A Conversation with Heather Russell-Kay on: The Story Behind the Story

Heather Russell-Kay is a storyteller who believes that even in the hardest chapters, there’s room for wonder. Blending the magic of fairy tales with the truth of chronic illness, she writes to remind readers that every journey, no matter how heavy, holds hope, courage, and a touch of light.

The Conversation

What first sparked the idea for this book ... was it a moment, a feeling, or something that stayed with you over time?

It definitely stayed with me over time. I have lived with Multiple Sclerosis for many years, and I found myself drawn again and again to fairy tales. They are stories about journeys, challenges, transformations, and finding your way through dark forests. The more I thought about it, the more I realised that many of those themes mirrored the experience of living with a chronic illness. The stories in Whispers Through the Forest grew from that feeling. I wanted to take familiar fairy tales and reshape them into stories that explore illness, resilience, humour, loss, hope, and the many ways people adapt when life takes an unexpected turn.

Is there something about the story that readers might not immediately see, but that matters deeply to you?

One thing that matters deeply to me is that I deliberately kept the illnesses within the stories ambiguous. Although my own experience with MS influenced the collection, I wanted readers with diverse conditions and life experiences to find themselves in the stories. At their heart, these are stories about navigating uncertainty and learning to live alongside things we cannot simply wish away. The fairy tales provide the setting, but the emotional experiences belong to many people.

Did the story change as you were writing it? If so, how?

Yes, very much. The collection began as a way to explore difficult experiences through fairy tales, but as I wrote, I realised I didn't want it to become a book only about struggle. Humour gradually found its way into the stories. So did moments of peace, connection, and acceptance. By the time I reached the end of the collection, I found myself wanting to leave readers with a sense of gentleness and hope alongside the darker themes. The book turned out to be much more balanced than I expected.

Was there a part of the book that felt especially difficult or personal to write?

Many of the stories contain emotions that come from very personal places. The most difficult moments to write were often not the sad ones, but the honest ones. Writing about grief, exhaustion, fear, or the loss of a life you once imagined for yourself requires a certain vulnerability. At times, it felt as though I was hiding pieces of my own experience within the stories, hoping readers would understand them. That was both frightening and incredibly rewarding.

Looking back now, what does this story represent for you?

Looking back, I think the collection represents understanding and acceptance. It gave me a way to explore experiences that can sometimes be difficult to explain directly. It also introduced me to readers who have shared their own stories with me, and that has been one of the most meaningful parts of the journey. More than anything, I hope the book reminds people that there can still be magic, humour, beauty, and connection even when life doesn't unfold as we expected. The forest may be dark at times, but there are still paths worth following.

Some stories don’t ask to be told loudly.
They are carried quietly, shaped over time, and shared when the words are finally ready.

If something in this conversation stayed with you, you’re invited to pause with it, or pass it on to someone who might need it.

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