Showing posts with label #fairytale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #fairytale. Show all posts

February 20, 2024

#TirgearrTuesday

If only your dreams could come true with a Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo…

Becoming the legal guardian for his half-sisters puts a wrench in Drew's college plans. Photo-shopped nudes of Seraphina threaten her promising singing career.

 

Sounds like a job for a Fairy Godmother.


Excerpt from A Fairy Godmother's Redemption

 

            “Just be yourself, man.” Ryan bopped him in the shoulder. “Go with the flow. You’re off to a decent start, letting her pick you up.”

            “What can I say?” Drew shrugged. “It’s the ’90s—almost a new millennium—and I’m a modern guy.”

            A knock came from the apartment’s exterior door. Ryan reached it first, swinging it open. “Come in, come in. You must be the talented Seraphina Jacobs. Of course, you are. I recognize you from MTV.” Ryan flashed a look of awe, coupled with desperation, at Drew. “I’m Drew’s friend, Ryan.”

            Drew watched Ryan fawn over Sera, holding back his laughter. This is priceless. He rolled his eyes and mouthed, “MTV?”

            Unaware of the second conversation happening between the guys, Sera extended her hand to Ryan. “Nice to meet you, Ryan.”

            “And what are your intentions toward our boy?”

            Drew shot Ryan a murderous look. “Ryan!” With a quick wave at the girls, he ushered Sera toward the door.

            “Don’t keep him out too late.” Ryan’s chuckle followed them out the door.

            Once outside, Drew felt a sudden bout of shyness. He’d talked to Sera on the phone every night since he’d asked her out, but having her here, seeing her in real life. Her inquisitive blue eyes held him captive.

            “You look beautiful.” Drew cringed at the clichéd phrase, even though it was absolutely true. Sera dressed casually—wearing an off-the-shoulder floral, rose blouse with bell sleeves, tan linen pants, and rose heels—but the overall look was stunning.

            She smiled, looking pleased. “Where are we going?”

            “The best pizza joint in the city.” He rhymed off directions as she pulled out of the parking lot.

            “Any preference for music?”

            Drew chuckled. “You mean you don’t play your tunes in the car?”



The Magicals Series:






January 12, 2019

A Few Fast Facts about Maya Tyler

Last week, I found this author's challenge list and thought answering the questions—basically an interview with myself—would make a great blog post. Here goes...

***

1. 2019 writing goals - polish and publish A Wizard's Choice (my nanowrimo book); complete some of my work-in-progresses; and write my fictionalized life story

2. Who are you? - I am kind

3. Your title page


4. Fav cover art


5. Nature setting - sunny, cloudless day on a sandy beach with the waves gently rolling toward the shore

6. Great opening line - Once upon a time - because that's how all fairy tales begin...

7. Writer food - coffee... it's a food, right?

8. Dialog - In a novel, I write it as I hear my character's say it, but writing it well—using it sparingly to move the story forward and identifying the speaker without overkill tags—is a challenge. In a chat story, dialog drives the whole story which has made me think differently about dialog.

9. Book quote


10. Your protagonist - from A Wizard's Choice, Kurtis Warde—an angry and conflicted wizard's apprentice

11. Writing advice


12. Fav classic


13. Fav book and why


A favourite for many reasons... including... "Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles." What else does a great story need?

14. Your writing life - inspiration and sacrifice

15. Where you write - anywhere and everywhere - especially my beautiful purple office and my outdoor family room

16. Why write?


17. Pet friends - my precious nine-pound wonder Buddy who is living with (as opposed to dying from) congestive heart failure


18. Great closing line - The End - where you expecting something a little more auspicious?


October 19, 2018

Fairy Tales, Banned Books, and Censorship

This week, Twitter was on fire with a story covered by news outlets such as USA Today, Parents Magazine, Pop Sugar Family, E! News, and Sky News. Actresses Kristen Bell and Keira Knightley came out, in separate, unrelated interviews, with some anti-classic Disney princess arguments. Bell raised issues about Snow White and consent because Prince Charming kisses her when she's sleeping. Knightley was concerned that Cinderella teaches little girls to wait for the rich guy to save them. Many opinions—both in agreement and opposing—have flooded the Internet.

In response, I tweeted, "Remember it’s fiction. Fairy godmothers aren’t real either. Just educate your children so they can make intelligent choices vs outright banning the movies." In the case of Snow White...the prince kissed her when she was (for all intents and purposes) dead and lying in a glass coffin. The kiss that brought her back to life could arguably be a life-saving procedure in which Good Samaritan laws apply. As for Cinderella...she wasn't waiting around for a prince to rescue her. Even though she had been reduced to a life of servitude in her own home, she was content. She only wanted to go to the ball. And she did. In killer glass slippers.

Banning a movie or a book because you don't agree with its content? That seems remarkably like censorship.


***

Books are often banned because they introduce threatening ideas. Some that have made the cut over the years may surprise you... Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Jack London's The Call of the Wild. Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House in the Big Woods. J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. William Golding's The Lord of the Flies. Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham. Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club. E.L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey.

How many of these books have you read?


***

I grew up in a very sheltered home. My mom pre-screened movies before she let me and my sister watch them. I missed quite a few movies that way. And, needless to say, I was a little unprepared for real life when I went away to university.

When it comes to our boys (currently aged 10 and 8), my husband and I mildly disagree over what they can and can't watch on TV. Where I cautiously check commonsensemedia.org before family movie nights; my husband let our oldest watch Family Guy. 😲 First of all, I am not a fan of Family Guy. Back in the day, I wasn't allowed to watch The Simpsons. Something about Bart's disrespectful attitude? (One of the shows I definitely watched in university!) Well, The Simpsons don't have anything on Family Guy. My husband said it was better that our oldest get exposed to "grown-up" topics at home where we could explain them versus the playground where anything goes. I agree. To a point. Family Guy isn't exactly the most accurate of sex education sources. Come on, the family dog talks! And is probably the smartest member of the family. So, son #1 repeated some questionable dialogue from Family Guy at an inappropriate time and that ended his Family Guy watching days. For now.

I'm not naive. I know my kids know bad words. I've heard them say bad words. My husband and I have talked to them plainly about understanding what those words mean and when is the right and wrong time to say them. i.e. wrong time = anytime in front of Mom At the end of the day, it's a lesson we, as their parents, are tasked with giving. We can't hope to raise them in a protected bubble of rainbows and sunshine. That doesn't do them any favours.

***

My takeaway on the objections raised by Kristen Bell and Keira Knightley? Be respectful of others. Arm yourself with education to make intelligent decisions. It's okay to believe in fairy tales. 👸

August 27, 2018

Flash Fiction Summer Series - Story #3

The inspiration for this week's piece is a picture from Disney's Enchanted, featuring Giselle (the soon-to-be princess) and Queen Narissa (evil stepmother to Prince Edward and soon-to-be mother-in-law to Giselle).

Fairy tales often feature an evil stepmother as the villain. Looking to my favorite fairy tale portrayals—Disney, of course—I found...

Snow White - lived with a jealous stepmother who tried to have her killed
Cinderella - lived with a jealous stepmother who made her work as a maid and limited her social interaction
Princess Aurora - raised by three magical surrogate mothers, although not technically stepmothers, after she was threatened by the evil fairy Maleficent
Princess Ariel - tricked by the sea witch Ursula in her plan to capture King Triton, although Ursula is not technically a stepmother...she does want Ariel's widowed father (Ariel's mother had been killed by Captain Hook)
Princess Rapunzel - in Disney's version, Princess Rapunzel was stolen by Mother Gothel who used the healing powers of the princess' hair to retain her youth

And don't get me started on the films that feature mother-less protagonists...


The Evil Stepmother by @mayatylerauthor




Everything she had ever wanted was within her grasp. The man of her dreams. The crown. The title of Queen. Plus one bothersome brat.


Belinda donned an appropriately sorrowful expression as she entered the sick room. "How is her majesty?"

The nurse moved to the side, revealing a pale-faced diminutive form lying on the well-appointed bed. "I'm afraid your sister doesn't have much time left, Miss Belinda."

"And nothing can be done?"

"No, Miss. The sickness came on suddenly, and she has faded just as quickly." The nurse shook her head. "Do you want to sit with her for a bit?"

"Yes."

The nurse ducked her head and left the room.

Belinda sat on the high-backed chair next to the bed. "Oh, sweet sister," she murmured. "How things have changed." In my favor.

Queen Catherine moaned and blinked rapidly.

Leaning closer toward the bed, Belinda watched her sister's expression change from distressed to tortured. "Are you trying to say something, Catherine?"

With her blond curls spread across the white pillow and her eyes closed peacefully, Catherine appeared to be sleeping. Belinda smirked. Like Sleeping Beauty. Except this time there wouldn't be a handsome prince coming to her rescue. Not even the charming King Cayden could save his regal wife.

Belinda chuckled. "You can hear me, can't you? But you can't speak or move. You're completely helpless. This has worked better than I imagined! Soon you will succumb to the dastardly effects of the poison, and I will be the one comforting your grieving husband."

A single tear rolled down the queen's still cheek.

"Poor Catherine." Belinda narrowed her gaze at the motionless figure. "You had everything you desired handed to you on a platinum platter. You had to but point at Cayden, and he fell at your feet. No more. It's my time now. I will marry Cayden and rule this kingdom. Once you leave us."

"Ah!"

Belinda turned her head toward the sound. Princess Hana stood, mouth gaping, in the open doorway.

How much did she hear? Belinda forced her lips to curl into a friendly smile. "Come to auntie, dear."

Hana shook her head violently and backed into the hall.

It hadn't been the plan, but she couldn't take the risk. Belinda rose from the chair, walked toward the shaking child, and wrapped her hand around the girl's arm. "Come with me, child." She grimly escorted the princess to her chamber.

Catherine's mysterious ailment just became contagious.

THE END




April 20, 2018

Not A Damsel in Distress

The Classic Disney Princesses

The classic Disney princesses played the role of damsel in distress, waiting for their princely true loves to rescue them from their individual predicaments. This role was representative of the times. Women had less autonomy, migrating from the control of their fathers (or guardians) to the protection of their husbands. Going your own way was never an option.


Elsa

Enter Elsa. Frozen was the first Disney film to broadly challenge the old stereotype. For the first time, the princess didn’t need rescued by a prince. Elsa represented the liberated woman, the mistress of her own destiny. She had the strength and ability to stand on her own. She even protected her sister Anna. There was no Prince Charming in Frozen.

Feminism is about choice. And having a choice is a true source of freedom. You can wait for your Prince Charming to rescue you or you can simply save yourself. Independence does not mean loneliness. You can have it all. You decide what “all” means to you.



I dream of true love and happily ever after, but that doesn’t make me a damsel in distress. I can stand alone, if I so choose, and I choose to be a part of something bigger than myself.

Cinderella

My favorite princess is Cinderella.

Cinderella is one of the best known folk tales with thousands of different versions and adaptions throughout the world. It's a story of unjust oppression and triumphant reward that resonates with people of all ages.

I love her story—the ultimate tale of rags-to-riches—and her gorgeous blue dress. Despite losing her parents and dealing with an evil stepmother and stepsisters, she remains optimistic about the future. Cinderella is intrinsically good. Her kindness is demonstrated in the manner she treats her cruel stepfamily and how much her animal friends love her. She has truly made the best of her circumstances.

In an apt example of karma, her fairy godmother grants her one magical evening. Cinderella doesn't beg for a fancier dress or a longer period of freedom. Content with one night, she knows her memories will sustain her through a lifetime of domestic drudgery. She meets the man of her dreams only to have the stoke of midnight tear them apart. And she returns to her position of servitude never expecting to see him again. Little does she know, there is nothing more powerful than true love, and her prince moves mountains to find her.

But the part of the story I love the most? They lived happily-ever-after.

Your happily ever after is whatever you decide it to be. Mine includes my real life true love and our two handsome princes.

Seize the day, and "Be the hero of your story."