Rebekah Witherkay
asked
Juliet Marillier:
Hi Juliet, I have thoroughly enjoyed all your books for the past 15 years, and I wanted to thank you for creating such strong and brave characters who overcome such obstacles. I really enjoy the strong roots in folklore and fairy tales, and I wanted to ask you what books you have found most helpful in your research for writing'?
Juliet Marillier
Hi Rebekah,
I've used a lot of reference books along the way! One of the classic collections of Irish mythology is Lady Gregory's Irish Myths and Legends. I also have The Vanishing People: a study of traditional fairy beliefs by Katharine M Briggs. There are several great fairy tale collections edited by American scholar Jack Zipes. Troublesome Things: a history of fairies and fairy stories by Diane Purkiss. And not forgetting the wonderful Seven Miles of Steel Thistles: Reflections on Fairy Tales by Katherine Langrish (check out her blog of the same name.)
Of course that's just one aspect - I also read books on landscape, flora and fauna, relevant history (even when the novels get fairly non-historical!), clothing, weaponry etc. I have fairly crammed bookshelves in most rooms of my house.
When I was a child I loved the Andrew Lang fairy tale books (The Red Fairy Book, the Green Fairy Book etc) and I know the wonder of those stories from all over the world had a huge impact on what I chose to write!
All the best, and thank you for the nice comment!
Juliet
I've used a lot of reference books along the way! One of the classic collections of Irish mythology is Lady Gregory's Irish Myths and Legends. I also have The Vanishing People: a study of traditional fairy beliefs by Katharine M Briggs. There are several great fairy tale collections edited by American scholar Jack Zipes. Troublesome Things: a history of fairies and fairy stories by Diane Purkiss. And not forgetting the wonderful Seven Miles of Steel Thistles: Reflections on Fairy Tales by Katherine Langrish (check out her blog of the same name.)
Of course that's just one aspect - I also read books on landscape, flora and fauna, relevant history (even when the novels get fairly non-historical!), clothing, weaponry etc. I have fairly crammed bookshelves in most rooms of my house.
When I was a child I loved the Andrew Lang fairy tale books (The Red Fairy Book, the Green Fairy Book etc) and I know the wonder of those stories from all over the world had a huge impact on what I chose to write!
All the best, and thank you for the nice comment!
Juliet
More Answered Questions
Taylor R.
asked
Juliet Marillier:
Hi Mrs. Marillier! :) I loved your Sevenwaters and Blackthorn & Grim series so much that you have inspired me to write my own historical fantasy. I just want your opinion, as a reader, does combining too many references oversaturate my plot/make it unoriginal, even if I make connect them well? It combines the black death, astral projection, Celtic references, Arthurian lore, and references the song "Scarborough Fair".
RKanimalkingdom
asked
Juliet Marillier:
This is the question I wanted to ask. While I was reading Dreamer's Pool I was curious as to why Grim was so accepting of Blackthorn's behaviour towards him. I know that at the end he expresses his feelings about it too her but why does he only display his anger towards others and not her? She doesn't treat him as nicely as the other villagers.
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