In King of the Condors, a village plagued by drought and famine receives mysterious deliveries of much-needed supplies delivered by condors under the leadership of an enigmatic figure. Where did the idea for this story come from?

I was living in Ecuador at the time, in a city called Cuenca, high in the Andes at an elevation of more than 8,000 feet. The condor is a national symbol in Ecuador and is featured prominently on the country’s flag. The condor was sacred to the Inca whose empire extended through what is now Ecuador and the mythology of this majestic bird was an important part of their folklore. I wanted to write an original story that read like a traditional folktale and that celebrated something uniquely Andean. Imagination took flight and soon after, so too did the hero of our story.

What do you think makes a great children’s story?

A profound sense of wonder and mystery is what has always captured my interest in a children’s story. Robust elements of the fantastic, the fabulous, the speculative, the mythical, and the magical.

Do you have a favorite scene in King of the Condors? One that was especially fun to write?

I actually most enjoyed writing the conclusion of the story. The idea that this young fellow, saved by condors at the cliff’s edge and now their king, stands watch over his village from somewhere in the craggy heights filled me with a sense of the splendid.

The artwork in this book is wonderful. Can you share with us a little about your collaboration with illustrator Stephanie Suter?

For sure! Stephanie is a Swiss transplant whose art is really quite spectacular. Cuenca is famous for its arts & crafts and her vibrant work has found a home there. I emailed Stephanie a copy of the story and she pulled from it the key imagery that she felt most inspired to create in ink on silk. The results are perfectly stunning.

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