Readers, December was tough. Something about dealing with the holidays under the malaise of a pandemic and all the other issues that came along with it made it impossible for me to sit down and write posts. It was a struggle to finish my next round of edits, but I prioritized that and finished. Now … Continue reading New Year, Old Story
Inspired by an unreal story
Marking Time with Tale Friends
The other day I was trying to conjure up my quarantine fantasy (not that being under quarantine should be anyone’s idea of a fantasy other than the whole stuck on a desert island with your dream lover, but that’s for another post). It included things like spending an entire day in bed with meals delivered … Continue reading Marking Time with Tale Friends
Not all those who wander…
When I was about eight, I watched Alice in Wonderland over and over again. I loved the chatty and catty flower garden. I memorized all the Cheshire Cat's lines. I hated the ending. I didn't want Alice to back to her old life. I hoped she would learn to navigate the ins and outs of … Continue reading Not all those who wander…
Miss Plot?
For those who don’t know, I love Star Trek. While I’m iffy on the original series, I’ve seen the original cast movies more times than I can count. I watched them after discovering my first love, Star Trek: The Next Generation. My love affair continued through Deep Space Nine, Voyager and even Enterprise (although don’t … Continue reading Miss Plot?
Suspend belief
I spend a lot time on this blog criticizing fairy tales (as only someone who really loves them can), but there is one thing that I truly love about fairy tales--the ability for fairy tale characters to believe in the extraordinary. Cinderella just ran with it when her mother's grave started granting her wishes. The … Continue reading Suspend belief
Living a Fairy Tale Trope
It’s a familiar trope in fairy tales. Cinderella had her father’s estate. Snow White and Sleeping Beauty both had a cottage in the woods. Rapunzel had her tower with no doors. Belle had the Beast’s castle. In fairy tales, princesses tend to find themselves in isolation. It’s not unusual. These stories were written in a … Continue reading Living a Fairy Tale Trope
Simple Kindness is Golden
Ever get the feeling that rudeness in on the rise? I know it's not a new idea, but that doesn't mean it bears ignoring. Just like anything that requires correcting, it should be revisited. In fairy tales princesses and women who will be princesses are always praised for their quiet accommodation and politeness, which I … Continue reading Simple Kindness is Golden
Fairy Justice
Imagine if you will Rapunzel still wandering the swamp with her twins in tow and the prince elsewhere, still blind and searching for his love. Imagine the maiden in Rumpelstiltskin handing over her baby to the fairy who demanded her as payment. Imagine the Woodsman never happened by Grannie’s house and Red Riding Hood still … Continue reading Fairy Justice
January with Thumbelina
January is a quiet, broody month. The end of the holiday season is as sudden as the beginning of it. The weather is unpredictable and rarely appreciated. And the new year has a sense of urgency to be different or at least better than the last. It’s all exhausting! I think about Thumbelina hiding out … Continue reading January with Thumbelina
Believing your own hype–like a tailor
Being a writer is hard. I know everyone says that, but it's like parenting--you don't know how hard it's going to be until you're in the trenches, slogging through it all. It turns out writing and rewriting (and rewriting, and rewriting...) is actually the easy part. Especially if you hold to the rule that you … Continue reading Believing your own hype–like a tailor