I write modern day fairy tales. At least, that’s how I see it. Let’s think about fairy tales. Most fairy tales involve magical creatures of some sort (wolves that talked, fairy godmothers, trolls, dragons, witches, dwarves). My stories involve magical creatures, so check. Many fairy tales involve royalty. Mine sometimes involve royalty, but at the very least involve leaders. Check. Many fairy tales involve stories of rising above the situation. Check. Some involve love. Definitely check.
So yeah. I write modern day fairy tales.
I came to this realization when I was coming up with the blurb for Blue Violet because Ellie, my heroine, is a gypsy princess who wields great power and overcomes the bad guy because of love for her fated mate and for her family. So I themed the blurb around fairy tales. It starts, “When fairy tales turn into nightmares…”
When I was trying to figure out the tagline, I looked up quotes about fairy tales for inspiration. I thought I’d share some of my favorites.
“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”
― Neil Gaiman, Coraline
“I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.”
― Mae West
“When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.”
― Albert Einstein
“There was once a young man who wished to gain his Heart’s Desire.”
― Neil Gaiman, Stardust
“Once I learned, I went online and ordered every romance novel I could find. They’re fairy tales for grown-ups.”
― Gena Showalter, The Darkest Night
“In a utilitarian age, of all other times, it is a matter of grave importance that fairy tales should be respected.”
(Frauds on the Fairies, 1853)
― Charles Dickens, Works of Charles Dickens
“Classic fairy tales do not deny the existence of heartache and sorrow, but they do deny universal defeat.”
― Greenhaven
Such stories have now a mythical or total (unanalysable) effect, an effect quite independent of the findings of Comparative Folk-lore, and one which it cannot spoil or explain; they open a door on Other Time, and if we pass through, though only for a moment, we stand outside our own time, outside Time itself, maybe.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Tolkien on Fairy-stories
“Did I ever tell you the difference between a Northern fairy tale and a Southern one?” she asked him, indulging herself and letting her head rest on his shoulder. God, he felt good. Her man. Where her head was meant to lie, right there, on him.
“What’s the difference?”
“A Northern one starts ‘once upon a time,’ while a Southern one starts ‘y’all ain’t going to believe this shit.”
― Erin McCarthy, Hot Finish
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