With the release of The Witch’s Egg graphic novel from Avery Hill Publishing, we are delighted to be joined by artist and illustrator Donya Todd.
Hi Donya, it’s so lovely to have you here with us.
Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?
Hello ComicBuzz! Thank you for having me. I’m Donya, an artist and illustrator and I’m here to talk about my new graphic novel, The Witch’s Egg.
Can you tell us about the origins of The Witch’s Egg?
The book is a dark fairytale exploring an apocalyptic romance between a witch and an angel and the weird journey into motherhood. You’ll find devils and worm gods and a host of strange characters as the cat witch Urfí makes her way through a surreal landscape.
Who is Urfi?
Urfí is an orphan, a witch who sold her soul to the devil to avenge her family. She finds herself alone and dreaming of having a family again, but there’s a price to pay and a prophecy to heed.
How did Avery Hill Publishing get involved with The Witch’s Egg?
I worked with Avery Hill on a short comic in 2015 called ‘Buttertubs.’ Then, a few years ago they asked if I would like to do another book with them, bigger this time and in full colour. I had had a few years break from making comics at this point and I was excited at the prospect. It was a great time to jump back into this practice.
What can you tell us about Isobel, Batzel, and Mazel?
Iz, Batz and Mazel are sisters, all hatched from the same egg. The girls make it through a long and dangerous journey and grow up into powerful creatures, each with their own skills and stories.
How long have you been working on The Witch’s Egg?
I’ve been working on the comic on and off for over two years. I spent this year inking and colouring the book, spending most evenings and a couple mornings dedicated to the task. It’s been hard but very satisfying work and I’ve learned a lot along the way.
You created all of the art for The Witch’s Egg. What part of that process did you enjoy the most?
I loved writing the book, it involved so much interesting research and really lots of thinking and scribbling. Inking was great, I got to explore comic making in a much more illustrative and experimental form than ever before. Colouring was totally experimental — I made a whole new way of working with this book and it was such a learning curve. It was very, very hard work.
Can you tell us about the world that The Witch’s Egg is set in?
The world The Witch’s Egg is set in is a fantastical landscape, all based in folklore and fairytale. The character journeys through Zones which are split into different sagas and colours to differentiate. I like working this way, lots of little stories and places weaving in and out of an overarching narrative, highlighting sections of the characters’ journeys.
What has it been like working with Avery Hill Publishing?
Avery Hill have been a joy to work with. They gave me both space to breathe and explore whilst also being there to help edit and talk things through. The team have been excellent with promotional work too. Thank you Kat, Ricky, and Gina!
What can you tell us about The Witch’s Egg?
The Witch’s Egg is a fiction based in archetypal ideas of fairy tales, like wicked kings and stepmothers as well as mythical creatures and magic. What I can tell you is that some of the spells and dialogue in the text are real, and based around real live witchcraft accounts and grimoires. I spend a lot of time reading contemporary and historical witchcraft books, as well as visiting museums and writing my own spells for inspiration.
With The Witch’s Egg releasing in October, how do you feel?
October is the perfect time for its release. We’re entering spooky season, the season of the witch, the dark months. I’m so excited for it to finally be out and in peoples hands.
Any message for the ComicBuzz readers?
Keep it weird, comicbuzz! And thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy The Witch’s Egg.
We would like to say a big thank you to Donya for chatting with us and wish her the best of luck for the release of The Witch’s Egg.
