A Writer’s Winter Fairy Tale Come True

Now that the Christmas season has come and gone, I can make a confession. I really don’t like “It’s A Wonderful Life.” I didn’t see it until I was in college and my roommate expressed horror at my lapse in film viewing. I explained that one Christmas I saw it listed in the TV Guide …

Breadcrumbs and the Dark Woods, the “What If” Game with Hansel & Gretel

I like playing the "What If" game. If you don't know it (see what I did there?) it's the game you play with yourself (or others, rules are optional) wondering what can or did happen. It's especially gratifying with fairy tales. For me, happily ever after isn't enough of a denouement to satisfy. One of …

The Emperor’s New?

I have a question for you at the end of my story. Once there was an emperor who ruled an empire. Except he didn't. He spent most of his time throwing parties and surrounded himself with men and women who flattered his vanity. But he saved his greatest passion for clothes--of all shades and for …

Choose Your Own Adventure?

Do you ever wonder why you write? A recent comment left on a previous post reminded me that most writers (mind you I haven't taken a poll) write because they looked for a particular story and didn't find it. The lack became so irksome that they decide to fill the void themselves with a story …

Doubt and a Dancing Centipede

When I first started writing, my schedule was lax. I didn’t worry about how much or how little I was writing because it wasn’t something I intended to pursue in a professional way. It was a hobby and only for me. The change happened over time and soon I knew I wanted to make writing …

The Goldilocks Problem

So, I finally did it. I’ve joined Twitter. I resisted for a long time because deep down I don’t really enjoy social media. Oh, there are bright spots—those rare days when I get real comments from other bloggers and readers—but mostly, I consider it a chore. It’s something I do for my career, like peeling, …

Plans and Villainy

I'm a person who likes preparation. I've always said my superpower is research. It comes from my curiosity and imagination--two things essential for any person, but especially a writer. This past weekend I attended a writer's conference for fantasy and needless to say I was underwhelmed. I spent months preparing. I researched the speakers (where …

Triangles of Love, like fins on a mermaid

I just finished watching The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. A moving story to be sure. I have a soft spot for British period pieces during or about WWII, so it was an easy fit. Except that it wasn't because it had my least favorite trope. My qualm is the dreaded love triangle. I …

Vacations Hangovers or the Rip Van Winkle Effect

I just spent the last two weeks on vacation. After getting my book published and fixing all the little glitches that kept it all from running smoothly, I probably could have used a whole month of rest. Nevertheless, I’m grateful for the time I did have to unwind and unplug. I was even diligent enough …

Cinderella, a more genteel Hunger Games

This idea got stuck in my head after a confluence of events. Last week I posted about Diamonds and Toads, aka The Fairy, and drew comparisons to Cinderella. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was part of the same fairy tale canon (Charles Perrault) and that even the author made changes to the …