We share with you an interesting interview with Maria Kolosova, the illustrator of our upcoming book "Treasure of the Blue Mountains", which is published with the support of the EU "Creative Europe"

What is your impression of Salgari's book "Treasure of the Blue Mountains"?

Unexpectedly positive. After getting acquainted with the description of the novel and during the reading of the first ten pages, in fact, itself novel, I expected a classic, somewhat sluggish even, story. Our heroes sail their sailors to a distant island where they have to find treasures.They have a solid ship, an experienced crew and a decent captain. That is, well, how much books of this genre begin like this? A quarter? As I said, it is the first ten pages. Then the ship gets caught in a storm, the heroes find themselves on a raft in the open sea with the same experienced crew. The team, however, now wants to let younger heroes to lunch-dinner.

The story itself turns from the search for treasures into a story of confrontation, first with the team that rebelled, then with cannibals that inhabit the island on which the heroes find themselves, then with slave-trading pirates.In addition, the book rich in descriptions of Pacific underwater inhabitants, plants characteristic of New Caledonia, customs of the local population - from catching pigeons to sacrificing and torturing captives from enemy tribes (where else would I read all about this?).

For the sake of objectivity, I will make a reservation that I do not have a lot of experience in reading adventure classics, I did not "get bored" of them which probably also had a positive effect on the impressions received from the book.

When you were working on the book "Treasure of the Blue Mountains", what was the hardest and easiest thing for you?

It was easiest to choose moments to illustrate, there were no restrictions on the number of illustrations, so I covered was able to do everything she liked. It took a lot of time to figure out which fish/plant was described, because in the translation, which I read first (Ukrainian was then in progress), in some places the descriptions were given with outdated names or at all without titlesAnd I wanted to draw. Also, a lot of time was spent on searching for references of contemporary ship guns, which rolled out onto the deck, navigation devices, weapons.

What did you like to draw the most and what got you high? Do you think this story is relevant?

I liked everything. From the characters - the boatswain, the main pirate and the savages. With the last ones, I remembered it normally anatomy Of the already mentioned fishes, the herring king and the cube bream are especially close to my heart. Regarding relevance - to a certain extent.Captain Jose (one of the main characters) is a pretty good example of a balanced person who thinks first, and then he does, and does not allow himself to lose heart in a seemingly hopeless situation. Well, if someone from readers will find themselves on an island far from civilization, then they will know how to hunt a wild pigeon for dinner. If they will be on the island, of course.

A scientific consultant was engaged for this book. How was your cooperation?

Through the mediation of the publishing house, fortunately. In fact, the very idea of ​​involving a consultant is not bad, on the contrary. But it appeared already after all the illustrations were finished, and it is always more problematic to redo than to do with some certain guidelines.

Is it different to work on a book under the "Creative Europe" grant?

No, as far as I'm concerned. The difference is noticeable only in the number of illustrations that could be "walked around".

Are you currently working on a new project for publishing, or would you like to tell us about it?

I am currently working on the illustrations for the fantasy novel "Nightless" by Jay Kristoff. The genre is one of the favorites, many colorful characters and details that can be "let" in the illustration, so draw for joy.

In addition to illustrating, you work at the Khanenko Museum, how do you manage to combine both? Do you like illustration?

With variable but more or less success. I hope I like the illustration, of course. I am still not satisfied that it is my favorite I am doing business.

What does your ideal morning look like?

With the dog in the park, when there is no need to hurry.

Where would you like to travel in the near future?

There is no particular desire to travel anywhere now, just like there is no time. The maximum in the country.

Do you like movies? What genres do you like the most? What do you advise readers to watch?

I love movies, by genre - fantasy, fantasy, thrillers and detective stories. In descending order, so to speak. I am an advisor sort of - I almost never remember the titles and I'm always doing something while I'm "watching" movies/TV shows. To whom I like light fantasy and its film adaptations, I can recommend the screen adaptation of Pratchett and Gaiman's works "Good signs" and "Postal fever" the first