A Butterfly’s Song follows a young plain butterfly who feels that there is nothing special about herself, making her feel all alone. What was the inspiration for your story?

The story of the Pupa butterfly has ingredients from the reality of today’s children and young people. From that world where often the loudest, bravest, and, in different ways, the most “colorful” personalities get the most attention.

Of course, not everyone is an extrovert who loves to show off and enjoys performing in front of others. Such persons are often idealized and presented as admirable role models in public, though. This perception quickly spreads, especially among children and young people at a tender age, putting their developing self-esteem to the test.

I wrote my story to encourage those who feel they can’t live up to the expectations placed on them. Sometimes, those expectations come from around the individual in the form of different requirements regarding appearance, behavior, or skills. Sometimes, the person is unsatisfied with himself and feels inferior to others, even if no one notices it.

Of course, those who feel alone, insecure, and without support are in the most challenging position with their insecurities. In my story, the wind represents the help that can sometimes come from a surprising direction.

We all have moments when we wish such a gentle wind would take us in its arms and blow our wings with new energy. It might help us regain confidence and trust in flying – or singing – our way.

Pupa worries about being plain and ordinary and not standing out. What were the driving ideals behind her development in this story?

In my story, A Butterfly’s Song, we follow Pupa’s first moments when she emerges from her cocoon as a butterfly. It is a shock to enter a new life situation and adapt to an unfamiliar environment. Just getting her wings open and ready to fly is challenging.

The first task is facing that initial shock. After figuring it out, Pupa is even happy and enthusiastic momentarily and tries to adapt to the company of colorful butterflies she admires. She fails.

An individual who is more modest than the others is overlooked and ignored. In addition to sadness, we can also notice some envy toward others in Pupa. She should get those feelings under control, but how? As the next step, she tries to imitate the nightingale, but the butterfly cannot sing. So, Pupa runs into her unrealistic dreams.

The encounter between the butterfly and the wind is a crucial moment in this fairy tale. The wind represents a gentle and understanding helper, and Pupa is lucky to find such help. Our modest butterfly overcomes her most difficult feelings of loneliness and inadequacy with the help of the wind, but she must eventually learn to accept herself as she really is.

At the end of the story, Pupa finds and accepts her own place and role in life. She even understands that being alive with all the beauty around her is a gift from life.

What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?

Through this butterfly’s life, we go through many growth phases and situations familiar to everyone – child or adult. The story highlights the difficulties one faces in new situations. The reason may be an unfamiliar environment and a missing support network. Our self-esteem and trust in survival may also be weak.

This little story helps us imagine and experience living in such situations by allowing us to see the unknown world through the eyes of a fairy tale character. Encountering anything new and unknown is always challenging. Even in a familiar place, you can face difficulties if the people around you change or the demands increase. Facing and mastering the changed situation takes energy and time.

Finally, I would like to emphasize two more educational aspects that must be remembered. The first is that in times of trouble, it is important to seek reliable help. Inadequacy of one’s skills or strength is not a shame. Equally important is not to let anyone outside define what we should be like. Following your own heart and reason usually shows the best way.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will that be published?

I’ve just received the artists’ illustrations for several of my stories. So I can transfer them out of my hands for the next steps of book projects.

Of course, I still participate in the commentary of the layout stage. For example, I’m working on two stories about exceptional houses set in India – The Old Rose Villa and The Dream House. That pair of books is exceptional in many respects. Namely, I have received the stories’ subjects and a request to write them from an Indian friend.

I also wanted to find an Indian illustrator for the books because I want them to respect and reflect Indian culture. I came across Akanksha Priya, who interpreted the stories beautifully in hand-painted pictures. The results of our cooperation will be available for everyone to see later this year.

Finally, I would like to mention another story that is very close to my heart. I won’t even reveal the book’s name yet, but I hope the story fits in with UNESCO’s Indigenous Languages Decade (2022–2032). It would be great to work on this important issue. With my story, I want to bring out the uniqueness and sensitivity of human communities, nature, and different life forms. That is one of my dreams.

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Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/07/01/following-your-own-heart-and-reason/