The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/Olivia Armstrong and Mira Miroslavova

Olivia Armstrong, a professional storyteller, based in London and originally from Northern

Ireland. She works with all ages and communities. From museums to universities, broadcasters

to libraries, caves to castles, she is your one-stop shop for storytelling.

Olivia has an extensive repertoire of traditional folktales and historical stories, and is frequently

commissioned to create site-specific original stories. She works with many of the major names in

the cultural sector – from the British Museum and the National Gallery to Westminster Abbey

and Buckingham Palace. Olivia has also collaborated on storytelling projects with everyone from

the University of Utrecht to the Royal Society of British Architects, the National Literacy Trust

to English Heritage.

In addition to telling stories, she works extensively on storytelling projects with adults and

children who have special educational needs or disabilities. She also devises and leads

storytelling and story-making workshops for people of all ages.

This is Olivia’s debut picture book.

Mira Miroslavova grew up in the beautiful forests near the city of Sofia, Bulgaria and lived in

Manchester, UK where she graduated with textile design and visual art.

Her love for illustration began at an early age and her style was influenced by a mixture of

classic fairy tales, beautiful forests, old movies and animations. She likes to experiment and find

new hobbies to inspire her and push her to create picture books, comics, covers, editorial and

magazines illustration.

Mira’s the illustrator of 10 books, including Night of the Deer by Mary Morel (8/1/25) and The

Secret Fairy Club: Discover a Hidden Book Within a Book! by Emma Roberts and Raahat

Kaduji (2025).

There newest picture book, The Birds of Christmas, releases on August 12th.

Welcome Olivia and Mira!

Tell us a little about yourselves. (Where/when do you write or illustrate? How long have you been writing or illustrating? What is your favorite type of book to write or illustrate? )

OLIVIA - Hello, I'm Olivia! I have been a professional storyteller for twenty years. Originally from Northern Ireland, I grew up in a house full of folktales and folklore, where my dad wrote songs and comedy sketches and told me stories, while my mum would read the tea leaves. I now live in London and create and perform stories regularly in places such as Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the British Library and the British Museum.

Most of my day is occupied telling oral stories, and this is my first written book. I would love to explore writing a book of London folklore, as I love my adopted city and all its magic. I would also love to adapt more folktales and bring them to a new audience.

MIRA – I love to illustrate anywhere. I often work from home, but I also work from cafes, parks, libraries! I love to change the atmosphere because it helps me stay on my toes when creating. My safe space to create is anywhere, as long as I can have somewhere to sit. When - that is an interesting question. Whenever my absolutely adorable little two-year-old treasure allows me to. 

My career spans almost a decade. And I have always loved illustrating books with characters who have their good heart to give.  Creating a bond and attachment with a good-hearted character, a sensitive one, is my favourite thing in life to. 

Ooh, Olivia that sounds like a marvelous book to write! Enjoy that treasure and don't blink, Mira. It is wonderful to get to "meet" you both. What is one of the most fun or unusual places where you’ve written or illustrated a manuscript or created an illustration?

OLIVIA - One of my most magical storytelling experiences was writing and telling the story of Leonardo Da Vinci's life, which was commissioned for an exhibition in St George's Hall, Windsor Castle. The story was performed along with a company of dancers. Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II, was in her private apartments, actually watching the rehearsals. A memory to be cherished!

MIRA - Oh, that’s a great question! One of my most favourite and fun places was at a tree house on the beach. We were hiking with a group of friends, and I had to bring my work with me because I had deadlines approaching! So, I found a really nice spot up a tree with a wonderful view right above the sea, I made myself a nice lemonade, and I stayed there for hours, just me, the sea, and my work. 

I would have LOVED to have been in either of your shoes. That beach tree house sounds divine. Olivia, what was your inspiration or spark of curiosity for The Birds of Christmas?

OLIVIA - The Birds of Christmas is based on several European folk legends. I am often asked to perform stories at Christmas and one year the BBC asked me to record some traditional Christmas stories for a radio show to be broadcast on Christmas Day. I love stories about nature, so a story that incorporated nature and birds along with the nativity seemed like the ideal choice. It was that recording which led to me being asked to turn the story into a book.

Serendipity is wonderful. I had never heard this folktale, and I love birds, so I was excited to discover this book. Mira, what about The Birds of Christmas manuscript appealed to you as an illustrator?

MIRA – I won’t spoil it! But I loved the ending. It was the most touching and beautifully worded and told story. But the way, its ending really made me sigh with happiness and love. I am absolutely sure you will feel the same way if you haven’t read it already! 

I agree with you Mira one hundred percent. The ending is so heartfelt, and you helped make it stunning, too. How many revisions did The Birds of Christmas take for the text or illustrations from your first draft to publication?

OLIVIA - My memory is it was relatively quick. Maybe about three? The person who originally contacted me from the publisher liked the recording on the BBC website but then we worked together to change what had been an oral story into something that worked on the page. 

MIRA – I absolutely always do revisions. Even if they are not requested. Because I want to always push my work to be the best it could be. It was especially important for The Birds of Christmas because it is a really important tale and it needed to have illustrations that deserve to sit beside it. 

You both did an amazing job! Olivia, what was the toughest part of writing The Birds of Christmas? What was the most fun?

OLIVIA - As this was a story I'd learnt and been telling as part of the oral storytelling tradition, the challenge was to find a way to tell it in my own written voice. There were turns of phrase that work well when spoken that needed a different emphasis on the page.

The most fun element was thinking of the descriptions to bring each bird to life and make them distinctive.

Interesting. I can see where that might have been a fun challenge. Mira, what was the toughest part of illustrating The Birds of Christmas? What was the most fun?

MIRA - The toughest was really trying to portray the classical elements in a true way but also to be appealing to the readers of today. Times change constantly and we need to keep what is important alive and in our world but also bring it up in a sort of way to appeal to our audience and make it “cool”. Which is not easy, but it is needed so I tried to do my best in achieving this as best as I could.

The most fun? The birds. I love birds and I love drawing birds, and this story gave me the freedom to draw them almost as much as I wanted! Thank you Olivia!

What a great gift that must have been. Your love of birds definitely shines through; it's one of the things that drew me to the story initially. Olivia, did anything surprise or delight you when you first saw Mira’s illustrations? Which is your favorite spread?

Text © Olivia Armstrong, 2025. Image © Mira Miroslavova, 2025.

OLIVIA -- Right away, I loved the richness of her colours, and the way she captured the personality of all the different birds. Her illustrations felt like such a natural fit for my writing. My favourite spread is perhaps the one of raven flying over the Bethlehem skyline at night - it is so mysterious and magical. I almost feel like I am right there! She is such an amazing talent.

It's a really enticing image. Mira, is there a spread that you were especially excited about or proud of? Which is your favorite spread?

Text © Olivia Armstrong, 2025. Image © Mira Miroslavova, 2025.

MIRA - I was really excited about the blanket spread!! I think it shows. I loved the idea that the birds were creating it and I just thought - Wow, this is going to be great! I imagined them creating it with their beaks and gesturing with their wings in an almost human-hand kind of way. It was a huge joy working on the entire book, but this piece was my favourite.  

That's such a fun image! Is there something you want your readers to know about The Birds of Christmas?

OLIVIA - That it is based on old European legends and part of a long tradition describing Christmas in folk terms. Traditionally, these stories were a way of making the nativity accessible and relatable to ordinary people, those who perhaps couldn't read. I also love the message of the story - that we all have our own special gifts, even when we might feel that others are more successful or popular than we are. 

MIRA – I think that Olivia has created a beautiful tale. I know I might have said that already, but I really do believe it. And it is also a tale that can be read at every moment not only on Christmas Day, because of the beautiful message it brings. 

I agree with you both. It's a great Christmas folktale, and one that has meaning all year round. Mira, many illustrators leave treasures or weave their own story (or elements) throughout the illustrations. Did you do this in The Birds of Christmas? If so, could you share one or more with us?

MIRA - I am usually one of those illustrators, but in The Birds of Christmas, I wanted to leave the illustrations completely in the hands of the story. I felt like if I had woven something into them, I would have made it too much of my own. But this kind of story is for everyone. I am just so honoured to have had the opportunity to leave my mark as an artist. That is all I could have needed. 

That makes total sense. And I think you succeeded beautifully, gifting us all with a special treasure. Are there any projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?

OLIVIA - I am always being asked to create and perform stories here in London. This week alone, I have been researching and performing stories exploring everything from the Lewis Chessmen to the history of ice-cream to folktales of the moon and stars. I never know what I am going to be asked to do next! In terms of writing, who knows?! I can't wait to find out!

MIRA – I am working on three upcoming books at the moment! There is always something happening in my studio - be that a real one or somewhere outside! I never stop drawing. I am also in the process of creating the illustrations for my first exhibition. 

I can't wait to see what you both create next. We'll have to keep our eyes open. Last question, what is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park (anywhere in the world)? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?

© Documenting Ireland 2025

OLIVIA - My favourite would have to be the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland, which I could see from my window as a child. They inspired one of the greatest children's stories of all time, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, by my fellow countryman C.S. Lewis, and I would often visit them with my mum, my dad and my granny. I would also like to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I would love to call on Dolly Parton, yell her a story, and become part of her Imagination Library!

  © M Marshall

MIRA – I have always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon! I know it is probably an easy guess—a lot of people do. But my mom and I have discussed that one day we would like to visit, and I always associate places with people and with conversations. If she wanted to visit somewhere else - that’s where I would have wanted to go. It is important for me that I share it with a dear person.

Thank you, Olivia and Mira for stopping by and sharing with us. It was a pleasure chatting with you both.

To find out more about Olivia Armstrong, or contact her:

Website:  https://oliviaarmstrongstoryteller.com/

X (formerly Twitter):  https://x.com/oliviasstories

To find out more about Mira Miroslavova, or contact her:

Behance: https://www.behance.net/miramiroslavova?locale=en_US

Agency: https://catagencyinc.com/mira-miroslavova