Cornwall-based author Ellie Mitten's Finn and the Riddle of the Shells weaves local coastal legends into an adventure story for children, following young Finn as he discovers the magical side of Cornwall. We caught up with Ellie to hear about her journey to becoming a writer and how the magic and mystery of Cornwall inspires her books.
Please tell us how and why you became an author, we’d love to hear about that journey and your experiences.
Very cliche I know, but I’ve wanted to write stories for as long as I can remember. I still have a handmade book I made as a child called The Jolly Hedgehog Postman (plagiarism wasn’t a big worry to me back then!) After finishing my degree, I came back to Cornwall and did an MA in Professional Writing at Falmouth University, but it’s at that point I got scared by the uncertainty of a creative career. Turning my back on words for a while, I became a primary teacher, and tried to satisfy myself by passing on a love of stories to children. It wasn’t long, however, until I was scribbling in a notebook again.
I worked and worked on idea after idea, and in 2020 I was finally brave enough to publish my first novel, Garden in the Sands, a YA fantasy re-telling of The Secret Garden. Finn and the Riddle of the Shells followed soon after, and now I have my own little writing shed in the garden.
What do you hope young readers will enjoy most about Finn and the Riddle of the Shells?
Firstly, Tomkin and Norm. Writing a funny sidekick is my absolute favourite thing to do, and these two were such the perfect pairing they’re almost real to me now. During the editing phase, I’d try to spot typos by reading aloud to my children, and I did voices to bring it to life. Nothing was more satisfying than when I got them to laugh, and 90% of the time it was because of Tomkin or Norm.
Then there’s the magic and mystery of Cornwall’s legends. I’d love my readers to delve into the myths and feel like they could have their very own adventure too.
How does living in Cornwall by the sea influence your work and your writing process?
Many will understand what I mean when I say that there’s something special about Cornwall. I’ve lived away and travelled to amazing places, and yet there has never been any doubt about where’s home. Living by the sea changes you to the point you can’t be apart from it for too long.
When I started writing Finn, I was keen to capture some of my favourite spots in Cornwall. Having only written pure fantasy before, it was initially unfamiliar to have real places to reference. I think that’s why I was drawn to locations I know well. I’ve walked the coast path from St.Agnes to Blue Hills many times, and Falmouth is just up the road. I was less familiar with Zennor, however, so we had a family day out so I could describe the church and village more accurately. I want my readers to recognise places if they ever visit them.
The book blends Cornwall's legendary creatures with an adventure story. How did you decide which ones to include?
Growing up in Cornwall, I used to think everyone knew our myths and legends. It turns out that not even all Cornish people do! We tend to know the ones from our little corner, but not the rest of the County. I was an adult when I learnt about Bolster, and it wasn’t until I was researching Finn that I discovered the Morgawr.
When it came to picking which ones to include in Finn and the Riddle of the Shells, I was drawn to the tales that allowed for another perspective to be taken. Without providing spoilers, no one thinks about Mrs Bolster or what happened to Morveren after she stole Matthew. Adding another level to the myths was something that allowed me to provide depth, be it dark or humorous.
I also wanted it to feel realistic that Finn’s family could visit the locations of the legends, specifically on days out from Falmouth.
Finn begins his journey expecting a boring holiday but finds himself on a magical quest. Does this reflect or was it inspired by any of your own childhood experiences with travel or discovery?
As a child we didn’t go away during the summer holidays very often. We lived in Cornwall, we didn’t need to! We went to the beach, and it was everything we could ever want. I had lots of family to play with, and we’d construct elaborate games that’d transport us wherever we wanted to go. My own children exist in similar imaginary worlds. They don’t see the place they actually are, but the ones they’ve invented. I love the thought of children reading Finn and role playing their own adventure, with their own Norm and Tomkin for company. I also like the idea of them visiting the real places I mention, and feeling the magic behind the myths.
Do you have plans for more adventures with Finn or other stories set in Cornwall?
Yes! I’ve had a sequel to Finn floating around in my head for years, but I am the queen of distraction. Starting something is so much easier than finishing it. I have, however, managed to get to the final draft stage of a YA re-imaging of the mermaid of Zennor myth. It’s called The Witches of Zennor, and is full of smuggling, magic and celtic heritage. All being well it should be coming out in 2026!
Images: Oliver Udy
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