How Fairy Tales Carry What Sermons Can't: E.P. Cowley on Tolkien and Lewis

E.P. Cowley is a retired homeschooling mother and author living in southern British Columbia whose debut novel, Tales from Wakken Wood, published by Ignatius Press, draws on the folklore of the Isle of Man to tell an enchanted story of courage, virtue, and wonder. In this conversation with Kaylee Stoll—part of the Tolkien and Lewis series—E.P. shares how entering the Catholic Church transformed her writing, how Tolkien's vision of sub-creation shaped every scene of the novel, and how wonder at Marian apparitions quietly shaped the book's spiritual heart.What We Talk About:E.P.'s conversion journey from Protestantism into the Catholic Church and how it unlocked her sacramental imaginationThe origin of Tales from Wakken Wood—writing for her children, asking God for help scene by scene, and how the story surprised even its authorTolkien's influence on the novel, from Lord of the Rings to Smith of Wootton Major and his essay on fairy storiesThe unique mythological DNA of Manx folklore from the Isle of Man, and how E.P.'s research shaped the creatures of Wakken WoodMarian apparitions—Fatima, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and others—and how wonder at Our Lady shaped the spiritual atmosphere of the novelChapters:00:00: Introduction and Welcome03:34: E.P.'s Yes to the Lord06:20: The Making of Tales from Wakken Wood09:04: Tolkien, Sub-Creation, and Fantasy11:47: Why Modern Readers Still Need Fairy Tales16:19: Manx Folklore and the Isle of Man18:47: Spiritual Symbolism vs. Allegory20:54: Peter, Pixel, and the Power of Children in Story24:00: Marian Apparitions and the Heart of the Book26:28: Consolation, Wonder, and What Readers Take AwayResources Mentioned:Tales from Wakken Wood by E.P. Cowley (Ignatius Press)Tales from Wakken Wood — ReviewPaloma&FigProduced by Saint Kolbe StudiosSend us Fan MailSupport the showFollow Paloma & Fig on Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn. Learn more at www.palomaandfig.com. Join in the conversation by joining our  Facebook group, A Resounding Yes!