After becoming the first international author at Argyle Fox Publishing in 2022, UK-based Roselyn Barks Snead returned for a second book full of her gorgeous illustrations and imaginative storytelling. Here’s the scoop on Between Worlds and what else she has up her sleeve.
Between Worlds is a very different book than your first book, Fox Finds Love. What inspired this book and what’s it about?
The story is inspired by my son Richard and the idea of him (Foxy character) travelling to different worlds in a spiritual sense.
The land of the red foxes was inspired by a trip to Portugal and Silves Castle, which had sculptures of red foxes. Other influences for the different worlds are my interests in Shamanism, Buddhism, Druidry, and Spiritualism, which are reflected in my paintings. Some of the illustrations for the ancient world and queen character are influenced by my love of Egyptology. In the story, Foxy is disillusioned with his world and sets off on a journey back to the old world but finds himself in the ancient world where he is given a key by the queen which unlocks the doors to different worlds. But was it all a dream?
The illustrations for this book are so gorgeous! Talk about your process for creating them and how you decide what to put in each image to make them visually captivating.
My process is very traditional. I draw the illustrations and use water colour and acrylic paint. As yet, I haven’t used an iPad or drawing tool or AI! I will stay true to my style and tend to create A3-size paintings apart from the smaller illustrations of a feather, key, etc.
I had an idea of the main characters Ricardo and Lady Amelia in the old world who wear masks and painted them in mediaeval type clothes. As I read through the story I decided where to add other illustrations—for example, the shadowy fox character. Storytelling kind of evolves as different ideas come to mind and a plot develops as with the shadowy figure in a black cloak who tries to take the powerful key from Foxy.
What goals do you have for Between Worlds, and how do these goals compare to the goals you had for Fox Finds Love?
Yes, I have goals for 2026. I would like the book to reach a wider audience and sell more copies, but since it is self-published, some companies only do a print-on-demand system, such as Waterstones. I wanted Fox Finds Love to help raise funds for charity, which I have done to some extent—including a fox charity, but I intend to help raise funds for another charity this year. I have also written a song for Between Worlds, which I hope to have included on a book promotion this year. (She created a promotional video for her first book.) I’ve had an offer from the library service to deliver storytelling and art activities for children, which is a wonderful way to reach young people with my books. It’s also a sales opportunity! I have my books in a bookstore and hopefully other independent stores will stock my books.
How are you marketing this book? Are your marketing efforts different this time around?
I’ve promoted the book on social media but feel it only reaches a minority of people who like my Facebook page. Whenever I do an event such as a craft fayre, I talk about my books face to face, and sometimes I get a sale. Some people I know have already bought on Amazon.
My books are in a bookstore and I asked about a launch, but the owner said they don’t have much success with those unless its local history. I’ve contacted other bookshops who may accept Between Worlds and there is a shop owner who might willing to do a book promotion in her shop. It is hard being the writer illustrator, promoter, and marketer. I’m not well known enough to have a literary agent who can do that side of the promoting and marketing but have researched the possibility.
What feedback have you received so far on your new book?
I’ve had really positive feedback about the book and comments like:
“Amazing, they look beautiful!”
“Awesome!”
“Super, well done—fabulous books and stories too!”
“Oh, wow—how amazing! They will be flying off the shelves.”
One of my greatest critics is my granddaughter, age 6, whom I read it to! She liked some of the characters who represent family members but as foxes.
Obviously, you’re a storyteller. Do you already have a third book in process? If so, can you give us a sneak preview of what to expect from you next?
Yes, I constantly get ideas for more stories and which I have been writing on my phone. When I started at university in the late 1980s, all my stories were handwritten and of course, studying illustration and graphics, they were storyboarded, something I need to return to. I guess I have a Christmas story in mind or solving a mystery.
Is there anything else about you, your writing, or your second publishing journey you would like to share?
I think this time around it was an easier process after going through it with my first book. However, the editing side and getting things right takes time. Having a good relationship with Daniel and trusting him to edit sympathetically with word and image is a big bonus rather than going it alone. Every minor detail I asked to be altered he did beautifully.
Thanks again, and I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on Between Worlds!