Hi bookworms! Today, I'm interviewing Shana Targosz, author of The Underwild series! Relic of Thieves, is the second book in the series, but can be read as a standalone! It's a beautiful story of hope, the power of friendship, and learning how to have self-confidence. Relic of Thieves will be available on March 24th, you can pre-order your copy here!

In Relic of Thieves, the main character, Anya, battles with anxiety and fear due to a tumultuous living situation, but is also an immensely loyal friend who is learning to have courage and hope. What inspired you to create her character? What is your writing process like when developing a new story?

It is no secret that many of my stories are inspired by my own lived experiences, and Anya's situation hits close to the bone---not only the hard parts of her home life, but also the world-shattering moment when her best friend moves away and she finds herself truly alone. That period of my life was so tough and I struggled to make friends afterward because the fear of losing them or having someone reject me was planted too deep. Instead, I turned to books to keep me company. Stories were my escape. It wasn't until many years later that I realized actual people wrote books and that I could create stories that would become beacons of light for kids who might be struggling just like I had at that age.
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When I develop a new story, I do a lot of deep thinking on what I would have desperately wanted to read about as a child---stories that would have made me feel a little less alone and that could give me tools to cope with the confusing and tough situations I lived through. The challenges my characters face usually have a fantastical element, but at their root there are universal truths that explore the challenges kids face today. Relic of Thieves, with its themes of found family, building self-esteem, and summoning courage buried deep inside, is the book I wrote for my younger self and for all the kids who need a story like this one, so they know they are not alone.
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I was excited to learn that you are an award-winning costume designer of stage and film! If you had the opportunity to design a costume for one of the characters in Relic of Thieves, who would it be, and what would you create for them?

Costume design was my focus for many years, and when I write I'm constantly designing my characters' costumes in my head. Choosing only one to talk about here is nearly impossible, so I'm going to mention two---one magical and one not-as-magical.

The cloak is a sentient companion of Senka's and traveled with her through the Underwild in the first book, River of Spirits. I'm happy to say the cloak is back in Relic of Thieves and has some new dazzling abilities. It would be so fun to bring this cloak to life. If access to technology was unlimited, I'd give the cloak as many magical effects as possible, things like animatronics so it could move around Senka as if it were a living thing, plus color-changing effects, devices for sparks to fly, and so much more.

If I had to choose one not-so-magical costume to bring to life. I'd choose Lionel's. Lionel is a friendly psychopomp of the Underwild---a ghost who is very new to the job. In Relic of Thieves he shows up in an unexpected place. This time we see him wearing traveling clothing, which for him is a knee-length coat with hundreds of pockets paired with a long, knitted scarf. His coat is truly unusual, and there are many secrets hidden in those pockets! And since he is a ghost, there would be the small challenge of creating a costume devoid of color but with plenty of textural and ethereal elements. Plus, mysterious pockets!
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The importance of friendship is a common theme across both books in The Underwild series. Why was this an important element for you to include in your writing, and what lessons do you hope young readers will take away from reading your books?

Friendships are so important. For kids struggling at home or who feel unseen or unheard by their immediate family members, a friendship can be a lifeline. It took me a long time to find friends who truly understood me and who made me feel seen. These are now some of the most important relationships in my lfie and I am grateful for them all! My books usually have a strong theme of friendship---and more often than not the story is about building friendships, the ways people can surprise you if you let them in, and how they can offer support. For those readers who find it hard to fit in with others their age, I want them to know that there are people out there who will lvoe them and accept them for who they are, it just might be that they haven't met them yet!

My hope is that The Underwild books will help readers recognize there are others their age who are hurting just like Anya is hurting and who need friends but might not know how to start. It would be amazing if those brave readers find the courage to reach out and make someone's life brighter by introducing themselves and becoming their friend.
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In addition to being an author and costume designer, you also have many creative projects, like designing plush toys! I was ecstatic to see that you designed four dragon plushes for one of my favourite graphic novel series, The Tea Dragon Society by K. O'Neill. If you could turn any of the creatures from Relic of Thieves into a plush toy, which would you choose? (I personally would love to see a plush of Berus!)

I loved working with K. O'Neill on the designs for the Tea Dragons! I am hoping to find time to make prototype plushies for the Underwild series because I would love some, too. I'd be thrilled to have a mini Mortimer messenger-raven or Berus as a snuggly companion! I think Berus would be the best to carry around, keeping a protective watch over us while also demanding cuddles.
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On your website, you mention that you're an avid Zelda fan. What's your favourite Zelda game to play, and which would you recommend for new fans to start with?​

I am a huge Zelda fan! I've been playing the games since the very beginning, starting with The Legend of Zelda for the original Nintendo system. It's hard to choose just one favourite in the series! I love Windwaker because it reminds me os much of my son. We'd play this game together when he was really young---the graphics are cute and colorful. Then when Breath of the Wild released we spent so much time exploring Hyrule together that it holds a special place in my heart.

As far as recommendations go, there's something wonderful about starting the series with an earlier game (like The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time, or Windwaker) and then starting up Breath of the Wild and experiencing the cinematic opening, which is a huge change stylistically from the other games and is truly breathtaking. The first time I saw it, I teared up! The beauty of the world plus the soundtrack and the story has cemented Breath of the Wild as my favourite in the series so far. It has been amazing to see the evolution from where the series started in terms of graphics, story, and gameplay, then witnessing the ways the world and the lore within it has expanded over the years. I'm looking forward to the next era of Zelda games and finding out what new amazing things they have planned for the series!
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While Relic of Thieves is set in the same world as River of Spirits, it follows a new main character, Anya, and her journey with Senka. What would you say was the biggest challenge you encountered while writing this next book in the series?

The biggest challenge was in setting up the world through another character's eyes while also reminding readers of the events that transpired in book one, but without the spoilers! It was a fine balance bringing readers up to speed and integrating some of the most beloved characters, like Senka and Lionel, without fully revealing the secrets and mysteries that unraveled in River of Spirits. My goal with The Underwild books is for readers to be able to start from any point in the series, so if a reader new to the series wants to begin with the latest book, they can jump right in and start without feeling like they have to read the books that came before to understand what's happening.
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Thank you so much for chatting with me today, and congratulations on the upcoming release of Relic of Thieves! The last question I have for you is, do you have any other projects in the works that readers can look forward to?

Thank you so much! It was an honor to be here with you to celebrate the release of Relic of Thieves. I'm excited to share that I'm currently working on a third book in the series, We haven't seen the last of Anya and Senka, and soon they'll be joined by a new friend and will meet other mysterious figures from mythology. There are a lot more stories to tell in the Underwild.

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I had so much fun chatting with Shana Targosz about Relic of Thieves! Be sure to grab your copy in stores, available on March 24th​! If you could meet one god or goddess from mythology, who would it be? Let me know in the comments below!