Here on the blog, we’re going to be spotlighting two of our authors per month so you can get to know a bit about us and our books. Up first is Nicole M. Hewitt, whose book, THE SONG OF ORPHAN’S GARDEN, is releasing on January 21st of 2025.
Read on for Nicole’s post about where she got the idea for her debut novel!
The Inspiration Behind THE SONG OF ORPHAN’S GARDEN
When I was a little girl, I loved the story “The Selfish Giant” by Oscar Wilde. I had a picture book with an accompanying cassette tape (I’m that old!)—the kind that would ding each time you were supposed to turn the page. I was entranced by absolutely everything in this story: the beautiful garden that provided a refuge for the children, the giant who saw the children as invaders, the wall he built to keep them out, the personification of winter in the garden once the children were gone, and the children’s successful break-in.
But there is one image that truly embedded itself in my mind and never left: the image of a small boy crying beneath a tree because he can’t climb up—winter still ravaging his one corner of the garden while the rest has shifted to spring. And the selfish giant, who is so affected by this sight that he is moved to help.
I based many of the underlying themes of my story on “The Selfish Giant.” I used the personification of the seasons as inspiration for the Seasonal Spirits, especially the Winter Spirits who dominate most of my characters’ world. The garden’s trees became healing trees, the wall is a magical wall that the children must figure out how to thwart. And that moment where Spring has overtaken the garden, except in one corner? It’s there (with the stakes raised to life-or-death circumstances). And yes, my giant finds that he cannot ignore the suffering of a little boy, even if that boy is a human.
This book explores selfishness—the ways we’re all selfish because we often fail to see the world from others’ perspectives, being so caught up in our own worries and troubles. But it also ends with the original story’s themes of found family, cooperation, and sacrifice. It shows us that we’re not meant to navigate this world alone.
Oscar Wilde brought these ideas to life in my imagination when I was a child, and I can only hope I have done them justice in The Song of Orphan’s Garden.
Fun side note: I held onto my copy of “The Selfish Giant” for many years, but when my youngest was three he climbed to the top of his closet, got it down, and destroyed it. I was utterly heartbroken. I have searched for a replacement many times over the years, but could never find one for sale. Well, when I went to find a picture for this post… I found a copy on eBay! I literally cried as I placed the order.
Now, hopefully I’ll be able to find a cassette player somewhere so I can listen to it again…
Fascinating tale of your story’s origins. And I got emotional knowing you found your giant after all this time.