We chat with author Elyse John about Orphia and Eurydicius, which is a stunning, gender-flipped novel about love, creativity and the power of speaking out – perfect for fans of Madeline Miller and Pat Barker.
Hi, Elyse! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m a novelist and poet, and grew up with a deep love for reading. There’s something in storytelling that can act as a balm, and something wild and unsettling in it, and that duality of books has always appealed to me.
My brother John died when we were both in our twenties, and Orphia and Eurydicius was written in his honour. He was a man who could make you laugh madly and ponder deeply in the same conversation; a true artist with a camera or with the written word, who applied his creativity to technology as well. We could talk about anything under the sun, and his kindness and care for me always stay with me. It’s thanks to his encouragement and love that I was able to persist as a writer.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
My parents used to read to me when I was very young – they read me Macbeth shortly after I was born. Delving into classics and older stories as a young girl made me hungry for more. I passed many hours in libraries, second-hand bookshops, and anywhere I could access books. Inspired, I began writing poems and stories in primary school (elementary school).
As an Australian, I think I was naturally drawn to books that transported me beyond our island nation and made me imagine life elsewhere and understand the world in a broader sense. I found stories set in different periods of history or magical or imaginary worlds to be fascinating. But as I grow older, I have a deeper appreciation for my own country, which includes the oldest continuous culture on Earth.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: A pair of books about Greek mythology and Norse mythology. I was fascinated by the power of goddesses like Hera and the cunning of figures like Loki who seemed to slip beyond gender norms.
- The one that made you want to become an author: No one book, but a great many; poets like John Keats, Dante Alighieri, and Yosano Akiko inspired me, and among the Ancient Greek authors, I loved works by Homer, Sappho, and Euripides. More recently, novelists like Hilary Mantel, Susanna Clarke, and Ocean Vuong have reminded me how potent the written word can be.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: “Milk Fed” by Melissa Broder.
Your novel, Orphia and Eurydicius, is out April 2nd! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Gender-flipped romance; women’s voices rise.
What can readers expect?
Orphia and Eurydicius retells the ancient Greek story of Orpheus and Eurydice. In the ancient myth, Orpheus was a poet who dazzled people and even animals and plants with his beautiful words, and he married a woman called Eurydice. After Eurydice died in a sudden tragedy, Orpheus travelled to the realm of the dead and tried to win her back. He confronted the king of the dead, Hades, and performed a powerful poem, moving him. Hades agreed that Orpheus could try to lead Eurydice back into the living world, but with some tricky conditions.
In my version of the story, Orphia is a female poet learning to use her voice and embrace her creativity, and Eurydicius is a man – a gentle shield-maker who prefers peace to warfare. The two fall in love, finding commonality as individuals who defy gender roles and as bisexual people who finally feel understood. Yet tragedy bisects the thread of their happiness. Orphia is determined to overcome this tragedy and reweave their joy again. To seek Eurydicius again, she’ll need to draw on all the strength of her creative talent, and refuse to be defeated by gods and kings.
Where did the inspiration for Orphia and Eurydicius come from?
I was drawn to the story of Orpheus and Eurydice after my brother’s death, and found myself wanting to write a retelling that expressed some of how I felt about my connection with my brother. A powerful relationship doesn’t just disappear when someone dies. It continues to be a part of your life. I could relate to the depth of emotion that Orpheus felt in the myth, and his quest to bring back Eurydice and keep her with him.
I also felt an affinity with Orpheus’ character because he was a poet and artist. I liked the idea that his fame came through poetry rather than combat, and that he could magically draw people and animals to him through his storytelling – there was something about that that struck me as symbolic of the magic of storytelling and art.
Another inspiration for Orphia and Eurydicius was the opportunity to gender-swap a famous romantic story, and to portray a brilliant storyteller as a woman. I played around with ideas about who is the wooer and who is the courted one, who is the creative genius and who is the inspiration, positioning Orphia as an active lover and talented artist. Eurydicius, for his part, rejects the martial thrust of the world he is born into, and rejects the attitude he is expected to take towards women.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I visited Greece to do on-site research for the novel, travelling to Mt. Olympus, Mt. Parnassus and more. Transforming those experiences into Orphia’s experiences was a joyous part of the writing – I drew upon the sights, scents, and sounds of the places I’d visited.
Writing about the emotional experience of loss felt very cathartic – there were a lot of things that I’d been waiting to express that finally had the opportunity to come out in this story. I wanted to share the pain of loss so that others would know they’re not alone in their grief. But joy is also a fundamental force in Orphia and Eurydicius, and the love between Orphia and Eurydicius drives the story right until the very last page.
What was the road to the publication of Orphia and Eurydicius like for you?
Challenging. I experienced difficult circumstances during the last few years. Now that it’s being published internationally, I’m grateful to have the support of the people working in the UK, USA, Canada and Italy. I’m also grateful for the team in Australia who took it on first and gave it lots of love and support. I’ve been fortunate to have people like Roberta, Caitlin, Hannah, Niabh, Darren, Jennifer and Sophia at HarperCollins, across several countries, making Orphia and Eurydicius known in the world.
What’s next for you?
I have several things in the works, including one novel based on a myth and one contemporary novel. I hope to be able to share them before too long! I’m excited about the theme of my next mythic book – like Orphia and Eurydicius, it brings out things I’ve wanted to write about for some time.
Lastly, are there any book releases that you’re looking forward to picking up this year?
I’m not sure when it’ll be out, but I’m looking forward to the follow-up to Chikodili Emelumadu’s Dazzling. Her writing is – aptly enough – dazzling and compelling.
