The following is an interview with Donya Todd on the upcoming release of the graphic novel, The Witch’s Egg, with Avery Hill Publishing. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Todd about her creative process in bringing the story and characters to life on the page, what she hopes that reader’s may take away from the story’s exploration of motherhood and family dynamics, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of The Witch’s Egg! What inspired you to share this incredible exploration of motherhood and family dynamics with readers?
Donya Todd: Thank you so much! When I began working on The Witch’s Egg, it was a series of cannibalized characters and stories that I wanted to bring together into one saga. I threw a cat witch and an avenging angel together into a cauldron and watched the narrative unfold. As it progressed, it turned into this apocalyptic journey, with the characters representing the emotional and transformative nature of motherhood. I found I could explore the immense love and anxiety that arrived alongside a child through a dark fairytale. Creating this fiction brought me so much joy and catharsis and I hope readers will enjoy the story.
BD: Your artistic style naturally exudes deep ambience and mood through a wonderful juxtaposition of the mystical and macabre. When tackling a project like The Witch’s Egg, is there anything that guides or propels your approach to the artwork?
DT: The book has been heavily influenced by my research into traditional Cornish Witchcraft and folklore. The occult is a passion of mine, so it was a joy. For the style of The Witch’s Egg, I looked to fairytale illustration like Ivan Bilban’s Vasilisa the beautiful and Lithuanian folktale The Sky Is Falling. I also enjoyed reading the works of Leo Fox, Junk Mizuno, Tincanforest, Simon Hanselmann, and Dame Darcy.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Urfi’s story may connect with and impact readers?
DT: I hope someone takes away something that they need to see and hear. I hope a new mother finds the dark humor in becoming a monstrous bird. I hope the story connects with someone who is up in the small hours and at the end of their patience. I hope the story finds someone who feels mad with no outlet. I hope it finds someone who is feeling all the feelings and needs a massive story to make sense of it all.
BD: What makes Avery Hill Publishing the perfect home for this story?
DT: Avery Hill Publishing are putting out some of the most exciting graphic novels and working with excellent artists on weird books and that is why I love them. Thank you, Kat, Ricky, & Gina, for being so cool.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
DT: If you like The Witch’s Egg, you may enjoy VENUS and Taking Shape which are books of weird, illustrated apocalyptic poetry. The Witch’s Egg couldn’t have happened without those projects. You can see some of it on my website.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find out more about The Witch’s Egg and your other work?
DT: The Witch’s Egg is being released on October 7th, and the best way to buy it is either through Avery Hill Publishing or will shortly be available on my website, too. My copies will be signed and comes with a little drawing. If you’d like to have a chat or find out more, feel free to get in touch. Thank you for reading!
