Together, Agnes and Lorna have written their first children's book Faedom: Enter the World of Fairies that published with Big Picture Press in October 2024.
Agnes Monod-Gayraud is an author and translator, with a focus on non-fiction titles rooted in science, nature, art and folklore. Winner of the 2017 Educational Writers' Award from the UK’s Society of Authors for The Book of Bees (Thames and Hudson). Language editor for the Astronomy & Astrophysics academic journal, based at the Paris Observatory. Holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature/Psychology from New York University and an M.A. in Cultural Studies from the University of Warsaw. A native New Yorker, she currently lives with her family in London.
1. How do you get over “writer’s block”?
There are so many things actually blocking me from writing – like my day job, childcare and all the mundane stuff. So when I actually do get the chance to write, I like to try and grab it. I feel like it doesn’t matter if what you’re writing is good or not in the moment, the point is to get it flowing. Once in a while, I will feel overwhelmed by a project and feel like I just don’t know where to begin. That’s when I start taking some notes and once in a while the words just start coming. If I really am having a hard time with something, I’ll just shift to writing something else. I’m usually working on a few things at once, so if I need to, I’ll bounce around. I’m also a translator, so that often gets me in the groove of writing if I’m having a tougher day. Or I’ll just go for a walk.
2. How do you come up with titles for your books?
I often come up with titles early on as I start a book with an idea and sometimes even the title itself. I like titles that are basic and punchy. For Faedom, the idea just drifted in and stuck – and I think we couldn’t have imagined calling it anything else. Recently, I had a whole book idea based around a random title that dropped into my head. My kids and I often think of fun titles for picture books and I file them away for another day.
3. How do you celebrate when you finish a project?
I think Lorna and I like to do little celebrations for every milestone – when we finish a book, when we have a good meeting, when we get some nice feedback. We treat ourselves to lunch and just try to enjoy all the little moments.
4. What are common traps for new authors?
For me, the most common trap would be writing “to trend” or “to expectations” because the market moves so swiftly and the way to truly break through is to do something unexpected. Also, stressing too much about style or grammar can weigh you down. I like to put all the words down and then just polish at some point, hacking away at it like it’s a big hunk of marble. Most of all, I think it’s ideal to write to tell a story, not necessarily to sell a book. Although that’s definitely the cherry on top. But I wrote so many books before we sold Faedom and will keep writing more, and even when you’ve published one book, there’s no guarantee you’ll publish more. Determination and craft are key, I think.
5. Do you only write for one genre?
I guess I could call myself claustrophobic when it comes to genre because I want to do ALL the genres – or at least as many as I can. I might not be the right author for crime or thrillers, but I’d like to cover everything from non-fiction STEM books for kids to YA fantasy and adult SFF. And I think this is evident in the style of Faedom, which I hope will be equally interesting to kids, young adults and even adults in its blend of fact, fiction and folklore.
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Lorna White is a copywriter and writer with a degree in Greek and Roman studies from the University of Exeter. Fascinated by all things mystical, she draws her inspiration from the Greek and Roman myths, as well as folklore, from across the globe. Half-French, half-English, she grew up flitting between the two nations. Today, she lives in London with her husband and two daughters and their rabbit, Candy.
1. Where do you like to write?
At home overlooking our little garden, which always inspires me. We have an apple tree, which attracts many birds, bees and butterflies. It is a bright room which energises me, and I usually burn incense, my favourite one being a cypress and pine blend. I then select a record to play, and I start working. This is where a lot of the writing for Faedom happened, to the tune of various records and the merry chirps of the blackbirds and blue tits in the garden.
2. Have pets ever gotten in the way of your writing?
We have a cute black rabbit called Candy and I look after my mother’s dog, Nelson, regularly, an excitable and loving working cocker. They are a welcome cuddly distraction, too adorable to resist when they are in want of loving attention.
3. If you had to describe yourself in just three words, what would those be?
Inquisitive, daydreamer and silly. The fairies of Faedom all have different personality traits, both amazing and flawed – just like us.
4. Do you write more than one thing at a time?
Writing a few things at a time is too difficult to resist. It can be helpful because you can distract yourself with one project and then go back to the other if you are stuck. The only difficulty is managing to finish a project. Writing Faedom together with Agnes was amazing because we could easily check in with each other and encourage each other. While other writing projects may feel a little lonely.
5. Do you carry around a journal?
I have many journals, and it is the go-to gift for anyone who knows me! Which I truly appreciate as I do love a journal. I write my thoughts down, and anything that inspires me, I doodle (badly), I even have a four-leaf clover pressed in one of them, that I luckily happened upon in my garden. I had a special journal for Faedom where I kept all the thoughts that inspired me and the ideas that Agnes and I had for the book. These journals are probably illegible to most - and not always kept in great condition - but they are still beloved items, trustee companions to my cherished fountain pen, without which I couldn’t write.
6. If you could invite any three people for dinner, who would you invite?
I would invite one of our fairies from Faedom. I love them all so it is a tough decision to make; I would probably invite the kitchen fairy first to ensure our dinner would be a delicious success! I’m hoping she would help with the prep! But if she was otherwise engaged, I would ask Celeste, the dream fairy, to join the party. I would also like to invite Nick Cave, one of my favourite poet singers. The final guest would be a classic author from beyond the grave; it would be a toss between JRR Tolkien or Aurore Dupin, famously known in France as George Sand! Whose novels I grew up with, being half French myself.
Thank you, Agnes and Lorna, for participating in our first ever team interview. We appreciate the peek into your creative process! Check out Agnes and Lorna's debut children's book, Faedom: Enter the World of Fairies, soon-to-be available in our Bookshop! And as always, keep shining!
Agnes Monod-Gayraud
Twitter/X: https://x.com/AgnesMonodaze
Lorna White
Twitter/X: https://x.com/Lorny2
Nadzeya Makeyeva (Illustrator)
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