V = Vanessa #AtoZChallenge

I hope everyone is going well halfway through this lovely week, the last week of April and of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. 

As we get into these later letters, the challenge becomes, well, more challenging. So I cheated a bit today, but only a bit.

Yesterday, I featured Ursula as part of my theme of what fairy tale characters can teach us today.

So, I thought I'd cover Ursula's alter ego...

V = Vanessa

Remember when Ursula knew she was losing and turned herself into a human to fight for Eric and make sure she kept Ariel's voice?

That woman was named Vanessa.

What can we learn from Vanessa today?

Don't let appearances fool you. Vanessa still had the black heart of Ursula even though she became a gorgeous woman with a beautiful voice. Ariel ultimately figured it out thanks to her friends. But just because something comes in a beautiful package doesn't make it a thing of beauty.

Don't rush into marriage. Take your time to make sure it's right. Or, in Eric's case, that you aren't under some evil spell and overlooking the actual love of your life. 

Okay, it's V, I'm trying. LOL

Can you think of a better V character?

T = Tiger Lily #AtoZChallenge

Happy Monday.

Before I get started on my Blogging from A to Z Challenge post, I have an announcement.

Season 1, Episode 1

War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales

is LIVE!

A new episode will publish

every other day starting 4/27/17

Buy links for S1E1

Amazon
iBooks
Smashwords
Barnes and Noble

Okay, now back to talking about fairy tale characters and what they can teach us today.

T = Tiger Lily

I love the character of Peter Pan, and I covered his lessons in P = Peter Pan. Tiger Lily only shows up for a few scenes in Pan, but she has a lot to each us.

When Peter questions about whether he'll fail to fulfill the prophecy, Tiger Lily says:

"What if you fail to try? 

If you don’t believe, Peter, then neither will they."

So many lessons from that single quote. First, if you don't believe in yourself, then how can others believe in you? We can't expect people to encourage and support us if we don't have faith in ourselves.

Second, failure happens for sure if we don't try. Success is only a possibility with effort. Better to fail at something than to never try it. Because then you'll absolutely never know what might have happened.

Would you have liked to see Tiger Lily get her own story/movie?

***

Well, if so, you're in luck. Tiger Lily is one of the characters who faces a new terror in our War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales serial series (Season 7). This one was written by the talented Jo Michaels.

The cover...

For more information,

visit www.frayedfairytales.com

S = Sleeping Beauty #AtoZChallenge

Happy Saturday. I hope you have something fun in store for your weekend.

Thanks for stopping by. We are wrapping up the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge in the next week. It's been such fun! 

Today, another post on the theme of what fairy tale characters can teach us today.

S = Sleeping Beauty

Or Aurora. 

Sleeping Beauty is one of the classics of Disney cinema. A young princess is born to the delight of her parents' kingdom only to have a curse placed upon her by an evil, spurned woman. To keep their daughter safe, the King and Queen send her to live with three faeries.

Since I love songs, I have to quote a few lines from Once Upon a Dream.

I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream

I know you, that look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam

And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem

But if I know you, I know what you'll do

You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream 

Sometimes we have to trust our gut and give a person a chance. Trust your heart. And of course, keep dreaming!

But, we also have to take warnings seriously from people we love and trust. If they have more knowledge than we do (as Aurora's parents did), we have to believe their intent is to help us.

To go with that, if we try to help people without telling them everything (Aurora didn't know about her curse), we won't be able to gain their trust. Keeping secrets rarely produces the desired results.

Did you think Aurora's parents should have told her about the curse?

***

It's time to share about another princess in War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales. In Season 9, you'll read about Aurora as she faces a new evil, as written by the lovely NL Greene.

The cover...

For more information,

visit www.frayedfairytales.com

R = Rose Red #AtoZChallenge

It's Friday, my favorite day of the week. I look forward to the weekend and spending time with my husband and children. And it's also a time to refuel for the next week ahead.

Throughout this month, I've been posting about what fairy tale characters can teach us today as part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. When applicable, I've also been sharing about my upcoming serial series with my writing partners (Jo Michaels, Kelly Risser, and NL Greene): War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales.

Without further ado...

R = Rose Red

Rose Red isn't as well known in popular culture as her sister, Snow White, especially since the Disney version drew inspiration from the Grimm fairy tale, not the German one. In the German tale, Rose Red is the more outspoken and lively sister, and both sisters fall in love with bear princes and marry.

What can we learn from Rose Red today?

In the German tale, the sisters save a bear by letting him into their home to warm by the fire on a very cold night. They see in him something beyond his terrifying exterior. We should all listen to our hearts instead of letting our eyes make decisions about a person. Our eyes can take in physical appearance and facial expressions, but only our hearts and minds can get to know someone deeper.

No matter what they are faced with, Snow White and Rose Red work together, without rivalry or jealousy, and in the end, they both marry a prince. I've always said that women have been the best part of my life--and the worst. We tend to be our own worst enemy sometimes. As the oldest of three girls and the mom to three girls, that makes me sad. We could take over the world if only we'd work together and put our differences aside. 

Do you know the story of Rose Red?

***

On April 24, the first episode of our serial series--War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales--will debut with Rose Red's story as written by me and NL Greene. She will face an evil further empowered by her own insecurity. You can pre-order your copy here now.

And the cover...

The synopsis:

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there were zombies…

That’s how it all started. Authors have created a major problem with stories like Cinder, The Dark Queen, and Asleep, and it’s wreaking havoc here in Ever After. Our queens are fighting for their lives.

Rather like Mother Nature, keeper of the fine balance that’s life in your world, tales that begin with “Once upon a time” were never meant to be messed with.

Now, Ariel is underwater with all the defenses she’s been launching, Aurora hasn’t slept in weeks, and Rapunzel is tangled in… Well, I can’t even begin to tell you.

Rather than try, I’ll let you see for yourself. You and I will talk again afterward—if I survive long enough. So, as our fateful story begins:

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…

Note: A new episode will publish every other day.

For more information,

visit www.frayedfairytales.com

N = Ninfa #AtoZChallenge

Happy Monday!

We are more than halfway through the fun of the Blogging from A to Z challenge. Continuing with my theme, what fairy tale characters can teach us today, today we will discuss...

N = Ninfa

When the ladies of Ferocious Five discussed which princesses to include in our serial series, War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales, we wanted to find a Latin American princess. After much research, we found the story of The Bear Prince. 

For those unfamiliar with the story, a quick recap:

A hunter came across a bear in the woods and had to bargain for his life by offering one of his daughters in marriage (Ninfa, his youngest, agreed). Ultimately, Ninfa finds out the bear is a prince who is cursed, and she is sworn to keep his secret. When she visits her sisters, they bully her into telling them her husband's secret by teasing her, and then she has to go on a journey to save her prince.

What can we learn from Ninfa today?

Stand your ground. Nobody can make you feel inferior if you don't let them. I know that is easier said than done, but we have to stand our ground and believe in ourselves. When we give into bullies and those who make us feel less, we give them power to continue hurting people. You might not be able to change what a bully believes, but you can at least take away their power over you.

Never give up. Ninfa faced an incredible journey to save her husband, but she never quit, pushing through some pretty incredible odds. But she never gave up, and in the end, she was reunited wit the love of her life.

Have you ever heard of Princess Ninfa?

***

In the final season--Season 10--of War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales, Ninfa must face another journey and a terrifying enemy in order to keep her family intact. Check out the cover...

For more information,

visit www.frayedfairytales.com

Fairy Tale Coloring Book

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates. 

I hope everyone is enjoying my month of fairy tale exploration.

Do you love to color?

As a companion to War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales, a serial series by me, Jo Michaels, NL Greene, and Kelly Risser, we have an adult coloring book filled with the shoes from the covers and a scene for each princess. 

It's only $7.99. Not bad if you consider the hours of enjoyment for you (and totally appropriate for your kiddos) and the stress relief it provides.

Buy your copy today here.

M = Mulan #AtoZChallenge

My favorite day of the week -- Saturday! Happy Easter to those who celebrate. I hope tomorrow is filled with family and special moments for everyone, whether you celebrate Easter or not.

Today brings us the letter M in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. 

As I continue to explore fairy tale characters and their modern messages...

M = Mulan

Is there a more inspirational Disney character than Mulan? She goes to war to save her aging father from having to and has to pose as a young boy to do so. There's so much we can still learn from her character today, so let's get started.

What can we learn from Mulan today?

Stand up for what you believe in. Always. For too long we've all looked the other way. Silence doesn't change anything. Action does. I need to take a lesson from this. Brought up by Southern parents, I was taught--especially as a girl--to be seen and not heard. No. If you feel passionately, do something. On the other hand, if you don't, don't blabber just to hear yourself speak.

Don't set any limits on yourself. If you want to do something, do whatever is necessary to do it. You are only limited by your own thoughts.

Don't be a bystander in your own life. Get out there. Try new things. Be brave.

What life lessons did you learn from Mulan?

***

As promised, I will highlight each of the ten seasons of War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales. Season 4 features Mulan--which I'm so excited about. I wrote this one with Jo Michaels. Mulan must face a creature that had been a friend before. 

And the cover...

For more information,

visit www.frayedfairytales.com

J = Jasmine #AtoZChallenge

Happy Hump Day.

I hope everyone is enjoying the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Today is brought to you by the letter J (LOL -- I felt like I was on Sesame Street for a second.)

In continuing with my theme of how fairy tales are relevant today...

J = Jasmine

Aladdin is one of my all-time favorite Disney movies and mainly because I loved the character of Jasmine. Sassy and outside the typical Disney beauty profile. 

What can we learn from Jasmine today?

Stand up for what you believe in. The Sultan wanted to marry his daughter off and had tradition to back him up. But that was not what Jasmine wanted. And she stood up to him. We have to stay in touch with what really matters and be strong in our efforts to protect those things.

And in the same vein... don't settle. She wanted love, not just a prince. And she fought for it. Don't settle because something gets too hard. 

What did you learn from Jasmine?

***

Jasmine is another princess we explore in War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales, this one written by Kelly Risser and NL Greene. In Season 8, you'll find out more about what happened to Jasmine after the tale you all know and love as she faces a new terror.

For more information, 

visit www.frayedfairytales.com.

H = Hansel & Gretel #AtoZChallenge

Happy Monday!

I'm just back from Roanoke Author Invasion. It was amazing. I will do a detailed post with pictures later.

But now it's back to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge and my theme of fairy tales and what we can learn from them today.

For today, I chose Hansel and Gretel. It's one of the first fairy tales I remember from my childhood. It's a typical one to share with kids for the whole concept the don't-take-candy-from-strangers idea.

H = Hansel & Gretel

What would a post be for Hansel without Gretel. And I didn't remember just how dark this tale is. When I looked it up to refresh my memory, I saw that the mother sent Hansel and Gretel out into the forest to die. Eep. And the witch was obviously a cannibal. You know... typical childhood tale. LOL.

What can Hansel & Gretel teach us today?

If something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. Very few of my blessings in life have been easy. Someone who is offering you an amazing deal for little cost from you is probably a cheat. Never be blinded by big promises. Do your research and know that the best things in life take work. Hard work and dedication. 

And of course... Don't Trust Strangers. We tell our children this all the time, but it's a great lesson for adults as well. We should always keep an open mind to new friendships and be kind to strangers, but there's kindness and then there's handing over your life savings to someone you don't know. Know what I mean?

Never give up hope and always fight to find a way. Hope is sometimes the only thing we have in our darkest moments, but try to find a way to bolster it... keep going. 

Do you remember how dark the story of Hansel and Gretel is?

***

Throughout this month, I will be featuring an appropriate Season of the upcoming serial series, War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales. Today, I am highlighting Season 3, which tells the tale of Hansel and Gretel a few years later as they face something even more terrifying. This one is written by NL Greene and Jo Michaels.

And the cover...

For more information, visit

www.frayedfairytales.com

G = Gothel #AtoZChallenge

Happy Saturday. I am in Roanoke, Virginia today for the Roanoke Author Invasion. I'll post about it when I get home, but I always love interacting with readers, fans, and fellow authors. If you are in the area, come by and see us at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood in Roanoke. It's FREE for readers.

But back to the Blogging with A to Z Challenge. My theme: Modern day lessons from fairy tales.

For today's edition, I had to include a villain I found thoroughly entertaining... Mother Gothel from Rapunzel (or Tangled, if we are going with Disney).

G = Gothel

I will admit something here publicly for the first time... I have sung "Mother Knows Best" from Tangled to my kids on multiple occasions and with as much drama and flair as I could muster. 

What can we learn from Mother Gothel today?

Okay, lessons from villains. It's possible. I love how Maleficent had us seeing a whole other side to her character, one that made us (or at least me) much more sympathetic to her actions.

As a mother myself, I can say I learned that sheltering your kids (locking them away) will not make them happy or keep them out of harm's way. Mother Gothel's intentions might not have been pure, but it's still a very valuable lesson. Part of our job as parents is to prepare our children for the adult world. And the adult world hurts sometimes. Sheltering them too much when they are little only makes it more difficult when they ultimately face real life.

Another valuable lesson, and a line straight from "Mother Knows Best"... Skip the drama. Having three girls, I have taught them to avoid drama as much as possible. Never add to it or stir it in any way. Usually, this just makes it come right back at you like a boomerang. Sometimes avoidance really is the best answer. The ability to see drama and circumvent it is a true gift.

And let's be honest, a huge lesson for parents... Forbidden items are sometimes more appealing. The more we fight the little things (blue hair, multiple piercings), the more our kids will push. It's better to provide information and love them than to go around dictating. 

What did you learn from Mother Gothel or Rapunzel/Tangled in general? Did you like the Disney spin on the classic fairy tale?

***

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I will have a serial series (along with Kelly Risser, Nichole Greene, and Jo Michaels)--War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales--coming out starting 4/24/17. Each Season will feature a different princess/fairy tale character who faces life beyond her fairy tale... and comes up against a paranormal creature. Throughout this month, I'll feature each season through a character. 

Today, I want to show you the cover for Season 3, which features Rapunzel.

Don't you love it? Jo Michaels did an amazing job with these covers/shoes, which are all original artwork.

For more information,

check out www.frayedfairytales.com

C = Cinderella #AtoZChallenge

Welcome to everyone following this month's theme and checking out the Blogging from A to Z Challenge posts. If you'd like to find more posts, check out the website or Facebook page.

My theme this month is Fairy Tales, and more specifically what they can teach us today. My love of fairy tales and the upcoming War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales serial series inspired me to dive deeper.

For today...

C = Cinderella

My middle daughter became fascinated with Disney's Cinderella from a very young age, and we loved the live-action version released a few years ago. On the surface, some princess fairy tales seem shallow and outdated.

But underneath, there are some very important lessons.

So...

What can we learn from Cinderella today?

To begin, one of my favorite Disney ballads comes from Cinderella. Check out the first few words...

A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep

Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling thru
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
The dream that you wish will come true

(from MetroLyrics)

I'm a big believer in dreaming, in believing you can do more, be more. And something about this song revs me up to be a dreamer again. And in this day and age where we know so much--thanks, technology--we could all use a little more dreaming and believing.

Then, of course, we learn from Cinderella to see the positive and make the best of any situation. Too often in this information-savvy world, negativity reigns. Positivity takes focus. It doesn't mean you accept a situation--after all, Cinderella fought to go the ball--but some situations can't be avoided, and we should make the best of them. Life is too short after all.

Finally, Cinderella reminds us to trust our heart and fight for where it leads us. Cinderella could have given up so many times, especially in her circumstances, but she didn't. 

What struck you most about Cinderella (Disney, original tale, or live-action movie)?

***

Throughout the month, I will occasionally feature a princess from War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales, a serial series debuting 4/24/17 with Season 1: Episode 1. A new episode will debut every other day through ten seasons--each featuring a different princess, three episodes per season. 

In Season 5, you find out what happened to Cinderella after the ball. Oh, and did I mention each fairy tale character/princess faces a paranormal invader. The cover...

For more information, check out our website:

www.frayedfairytales.com

A to Z Challenge : Fairy Tales

It's been a couple of years since I took on the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. But I'm so excited about my upcoming serial series with the Ferocious Five, War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales, that I felt inspired. 

So my theme is:

What Fairy Tale Characters Teach Us About Life?

Each day I'll feature a fairytale character, both known and ones from our upcoming series, and what they teach us about life today.

I hope you'll join me starting April 1st. 

To help me prepare, comment below with your favorite fairytale character.

War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales Cover Reveals

I feel so honored to be part of an awesome group of authors, the Ferocious 5, and we've been busy creating something new and amazing for your reading pleasure! The time has come to reveal all the things. Strap in and prepare yourself for something awesome.

As you can see from the banner above, the title is:

War and Pieces - Frayed Fairy Tales

It's a serial series, and there are ten seasons, so there are several covers to see. Stay with it!

Here's the blurb:

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there were zombies…

That’s how it all started. Authors have created a major problem with stories like Cinder, The Dark Queen, and Asleep, and it’s wreaking havoc here in Ever After. Our queens are fighting for their lives.

Rather like Mother Nature, keeper of the fine balance that’s life in your world, tales that begin with “Once upon a time” were never meant to be messed with.

Now, Ariel is underwater with all the defenses she’s been launching, Aurora hasn’t slept in weeks, and Rapunzel is tangled in… Well, I can’t even begin to tell you.

Rather than try, I’ll let you see for yourself. You and I will talk again afterward—if I survive long enough. So, as our fateful story begins:

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…

Book trailer!

Now, a coloring book.

Buy it here for just $7.99!

From the publication of the War and Pieces coloring book until April 14, 2017, color as many shoe pages as you like (name pages won’t count, nor will the design your own royal shoe), scan or photograph them, and post them on Instagram, Twitter, and/or Pinterest. Be sure to tag your posts with:

#Frayed5 and #F5PinToWin

Each social media instance will count as one entry.

The Ferocious Five will review all entries and pick our three favorites for each cover.

On April 22, 2017, we’ll announce the finalists and share your images with the public.

From April 24, 2017 – April 30, 2017, the public will vote via social media likes and shares and select the winner for each cover.

Winners will be contacted by social media and will have one week to respond with their mailing address. If you don’t answer, the prize will go to the second place winner, and so on. Please add SevenAuthors@yahoo.com to your approved sender list.

Winners will receive a 5.5”x8.5” print of the book cover for their winning season, signed by all the F5 authors, permanent display of their artwork on frayedfairytales.com, and an exclusive War and Pieces swag pack.

Open internationally!

 
Be sure and join the Federation of the Ferocious 5 on Facebook for access to the release day event and other goodies no one else will get!

Now it's time to show you the covers for the Frayed Fairy Tales books. Release of Season 1: Episode 1 will be April 24, 2017, but you can pre-order it here now. Episodes will release every two days with three episodes in each season.

 

Which is your favorite?