I had many influences in writing Evans Witches. I’d like to tell you about 2 of them:
Once Upon a Time
It actually started with A long time ago, in a faraway land (the beginning of each one of my Funny Fairy Tales). After reading the first 2, my best friend and editor said that it reminded her of Once Upon a Time and I went: sorry, what?
And then, I discovered the absolute magic of one of the best Disney series ever made. My favorite character was, of course, Rumple! That was one incredible portrayal by Robert Carlyle (I also really liked him in Stone of Destiny).
I think what my friend originally meant was the love affair between the huntsman and the queen in Snow White, which I also did (I think it’s kind of obvious, I may have even taken it from the Grimm version which is the basis of almost all the fairy tales we know today)
But none of that is about Evan’s Witches.
Once Upon a Time in Evan’s Witches:
The parallel timelines! I think that Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz wrote incredible parallel timelines in Once Upon a Time, alternating between our time and magic-land. I specifically liked the season where in one timeline, you don’t actually know what caused Snow White to be pregnant and you have to watch all the way to see what happened in magic-land to find out.
When I came to write Kim and Seth’s journey in Forbidden Road and Merlin’s Creed, I used the above structure: I alternated between present and past chapters, just like in the show, and also created suspense by only tying the two timelines at the end of each book.
With a half-wink you can say there’s another weak link into the series: Kim’s dad, Mark Ralston is a billionaire who gave it all up to go back in time and save his kids. We see his story in Blue Diamond, and I used E. L. James’ work as inspiration (and Jamie Dornan is both in E. L. James’ Fifty Shades adaptation and Once Upon a Time so there you have it)…if I haven’t lost you yet, let’s move on to:
Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings
My brother used to talk about Gandalf like…all the time. And I never really got what the fuss was about, until…
I went to the theatre. I was a teen a long time ago and Peter Jackson had convinced a bunch of movie producers to open their pockets and make one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. I cried when I discovered that Rivendell was made by computer images. Oh, no! I really wanted to visit that set one day (you can actually visit Hobbiton, by the way).
I was the most inspired by the Elves. I wanted to be an elf. Arwen preferably, because like many girls from my generation, I had the hots for Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn (like you younger ones might have felt a couple of years ago for Jamie Dornan up in the previous paragraphs). Probably for the same reasons.
And now, I’m hooked on Wheel of Time-which starts just like Lord of the Rings, and I really hope they keep their word and do the whole series.
But, back to the Elves. I wanted them in my books. As fairies. They play a huge part in my world. The Evans Witches books are written from the perspective of mages and charges, so I thought…hey, why not add another story? A short story, written from the eyes of a Fairy:
Inspired by Aragorn and Arwen:
AD 492
It was the end of a long day and the sun shined its dim light on the folded clothes, the potion bottles, the pile of books, and the amulet. The few things I was taking with me.
“Vivienne.”
I turned to see my brother Vic―King Victor of Edinoor―in the doorway. His sheathed sword cast a blurry shadow on the stone floor behind him, and his metal mail reflected the light of the setting sun.
“Done packing?” He smiled and closed the distance between us. His footsteps were heavy on the cold floor.
“Except the things I’d miss the most.”
“You don’t have to do this. You can stay. I am king―I can stop your wedding.”
“After that beautiful speech you made last night?”
He chuckled. He’d stood up in front of his court, wine cup at hand, and congratulated me on making my last choice ever. Everyone laughed and cheered.
“I’m a fairy. I need to be with my people, and marrying Ban gives me that. There are five fairy tribes in Benwick. Four of them are permanent ones―ones I can trust to stay with me!” Unlike the tribe of my mother―Morgan le Fay―who moved every decade or so. “Benwick allows me to be queen. It’s one of the only places that lets people of magic rule! Fairies actively participate in court and politics there. And it has an unmarried king. The opportunity won’t come again.”
“Yes.” Vic sniffed and looked down. “It’s just…I always thought you would stay. After choosing to live with me.”
I gave him a sad smile. “Me too. I thought it would work out. But I’m only a day’s ride away―less if I travel using fairy magic. And I’ll still be named after this place…Lady of the Lake.” I looked behind him, through the window, at the blooming valley and the large lake with its turquoise water, outside the castle walls. “I wish I could stay here. I do. But I need to be close to my own kind.”
It showed: my skin glowed when I was happy… sometimes even shimmered. I would also breathe with the trees when we rode through the forest. At night, I would feel―not just see―the softness of the moonlight. Night. It felt too long here―fairies didn’t sleep―so I was all alone, and getting restless among mortals.
“I’ve stayed this long for you.”
He smiled. “I know.”
“I never told you this: I’d thanked my father for marrying your mother, before he died in battle.”
“You did?”
I nodded. “I immediately felt a sisterly connection to you, without blood. I’d planned to stay forever.” Even after my mother’s tribe moved and I encouraged her to go with them, seeing her need for fairy company―like I had now.
Vic’s smile grew, and his eyes shined in gratitude. But then a shadow crossed his face. “I won’t live forever. And neither will Ban. Are you sure you don’t want to marry another fairy?”
“Ha! If only. They don’t do that. I’ve met six married fairy couples in my life. Two of them living apart for long periods of time. No. I want what you and Sarah have, what my father had―even if it doesn’t last forever.”
“Very well.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “I wish you all the happiness in the world.”
“I’ll take it!”
He laughed. His eyes moved to the sundial on the balcony below. “Ban will be here soon. I’ll let the two of you meet. We’ll see you at court for dinner.”
“I think I’ll wait in the garden.”
He left, and I went to the flower garden and the fountain that was built for me when I’d first come to live here. The roses were in full bloom and the water was cool when it sprinkled on my hands.
Water loved me. At least, that was how it felt. I held my hand under the drops and wished for them to comfort me. They became warm.
I remembered bathing in this fountain, when I was a girl. Fairies didn’t feel ashamed of our bodies. A few fairies from my mother’s tribe now laughed at how prudent I’d become from living in the human world.
The water tickled me. Before closing my eyes and embracing the sensation, I saw the glowing sparkles of magic on my skin. I let myself get absorbed in the moment. I felt the last lights of the setting sun and breathed in the mist that started to rise around the garden walls.
“I…”
My senses had caught his footsteps before I heard his low voice. I opened my eyes.
In front of me was a young man in a green coat, with bright, curly hair. Staring.
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