronger. And finally, that poetry is for everyone, and should be accessible to all.

 

The illustrations are beautiful and had such an impact on the way we read the book. How did collaborating with the illustrator work?

 

Dermot’s illustrations are absolutely amazing and his understanding of the characters, setting and story makes it look like we worked together from the start! But it was a very solitary process that came together in the end.  I think that’s what an excellent illustrator and design team can do; they visually tell the story in such a way that the lines between the words and images are blurred, and it becomes one piece of work that melds together. I really enjoyed working with Dermot, both at a distance and personally once the book came out and we got to talk to the readers.

 

Can you tell us anything about what the future holds for Fia and her community?

 

I would love to see what happens in Fia’s journey towards becoming the Shaman of her village. Saying that, I am also really interested in Gerd and her story. That is something I would love to write in the future!

 

Why did you choose to write books for this age group?

 

I think the books we read as kids and teens are the ones that shape so many aspects of who we are and what we like. I know that the books I remember the most are the ones I read as a child and I can see how much they have shaped me as both a reader and a writer, but also how I look at the world around me.

 

Do you have a favourite place to write?

 

I love writing in my office. It has a fireplace for the winter and a big bay window that looks out at the woods around the house, so it feels like I’m in the trees when I’m writing. My dog likes to curl up under the desk and keep my feet warm, which makes it perfect!

 

Which other novels in verse for early teens would you recommend our subscribers read next?

 

Sharon Creech’s novel Love That Dog is absolutely one of my favourite verse novels. I would also recommend Sarah Crossan’s The Weight of Water and Meg Grehan’s The Deepest Breath.

 

Copies of our Fia and the Last Snow Deer pack, including a copy of the book and loads of fun activities to go with it, are now available for individual purchase. Grab a copy while stocks last!