In this episode, Dara has an in-depth conversation with Eilish Fisher, the author of the brilliant ‘Fia and the Last Snow Deer’, a novel for older children. Written in blank verse, Fisher says it’s the story she wrote for her ten-year-old self. A gripping adventure that sets the young Fia on a dangerous quest to save her small tribe from endless darkness and hunger, the closer she gets to success, the more she realises her triumph might cost her her closest friend – Solas the Snow Deer. Mythical, haunting, and beautifully written and illustrated, the book is a compelling read.
Dara and Eilish discuss her background in medieval Irish history and how that informed the writing of the book. They talk about the hero’s journey and the ubiquity of certain archetypes across different mythological traditions, and the examination of ancient authorship in a context of patronage and religious influence. Regardless of origin, they agree that the archetypes still prevail that inform the heroes and villains of many contemporary stories.