2024-04-16 16:32
Plot Vs. Character—Fairy Edition
First, let’s address the elephant in the room…or the blog. I’ve been gone for a really long time. It wasn’t intentional, bu… Read More
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fairy tales
story
character
tale
woman
magical realism
dwarf
mechanical creativity
realism
deep meaning
Analyzing fairy tales and folklore through a modern lens and asking if these stories still speak to the modern feminist reader.
2023-10-17 15:43
It’s the end of Hispanic Heritage Month in the states and I have a confession to make.
I am a Latin American woman and I don’t like magical realism. It doesn’t sound lik… Read More
2023-09-05 15:36
In real life, Cinderella would have slipped laxatives into her stepmother and step sisters’ morning tea or packed a bag for the next village. The youngest son in The Golden Goose would… Read More
2023-05-30 15:42
The other day my daughter said something that caught me completely off guard. We were watching A Tale Dark and Grimm on Netflix (which if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend) and t… Read More
2023-04-25 17:06
When I start a story, I begin with the conflict. I ask a question and then I try and find characters and settings that help answer it. It’s a very research paper way to write fiction… Read More
2023-02-28 18:03
As a reader, I love a good and well-considered plot twist. Depending on who you ask there are only six, seven, or thirty-six stories in the world. With that in mind, the only way to very the… Read More
2023-01-17 17:38
Before you ask, no that is not a typo and yes I am aware we are now in 2023. But the turning of the year was bumpy complete with an injury and a rather bad cold. Because of it, I got a slow… Read More
2022-12-20 18:32
The holidays are feast or famine time for my writing. I either have tons to write or I am stuck with nothing to write. This year is a little different because I recently published my lat… Read More
2022-12-06 10:20
Welcome to the Advent Calendar Story Train, where you can read through 24 stories under the theme The Gift. Thank you for reading today’s story. The next one will be available to read… Read More
2022-10-03 20:36
The day has arrived! My new book, A Rebel’s Path, the third in my Enchanted Path series was released today. And for the next two weeks the digital copies of both A Smuggler’s Pat… Read More
2022-09-27 12:00
Remember the brave little tailor? He kills seven flies with one blow and sews a belt proclaiming his achievement to anyone who read it. It led to people somehow assuming he meant giants and… Read More
2022-09-13 19:56
Back when I hosted a monthly Meet An Indie Author Monday (MAIAM, I love a good palindrome), the first interview I posted was my own. And this was one of the questions:
Writers keep their… Read More
2022-08-23 12:00
Starting over is hard, but sometimes restarting is even more of a challenge. Last year I was supposed to publish the third book in my Enchanted Path series. I ‘d already written a draf… Read More
2022-08-09 12:00
A blogger I follow once wrote about the importance of celebrating writing milestones and I have a big one today. My blog!
There are days when I wonder why I latched on to fairy tales as m… Read More
2022-07-26 12:05
One of my favorite fairy tales is Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and its subsequent Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There. When I was a girl, I read the book and watch… Read More
2022-07-12 15:10
Romantic comedies (and any romance genre for that matter) are our modern-day equivalent of fairy tales. At least the “girl-finds-a-prince or the boy-is-given-a-princess-type” fai… Read More
2022-06-28 14:00
Maybe it’s the mom of a teenager talking, but I’m really tired of protagonists with lousy impulse control. It might also be the reason I’ve been actively seeking out books… Read More
2022-06-14 14:00
I’ve been in analysis mode with Snow White for some reason.
I’ve decided not to question it.
Ever think the mirror was messing with the queen? It was a fairy mirror and fai… Read More
2022-05-31 18:34
Random thoughts are a given for most people. For writers they’re source material—the answer to the oft-asked question, “What inspired this story?” Here’s one of… Read More
2022-04-12 12:00
To Warn or Not to Warn…that is the question.
One of the reasons we read fairy tales is to be transported in a predictable way. Yes, it’s all fantastical, but there are big ne… Read More
2022-03-08 18:07
As anyone who likes fairy tales knows, it is impossible to ignore the outsized influence of Disney. Many of the stories we think of as universal are really our collective watching of movies… Read More
2022-02-15 17:23
Yesterday was Valentine’s Day (as if you didn’t know), the day dedicated to love. And though it’s supposed to be about all love, romantic love is arguably the most exciting… Read More
2022-01-25 13:00
Writers get inspiration from anywhere and everywhere, especially when they’re blocked creatively. Part III of my 100-words serial was elusive, which I hoped wasn’t an omen for ed… Read More
2022-01-04 16:30
Well, this is embarrassing…
A few weeks ago, I was scrambling for an idea. I’ve been remiss with my postings lately and I didn’t want another week to go by without putt… Read More
2021-12-14 17:47
Somehow the end of the year is almost upon us. There are days I wonder where the time has gone and others when I can’t wait to see the back of this year! I’m sure most of your ca… Read More
2021-11-23 17:10
I recently re-started editing my book. As you may or may not remember these are the edits I forced during the quarantine and the results were a mess, to put it kindly. I had to leave it alon… Read More
2021-09-21 15:02
Remember the part in the movie, The Wizard of Oz after the Wizard leaves Dorothy behind? Dorothy and her friends are distraught because they thought he was the only ticket out of town. And t… Read More
2021-08-31 15:08
My last post I focused on the magic that I found traveling on the west coast. A comment from one of my readers who lives in the west coast made me think about how there are times that we for… Read More
2021-08-17 16:20
FF Readers, I recently did something that I haven’t done in a long time. Or at least a long time for me. I went on a vacation. One of my favorite activities is traveling and the recent… Read More
2021-07-21 16:37
Are you a collector? I collect words. Hear me out. When I was little, I collected stickers and interesting rocks. When I got older I started collecting glass bottles. I’ve always colle… Read More
2021-07-06 13:38
As I’m sure you’ve noticed, new posts to my blog have been absent. I considered pushing through to make sure I had consistent content, but that’s how I ended up in this pre… Read More
2021-04-13 18:12
Myth: n. a traditional story serving to explain some phenomenon, custom, etc.
Mythology: n. the study of myths
As the definitions suggest, myths help explain the unexplained. We all kn… Read More
2021-03-30 18:45
All this time at home should be a gift to a writer, but I’ve discovered the opposite is true. Inspiration comes from the outside world. A chance encounter with a stranger while waiting… Read More
2021-03-09 19:48
The Princess and the Pea is a story I’ve been thinking about lately. A woman appears one the prince’s doorstep on rainy night, drenched and claiming to be a princess. His mother… Read More
2021-02-16 17:11
In past posts I’ve mentioned my love of mythology. I knew more about Greek, Norse, Egyptian and Roman mythology than a child of eight should know. I loved the idea of goddesses and god… Read More
2021-01-19 15:55
When I was little I used to watch certain videos over and over again. One of them was Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. My favorite part was the mad tea party. It looked like it would be a… Read More
2021-01-05 15:35
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… Read More
2020-12-01 18:05
A lot has been said and written about the drawbacks to revisiting the same stories over and over again. As a person who has written novels based on nursery rhymes and fairy tales, I prefer t… Read More
2020-11-17 17:27
This morning I woke up and yet again had to be reminded that a post is due. It was particularly difficult because I was finishing one of those books that makes you snarl at anyone who interr… Read More
2020-11-03 16:33
Readers, I’m supposed to post today, but for those who don’t know I am a US citizen and today is the Superbowl of politics for us (at least those of us who care about politics)… Read More
2020-10-20 15:34
I remember being 13 and pretending to be sick to stay home from middle school. I’m pretty sure my mother knew I wasn’t sick, but I was a good student, so she allowed the deceptio… Read More
2020-10-06 15:18
Ever wonder how fairy tales get their titles? Some make perfect sense like Cinderella or Snow White, but how about Jack and the Beanstalk? I understand Jack, but how does the vegetation get… Read More
2020-09-08 17:52
Before the Victorians made fairies cute and cuddly, they were naughty and dangerous. It was said they would whisk a person away to dance at their court for what seemed like an afternoon and… Read More
2020-08-18 17:34
Here’s the problem when mythology is collected from an interrupted culture: the stories are left partially incomplete. The Greeks thrived for centuries recording their mythology for po… Read More
2020-08-04 16:33
I’ve mentioned once or twice that my superpower is research. It’s also my comfort zone and in these unsettling times, research is where I go to relax. Lately it’s been myth… Read More
2020-07-21 13:16
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… Read More
2020-07-07 20:40
As a writer in the 21st century, you’re often asked to share more of yourself than you’re comfortable with in order to gain readership of your intended work, be it blog posts or… Read More
2020-06-23 20:03
It’s been far too long, dear reader, since I’ve written. Not that I’m not writing–I’ve been working on editing the third book in my four-book series. But I have… Read More
2020-05-26 15:23
Whenever I’m given unexpected good news, I think about the Valiant Tailor. It was a small thing, working away at his trade and then pausing for a snack only to be interrupted by pester… Read More
2020-05-12 16:50
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 d… Read More
2020-04-28 14:50
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 disc… Read More
2020-04-14 15:50
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 ta… Read More
2020-03-24 13:43
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. Be… Read More
2020-03-15 20:10
Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub
In Canto, magic is a commodity, outlawed by the elites after losing a devastating war and brokered by smugglers on the hidden market. But some know it’s m… Read More
2020-02-25 13:30
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… Read More
2020-02-14 12:00
As Fairytale Feminista readers know, I don’t usually post on Fridays, but today I’m making an exception.
Happy Valentine’s Day! I don’t celebrate, but last year I fou… Read More
2020-02-11 15:19
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 o… Read More
2020-02-08 00:16
Real fairy tales have no end. And this one in particular makes me nostalgic because reading it was the start of my writing career. Check out Rachel’s other After Ever After stories.
Ra… Read More
2020-01-31 15:51
Anyone who has considered indie publication or is currently engaged in indie publications knows that, to paraphrase a well-known opening line, it is a truth universally acknowledged that no… Read More
2020-01-28 17:12
Next week, A Noble’s Path, the second book in my Enchanted Path series, is being released. It’s a bittersweet moment. I’m hoping that it leads to more interest in the serie… Read More
2020-01-24 19:38
Rachael Farrimond
Introduction
For Christmas 2018, I asked my family to name their favourite fairy tale or Disney film, and from their answers I wrote a short story for each of them look… Read More
2020-01-23 21:35
Divided loyalties test Inez Garza.
The infamous incident at the Academy of Natural Studies has forced her to work for the King’s Men while continuing to serve the hidden market.
Suppo… Read More
2020-01-14 17:38
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 urge… Read More
2019-12-17 15:35
Dear FF Readers,
The last weeks of the year are running by and like everyone else I have a lot on my plate to include putting the finishing touches on my upcoming book, A Noble’s Path… Read More
2019-12-03 15:50
I use lots of keystrokes analyzing fairy tales. Today I want to discuss why we’re so fascinated by them. They’re old and antiquated. They’re stilted and repetitive. They&rs&hell…Read More
2019-11-19 15:09
Hello FF Readers!
I’m currently neck deep in rewrites, so pardon the short post.
We’ve come to that time of year (which has become more and more nebulous) when TV shows make a la… Read More
2019-11-05 16:24
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 throu… Read More
2019-10-22 14:04
Here’s a weird thought. Have you ever had that moment when someone makes it clear that although you’ve been admitted, it does not mean you’ve been accepted? It made me thin… Read More
2019-10-08 14:20
Last week a fellow writer and blogger celebrated her first year as a published author. I thought it was an amazing idea and wrote in her comments how much I lamented not having done the same… Read More
2019-09-24 14:57
Last week I wrote about Hallmark Movies and their tendency to be formulaic. And I don’t think formula’s are always a bad thing. But there was a time when my literary snobbery got… Read More
2019-09-10 14:39
The worst kept secret in fairy tales is that they conform to a formula. There’s something comforting in that, if a bit predictable. A modern-day equivalent is a Hallmark movie. They ar… Read More
2019-08-27 13:38
Writers are some of the best readers. Many of the same traits that make a good writer are cultivated by good readers. Attention to detail. Love of a good story. Ability to suspend disbelief… Read More
2019-08-13 22:09
I’ve been thinking about ambition lately. Wishes, yearnings, desires. It all sounds very intimate. Ambition is all about what we want deep down inside and work toward. We all have them… Read More
2019-07-30 11:00
Fairy tales love deadlines. Midnight curfews. Seasonal mandates. Royal decrees with an expiration date. It ramps up the drama to know that not only does a protag have an obstacle to overcome… Read More
2019-05-14 16:14
First things first: I’m not done with the manuscript of A Noble’s Path: Book 2 in my Enchanted Path series. I am about 2/3 of the way done and would likely move faster if it wasn… Read More
2019-03-26 11:00
Fairy tales and folklore have a tradition of putting protagonists in comas. Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Rip Van Winkle are only a few examples of letting things cool down while the main… Read More
2019-03-19 10:00
Besides reading, my favorite hobby is travel. I love seeing new places, visiting old ones, learning about history, culture, and I’ll own it, Disney World too. No shame here! Recently I… Read More
2019-03-13 19:33
Dear FF Readers,
I was recently interviewed by one of my favorite bloggers, Ari Meghlen. Check it out HERE and also an interview of her on my sister site, Books by I.L. Cruz.
ENJOY! Read More
2019-03-12 10:00
I acknowledge that my title sounds like an episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, but that’s not what this post is about.
I write fantasy. It’s an umbrella term I’m comfortab… Read More
2019-03-05 12:00
Fairy tale retellings has become its own sub-genre. We want to keep fairy tales in our lives but understand that the stories are problematic from a modern standpoint. We want agency, depth a… Read More
2019-02-26 12:00
I’m not one to quote the Bible, but it can’t be denied that no matter what your beliefs, it’s very quotable. I’ve always had a particular fondness for the sentiment o… Read More
2019-02-19 16:48
I’ve been writing about happily ever after a lot lately—questioning its validity, holding it up to a modern lens—and it got me thinking…
What is happily ever after i… Read More
2019-02-18 17:00
Hey FF readers,
Writers are a friendly lot. We like to support each other because no one knows more than we do how difficult and solitary this profession can be. Bloggers understand that mor… Read More
2019-02-14 22:19
Hey FF Readers! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Reading a new book by a new author is like going on a blind date. You’re taking a chance on love. But you don’t always want to commit… Read More
2019-02-12 12:00
Valentine’s day is days away and I’ve never been one to celebrate it. One year in junior high a friend and I, fed up with the day, threw rocks in a pond and named each rock after… Read More
2019-02-05 12:00
A lot of ink (and RAM space) has been spent on writer’s block of some sort or another. There are also plenty of techniques people swear by, from writing prompts to mindful walking. Eac… Read More
2019-01-29 12:00
Once upon a time (almost seven years ago) there was a woman who wanted to see her name on the spine of a book. A secret smile appeared on her face anytime she walked the aisles of a bookstor… Read More
2019-01-22 12:00
How long can fairy tales last?
It’s a strange question for a person who writes a blog about fairy tales, like a chocolatier wondering how long sugar will be in vogue. But both are vali… Read More
2019-01-15 12:00
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 an… Read More
2019-01-08 12:00
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 ca… Read More
2019-01-01 12:00
Welcome 2019! Like most people, I have big plans. At least they’re big for me. Book 2 is due by mid autumn, I have a novella due (hopefully) no later than Valentine’s Day, and th… Read More
2018-12-25 12:00
In the spirit of Christmas, I thought I’d create a book tag post. Anyone up for a Reindeer Roundup?
Rules:
Thank the person who tagged you
List the questions and answer them (I know o… Read More
2018-12-18 12:00
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 wit… Read More
2018-12-11 12:00
Okay, it’s really the thirteenth day until Christmas, but I post on Tuesdays. Nevertheless, on Wednesday, December 12th we’re twelve days away from Christmas Eve. My family has a… Read More
2018-12-04 12:00
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 st… Read More
2018-11-27 12:00
Fairy tales like drama, specifically uncertainty. They fixate on main characters who often are in situations most of us would consider cruel and unusual and then give them over to situations… Read More
2018-11-20 12:00
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 wa… Read More
2018-11-13 12:00
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… Read More
2018-11-06 12:00
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 especial… Read More
2018-11-05 14:28
Hey FF Readers,
Just wanted to let you know that today is my monthly holiday (no, not that) on my other site, Books By I.L. Cruz–MAIAM, Meet An Indie Author Monday! This month’s… Read More
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