Alice and Agapogo is centered around a brave and stubborn girl whose escape from a witch takes her into a mysterious underworld on an adventure involving ancient Miners, prophecies, and betrayal. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

This is the second book in Alice’s adventures. At the end of the first novel, the witch forces Alice into the Underworld.

From a writer’s point of view, that opened an entirely new world. Legends about mysterious underground civilizations appear in mythology, folklore, and classic fantasy literature. I wanted to bring to life my own Underworld with its own history, forgotten people, and ancient secrets.

But the setting itself was not the most important part of the story. The real question was: what would Alice do if she had only two choices? Stay in a safe place and wait for whatever fate had prepared for her, or leave that safety and walk straight toward danger.

Alice is scared, but she never gives up. When she realizes that even the witches fear the Dragon, her decision is: “Then I’ll find the Dragon.” That determination in the face of fear became the driving force behind the entire novel.

Alice’s relationship with Bella and Lola gives the story much of its emotional warmth. Were the dogs inspired by real-life companions?

Yes, there was a real-life inspiration, with an amazing girl and two huge dogs who absolutely adored her.

I decided to write a few stories about her adventures with her dogs. That became my first book, “Alice, Cricket and Two Dogs”.

In the second book, the three of them are still inseparable.

Cricket stands out among a cast filled with witches, dragons, and other fantastical beings. What makes Cricket such an important part of Alice’s adventure?

Cricket is the point at which the cosmos enters Alice’s story. The mysterious Lens transforms an ordinary insect into a being with extraordinary intelligence and the ability to read thoughts.

No one notices him, and that is precisely his strength. Cricket is the first to discover that Matilda intends to steal Alice. He speaks to the dogs, whispers a warning into Alice’s ear, and pulls her out of the witch’s grasp. A creature small enough to disappear in the grass changes the course of Alice’s life.

Later, Cricket becomes the invisible link between Alice and Agapogo, and ultimately defeats the Almighty. In a world of witches, dragons, and monsters, the smallest creature possesses the greatest weapon: knowledge.

Agapogo is both protector and friend. How did you imagine this remarkable creature?

I spent a lot of time in British Columbia near beautiful Okanagan Lake, where the legend of Ogopogo is part of what gives the lake its unique character. When you stand on the shore and look out over its waters, it is easy to imagine that a mysterious ancient creature lives somewhere in the depths.

It became the starting point for Agapogo, and I changed the name slightly as a nod to the legend. But in the novel, Agapogo is far more than an underwater serpent.

Alice manages to uncover his secret, and that discovery becomes one of the key moments in the story.

What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?

I am currently working on a dark fantasy novel for adults. Its working title is Angel.

At the same time, I am also writing the third book in Alice’s adventures. At the end of the second book, Alice returns to an ordinary school, and her family moves to another city. But can a girl who has survived such extraordinary trials simply settle down and live the life of an ordinary schoolgirl? The working title of Alice 3 is On the Trail of the Miners.

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