Magical Creatures and Environmental Advocacy. In today’s Short Talk episode Judith Germain speaks to Victoria Raikel about her success in creating magical creatures, writing books, and building a large social media following. Victoria introduces herself as an author who creates magical, mysterious creatures with vivid personalities. She started by making garden statues of fairies, gnomes, and mermaids, which led her to write a novel called “The Enlightenment” about a portal connecting Earth to the utopian planet of Azar.
You can listen to Episode 476 on any of the popular podcast platforms or apps (including Spotify, and Audible). If you prefer to listen to your browser you can do that below. Enjoy!
Key Takeaways
- Victoria’s unique niche of magical creatures has garnered over 1.1 million followers on social media in less than a year
- Her book “The Enlightenment” combines fantasy with environmental messaging, appealing to a wide age range (18-55) globally
- Key factors for social media success: consistency, eye-catching content, audience engagement, and a meaningful message
- Victoria’s work has been translated into 10 languages, expanding her reach internationally
Topics
Victoria’s Creative Work
- Creates magical, mysterious creatures with vibrant personalities
- Started with garden statues (fairies, gnomes, mermaids)
- Wrote children’s books and a novel, “The Enlightenment”
- Characters have gained massive popularity on social media (e.g., mermaid with 500+ million views)
Social Media Strategy
- Consistent posting (initially weekly, now bi-weekly)
- Unique 30-second to 1-minute skits featuring only the characters
- Eye-catching visuals with sound effects, lighting, and magical touches
- Active engagement with followers through comments and likes
- Combines entertainment with environmental messaging
“The Enlightenment” Novel
- Set in the utopian planet Azar, connected to Earth via a portal
- Features magical creatures and addresses environmental issues
- Aims to appeal to young audiences but has attracted a wide age range (18-55)
- Touches on climate change, deforestation, and conservation without being heavy-handed
- Spawning additional content (e.g., YouTube cartoon featuring baby dragons)
International Reach and Translation
- Book translated into 10 languages
- Used Fiverr to find translators for different languages
- Arabic was the most challenging translation
- Faced difficulties with distribution platforms in different countries
- Majority of followers (90%) are from outside the United States
Advice for Aspiring Authors
- Be persistent and consistent in content creation and posting
- Develop a unique niche or appealing characters
- Engage actively with your audience
- Create material you’re passionate about
- Post regularly (suggested once a week) and have fun with the process
In this conversation Victoria discusses how she quickly amassed over 1 million followers on social media, primarily by posting short, visually-striking videos featuring her whimsical characters. She emphasises the importance of consistency, creating “eye-popping” content, and engaging with her audience through comments and interactions.
Victoria explains that the underlying message of environmental stewardship and animal welfare in her stories has resonated with her global audience, contributing to the growth of her following. She aims to convey these themes in an accessible, light-hearted way that appeals to both children and adults.
Victoria Raikel is the author and creator of Fantastical Creatures.
Victoria Raikel’s website is here.
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