Tell us briefly about your book:
The Republic of Birds is a story about a land that has been divided by war into the human Tsardom and the Republic of Birds. Olga and her family are sent into exile in the borderlands, where they find themselves right on the edge of the magical and dangerous Republic. When Olga’s sister Mira is kidnapped, Olga ventures into the Republic to save her – and she discovers her own magical abilities along the way.
What inspired the idea behind this book?
The fantasy world of the book is very much inspired by Russian folklore. Ever since I was little, I’ve loved Russian fairy tales and I was especially fascinated by the Baba Yaga, a terrifying witch who lives in a hut that prowls the forest on chicken legs. I wrote my own version of the Baba Yaga into The Republic of Birds. And I added lots of other things I love to read about, too: snow, sleds, ballet, firebirds…
What were the children’s books that made an impact on you, growing up?
I loved reading all kinds of books when I was growing up, but I was always particularly drawn to books that had maps at the front, from the Narnia series to A Wizard of Earthsea and Rowan of Rin. There’s something about a map that promises strangeness and adventure. It’s wonderfully exciting to have written a book that has its own frontispiece map.
What were you hoping young readers would take away from your book?
Olga, the main character, is constantly comparing herself to her younger sister, Mira. Mira is beautiful, graceful, kind, and talented – Olga can’t help but be jealous of her. But, as the story progresses, Olga learns to see the good in herself as well as in others. Olga gains the confidence to value her own unique talents – I hope that resonates with young readers.
What was the most challenging part of writing this book?
My first book, Elizabeth and Zenobia, had a small cast of characters and was set entirely in a creepy old house. This book was completely different – there are lots of characters, and Olga’s travels take her across the whole of Tsaretsvo and into the Republic of Birds. It was so much fun to work on a wider canvas, but it was also very hard to know where to stop. My early drafts were way too long, because I was having so much fun adding people and places to the story. I had to spend a long time editing most of them out again afterwards!
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