Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi

Emmanuel Itier: So what motivated you to get into this world of fairytales?

Tony DiTerlizzi: Well, it’s probably due to the success of other fairy tales all over the world. People love fairies and always seem to truly want to interact with them. So we were curious about it and thought we should write our own take on it.

Holly Black: And also we wanted to write a story that would please both boys and girls, not only girls. Even parents should enjoy our universe, if they allow the inner-child to resurface somewhat…

TDT: It was important for us to keep that folklore of fairies alive. And it also was the motivation to make it a little bit edgier. Also, it was fun for me to re-visit the world I grew up with, of writers like Tolkien. But we wanted to write a story that patronizes the children less and sets them free. Also, let’s make it real–let’s show the kids what the goblins really look like!

EI: Are you happy so far with what you saw of the feature?

HB: For sure! It’s amazing what they did with the adaptation of our books, and not only because of all of the creatures coming to life but also because of all the human characters and how all of this world is interacting with each other.

TDT: What is great is to see the level of emotion that transpires from what they did. I think the emotion was on the page, and it certainly will be on the screen, and it shows how this family is in transition, going through a divorce, and how the kids live through it.

EI: How much of an impact does fantasy have on kids?

HB: Fantasy can have a real impact on kids, because it can’t talk and approach subject matters that are delicate and can be tricky to deal with, such as the divorce that is at the heart of our story. Sometimes all you need to talk to a kid is a different tone and set of words to explain the harsh reality they are facing. Fantasy allows you to do just this.

EI: How many books were used to put the picture together?

HB: All of the five books. They are small books, and they tell the whole story all together. There is also a “field guide” book to get a better understanding about all the creatures in the books.

TDT: We wanted to follow the example of Lemony Snicket that has several short volumes quite accessible for a seven- or eight-year-old kid. Also, we wanted to keep an edge, and this is translated into the rich tapestry of various illustrations.

EI: How do you explain there are so many movies adapted from children’s books?

HB: I think things are moving in cycles. And now the cycle is “fantasy.” When I grew up, there were lots of fantasy-driven pictures, and I think it’s on the rise again. I always have been fascinated by fairies, and when I was young, I even looked for them in my backyard. So writing about them was a natural cycle for me. For me, it’s great that there are all these films because we help each other promote our movies. We are all so different that we don’t feel in competition with a Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter.

TDT: Fantasy has always been around, and anytime there is a success like Harry Potter, it helps the whole fantasy business.