Category Archives: Fairy Tale Spin-offs

October 18, 2016 · 7:56 AM

So, do you let your daughter watch Disney princess movies?

The original Sleeping Beauty tale, entitled “Sun, Moon, and Talia” by Giambattista Basile (1634), could just as easily have been called “Date rape in the 17th century”

When I decided to write a series of books that challenged the way we look at fairy tale princesses, I suspected I might one day have to explain myself to my children. Of course, when I first came up with the idea for Desperately Ever After, I was still a kid myself—a high school sophomore, learning about love for the first time and flirting with disaster.

Fast-forward eighteen (yikes!!!) years, and I have a spirited little girl who has fallen in love with Disney movies and the beautiful, charming women who claim the title roles.

In truth, I didn’t initially think of this series as being anti-Disney—and I’m still not sure I do. Rather, I think of it as a continuation of the familiar stories (none of which originated with Disney, by the way) told for a generation that was raised on The Little Mermaid, entered adulthood watching Sex and the City, and envisioned the future while gobbling up Desperate Housewives.

But then someone asked me whether or not I was going to let my daughter watch the Disney princess movies. You know … considering my books and all.

I have to say, it caught me off guard. Why wouldn’t I let her watch them? Continue reading →

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Filed under Fairy Tale Spin-offs, Home & Family

July 28, 2014 · 11:39 AM

Disney Couples Therapy

Infidelity. Secrets. Problems with the in-laws. A sex life on the rocks. Oh, and fairy tales. Sound familiar?

Yes, this description fully applies to Desperately Ever After. But it’s also the premise of a series of short videos called Disney Couples Therapy.

The three-minute clips show Disney’s versions of Sleeping Beauty, Belle, the Little Mermaid, and Snow White hashing it out with their romantic counterparts well down the road. They are downright hopeless compared to Desperately Ever After, and show only the couples (no girl talk here!), but fans of the book series may find them clever and definitely worth a laugh.

It’s perfect timing too, because Damsels in Distress (D.E.A. book #2) actually has a marriage counseling scene between Sleeping Beauty and her husband. Look for that August 20. But in the meantime, exercise your funny bone for a few minutes and enjoy these clips:

Continue reading →

Fun for Friday: Fairy tale cocktails

While I still can’t partake for another few months (sigh), I simply HAD to share this fantastic post from Fairy Tale News.

Inspired by Disney heroes, heroines, and villains, Washington-based Cocktails by Cody has been creating a line of “Fairy Tale Cocktails” that, I think, look absolutely AMAZING. Instead of a handsome prince, I’ll probably be dreaming of the Evil Step Mother tonight. Chocolate vodka, chocolate liqueur, and pomegranate juice. ::Flutter::

Click on the link above for the full article and links to Cocktails by Cody’s Facebook page.

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Filed under Distractions, Fairy Tale Spin-offs

April 7, 2014 · 7:49 PM

InD’tale Magazine helps me explore the dirty side of fairy tales

The following article was published in the wonderful (and free!) InD’tale Magazine, “serving self and small published with a romantic flair.” To read more and sign up for a digital subscription (Did I mention it’s free?), visit www.indtale.com.

When you think of “clean reads,” do you immediately picture a handsome knight rescuing a gorgeous damsel, placing her gracefully atop his snowy white steed, and trotting off to their standing-room-only wedding by the sea? Do you think of fairy tales in which good conquers all, true love never dies, and beauty (even if disguised at first) is the ultimate sign of virtue?

If so, you might be in for a rude awakening (though not nearly as rude as the first Sleeping Beauty’s, as you’ll soon find out). That’s because many of the wholesome, Disneyfied fairy tales we know and love are actually hiding much darker pasts—pasts filled with sex, violence, and terrifyingly inventive ways to kill people. Put it this way: if your kids read the original tales before bedtime, you’ll be calming their screams until morning!

I stumbled upon these grisly origins while doing research for Desperately Ever After, which takes our most beloved fairy tale characters and imagines what happened to them when the wedding bells stopped ringing. From Hans Christian Andersen to the Brothers Grimm, consider these the skeletons buried deep in the back of Walt Disney’s closet.

Fair warning: you may experience loss of innocence. Continue reading →

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Filed under Desperately Ever After, Fairy Tale Spin-offs, Journalism

March 31, 2014 · 5:18 PM

Check out Swide.com’s 2014 fairy tale movie guide!

Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Hermione Granger in Beauty and the Beast, Kenneth Branagh’s take on Cinderella, and –gasp– a sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman. (Why, Chris Helmsworth? Why?!) It doesn’t seem like Hollywood plans to abandon the fairy tale trend anytime soon, which makes this newbie twisted-fairy-tale-series author quite happy. (hint, hint…)

But in all seriousness, Swide.com has put together a great movie guide for the fairy tale lovers out there, complete with trailers, gossip, and a whopping dose of heartthrob pics. Check it out here and then come back to say which film you can’t wait to see 😉

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Filed under Fairy Tale Spin-offs, Hollywood

January 17, 2014 · 9:20 AM

The Grimm Report: Snow White leaves seven dwarves on short notice

The Grimm Report is always a fantastic source of amusement–especially if you’re in the fairy tale mindset. This is a fantastic little piece by Allison Christie re-imagining what it was REALLY like for Snow White to live with seven quirky men with dubious manners.

The Grimm Report

A Special Report By Grimm Report Chief Girl Power Correspondent,
Allison Christie
allisonsarah16.blogspot.co.uk | @allisonsarah16

Snow White has abruptly left her seven roommates, having grown exhausted of her living arrangement. Ms. White explains, “I was sat enjoying my first champagne breakfast of the new year when the parlour door flew open and in stomped Grumpy. ‘Ha make me a full English,’ he snapped without even a smile. I stared after him in disbelief but after countless hours of domestic slavery, I found myself rising to my feet and heading towards the kitchen, almost as if I was brainwashed.”

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November 29, 2013 · 7:00 AM

“Once in a Lifetime” opportunity

On this glorious post-Turkey Day morning, chances are you’re doing one of three things:

1 – Sprinting through the aisles at Target for the last iPad Air, shouting “Survival of the fittest!” as you snatch a pink leopard print Smart Case from a little girl because, well, your niece would just adore it and you have years of unwanted scarves to make up for.

2 – Sweating off those five glasses of pinot noir, late-night whiskey tasting, and/or and ill-conceived attempt to leave not one single dessert untasted. (After all, Aunt Mildred and Gamma Dot slaved over that hot stove for hours. It’s the least you could have done…)

3 – Diving into a good book, sporadically glancing at your smartphone (just in case those shoes you really wanted go on sale), catching up with family, and generally enjoying the fact that it’s a long weekend and it’s now officially okay to listen to Christmas music. Continue reading →

Free Book: The Onion meets the Brothers Grimm

If you have a nose for satire, are reading this blog, and like getting free stuff… chances are you’ll love the new free e-book just unleashed by the folks over at The Grimm Report.

Our Brothers Grimmest (think The Onion set in Far Far Away), is a great way to catch up on all the hilarious stories The Grimm Report has been putting out since last November. Written in mock-tabloid fashion, articles include Snow White’s unfortunate encounter with too many appletinis, the Magic Mirror’s new job judging “The Voice,” Rumplestiltskin’s legal name change, and a collection of “Dear Crabby” letters between a snarky self-help guru and maladjusted fairy tale characters. Continue reading →