Short Fiction, Writing

Reimagining Hansel and Gretel Fairytale

One of my favourite fairytales is the story of โ€˜Hansel and Gretelโ€™ recounted by Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm, with two variations in the tale published in the 1812 and 1857 versions to accomodate a wider selection of similar folktales. From the fairytale and folklore indexes developed by Professor Ashlimanm , the ATU system identified at… Continue reading Reimagining Hansel and Gretel Fairytale

Short Fiction, Writing

Forthcoming: Folklore Anthology

I am very pleased to announce my microfiction pieces will feature in Lost Lore and Legends to be published by Breaking Rules Publishing Europe! Lost Lore and Legends anthology will consist of 100 word โ€œdrabblesโ€ or microfiction pieces inspired by European folklore, legends and mythologies. Five of my microfiction pieces will be featured, including original… Continue reading Forthcoming: Folklore Anthology

Short Fiction

European Folklore

The past several weeks, I have been exploring many different aspects of European folklore, particularly involving the Fae. Below is a series of some of my research favourites, fae beings and associated folklore. Seelie and Unseelie Fae In Scotland, the Fae are often divided into the Seelie and Unseelie courts, or the Light and Dark… Continue reading European Folklore

Short Fiction

Impossible Tasks & the Fae

My research has been delving into the folklore of mortal dealings with the Fae. References to the performance of tasks, is common in folklore, see the Thompson Motif Index for an example of โ€œTestsโ€ present in folklore. In modern fantasy an traditional fairytales, three (also a commonly tool for repetition in fairytales) tasks or quests… Continue reading Impossible Tasks & the Fae

Short Fiction

Poisoned Fruit & Cursed Futures

I recently finished writing a short fiction piece inspired by poisoned apple folklore and legends, the most familiar being the story "Little Snow-White" published by Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm in Children's' and Household Tales (commonly known as Grimm's Fairy Tales) between 1812-1814 . There are, of course, countless folklore and folktales surrounding betrayals and murder… Continue reading Poisoned Fruit & Cursed Futures

reads, Recent Reads

Uprooted

Uprooted by US author Naomi Novik explores the authorโ€™s polish heritage through vibrant folklore in this Fantasy novel. Although Uprooted began like many fairytale retellings with a naive village girl from a rural village, who is taken by the Dragon and trapped in a tower. This is the basic synopsis of Uprooted but the story… Continue reading Uprooted

reads, Recent Reads

The Bee and the Orange Tree

I read The Bee and the Orange Tree by Australian author Melissa Ashley. A wonderful historical fiction set during the early stages of the French Revolution but focused on the female literary circles surrounding Baroness Marie Catherine D'Aulnoy established as an author in her own right after successful publication career of several novels and fairytale… Continue reading The Bee and the Orange Tree

Recent Reads

Beautiful

I recently had the pleasure to read Beautiful by Juliet Marillier in audiobook format. I thoroughly enjoy all of Marillierโ€™s re-imaginings and re-telling of classic folktales and mythologies. Beautiful was certainly as detailed and well-written as previous novels I have read by Juliet Marillier. The inspiration for Beautiful was the Nordic fairy-tale East of the… Continue reading Beautiful