Crafting Fanny The Fairy: Tamera Fleming
The character of Tamera (better known as Tammy) came to me as I imagined the kind of person Izzy needed most in her life. Before long, she began to resemble my own interpretation of Betty White in The Golden Girls: warm, witty, kind and wise.
A petite woman, her hair flowed as white as snow, glasses perched perpetually on her nose, and her voice carried a sweetness akin to honey.
Tammy's annual festival was born from a simple act of kindness. One day, a close friend fell ill, so Tammy prepared a hearty soup to help them recover. After tasting it, her friend remarked that she should make it more often. Tammy simply smiled and replied that it was reserved for special occasions. When the first village festival was organised, that same friend asked Tammy if she would serve her soup. She happily agreed. The response was overwhelming. Before long, every bowl had been served, and many visitors were left disappointed that there was none remaining. The following year, Tammy prepared a much larger batch, and from that moment on, her soup became one of the festival's most cherished traditions.
"Izzy, darling, we live in an incredibly fortunate place," her grandmother's gentle voice from years ago whispered in her memory.
The garden behind Tammy's house is much more than a collection of flowers and vegetables. It is a sanctuary. Some of the plants are grown for everyday cooking, while others are carefully cultivated for special occasions, such as the annual festival. Then there are the rarest of all: the plants Tammy nurtures for the magical creatures that live nearby. These are intentionally left within easy reach for the fairies and other enchanted beings who visit her garden. In return, they leave behind small gifts. A quiet exchange of gratitude that has continued for generations.
Their pages exuded the musty scent of age, and as Izzy cracked open the first, the words 'Property of Alice Fleming' greeted her.
The last name Fleming is a subtle tribute to Nicolas Flamel from the Harry Potter series, a character whose story I always wished had been explored more. Rather than drawing directly from Flamel himself, I imagined the Fleming family as descendants of generations of extraordinary botanists. Centuries of studying and cultivating the natural world have given them what many simply call "a green thumb". An almost magical ability to understand, nurture, and protect every plant that grows beneath their care. Through Tammy, I wanted to portray a different kind of magic. Not the magic of spells or grand displays of power, but the quiet magic found in generosity, tradition, and a lifetime spent caring for both nature and those around you.