This month we talk to Eilish Fisher about her fantastic new novel, The Waters and the Wild.
TPP: Who or what inspired the character of Rowan?
EF: Rowan is a combination of myself as a child and every child I’ve met who has come to Ireland from a different place and has had to recreate both their sense of self and of home in a country that feels completely strange and different.
TPP: What made you decide to start the story in Arizona, US?
EF: I wanted Rowan to be from a place as different to Ireland in terms of landscape and climate, as possible. My grandparents lived in Arizona, and I always loved the desert and its own stories, so it was the perfect place to start.
TPP: Horses are central to the story, have they always been important to you?
EF: I have been obsessed with horses since I could walk and have worked with them professionally most of my life.
TPP: Why did you decide to write The Waters and the Wild as a verse novel?
EF: I love the flexibility and creative possibilities that writing in verse allows. And I think that folklore and myth retellings, as well as ghost stories, suit this ancient form of storytelling really well.
TPP: What made you want to include Irish folklore in the story?
EF: I studied Irish folklore and mythology and strongly feel that it needs to be shared with kids from a young age to keep the stories alive.
TPP: What is the best thing about being a writer?
EF: Getting to meet the readers of course!
TPP: What is essential to your writing routine?
EF: Having space and uninterrupted time to work, both of which can be really difficult to find! I also need to be warm and will usually light a fire or put the heating on before I start. In summer I light a candle which helps make things cosy. I also make sure my two dogs are settled, one under the desk, the other by the fireplace, before I begin.
TPP: Do your novels go through many drafts before you get to the final draft?
EF: So. Many. Drafts! When I first started writing novels, I don’t think I honestly realized how many drafts it would take to get to the point where the book was properly polished. But now, I really appreciate every draft and every comment I get back from editors because I know we are all working together to make the book the best it can be.
TPP: What advice would you give to anyone who is starting out as a writer?
EF: 1. Read as much as you can in as many different styles and genres and then, when you know what you want to write, read a ton more of those books too.
- Just write. There is no wrong way to do it, no magic solution, you have to find your own rhythm and what works for you. But you do have to write to be a writer!
- Be open to good criticism. Make sure the people you give your writing to genuinely want to help your writing get better and better. You don’t need to follow all the advice, but you do need to be ok with changing things when they don’t work. This is something that even professional writers struggle with all the time!
- Most importantly, enjoy it. There’s nothing that comes close to being so immersed in a story, to knowing your characters so well, that you can let them loose and let the story take shape.
TPP: Have you always worked as an author?
EF: I have always written, mostly poetry but also stories. I wrote my first poem when I was five and just kept writing. I have worked in many different jobs, most of which have helped with my writing. I used to be a physiotherapist for horses, which was really fun and taught me so much about animal behaviour. I used to exercise horses for a living, but I also used to teach medieval literature at colleges and even trained for awhile with herbal medicine.
TPP: Do you have a favourite book of all time?
EF: I have many! But I could never pick just one. I think every book that gets under your skin gives you something valuable to take with you in your life. Each of these are unique and teach different things, so I think it’s really hard to pick one! I love stories that make me want to jump into the pages and become a part of them and there are so many that do that.
TPP: Who or what inspires you the most?
EF: I think I draw my biggest inspiration from the natural world and the Irish landscape. I live in the Wicklow mountains, so I am always surrounded by trees, birds, and animals. Even the weather has its own personality. Combine that with a love of Irish folklore and mythology, I think I have no choice but to write. I’m surrounded by daily reminders of how closely the land and the stories work together. The ideas are like brambles in September, so many just at arm’s length on every hedgerow.
Author image photo credit: Nick Bradshaw