We chat with author Rosie Hewlett about The Witch of Colchis, which is an evocative tale of love, murder, and magic following one of the most powerful and maligned women in Greek myth.
Hi, Rosie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello! I’m Rosie and I’m the author of Medusa and The Witch of Colchis. I am, unsurprisingly, a massive Greek mythology nerd and have a first class degree in Classical Literature and Civilisation from the University of Birmingham in the UK. Aside from myth, I love reading, playing video games, crossfit and drinking too much coffee.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
It sounds like a cliché, but I’ve loved writing stories for as long as I can remember. I can’t say what initially sparked my urge to write, it’s just always been there. My parents still have a collection of all the ‘books’ I wrote when I was very little, and all my old notebooks and laptops are full of half finished stories I’ve attempted over the years. Writing has always been my greatest passion, and I can’t believe I am now lucky enough to call it my full-time job!
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: I remember my parents reading Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree to me when I was young, and that was my first experience of being truly swept away by a book.
- The one that made you want to become an author: There wasn’t one particular book that made me want to be an author, but Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles inspired me to want to write my own Greek myth retelling (and is my all-time favourite book!)
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Last year I read Alice Winn’s incredible debut In Memoriam and it became an instant favourite of mine. Winn’s writing is hauntingly beautiful, and her characters are so stunningly crafted. I still think about that book often and my heart breaks a little more each time.
Your latest novel, The Witch of Colchis, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Empowering, fierce, heartbreaking, fantastical, feminist.
What can readers expect?
This book is brimming with female rage and power, and it will take readers deep into the mind of Greek mythology’s most formidable and controversial woman – Medea. This myth has always been my favourite, because it truly has it all – adventure, battles, witchcraft, forbidden love, heartbreak, betrayal, revenge, mythical creatures, powerful women. The scope of Medea’s story is incredible, and I cannot wait to share it with more readers.
Where did the inspiration for The Witch of Colchis come from?
I have studied Greek mythology for many years, and the story of the fiercesome Witch of Colchis has always been my favourite. It is hard not to be captivated by Medea, she is, after all, the most powerful woman in Greek myth, and her story is simply epic. Yet, despite this, Medea has been remembered by history as just Jason’s ‘vengeful ex-wife’, forcing her to exist in his shadow. I wanted to remedy this injustice and to write a book that would reclaim Medea’s story, reinstating her place in history whilst also allowing readers a deeper understanding of this fascinatingly complex woman.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
As much as I love an exciting, fantastical action sequence, my favourite scenes to write were those between Medea and the strong women in her life. Being able to bring Medea, Circe and Atalanta to life and have them interact on the page was so exciting for me as a classicist and author. It’s kind of like writing fan fiction about your favourite characters within your favourite story! I had so much fun exploring how these powerful women would react to one another and how their relationships with Medea would unfold. Greek mythology has a bad habit of ignoring relationships between women (which is unsurprising considering these stories were told by men for men), so I am glad I was able to rectify this in my novel.
Is it all daunting taking a myth and turning it into a novel?
It is definitely daunting, especially as someone who adores and deeply respects Greek mythology, I really wanted to make sure I did Medea’s remarkable story justice! But it is important to remember that Greek mythology was an oral tradition, and so it is in their very nature for these stories to be retold and reimagined, allowing them to adapt and endure. That gave me the confidence to bring my own voice to Medea’s myth, and I love the idea of carrying on this tradition from the ancient world, continuing to share these wonderful stories and help keep them alive.
What’s next for you?
I am currently working on Book 3 which is another Greek myth retelling. I haven’t officially announced it yet but I can’t wait to!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
I just read Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon which I absolutely adored, it is such a unique, funny yet poignant story and I encourage everyone to pick up a copy! I can’t wait to get my hands on Sally Rooney’s new book Intermezzo which comes out very soon.
