It was such a pleasure talking to Elenia Beretta about Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch, written by Barbara Cuoghi and translated by Genni Gunn. Far from spooky this quiet, beautiful book lets readers in on the secrets of the folklore surrounding Befana, the winter witch. So without further ado, let's check out Befana's and Elenia's secrets!
Befana is a remarkable character from Italian folklore. On the 6th of January, she flies on a broom through the icy winter sky to visit children and bring them presents. In this stunningly illustrated book, Befana shares her secrets in a letter to all children: how she wears her warmest cloak for the journey, and sips a special soup that makes her invisible when visiting homes. She fills the stockings of some children with sweets, but leaves lumps of coal in others. For people of all ages, she brings the most precious gift of all: the promise of Spring, and nature's rebirth.
Check out the endpapers:
Let's talk Elenia Beretta!
LTPB: How did you become the illustrator of Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch? What were the first images that popped into your mind when you saw Barbara Cuoghi’s text, and did you know that the illustrations were going to be printed in a neon fifth color?
EB: When I first read Yours, Befana, I was immediately captivated by the enchanting yet somewhat melancholic tone of the story. Barbara’s text brought to mind rich, warm, and slightly whimsical imagery, a mix of the magical and the everyday.
When I first read Yours, Befana, I immediately thought about how I could transform the character of Befana. She’s often portrayed as ugly and old, an image we commonly associate with witches, but I wanted to give her a new interpretation. In my vision, Befana is an empowered, modern woman without a defined age. I didn’t want to simply make her younger because, in the end, Befana represents all of us and embodies every age.
When I found out about the neon colour it opened up a whole new world of creative possibilities. I played with contrasts and experimented with how the neon could highlight key elements and bring a modern twist to a traditional narrative. It was an exciting challenge that pushed my creativity.
LTPB: What did you find most difficult in creating this book? What did you find most rewarding?
EB: The most difficult part was balancing the traditional aspects of the story with the modern flair that the neon fifth color demanded. I had to be mindful of maintaining the integrity of the folk tale while also embracing the boldness of the color scheme.
The most rewarding part was seeing everything come together in the final product. When the colors, textures, and story all aligned, it felt magical. Also, the positive reactions from readers, especially children, make all the hard work worth it. Knowing that my illustrations bring joy and curiosity to young readers is incredibly fulfilling.
LTPB: What did you use to create the illustrations in this book? Is this your preferred medium? How does your process change from book to book?
EB: For Yours, Befana, I primarily used gouaches, flourescent acrylic orange and inks on 100% cotton paper. This is one of my preferred mediums because it allows me to play with both precision and texture, which is key for creating the layered, atmospheric scenes in the book.
Painting is my primary medium, but I always strive to explore new approaches to add a unique twist to each project. I focus heavily on the drawing phase, working to create a different palette and atmosphere that suits the narrative.
LTPB: What are you working on now? Anything you can show us?
EB: Right now, I’m working on a non-fiction book about careers in gastronomy. I’m really excited about this project because I’m deeply involved in developing the content. It’s set to be published in Italy for now.
In addition, I have a personal project that I'm working on, and I’m hopeful it will come to life soon.
I did a Solo Exhibition ‘Finepastp’ in Italy, Milan and working on my on going project of drawing workshops ‘Drawing nights Berlin’
LTPB: If you got the chance to write your own picture book autobiography, who (dead or alive!) would you want to illustrate it, and why?
EB: This is such a fun question! If I had the chance, I would love for Tove Jansson or Beatrice Alemagna to illustrate my autobiography. Their ability to blend the fantastical with the deeply human is something I’ve always admired. I feel like they would be able to capture both the imaginative world I live in and the personal crazy journey that has brought me here.
EB: When I first read Yours, Befana, I was immediately captivated by the enchanting yet somewhat melancholic tone of the story. Barbara’s text brought to mind rich, warm, and slightly whimsical imagery, a mix of the magical and the everyday.
When I first read Yours, Befana, I immediately thought about how I could transform the character of Befana. She’s often portrayed as ugly and old, an image we commonly associate with witches, but I wanted to give her a new interpretation. In my vision, Befana is an empowered, modern woman without a defined age. I didn’t want to simply make her younger because, in the end, Befana represents all of us and embodies every age.
LTPB: What did you find most difficult in creating this book? What did you find most rewarding?
EB: The most difficult part was balancing the traditional aspects of the story with the modern flair that the neon fifth color demanded. I had to be mindful of maintaining the integrity of the folk tale while also embracing the boldness of the color scheme.
LTPB: What did you use to create the illustrations in this book? Is this your preferred medium? How does your process change from book to book?
EB: For Yours, Befana, I primarily used gouaches, flourescent acrylic orange and inks on 100% cotton paper. This is one of my preferred mediums because it allows me to play with both precision and texture, which is key for creating the layered, atmospheric scenes in the book.
LTPB: What are you working on now? Anything you can show us?
EB: Right now, I’m working on a non-fiction book about careers in gastronomy. I’m really excited about this project because I’m deeply involved in developing the content. It’s set to be published in Italy for now.
In addition, I have a personal project that I'm working on, and I’m hopeful it will come to life soon.
I did a Solo Exhibition ‘Finepastp’ in Italy, Milan and working on my on going project of drawing workshops ‘Drawing nights Berlin’
LTPB: If you got the chance to write your own picture book autobiography, who (dead or alive!) would you want to illustrate it, and why?
EB: This is such a fun question! If I had the chance, I would love for Tove Jansson or Beatrice Alemagna to illustrate my autobiography. Their ability to blend the fantastical with the deeply human is something I’ve always admired. I feel like they would be able to capture both the imaginative world I live in and the personal crazy journey that has brought me here.
A big thank you to Elenia for talking to me about this bewitching book! Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch published last week from Greystone Kids!
Special thanks to Elenia and Greystone Kids for use of these images!
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