With Larissa Page
Photo by Sean Maylon
We Should Not Be Afraid Of The Sky was written from the perspective of five different characters/sisters and each of their voices is incredibly unique. Did you have any challenges in writing the voices of characters who were simultaneously so similar yet so different?
It was certainly a tricky line to tread: how to have the sisters be both notably connected (identical, even!) with all the shared rhythms that come of such a bond, but also remain distinct individuals? But it was also fun. I tried to let each character’s experience and role within the group distinguish them. I had a few methods to help me with this while writing, including having a different playlist of music for each sister that I could listen to before and while writing in their voice…
The setting and timeframe of this novel is not one we hear about often in historical fiction novels. What inspired you to write a story set during the Roman Empire and the beginnings of Christianity? Did you find you needed to research this time in history for information and what were some of your favourite details that you uncovered?
It was actually the character of St Quiteria who led me to this time period. My fascination began with her and, according to one set of legends, anyway, this was where and when she lived.
One of my favourite learned details was that the ancient Romans at this time had alarm clocks… but not domestic cats. More generally, I really enjoyed digging into how the cultures of that time overlapped, mingled and mixed. The movement and blending of peoples and traditions was much more an everyday part of life in the empire than I’d realised…
Who was your favourite character to write about and why? Was it one of the sisters or someone else in the narrative?
That’s tricky! I love all the sisters so much, it doesn’t seem right to choose between them… but I can say that of the non-sister characters I particularly enjoyed writing “don’t call me mother" Julia, the commander’s wife. She represents a certain traditional type of female role that I found quite interesting to play with and juxtapose with the sisters and their adventures. She’s ‘traditional’ but still a unique and interesting person with her own quirks and flaws within that role.
Did you find the process of writing this novel different from the process of writing your previous novels? How would you say this novel differs or is similar to your previous works?
This one definitely took a lot more research…! While the other books definitely contained elements I wanted and needed to learn more about to write convincingly (cod fishing, world-war-two, Canada folk songs…) We Should Not Be Afraid of the Sky was so much further away from where and when I’m from. This was also my first novel written in the first person, something that took a little getting used to, but which also opened up new ways to present the character’s thoughts, actions and relationships. I quickly learned that there is so much more to it than just switching “she” to “I”…
If you could go back and live in the setting of one of your novels (all are so unique), which one would you chose and why?
Well, I’d love to go back and visit the ancient Roman Portugal setting of We Should Not Be Afraid of the Sky but I wouldn’t want to live there. Women had drastically fewer rights and possibilities open to them then, something the sisters in the book are fighting against a lot of the time. I’m also a big fan of modern medicine! But it would be so so so fascinating to see the architecture, food, clothing, and everything else from so very long ago; so much of what we know is based on so little, really, and I’d love to be able to fill in the many knowledge gaps.
In terms of actually living, it might seem strange, but I’d probably choose the lonely Newfoundland island from Our Homesick Songs. I spent some time in similar places while researching that book (and before, just because I love it there) and there’s something incredible magical about it. One thing is how it’s foggy at some point almost every single day… it sort of blurs the boundary between yourself and the sea. Overall I love how much the sea and weather permeates so much there, from food to songs.
Now that We Should Not Be Afraid Of The Sky is making its way into the world, are you working on your next project? What can you share with us about it?
I am! But I’m still in that fizzy, sparkly early stage where things are very fun and changing every day… ask me that question again in a year’s time and I’ll have a firmer answer for you…
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are trying to navigate the publishing world?
If you really love it then just keep trying. There’s no such thing as a failed book or project, as each one teaches you so much that you can use to write a better next one. It took me ten years and three novels to actually get to the stage of publication…!
What is your “must-read” book recommendation and what book has had the most impact and influence on your writing?
In terms of ‘must-read’: anything and everything. The most important thing, I think, is just to always have a book (or two) on the go…
Some authors that have really impacted and influenced me, however, include Ali Smith, Heather O’Neill, Karen Russel, and Jane Austen…