When did the idea for SNOW LIKE ASHES come to you? Was it one of your drawings?

I started writing the first draft of SLA when I was twelve, actually! Thus, I don’t remember where the whole idea for the story came from, beyond this: I knew I wanted to write a book where winter was perceived as the “good guys.” Winter is so often seen as bad and evil and cold, and I wanted to flip that. Thus, Winter is the good kingdom, and Spring is evil.