Welcome friend! Snowlands, a graphic novel, was the first book I read for the Backlist Bingo challenge. This book felt like watching a movie. It was emotional, immersive, captivating with beautiful and expressive art about a wolf cub and a leopard. The story captured me from the very start and I wanted to check in with the author, Morr Meroz. Today, I am excited to bring you this interview with Morr about the book!
Snowlands
Morr Meroz | Goodreads
A brand-new, full-color graphic novel series for animal fantasy fans that delivers a daring adventure and a mysterious threat that has animals–prey and predator alike–disappearing.
An orphaned white wolf cub exiled from her pack.
A lone snow leopard searching for her missing cub.
A bumbling young Pallas’s cat who can’t hold a tune.
In the midst of a brutal winter in the unforgiving Snowlands the mountain sheep begin to go missing. Without their primary food source, the wolf pack faces starvation and blame falls on Feba, an orphaned wolf cub whose white fur the elders see as a bad omen.
When pack leaders vote to banish Feba, and perhaps worse, she runs off into the icy wilderness just as the other wolf cubs go missing. Lost in the treacherous mountains, Feba stumbles upon Usha, a snow leopard searching for her missing cub. While Usha wants nothing more than to continue her journey alone, she grudgingly allows Feba and a skittish young wild cat, Batu, to follow her.
With a snowy trail full of deadly obstacles ahead, the unlikely trio sets out to find the Seeress, a magical being Usha hopes can find her missing son. Each step takes Usha, Feba, and Batu deeper into danger where they encounter other creatures–some helpful, some deceitful–and uncover a widespread peril in the mountains, the fate of the missing cubs, and what having a family truly means.
Get to know the author: Morr Meroz
Hi Morr. Welcome to Armed with A Book. Please tell me and my readers about yourself.
My name is Morr, I’m an animator and the founder of Bloop Animation, an animation training platform, as well as the author behind Snowlands. I live in NYC with my wife and two little kids.
Snowlands is a graphic novel that takes place during a hard winter. What inspired you to write this book?
The concept for “Snowlands” was ignited by a “Planet Earth” episode on snow leopards, capturing a narrative of a mother and cub’s journey toward separation. This initial spark evolved into a tale of Feba, a wolf cub outcast, and Usha, a snow leopard mother, forming an unexpected bond. My own journey toward parenthood infused the story with my own experience, reflecting themes of family and belonging. This fusion of natural wonder and personal experience shaped what “Snowlands.” ended up being.
I loved the friendship between Feba and Usha. What drew you to leopards and wolves?
As the story began with a snow leopard in the Himalayan region, I was restricted to the types of animals I could use, and wolves were one of them. They also live in packs, which opened opportunities to show the tribes and the dynamic feba came from, not unlike how humans live. Since snow leopards are solitary, I felt that putting them together with an animal that is used to living in a pack would create good conflict.
Did you bring any of your experiences into this book?
As I mentioned, I was about to become a parent while writing the book, so everything about the writing felt very personal to me. Focusing on a parent-child dynamic.
If you could meet any of your characters, who would it be?
They would all likely eat me, so I’d avoid that. However, Popo might make for an interesting conversation.
Do you have a favorite quote or scene in the book that you find yourself going back to?
Since I wrote it, I don’t look at this book as I do other books/movies, in which I would have parts I like reading/watching again. But if I had to pick, I’d say all the vulture scenes are my personal favorite.
If readers could take one thing away from this book, what would you want it to be?
I just hope they had a fun time reading it. This isn’t an educational book, and I’m not trying to send a message. If they were moved, liked the characters, and wanted to see more of them – then I did my job.
Do you have plans for A Blood Moon # 2? I would love to know your ideas for this series.
Yes, book two is currently in production. Not much more I can say at the moment.
Moving on to reading, please recommend three of your favorite graphic novels.
Two recent reads that I loved were “Nimona” and “Thie One Summer”. I also read “Watchmen” for the first time recently was had a great time, despite being a bit slow.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Nope! Thanks for having me (:
Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me and sharing with my readers. 🙂
Thanks for joining us today! Find Snowlands on Goodreads and my review here.
Connect with Morr at thesnowlandscompany.com and Facebook.
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