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Author Q&A with Becca Rogers

The Girl with Gills

Hi Becca! Thank you so much for answering our questions about your debut novel, The Girl with Gills. It is a brilliant fantasy story filled with adventure and heart and we can’t wait to talk about it with you!

1. First of all, congratulations on your debut novel! How does it feel to have The Girl with Gills finally out in the world? 

Thank you so much. It feels wonderful that The Girl with Gills has finally swum into bookshops. Effra and her friends have ventured deep beneath the surface of the river Yore, facing fantastical creatures and colossal challenges, so I hope they will be up to this new adventure!

2. Without giving too much away, can you tell us a little bit about The Girl with Gills? What is it about and what themes are present throughout the story?

Thirteen-year-old Effra is a larker, part of a secret community of people with gills. She lives on a houseboat with her little brother Fleet, and they scour the river and the mudbanks looking for treasure to trade. When a larker gone bad, Rivermun, threatens Fleet, Effra must dive into uncharted waters to save him. She faces a terrifying river serpent and the menacing Rat Queen in search of an elusive ice pearl as she tries to settle a bloodline debt, before the tide changes forever…

Throughout the story there are themes of belonging, friendship, and having the courage to be vulnerable.

3. Can you tell us a little about what the writing process is like for you? Do you have a particular place you like to write or do you have to be in a certain frame of mind? 

I have a few tricks to help me defeat the dreaded blank page! I keep a notebook and pencil by my bed and write – just for a short while – last thing at night and first thing in the morning. The rest of the time I work on a laptop at my kitchen table, or in a nearby library. 

4. Effra is a strong, courageous character who shares a special bond with her brother, Fleet. Can you tell us a little more about these characters and where the inspiration for them came from?

To me, the most satisfying characters are those who have vulnerability as well as courage. Effra is as determined as a rising tide, loyal and loving. At the start of the story, though, she is deeply suspicious of landlubbers and struggles with grief for her grandfather – when she tries to talk about it words get stuck in her throat, like a fish on a hook. However, as she faces the Rat Queen and Rivermun, Effra challenges her preconceptions. She becomes best friends with a landlubber called Bow and learns to speak about her emotions. Fleet is so named for his quick wit and boundless energy; he’s often found doing starfish jumps! I usually have an initial impression of a character, but they become more rounded and nuanced as I continue to write.

5. Mudlarking features heavily in the story and has its tradition rooted back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Today it is considered a hobby. What is the most exciting thing you have found whilst mudlarking? 

I live near a tidal estuary and when I walk along the foreshore, I always keep my eyes peeled for the glint of treasure. I’ve found interesting pieces of ceramic, ancient oyster shells and clay pipes, but I suppose the best thing I’ve found while mudlarking, is this story.

6. The Girl with Gills is filled with lots of little historical elements such as the history of clipping silver coins in order to make a profit. How much research did you have to make to include these elements and had you always wanted to include these little pieces of information in the narrative? 

I am fascinated by mudlarking – and the history of the items found – so interesting snippets floated into the story. Bow and Effra are both passionate about history, and what mudlarking treasures can tell us about how people used to live, so I always wanted the reader to get some of that excitement!

7. We are introduced to the character of Bow, who is instantly fascinating. How did you develop the idea of the friendship between Bow and Effra? How important is this friendship to the development of Effra as a character?

Effra’s community, the larkers, go to great lengths to keep their gills secret and are extremely wary of landlubbers. I wanted Effra to learn to judge people by their character, without prejudice. Though they come from entirely different backgrounds, Bow and Effra are kind, share a love of history and are fiercely loyal. Effra’s friendship with Bow (and sewer rat, Clay,) teaches her empathyand gives her courage, not just to face frightening villains, but also to trust in others.

8. How would you describe the character of Rivermun? How did you come up with his lonely and terrifying back story?

Rivermun is merciless; his compassion washed away on long ago tide. Each character has the capacity to make choices and where a heroine, like Effra,chooses the light, a villain chooses darkness. When creating Rivermun,however, I wanted to include a thread of humanity, to make him credible and well-rounded. I wondered what would turn a larker against their community and Rivermun’s mother, Maura, and her boat of bones, were born.

9. What advice would you give to anyone aspiring to be a writer?

I would say write, write and write some more! Don’t wait for inspiration, or the perfect time. Even on the days you don’t think you have any ideas, if you write, something will come – you will often surprise yourself.

10. Describe The Girl with Gills in three words: 

Adventure. Underwater. Belonging.

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