 1. What fairytale(s) have you chosen to retell and why?
I’m taking a page out of Once Upon A Time’s book, the popular T.V. Series a few years ago. I’ve created a fairy tale world where my characters are reinventions of popular tales old and new. I have King Midas featured in a very interesting way and he happens to be Cinderella’s father. I’m not retelling the Disney versions either. I’ve researched different fairy tales from all over the world and found many different versions dating back thousands of years and am using that for inspiration. So, this isn’t your ordinary Cinderella and Prince Charming. 2. What makes your story unique? My novel is unique because it goes further and creates a whole fairy tale world based on some of the original tales. Those tales were cruel and horrible; not the version Disney shares. And, the Prince doesn’t necessarily save the Princess. 3. What was your favorite fairytale growing up and why? I love Beauty and the Beast because I love to read and identified with Belle early on. I love to write about broken people who find a way to save themselves and those that they love too. I love the idea that the Beast is more than a man, but that he made a mistake and now Belle can save him from a life of misery. 4. Who was your favorite villain? Maleficient. I feel like she is misunderstood and was taken advantage of. 5. Is this a standalone or do you have more books planned? I have a whole series planned for Charming. I was thinking that Han (Prince Charming) and Elle’s adventure can’t quite end in the first book.
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 There are many fairytale movies, most of them belong to Disney, but here we will look at some of the best fairytale based movies outside Disney.
The Brothers Grimm - I mentioned this in an earlier post. Released in 2005, it stars Matt Damon and Heath Ledger as the brothers Grimm who discover real horrors plaguing a village and they must save the people. They are portrayed as con artists in the movie, who end up saving the day using their skills. Red Riding Hood (2011) - This movie featured Amanda Seyfried as Valerie, a young woman who finds her village terrorized by a wolf. There were some good twists in this movie as Valerie discovers she can hear the wolf in her head. Are they connected? Snow White: A Tale of Terror - Starring Sigourney Weaver and Monica Keena, this movie is particuarly unsettling. Snow White flees from her new stepmother, who finds ways of trying to kill her, including dropping trees on her and of course, offering her a poison apple. Sigourney Weaver is really good in this version and it leans more toward horror than fairytale. Alice in Wonderland (TV Movie 1985) - This is a version I watched as a child and I found it pretty disturbing. It is aimed at children, but it is definitely not the Disney version!  1) What fairytale(s) have you chosen to retell and why? Great question! Thank you for this & many thanks for featuring me and my work. I've chosen to conjure up a time travel story based on my love of history and fairy tales. Currently, I've named it I'll See You In My Dreams. The fairytales I'm retelling take a bit from Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland-if you consider it to be a fairytale. You can follow my visionboard/storyboard here: https://www.pinterest.com/TheDebATL/dreams/fairy-tales-dreams-and-rock-roll/ My novel will originally be released as part of a box set featuring 20+ novels - Once Upon Another World, which is currently available for preorder for only 99 cents. Readers can purchase it on all platforms here: books2read.com/u/3Raqxn 2) What makes your story unique? Besides the time travel, the story is told in dream sharing. A writer becomes trapped in her own dreams and writes them down, almost as a form of therapy. Unknown to her, half a world away a rockstar is having dreams about her. But, in my story 'Prince Charming' may end up being the one saved by the 'Princess'. 3) What was your favorite fairytale growing up and why? Cinderella, absolutely. Maybe because it had to do with shoes. Who knows? 4) Who was your favorite villain? The evil step sisters were always great character studies. We all know people like that, don't we? Although, I did love the talking mirror in Snow White. 5) Is this a standalone or do you have more books planned? Thanks for asking. Right now, it's a standalone, but I believe I'll do a Prequel as a separate short story, simply because I'm so in love with the characters and the story itself. Is it wrong to be in love with your own story?  HUNTER S. JONES is passionate about the history of romance, science and music, a.k.a. sex, drugs and rock & roll. She is a historian presenter for Past Preservers Casting. When she isn’t writing, talking or tweeting about kings, queens and rock stars, she’s living the dream in Atlanta, Georgia with her Scottish born husband.
 1) What fairytale(s) have you chosen to retell and why?
I’ve done many fairytale retellings including 52 books worth of retellings this year. Next year I’ll be releasing a fairytale retelling boxset and in that I’ll be writing Alice in Wonderland with a co-author. My first fairytale retelling came out in 2017. It was based on Cinderella. 2) What makes your story unique? I like to give twists to each of my fairytales. The Charm series that was based on Cinderella was actually about Prince Charming, or Princess Charmaine as she was in the books. I swapped the gender. The 52 books I’m releasing this year are not retellings as such, but are after the ever after. They are told from the point of view of the children of the famous fairytale characters, eighteen years after the ever after. as for the Alice retelling. I’m writing it with J.A. Culican, so it is bound to involve dragons somewhere in it. 3) What was your favorite fairytale growing up and why? I had a fairytale compendium. It was such a thick book. There isn’t one particular fairytale I liked the most, but if I had to pick. I’d probably choose twelve dancing princesses. I always looked like a boy as a kid, (My parents made me keep my hair short and I hated it) so I loved the stories of pretty dresses and balls. 4) Who was your favorite villain? I wouldn’t say it was a villain, but I loved the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. He didn’t hurt alice, but he wasn’t exactly helpful either. as a child, I did what I was supposed to and hated all the villains. As an adult, I can see most of their points of view, haha. 5) Is this a standalone or do you have more books planned? I’m releasing a fairytale a week this year. Every Wednesday, one of my Kingdom of Fairytales books comes out. They were co-authored by some amazing authors and feature everyone’s favorite fairytales. If you want to find out more about any of my projects, visit the Kingdom of Fairytales page on Facebook.  Fairytales play a key role in our upbringing - they teach us valuable lessons. That was the original purpose of folk tales, to serve as a warning and to teach people about the world around them.
Take Little Red Riding Hood for example - this story teaches us that when we travel through the world, we have to be careful who we trust because not everyone is who they seem to be. The Princess and the Frog shows us that it is important not to judge people on how they look and Cinderella shows us that it is important to be kind and good things will happen. I believe that the fairytales which stay with us, are the ones that we can relate to the most. By reading them to children, as well as being entertaining and a sense of escape, they teach children how to empathize with characters and how to look beyond what they can see. They are some of the first stories we hear and they stay with us throughout our lives. Fairytales are as important now as they were when they would be told around the fire hundreds of years ago and the lessons are universal. Plus, Disney would be broke without them!  1) What fairytale(s) have you chosen to retell and why? Stealing Maid Marian's Heart is a modern, fox-shifter, romantic Robin Hood retelling with a heist from the perspective of Maid Marian. I loved Robin Hood growing up, but I wanted to modernize it and make it a little more romantic. The heist aspect fits in perfectly for the characters' motivation and the Robin Hood legend. Also, it was a ton of fun to try to figure out how a bunch of shifters would break into a casino. 2) What makes your story unique? I chose to retell Robin Hood from Maid Marian's perspective because I've rarely seen this done and I thought she probably had a great story to tell too! As it turns out, she does. ;) Another thing that I believe makes my retelling unique is the modern feel. Many Robin Hood retellings that I see done are in a fantasy world or the past. Mine is set in Las Vegas, which is critical to the story. 3) What was your favorite fairytale growing up and why? The Little Mermaid (Disney version). Honestly, I think it was my favorite because growing up I was a swimmer and being mermaid seemed like the ultimate dream come true. I loved that movie so much I made my mom watch it with me every day for months. She's a trooper! 4) Who was your favorite villain? Ursula! :) Again, I was a Disney child, and Ursula had the BEST villain song. But as I get older I actually sympathize with Ursula a little because she's very much the "witch" stereotype and probably just got kicked out of the sea kingdom because she was a powerful woman. I love how our ideas on fairytales can evolve as we age. 5) Is this a standalone or do you have more books planned? Stealing Maid Marian's Heart is a standalone tale in a fairytale universe! I have many others planned. One of which is titled Alice the Dagger (a fae assassin retelling of Alice in Wonderland). Alice the Dagger will release in June 2020 and is the first book in an Alice trilogy. After that, I'd love to do a Beauty and the Beast retelling in the same universe. It would probably be a shifter story.  Stealing Maid Marian's Heart excerpt:
By Ashley McLeo Chapter 1 I squeezed my eyes shut as I inserted my key card and opened the door. The handle hit the opposite wall with a thunk, and I inhaled a slow, calming breath. Then with the bravery of a knight charging into battle, I opened my eyes. “Oh, shit!” My hand flew to my heart as I zeroed in on a person hiding behind the curtains. “Checkout was hours ago! You need to vacate the premises.” The person didn’t move, not even the slightest twitch. My eyes narrowed, and wriggling my nose, I caught the scent of plastic. I scowled. A blow-up doll! Why do people have to be so gross? I released an annoyed huff and entered the room. The suite wasn’t in the worst condition I’d seen. There wasn’t any blood or human waste smeared on the walls or floors, but it wasn’t pretty either. Someone had twisted the bedsheets into a rope that wrapped around the chair in front of the desk. Bits of food dotted the bed, and coffee stained the nightstand. And then there was the damn blow-up doll. Whoever had stayed in this room had sprung for one of the more realistic models, but they hadn’t wanted to take their toy home with them. I couldn’t imagine why. My job was such a pleasure. I pulled my cart right up to the door and began to work, starting with the sheet. Once it was unraveled, I was pleased to find that there were no visible bodily fluids on it. I tossed it into the tiny hamper attached to the cart and moved on. Time ticked by in a haze of vacuuming, wiping, tucking, and scrubbing, but after twenty minutes, the room was clean. Whoever stayed there next would be none-the-wiser to what I’d seen. Even though my job sucked, I did it well and took pride in that. I’d just finished placing the small containers of lemon-scented soap, shampoo, and conditioner on the shelf in the shower when a faint knock came at the door. A fake smile bloomed on my face. It was probably some housewife wanting to steal more coffee from my cart. Why they didn’t just go for it while I was busy was beyond me. They paid enough for their rooms to justify at least a month’s supply of free coffee. The knock sounded again, louder and more persistent. “Coming!” I’d made it two more steps before catching a whiff of a familiar scent that told me whoever had knocked wasn’t a housewife on vacay. It was dry like cotton balls, and smelled both ancient and very virile. Ugh, what does Sherwood want? Despite wanting nothing to do with the hotelier, I kept the smile on my face as I turned the corner. My boss stood there, dressed to the nines in a tailored, navy suit, polished brown shoes, and a gold pocket square that gave him a pop of color. “Hi, Sherwood. How can I help you?” The vampire’s lips tilted up into a sexy and dangerous smirk. It was a smile I’d seen ensnare dozens of human patrons who didn’t realize the danger it posed. “You can always help me, Marian.” His posh English accent washed over me. “One way or another.” He gave me a pointed look and the subtext was clear. My fists clenched behind my back. “I meant with hotel work. Not . . . anything else.” I wanted to scream, No I will not come whore for you, but like always, I swallowed my words. Las Vegas was a vampire town, and I was a fox-shifter, one of the few left in the area. I had no family or close friends to ask for help; I had to make my own way. Losing this job, when it had taken me ages to get full benefits and a number of raises, would suck. Plus, Sherwood had only ever suggested that I could make more money working in one of his brothels. As much as I hated that, I understood why he’d offer. A lot of shifter gals worked in brothels. Patrons, even the ones who didn’t know the girls were shifters, couldn’t resist the animalistic side of my kind between the sheets. In short, shifters brought in top dollar. And Sherwood Nottingham, the vampire billionaire, was first and foremost a businessman. Sherwood shook his head. “A pity for me.” He pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at it. “Albus claims that you are behind on this floor. He says this has been happening often?” Of course it had. My manager had been assigning me all the bachelor party rooms. But I knew that it was no use complaining. Sherwood always took Albus’s side in work matters, because my manager was his mate’s child. While I suspected that the hotelier didn’t like Albus much either, Vegas was nothing but nepotism at its finest. Especially where vamps were concerned. “For the last three days, I’ve been running behind. My rooms have needed extra tending.” “Hmm, well pick up the pace. Anna’s complained that she’s had to cover for you.” I rolled my eyes. Everything annoyed Anna, including my habit of pinning up only half my hair. The worst part was that she was vocal about the annoyances, even going as far as offering to show me how to do my hair. And of course if Anna was frustrated, then she’d be less likely to boink Albus in his office. My inability to perform miracles was impeding Albus’ sex life. Heaven forbid. “I’ll do my best.” Sherwood’s eyes drifted to my lips and back up to my eyes. “You know, there are better options than working for Albus.” Slowly, Sherwood’s hands lifted to my face, and I steeled myself. He tucked a lock of my sandy brown hair behind my ears. “With emeralds like those, you’d be raking in the dough. A lot of girls even grow to like it.” I repressed the shudder crawling up my spine. Only because they get hooked on the drugs you supply. “I’m good where I am.” He shrugged. “Better be getting back to work then, Marian.” He turned and drifted down the hall of his empire. When the hotelier disappeared around the corner, my hand went straight to the necklace hidden beneath my shirt—a silver arrow, about an inch long, that had been my mom’s. Once, a tiny bow had accompanied the arrow, but the people who had cleaned up after my parents’ death had never found it. The arrow comforted me so much that I never took it off. I even wore it at the hotel, a place where employees were forbidden to wear silver. At first, breaking the rule had terrified me, but for the last five years, no one had noticed. Now I didn’t even question putting it on every morning. It was an easy risk to take when I was invisible to most people. *** The door to my little home swung open with a squeal. I set the groceries on the counter and did a few neck circles. I needed to go for a run soon. Working as a maid gave me the worst aches and pains, but running the sand dunes in my fox aspect always managed to alleviate them. Maybe tomorrow, Ada would let me take the children into the desert. Perhaps we could even practice archery. The tyrannical heat had begun to let up, which meant outdoor activities were an option again. The thought of watching the children run wild and free brought a smile to my face. Despite the orphanage being specifically for shifters, the poor little things weren’t allowed to be in their animal aspects inside. They made too much of a mess. So when they got a little freedom, they really went for it. I began to hum as I put the groceries away, setting aside the massive box of chocolates I’d bought for the kids. Once that was done, I preheated the oven and slipped a frozen pizza inside before flipping the electric kettle on. A whistle pierced the air a few minutes later, and I poured the steaming hot water into a mug prepped with a tea bag. Lavender and honey filled my nostrils, calming me and easing my aching muscles. I cupped the warm mug with both hands and took a seat on my sagging couch. The book I’d been reading sat on the end table. I reached for it, ready to dive into a light romantic comedy, but the book was just out of reach. When I stood to retrieve it, I cracked the window to let in a fresh breeze, and I caught a whiff of a sweet aroma. Something out of place in my home. An old and familiar scent that enlivened every cell in my body. One that had the power to break my heart. Toffee. I shivered as memories of Robin and me flashed through my mind. The time we’d started a rock collection and placed our treasures in Robin’s single, prized possession: a beautiful mahogany box much too pretty to hold dusty rocks. The day we’d first ridden our bicycles, and I’d had to hold on to his handlebars before he’d even get on the bike. Sneaking out of the orphanage and running the dunes of Nevada in our fox aspects. The time that he’d convinced me to help him steal candy bars from the corner market. And when Ada subsequently made us return them with a hand-written apology. Our first kiss beneath a star-filled sky in the desert. I sucked in a breath. Thirteen long years later, that kiss still warmed my heart. It was a kiss that had led to countless others, and then more intimate explorations. He’d been my first in every single way, and despite being apart for four years, a disturbing number of things still reminded me of Robin Hood. Like goddamn toffee. I whipped around, forgetting that I’d wanted the cool night breeze to air out my old home, and yanked down the window. Since the night I’d left Robin, I’d allowed myself to cherish those memories, but never to regret my decision. Robin had changed. He’d made his priorities clear when he’d chosen the life of a con man over the family we’d hoped to create. And when he never came chasing after me. Chapter 2 “Be careful, Lila! You don’t want to get a sand burn,” I called to the tiny girl, who had slipped off her black garbage bag and rolled down the dune. It was going to be a chore getting the sand out of her red curls, but I found it difficult to care. She was having so much fun, just like the rest of the children. Kids needed to run and be wild, and little shifters even more so. They had too much energy to be inside, or even in the orphanage yard all day. The primal part of them begged to be free. Proving my belief, Elijah, a preteen mountain lion-shifter, burst into his animal aspect and released a monstrous yowl before loping up the hill. I grinned as I watched him weave around the children sledding down the hill. He reminded me of another free-spirited boy. One who had chased me up and down these hills, shot arrows into the night with me, and laid beside me on these very sands to watch the stars twinkle. I shook my head. Why was Robin popping into my mind so much lately? The screech of an eagle cut through my musings, and my eyes shot to the sky. A bald eagle soared above in a perfect figure-eight shape. Recognizing the shifter and the signal he was sending, I threw him a wave. The eagle let out another screech and soared away. “All right, kids! It’s time to go home. Dinner will be ready in an hour, and you all have a lot of cleaning up to do.” Lila wrinkled her dirt-caked nose. Her typical reaction to a shower made me chuckle. “Especially you, little coyote. Everyone shift, and we’ll race back!” The children shifted into their animal aspects, and a zoo of small mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, black bears, one hawk, and even a raccoon appeared in front of me. “Thank you,” I said, shocked that everyone had listened so quickly. Then again, we had been out here for hours. They were probably starving. I nodded to the larger of the two black bears. “Jazzy, let Robbie ride on your back, will you?” Jazzy nodded, and a moment later, the raccoon hopped onto her back. I scanned the crowd, making sure everyone else looked capable of keeping up. When I was positive they did, I grinned. “Let the race begin!” I shifted into fox aspect and dashed toward the orphanage. *** Once the kids were all in their rooms and preparing for dinner, I made my way to the kitchen. I hadn’t played as hard as the children, but the run back to the orphanage, a three-mile journey in the sand, had revved up my shifter metabolism. I needed a snack before my meeting with Ada. Sounds of pots and pans banging met my ears, and my stomach clenched in anticipation. Turning the corner, the doorway to the kitchen came into sight and scents intensified. Someone was making something chocolatey . . . Brownies?! My stomach rumbled hard when I recognized the scent, and I put some pep in my step. I was about to open the kitchen door when it opened from the other side, and a broad back appeared as a guy waved goodbye to the kitchen staff. Although I couldn’t see the man’s face, it was plain by his clothes that he didn’t belong here. His jeans cost a quarter of my paycheck. The shirt he wore looked tailored, and his shoes were crafted of rich leather. Who the heck was this guy? “Thanks for the brownie, Lorna!” I stiffened at his voice, deep and familiar. No! How is he—? All my thoughts ceased as Robin turned to face me, his azure gaze taking me in. My hand flew to the arrow pendant I wore, fingers rubbing against the metal for strength. His eyes flitted down to the necklace for a second before he dragged his gaze up to meet mine, and a charming grin lit up his face. “Fancy seeing you here, Mar! You look great!” I didn’t answer; actually, I couldn’t. But it didn’t matter, Robin loved to talk, and he kept right on doing it. “Smelled the brownies too, I take it?” “I—I . . . Wha—” I stopped and shook my head. Dammit, why did I have to stutter? Why couldn’t I sound cool and confident? With a massive effort, I pulled myself together. “What are you doing here, Robin?” He held up a chocolate square. My lips pressed together. “You came from . . .” I trailed off, unsure where he lived now. “You came back for brownies?” Robin’s lips quirked up mischievously. “Of course not. I’m here to see Ada. Heard the orphanage was in a bit of a bind, and thought I could help.” How had he heard about that? The orphanage had always been just scraping by, but as of late, funds had been dwindling much faster. “And how are you going to help?” “Now, Mar, that’s for me to discuss with Ada. But I’m curious, why are you here?” “I volunteer here twice a week.” Robin nodded. “Giving back. Sounds like you.” My lips tightened at his familiarity, but Robin didn’t seem to notice. “Anyway, I’ve got to be getting to my meeting. You know how Ada hates waiting. See you around.” He moved to walk around me, but I reached out and grabbed him by the wrist. A tingle ran up my arms, and I let go nearly as fast as I’d grabbed him.“Wait a minute! You’re not talking to Ada without me around.” “Why’s that? Do I look like I need a chaperone?” The tiniest edge of steel appeared in Robin’s voice. He’d always hated when others tried to curtail his independence. “Chaperone, no.” My chin jutted out. “I need to talk to her anyway. You probably don’t realize this, but she’s getting old, and—” “She tires easily,” Robin cut me off, his tone soft. I cocked my head. How had he known that? “Anyway,” Robin said, a little louder this time, “I have an appointment.” He turned and headed down the hall toward Ada’s quarters, leaving me with my lips parted in surprise. Questions ran through my mind as I walked behind him. What was going on? Why had he been in touch with Ada? Had she ever mentioned me? I shook the last one free. I needed to get a grip. Robin didn’t want me. If he did, he would have run after me years ago. And you’ve learned how to manage without him just fine too, I reminded myself. Robin knocked on Ada’s door, making me rush to catch up. A second later, Ada appeared, dressed in her usual loose pants and tunic. Both were a fun shade of bright red that made her umber skin glow as if she were a woman of thirty instead of sixty-five. Her mouth cracked open in a smile at the sight of Robin, who beamed back and opened his arms wide for a hug. “You look just like you did the day I left,” Robin said, enveloping Ada’s tiny frame. “Oh lordy! Boy, you always were too charming for your own good.” Although Ada’s voice was muffled, I could tell she was laughing. “And I see Marian found you. Are you two up to trouble again? Teaching the youngsters fun and games before you came to see old Ada?” She stepped away from Robin, and her gaze went from him to me, her lips quirked up in a nostalgic expression. I stiffened. Ada knew that Robin and I had broken up, but I’d led her to believe it was more amicable than it had been. “I just ran into Mar in the hall,” Robin said, not missing a beat. “She was trying to snag a brownie from the Halloween party stash. I set her on the straight and narrow path. Like usual.” Ada snorted. “I’m not sure who was zig and who was zag in your paths, but you two were never straight and narrow. That much I’m sure of.” She turned and waved for us to follow. “Come on in, double trouble. Have a seat.” Double trouble. It had been ages since I’d heard the orphanage’s nickname for Robin and me. “So, Marian, I assume you’re here to give me the rundown.” Ada sat behind her desk. “Would you like to go first?” I ran through the day, like I did after every volunteer shift. Although I was focusing on Ada while I spoke, I noticed Robin’s eyes light up at my mention of the sand hill. It was so endearing that I almost forgot to be annoyed that he was present. “So the kids should be all cleaned up,” I finished, then, remembering the brownies, added, “Do you need extra help for the Halloween party tomorrow? I’m not working, and I can—” “Deary, you’ll work yourself to the bone if I let you.” Ada shook her head. “We’re staffed, and don’t you go running to the Oasis for another shift just cause I won’t let you work.” “The Oasis, huh?” Robin arched an eyebrow. “Yes. She works there full-time, more if they let her.” Ada’s face showed a mixture of pride and worry. “Maybe you can use your free day to show Robin here around his hometown. He’s probably forgotten where everything is, he’s been gone so long.” That was so not happening. “Okay, but if anyone cancels on the party, call me. You know I can be here in just a few minutes.” “I know, I know.” Ada sighed and turned to Robin. “Miss Marian has been the most available out of anyone on staff for years. And she technically doesn’t even work here.” “You need the help,” I countered, annoyed. “Can’t deny that, deary,” Ada agreed. “In that case, maybe I can provide some assistance, too. Chip in and help this old girl shine a little more.” Robin’s blue eyes leveled on Ada, and I sensed he was getting to the point of why he was here. “Or at the very least, save her.” Ada gulped, which made my eyebrows furrow. “I don’t know how you heard about all this, Robin, but I don’t want to go taking out your life savings or anything . . . and believe me, we need that much.” What the what? I leaned forward. “Friends in high places, Ada. Now, how much are we talking? Fifty grand? One hundred?” My heart leapt into my throat. “Excuse me . . .” I croaked out. “But what the hell is going on here?” Ada’s attention turned to me, and she looked just as confused as I felt. Then she gasped. “Oh, lordy! I just thought because you two showed up together that Robin would have filled you in. I’m so sorry, dear.” She tutted. “It’s the orphanage. I’ve been trying not to spread it around. No need to scare the children, but we’re in a bit of trouble.” “A bit?” Robin shook his head. “A developer wants to take advantage of your lack of funding and tear the place down. I’d say that’s more than ‘a bit of trouble’.” “Yes,” Ada nodded, her eyes weary. It felt like my heart had stopped beating. “Ada . . . why didn’t you tell me? You know I wouldn’t have mentioned it to the kids.” I agreed there was no need to put them through that. The facility was an orphanage, but for many who grew up here, this was their first real home—including me. “I might have been able to help.” There was a frantic note in my voice. Ada extended her hand over the desk. I placed my palm in hers, just like I’d done many times as a child. She squeezed, and her dark brown eyes pierced through me. “Deary, there was no way I was bringing more pain upon you. You work yourself too hard as it is, and what we owe is so much, there’s no way you could help. I prefer to see you happy and healthy with the children, rather than toiling away for nothing.” She turned her gaze to Robin. “And I can’t take your money either. It’s not enough and wouldn’t stop the big bad wolf—well, vampire, in this case—from blowing down our door. I hate to say this, but this will be the last year the orphanage is open.” “You’re not even going to fight for it?” I shot out of my chair, a turmoil of emotions rushing through me so fast that identifying a single one was impossible. “Just tell us how much you need, Ada.” Robin somehow managed to sound sensible. “Maybe we can come to an agreement with the owner of the land.” Ada shook her head. “The owner said if we could beat the vamp’s price, he’d sell to us. But it’s pointless. That amount of money has never flowed through these halls. It’s—” “How much?” Robin placed his hand over both of ours. A zing of electricity shot through me, but I forced myself to ignore it and held my breath, waiting for Ada’s answer. She pressed her lips together. “Two million. Apparently our property is valuable because it’s far outside the city, in a pretty area. They want to build a beautiful spa retreat for tourists.” Someone had sucked all the air out of the room. I collapsed into my chair. Two million?! Who in their right mind would expect an orphanage—a poor shifter orphanage, at that—to come up with that kind of money? My gaze veered to Robin. He too looked gobsmacked. So he hadn’t known the true extent of the trouble our childhood home was in. Ada retracted her hand. “As you see, it’s quite a substantial donation we’d be needing. And while I appreciate that both of you want to help, I can’t take your money.” “There has to be something we can do,” Robin said. “There is,” Ada gave Robin a gentle smile. “Why don’t you use that money you were going to donate and take Marian here out to get the kids new clothing? Every single one of them needs a few things, and Marian knows their sizes and tastes. As we may need to relocate the children soon, it would be best if they looked presentable when they arrive at their new homes.” She choked on the final words. Robin nodded and stood. “We’ll do that, won’t we, Mar?” Still shell-shocked, I didn’t even think to try to get out of what Ada had suggested. I simply followed Robin from the room.  1) What fairytale(s) have you chosen to retell and why?
Cinderella was the fairytale I chose to retell because it was perfect for the mega-rich teen boy and the girl, who rocks his world so much that he’s willing to risk all for her. 2) What makes your story unique? It’s set in the 1980s with an interracial couple and while there is no fairy grandmother or evil step-mother, there is a grandfather determined to stop the relationship. 3) What was your favorite fairytale growing up and why? When I was young, The Wizard of Oz was one of my favorite retellings because it was the first book I was able to read without anyone’s help. 4) Who was your favorite villain? I don’t think I ever had a favorite villain, although if I had to choose one it would be Gaston, from Beauty and the Beast. 5) Is this a standalone or do you have more books planned? For right now, it’s a standalone but I co-wrote The Little Mermaid retelling for the Kingdom of Fairytale after-the-after retelling. Eventually I will write more fairytale stories and create a fairytale series.  The Brothers Grimm are possibly the most well known names in association with fairytales.
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were born a year apart (1785 & 1786 repectively) in Germany. As academics, they compiled a collection of local folk tales which became the basis of the modern fairytales we know today. By perserving the stories, they ensured that they were not lost to the ages. The tales they compiled are much darker than the Disney versions we know. For example, the Evil Queen in Snow White has a much more fitting ending where she is made to wear a pair of red hot iron shoes! Forced to dance, they eventually kill her. Obviously, this is not suitable for children and the story was altered for Disney. If you notice, many villains in Disney die by falling to their death, rather than being murdered. Think Gaston, Madam Gothel etc. The Grimm name and their work has endured through the centuries. The brothers have been featured in multiple works of fiction, including the 2005 film starring Matt Damon and Heath Ledger. More recently, the TV show Grimm features the creatures from the tales hiding in plain sight and the brothers were early Grimms, meant to keep the peace. What is your favorite Grimm collected work?  1) What fairytale(s) have you chosen to retell and why? Beauty and the Beast. I write paranormal romance and urban fantasy. I loved the idea of the “beast” being a true supernatural being. 2) What makes your story unique? My Beauty is no damsel, but a strong woman who can fight her own battles, literally. She is a huntress and fighting supernaturals is her life. 3) What was your favorite fairy tale growing up and why? It’s a toss up between Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. I hated that Disney never gave us a sequel to B&B. 4) Who was your favorite villain? Loki, but if we’re talking strictly fairytales than I’d have to say Ursula. She wasn’t a jealous woman seeking to destroy the heroine, but a woman with an agenda. She wanted power and Ariel was just collateral damage. 5) Is this a standalone or do you have more books planned? The Huntress and the Thorn Court is book one. Book two, The Huntress and the Splintered Court, will conclude my heroine’s tale, but I can’t say yet if it’ll be the end of the series. One of my other characters might want the spotlight in my series The World of the Hunter Order.  Title:
The Huntress and the Thorn Court Blurb: What happens at the Thorn Court stays at the Thorn Court. Isabel is not your average princess. All she wants to do is keep peace among the preternatural community, but when she mistakenly kills an innocent werewolf, the cost of peace may be a steeper price than she’s willing to pay. Gideon is a beast of a man. As the pack alpha he has to be. When an opportunity to discover a traitor in his pack practically lands on his lap, he’s driven to seize it, even if it means taking the incredibly tempting, smart mouthed Princess of The Order, Isabel, as his prisoner. Will Isabel be able to resist the forbidden sexy beast or will this beauty lose any chance she has of becoming the next leader of The Order? Excerpt: (Unedited) Gideon stepped closer. The domineering way he moved, and the intensity he fixated on me would have made lesser beings tremble, but I refused to recoil. I had to look up at him when he stopped. “You will never speak to me like that again,” he demanded in a hushed voice that was more daunting then if he yelled. “What, like you’re an idiot?” I sneered. His jaw clenched and his nose flared as he breathed out. With the adrenaline still pumping through me from the attack, I didn’t see how provoking him could end badly. All I could think was I wasn’t in his pack. He didn’t control me. “If you act like an idiot, then I’ll talk to you like an idiot.” “You think you’re brave, don’t you?” he stepped forward. I had no choice but to retreat in order to maintain what little space there was between us, but Gideon continued his advance until I was stuck between him and the wall. I could feel the heat of his body radiating off him. His scent filled my lungs, as my breathing grew heavier from his nearness. “But you’re foolish. You risked your life and everything I’ve built, war between our two clans, for what, to prove you were being watched too closely? Well congratulations.” “You arrogant, egotistical bastard,” I spat putting as much hostility into the words as I could. How dare he make me feel guilty for attempting to do the very thing he’d asked me to? “You naïve, incompetent princess,” he growled. We stood there glaring at the other. I don’t know who moved first but without warning Gideon’s lips were against mine.  1. What fairytale(s) have you chosen to retell and why?
K.L.: Our co-written story, Shattered Moonlight, is based on Red Riding Hood. The story will be featured in the Once Upon Another World twisted fairytale box set! The initial outline came about based on the idea of a girl, Celine, living in a cursed forest. A forest spirit tied to the magical Hawthorn tree tells Celine she can break the curse, if she is brave. The story then evolved with Celine being joined by a protector, a fierce wolf, who travels through the perils of the forest by her side. However, the wolf is more than he seems. Erin: We really wanted to play with the themes of innocence versus wickedness, false appearances, and even the violent tension of the classic fairy tale. The main characters gave us a lot to work with! 2. What makes your story unique? K.L.: Shattered Moonlight has an Irish mythical setting. Hawthorn trees, in Ireland, are sometimes referred to as ‘faerie trees.’ Celine is responsible for taking care of the Hawthorn tree, which she believes is the bridge between the mortal and immortal realms. The voice which sets her quest in motion is from the faerie realms. So we’ve taken a fairy tale and blended it with Irish mythical elements. Erin: I think another reason our story will be unique is that K.L. Bone and I have very different narrative styles, but they complement each other well. I think we created a richer story because of this, and have challenged each other to expand on our original ideas in ways we didn't even expect. 3. What was your favorite fairy tale growing up and why? K.L.: I loved The Swan Princess and Sleeping Beauty. The struggle to prove love can conquer all, brave princes facing monsters with their swords in hand. True love’s kiss saving the day and the medieval settings have inspired my own writing. From my main series, Black Rose, which is medieval with brave knights and princesses, to this fairy tale retelling, which will feature many of the same themes. Erin: I loved Disney's Sleeping Beauty as well because of the colors and characters. My grandparents had a book of classic fairy tales and I loved Jack and the Beanstalk as well, because of the kingdom in the sky and the thrill of that climb! 4. Who was your favorite villain? K.L. & Erin: Maleficent! The mistress of all evil! She’s intelligent, wickedly evil and unapologetic for her dark intentions. She frightened us as a child and definitely inspired the type of villains we love to write! 5. Is this a standalone or do you have more books planned? K.L.: This story is currently planned as a stand-alone, however I love writing fairytale twists and retellings. I have previously written a horror version of Rapunzel called Lamia’s Tower and have plans to write a version of the Irish fairytale Children of Lir in the near future. Erin & I also love mythological stories and will be working on a joint project for late 2020 featuring the myths of King Arthur in a book titled The Lost Crown of Avalon. We’re both very excited and will have more details coming soon! Erin: Yes, so far this is a standalone, but you never can tell when “happily ever after” may turn into “but wait, there's more!” |
 
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About the Author:S. K. Gregory is an author, editor and blogger. She currently resides in Northern Ireland. “Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.” 
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