The old woman of the berries, a Croatian podcast and a meeting of Slavic folklore writers
This has been a long couple of months, and I have largely kept my head down working on a few short stories for some upcoming anthologies (most of which I’m not supposed to talk about yet), and edits on my upcoming novel (which hasn’t been announced, and so I’m not allowed to talk about. Very helpful in creating newsletter content, that.)
But one anthology I can mention, at least, is the Vol 2 of Slavic Supernatural, which is upcoming from a small boutique Croatian, English-language publisher Shtriga Books. .
The story I have submitted for vol 2 is about Baba Jagodowa (pronounced „Yagodova”), a creature from Polish folklore who looks after the forest berries and mushrooms. Very wholesome-sounding, no? (It’s a trick question).
Baba Jagodowa embodies some of that delicious moral relativity which I love about Polish pre-christian folklore. That there are creatures on this land undefined by their relationship to humans. Baba Jagodowa is entirely uninterested in us, as long as we don’t mess with her domain. And why should she be?
How beautiful that there are creatures who are allowed to simply exist outside of our wants, our needs and our desire to centre ourselves.
I look forward to sharing the story with you all once the book is out!
Now the two ladies running Shtriga Books, Antonija and Vesni along with their friend Igor, have also graciously invited me to their podcast, Mora FM, on writing and Slavic vibes.
It was such a treat, talking to fellow Slavs about the differences between Polish and Croatian folklore, as well as the publishing industry in general. I hope you might enjoy this episode, and let me know what you think!
