An Interview with Finding Foxtale Forest Author Madeleine Hewitt

By Kimberly Inskeep

There are certain moments in the life of a brand that feel especially meaningful. This week is one of them.

Stories have always been part of the heartbeat of Finding Foxtale. From the beginning, we believed that helping girls discover their style was only one small piece of a larger purpose. What we care about most is who she is becoming — and stories are a powerful way of shaping the confidence that allows them to shape their own story.

I know this to be true because of the role stories played in my own daughter’s life. I’ve watched her deepen in her understanding of the world around her as well as to navigate relationships with greater empathy, generosity, and confidence.

This week we are celebrating the launch of our third Finding Foxtale Forest book, and it’s the prequel to all the others.

What makes this moment even more special for me personally is that the author is my daughter who you’ve heard me mention in previous articles. Today I’m introducing her more fully and offering a glimpse into the imagination behind Foxtale Forest.

Read on for a conversation between a mother and her daughter about stories, courage, and the mysterious forest where it all begins. I hope it inspires you to connect with the girls in your own life.

Kimberly: What inspired you to write stories for young girls?

Madeleine: The world has changed a lot since my tween years, but as we've been building this brand, I've realized that the core hopes, fears, and questions of that age of girlhood remain the same: Is it safe to be myself? What does it mean to have true friends? Is it ok to not have it all figured out?

As a tween, books answered a lot of those questions for me—epic adventures full of bravery, empathy, and the triumph of good over evil gave me words for all my big feelings while also fueling my desire to explore, create, and connect with others. I want girls in their tween years to discover that same comfort and inspiration between the pages of a book. If my stories can encourage even one girl to reflect more deeply, grow their friendships, and dream beyond their comfort zone—I've succeeded.

Kimberly: What is Foxtale Forest? Who is the Fox?

Madeleine: Foxtale Forest is a magical place, born from my curiosity about the phrase tall tale, the common definition being "an exaggerated or unbelievable story." I could not stop thinking about that phrase, and whenever a phrase gets stuck in my mind, I inevitably must apply that all-important writer-y question: what if?

What if tales really could, quite literally, grow tall… like trees? What if there was a magic forest where every tree was a tale, a story—like a portal to another world with its own characters, dramas, and adventures? How would these "story trees" grow, and what would help or hinder their survival? What would it be like to walk through a forest of these magic trees? What kinds of creatures would live there?

These questions sparked the idea of the Fox—a guardian and caretaker of the stories...

Stories—like people—require connection to grow and thrive.

Stories die or get "sick" when we stop allowing them to spark our empathy, or when we stop listening and learning from them. The trees of Foxtale Forest die when the stories within them are neglected, unwitnessed, unheard. So, the Fox cares for the stories in his Forest by calling characters out of their own little worlds and inviting them to step into someone else's story. He knows that empathy, connection, friendship, participation—love—is the only thing that can help the tales of Foxtale Forest grow tall. Books One and Two are about the first characters to answer the Fox's call: Dani, Pax, Kez, Eva, and Amy.

Kimberly: Why did you tell a story about several girls rather than focusing on a single heroine?

Madeleine: If I could go back in time, I'm not sure I would have committed to such a large cast! But I'm grateful for the challenge of writing five main characters because it has allowed me to explore friendship as a central theme. Like most kids between 8–12 years old, Dani, Pax, Kez, Eva, and Amy are still discovering who they are, what's important to them, and how to relate to others. Each girl navigates the tension of wanting to be fully herself… while also desiring to fit in, find her people, and not "miss out." How do you build lasting friendships while navigating that tension? Well, the five Foxtale Friends do their best…and writing their stories helped me practice empathy at a whole new level!

Kimberly: If you could leave one thought with the girls who read these books, what would you want them to remember most?

Madeleine: My hope is that any girl who reads these stories remembers that true friends don't feed your anxiety: they love you for who you are, right now—with all the insecurities, talents, joys, and sadnesses mixed in. I hope anyone who reads the upcoming prequel, Keeper's Light, is encouraged to stay soft-hearted and hopeful, even (and maybe especially) through intense times. And for anyone who reads all three books: thank you! Remember you're loved!

Every great adventure begins with a story. We hope the girls in your life will enjoy stepping into Foxtale Forest. Stay tuned here for Finding Foxtale Forest: Keeper’s Light, when it launches on March 30.