Crafting Fanny The Fairy: The Fairy Guide
The abandoned farm where Joe first encounters Fanny is, in reality, an illusion. The idea was inspired by a Pottermore article written by J. K. Rowling, in which she explained that Hogwarts is concealed from Muggles through magic. I found the concept fascinating and wanted to create my own interpretation of it.
The abandoned farm is an illusion designed to discourage visitors. To most people, it appears neglected and unremarkable. Joe, however, unknowingly breaks through the illusion when he veers off the road and cycles past the warning signs surrounding the property. In doing so, he gains access to the hidden world beyond.
To make a fairy visible, fairy powder must be applied to a person's eyes. Fanny carries the powder in a deep green pouch fastened to her waist, using it whenever she chooses. It is this magical powder that allows Joe to see her for the very first time.
"Before him stood a woman, no taller than a dragonfly, dressed in green cargo pants and an army jacket laden with pockets. Her hair was black, her skin as dark as ebony, and her eyes shimmered like the inside of a mango."
Choosing Fanny's clothing turned out to be one of the more difficult aspects of her design. At first, I imagined her dressed in flowing garments reminiscent of Lady Galadriel. However, while walking through the countryside around Ballymacrown East, I quickly realised how impractical that vision was. Anyone who has walked from Baltimore to Lough Hyne will understand why. The ground is uneven, tree branches stretch across the narrow roads and the grass is damp for much of the year. A fairy constantly travelling through such a landscape simply could not spend her days wearing delicate lace gowns. That is when I thought of the characters in Lockwood & Co. Their clothing reflects their personalities while remaining entirely practical for the dangers they face. That approach felt right for Fanny. The flowy dress gave way to what would become her signature outfit: cargo trousers and an army jacket filled with pockets for everything she might need on her journeys.
"...resembling a dollhouse, it featured seven floors, numerous windows, chimneys, balconies, and even a partially destroyed bridge."
The house Joe describes is a shared residence for travelling fairies. Those assigned to missions are provided with places to stay for as long as their work requires. I like to think of it as a bed and breakfast; only much larger, far more comfortable, and filled with considerably more magic. Since fairies can fly, these homes can be built in seemingly impossible locations, allowing them to come and go with ease while remaining hidden from the human world.
"Fanny retrieved a tiny wooden flute from her bag, her delicate fingers expertly navigating its contours."
The idea of using a flute as a means of communication came to me as I was walking back from Lough Hyne to my car in Baltimore. It was pouring rain. My jacket was completely soaked, I was shivering, and my phone battery was almost dead. Yet despite the dreadful weather, I could hear birds singing all around me. As I wondered how I would find my way back to my car, I remembered that I had parked near the quay. The closer I came to the harbour, the louder the birds became. I slipped my phone back into my pocket and simply followed their song.
That experience inspired Fanny's flute. Just as the birds guided me home, the flute allows her to send messages across great distances. Even through wind and rain, its melody can still be heard as it is when she calls for Greg from Joe's kitchen. It felt like a simple, natural form of magic, perfectly suited to the world of Fanny The Fairy.