A Conversation with Elisenda Roca and Betowers about the Magic of Christmas

Christmas is a season of magic, wonder, and playful mischief, just like in the latest book in the Mía Fantasía series. In The Christmas Elf, Elisenda Roca and Betowers invite readers into a festive world filled with adventure, warmth, and smiles.

We spoke with them about their childhood Christmas memories and the inspiration behind this especially magical new story.

What memories do you have of Christmas when you were little?

Betowers: I especially remember the day when the whole family came together to decorate the house for Christmas. My sister and I helped our father with a very tall fir tree that stood in the entrance hall, and with our mother we set up the Nativity scene—a beautiful one she had painted when she was young.

Elisenda Roca: For my family, Christmas was much like it is in the Fantasía household: a time of joy and togetherness, when everyone came together to share laughter and truly enjoy being with one another.

Was there any Christmas tradition that you found especially exciting?

B: I really loved Three Kings’ Eve, because we would have (and still do today) hot chocolate with roscón or sponge cake for dinner… I also remember the excitement and nerves about seeing the presents the next day.

E: As a child, above all, Three Kings’ Eve. We went to bed full of excitement, and the next day was a real celebration.

Elves, like the one in this new adventure, are very typical of Christmas stories. When did you decide that this character would be the protagonist of Mía Fantasía 9: The Naughty Christmas Elf?

E: We wanted to introduce a character who hated Christmas—and what could be better than a little elf related to the Grinch!

B: Well, that’s something Elisenda thinks up beforehand, and I give the character its visual form. For this elf, I decided to make him very expressive and gave him very thick eyebrows, because everyone has the grumpy Grinch image in their mind.

Mía Fantasía always learns something new in each book. What does she discover in this new Christmas adventure?

B: In this adventure, Mía learns to work together as a family and understands that both adults and children are important in everyday tasks. She also learns that not everyone feels happy at this time of year, and that we need to take care of those around us to make things a little easier.

E: Readers will discover the power of little kittens and how important it is to care for and love one another.

If you could send a Christmas message to Mía Fantasía’s readers, what would it be?

B: I would say: enjoy the holidays to the fullest reading, playing, and eating lots of turrón and singing algong poropompón!

E: Enjoy your families very much (grandparents, mums, dads, and siblings…) and play, play a lot!

In the latest issue, Mía Fantasía returns to remind us that the magic of Christmas is found in small gestures and boundless imagination. It’s the perfect book to read together as a family during the holidays and to let elves and fantasy stay with us a little longer.

Merry Christmas!