Welcome to The Interview Room, where we share the complete conversations behind our In My Mom Era features.
Author and illustrator Aria Joy Prichard joined me for a twelve-question conversation about her children’s book Luna and the Lost Cove, the environmental inspiration behind it, childhood creativity, and the courage to start before anyone else believes in you.
Start with my personal review: A Little Mermaid, a Big Idea, and the Courage to Begin.
The Complete Q&A with Aria Joy Prichard
What was the very first seed of Luna and the Lost Cove? How did it grow into the finished story?
Aria: As a character designer, I am always creating new characters with stories and animal friends. Even as a child I was always creating characters: mermaids, fairies, and more! Something that has always inspired me in a sad way is coral bleaching and ocean trash, and how we need to take better care of our oceans and wildlife. I went snorkeling in Hawaii earlier this year, and seeing all the white coral among the green sea turtles saddened me. Luna and the Lost Cove grew out of my love for storytelling and making sure we keep our oceans a thriving, healthy place.
Luna makes a difference through small actions before others believe in her. What drew you to that, and does it connect to your own life?
Aria: I wanted to show that seeking people’s opinions and asking for approval doesn’t always make things happen. You have to go out and do what you’re called to do. You have to go out and accomplish what you’re meant to accomplish. Luna simply starts cleaning. She doesn’t pay attention to what others say, and she does what she believes is her purpose at the time. Rather than a big heroic moment, she chooses a simple action to start, and I think that’s more powerful and honest. If I had stopped drawing characters and telling stories just because people told me it was too hard a career and wasn’t going to work, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Luna faces doubt and ridicule. How did you handle those moments so children recognize the hurt but still feel encouraged?
Aria: As a kid myself who would get bullied over the most random, silly things, I wanted to incorporate that feeling into the book because it’s something a lot of kids deal with, unfortunately. In the end, the “bullies” recognize Luna’s effort and in turn become her friends and support her. I wanted to show that people are never “too far gone” to be your friend and apologize. I want kids to realize that they can still be themselves and be accepted.
Luna sees possibility in a place others have overlooked. What inspired the cove, and how did the illustrations help readers see it?
Aria: I love reading and being inspired by other stories. H2O: Just Add Water was a show I loved in high school, and I loved how the characters would always go to the Moon Pool, which was very magical and separated from society. I was also inspired by Tinker Bell and the fairies and their homes and world. Fairy Realm by Emily Rodda and The Tail of Emily Windsnap series by Liz Kessler all formed and shaped my worldview of a magical land. Luna’s Cove came out of my love for magic and for recreating what was once lost as something found and whole again. I wanted to create the Cove as a sad, lonely, gloomy place at first with my color palettes, and then turn it into a vibrant, magical, flourishing place at the end.
What role did you want Lemon’s friendship to play, especially when others aren’t supportive?
Aria: Lemon, Luna’s little seahorse friend, is always there for her and always supportive. Sometimes that’s all you need: one friend who says they are there for you no matter what and continually shows up.
As the other mermaids begin to respond differently, what did you want readers to understand about how one person’s actions can influence a community?
Aria: Nobody in the story changes because Luna argued, convinced them, or pleaded with them to change. They simply saw what she was doing and saw the change for themselves. That is when they realized what she was doing was making an impact, and they wanted to join. Kids don’t have to convince everyone to be on their side before they start to do something they believe in. They simply have to begin.
What is one small, real-world activity you’d suggest for families who want to carry that idea beyond the book?
Aria: Perhaps you see an old tree in your backyard, or a spot in the house that could use a little magic. Spend some time making it a little more magical and give it a little more love. Maybe even take some time to clean up together at home, or go somewhere local to pick up trash. Then talk about how it made you feel, and how it feels to make the area more magical and pretty again.
Your parents let you paint inside your closet. What did that freedom give you, and how can parents encourage that creative confidence without a big space or expensive supplies?
Aria: Being given the opportunity to paint on the walls of my closet made me feel like Rapunzel in her tower, creating a magical place for herself. I could paint anything I wanted, and it would be mine. It gave me the opportunity to express myself creatively and with my imagination. I could do anything simply because I had the opportunity to do so. Parents can encourage their kids without expensive supplies and a big space by doing something similar. One thing I always say is that you don’t need expensive supplies or a surplus of supplies to make something beautiful. You just need one pencil and a good imagination.
Since you both wrote and illustrated the book, how did the words and pictures shape one another? Was there a moment when drawing a scene changed the story you planned to tell?
Aria: As I wrote the story, I saw the scene. I see both in real time, and I think that’s the beauty of being an illustrator and a storyteller, because it’s kind of multitasking. When I close my eyes and write, I picture what is happening in the story and how I’m going to interpret it visually. Of course, as the story went through edits and changes, I changed in my mind what the illustrations would look like to better suit the scene, but it was all playing out in my mind the entire time.
Is there a small visual detail or hidden element you especially hope children notice on a second or third reading?
Aria: There is actually! I’m hoping that kids are able to find the little animal friend that I have placed strategically on each page. I’m not going to give it away, but keep an eye out for a recurring character hidden throughout the story! I always loved this type of “Easter egg” in stories I read as a kid, so I had to put in my own version of that myself.
What would you say to a child who has an idea they love but feels embarrassed to pursue it because someone else laughed?
Aria: Just because someone laughs doesn’t mean you have a bad idea. Frankly, it doesn’t mean anything at all. I think it’s important to let go of other people’s opinions and start creating your own reality. People won’t always understand why you do what you do, and that doesn’t mean what you’re doing is wrong. Don’t let other people stifle you, put your ideas in a box, and make you feel like what you’re doing isn’t good enough. Be adventurous, be courageous, and most importantly, be yourself.
Will we see more adventures with Luna and Lemon? What would you love to explore next in their world?
Aria: I would love that very much. I have already thought of the lore of Luna’s Grandmerma and all the other Mermaid Friends characters. Each character has a unique backstory and an animal friend with their own special magic to share with the world. I am always thinking of new stories and new characters for the universe I have created. There is always more magic to be told!
Thank you to Aria Joy Prichard for answering my questions, and to Denise Carberry and Justin Loeber of Mouth Digital + Public Relations for arranging our conversation. Visit Mermaid Friends to explore more.
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