How many times?

Can the same story be told?




One of the recent trends especially in YA is the re-telling of fairy tales. Think about how many times you have heard the Cinderella story in any media form. Ella Enchanted? The Goose Girl? It seems that those moral teaching tales written by Hanz Christian Anderson or the brothers Grimm etc. resonate with people of all ages.








Why is that? It makes me wonder. I guess it's the same reason we have a plethora of vampire stories and everyone is unique and has it's own fan following.





My favorite origonal and re-told story is "The Little Mermaid". I especially love the Disney version of it. Disney has done such a good job at adapting stories. Each story having a great concempt theme and plot. Who else would have thought about taking the little known (at least in America) story of a girl dressing up as a man and saving China. (My good friend from Malaysia, has been told that story from when she was little.)




So the other day as I was finishing my MG book I had this really cool idea for this amazing story. It came to me with such clarity and a complete plot it struck me silent for a moment as the story unfolded in my head. Like a flower blooms. So as I paused from finishing my MG and pleaded for this book to take it's time so the MG wasn't over run, I wrote the details down and saved them in their own document.





Well this morning after helping my hubby get off to his extremely early job, I had a scene that come to me about this new book. The scene was so good and the idea so cool I couldn't go back to sleep, so I went to my computer and wrote the ideas down so they were safe.




I sent the idea to my BFF writing friend and she came back saying "This sounds like. . ." one of the re-told fairy tales. She's right, in many ways it is a re-telling of the MC's character arc.








While some people think I might be disapointed I am not. I am excited to have the link to relate to. something to tell an agent "Like the modern re-telling of ______ this story follows . . . " Who wouldn't like that?








What is your favorite re-telling? Either book TV or Movie.

The Last Archangel by Michael Young

While I write technical suspense, I love paranormal. I was given an advance copy of "The Last Archangel" last month. It comes out July 14.

The story is about Xander an angel who is punished for his sins by being made the destroying angel until the end of time. We begin the story as Xander is given a hard to refuse offer. To hasten the end of the world so his punishment ends.

Armed with his double blades and a cupid he's supposed to be training, the adventure begins.

I loved the premise of the book. Things like demons and angels are my type of reading. The main character Xander was easily likeable and the dialogue was well written. I found the female character a little flat but don't let that disuade you from seeing where Xander's adventure leads.









You can find more about Michael here.

And buy a copy of the book here.

When reviewing a book I am occasionally given a free electronic or hard bound copy of the manuscript. These free copies never influence my opinion of the book. Often times I will like a book enough to just post something about it whether I bought it, borrowed it from a friend or the library.

Worlds within worlds

I'm a huge fan of Parallel novels. I love reading a series of books that are all interrelated by worlds or characters or both. Probably why I also love writing novels that are interconnected.

I had this really cool idea, (still is cool) that involved a planet and some deadly storms. As I pondered this story I realized that this planet was the same as the one in "The Guardian War" stories. Only this story happened a long time before TGW. It felt right as I contemplated the universe at that point in time.

I also have an Urban Fantasy world and the latest story idea I had fits all nice and snug in that realm. As my story develops I am discovering all sorts of paranormal nasties to have fun with.

Some might think that parallel novels is cheating. Not having to build another world and not creating new characters. I totally agree, I am cheating, but I love the worlds I have created, why not take advantage of that? Why not use that rich and developed world where the reader gets to experience more because you're familiar with it?

What's your opinion? Do you like parellel works? What are your favorites?

Having direction in writing

Often times begining writers write alot of stories in alot of genres before settling on one that they feel is right for them. While it may not be my favorite exercise, the creative writing assignment that forces you to think outside of your genre box is good for you as a writer. You might find that you write one style really well inspite of your preconcieved notions.

My first love as a young reader was Science Fiction. That was what I chose to write as a teen. Well 20 something years later I write technical suspense not sci/fi like I thought I would be writing. I don't write the science well but I have found I am good at character based thriller plotting style. And, even if I can't write a full on romance, I have romantic themes in my stories.

Funny story, my friend and I were talking and she had assumed that I wrote romance until I was telling her what "my assassin" had done in the most recent chapter.

Well, 7 years into writing seriously I have not only found a genre I love, Tech Suspense, (add a little Urban Fantasy here or there) but I have found a "theme" in my writing. As my logline says I write about "bad boys (or girls) that go good". My characters go through events in the MS that change them and their lives. I like the process of deconstruction I take them through to get them to a better place.

As of now I have 5 serious ideas or rough drafts about some bad boy or another and what happens to then as they change to being good. Granted, two of those ideas have a paranormal urban fantasy leaning, and I have a YA that while the character isn't a bad boy, he goes from being an immature teen to a responsible young adult. Obviously I have a pattern that works for me.

It's a nice feeling.

I have 100 follwers!!!!

Whoohoo! I have 100 followers!!!! I'm so excited.

Congratulations to Shawna Carroll who was my 100th follower and chose Black Berry Crumble by Josi Kilpack.

And Renae MAckey who won the general random drawing and will get Beautiful Creatures by KAmi Garcia ans Margret Sthol.

That was alot of fun I'll have to do it again.

Life, a broken arm and three days without the internet.

I ONLY NEED FOUR MORE FOLLOWERS BEFORE I GIVE KEY LIME PIE BY JOSI KILPACK, AND BEAUTIFUL CREATURES BY STHOL AND GARCIA!!!!!!!


Yep, that is my life right now, not that its an excuse but I couldn't do anything I regularly do for three days. So yesterdy it was catch up on my sleep, my home, and my life. Sleep, we're doing better. House, there's a visible dent. Life well that is probably out of control most of the time anyway.

I digress tho. Sitting in the hospital with my laptop and no internet was a good thing. I pounded out my plot for a new book on Tuesday while waiting for our surgery time. I was able to go over and do some edits on my latest MG project I finished on last Friday. I also watched some hours of mind numing TV which is normally something I never do. Sometimes we all need to veg right?

I have had some really cool realizations lately and I know the direction I want to go in my writing. I have had some good interest in my Emergence manuscript and i'm giddy happy about that.

My birthday was a blast, I went to the Book Festival in SLC and got a pre release copy of Posession by Elana Jhonson. YAY! I also got a copy of Maze Runner by James Dashner signed for a promoting literacy project for my daughter. My son made a killing Sat, he walked away with five free books, that was awesome for him.

I promise to discuss the new/old direction I am going in my next post unless I have an apostrophy. LOL

Untill then, write like mad my friends. Dont forget to become a follower, I only need four more until I give away two free books.

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