Cover Reveal: FIVE POISONED APPLES

Hi, my lovely friends! It's time for the annual Rooglewood Press fairy tale retelling writing contest!

I've participated in two of these contests, Cinderella retelling and The Beauty and the Beast retelling, and had such fun with both! Dreaming up a fairy tale short story (up to 20,000 words) is a fantastic writing adventure. My Cinderella novella, you may have read. It's called A DREAM NOT IMAGINED. *winks* I didn't end up winning the contest, but published it myself later.

Anyway, the official rules are HERE. You may start writing TODAY. *grins*

Oh, you need to know which fairy tale we're retelling in order to start writing, right?

Well, behold the cover ... (scroll down)

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The Final Fairy Tale Contest

Rooglewood Press invites you to join the adventure of the Five Poisoned Apples creative writing contest!

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.

Eeee! Look at that beauty! *all the heart eyes* And who is excited about this being a Snow White retelling? I'm quite enthralled, myself. In fact, I'm tempted to put my pen to paper right now, despite the fact that I wasn't planning to enter this contest.

But this is the final contest. So who knows ...

Anyway, just to make you even more excited about this contest, here are all the whimsically amazing covers together:

A note from Anne Elisabeth Stengl:

The cover model/photographer [for Five Poisoned Apples] is WYNTER CLARK. If you'd like the link to her photography website, here it is.

And, as always, our gorgeous cover design was done by the amazing JULIA POPOVA, whose website is here.

Book Review: Five Enchanted Roses

Purchase HERE

Title: Five Enchanted Roses: A Collection of Beauty and the Beast stories

Author: Kaycee Browning; Savannah Jezowski; Jenelle Schmidt; Dorian Tsukioka; & Hayden Wand

Series: Rooglewood Press Fairy Tale Collections #2

Genre: Fairy Tale Retelling/Fantasy/Historical

Audience: Young Adult

~ MY REVIEW ~

**4 stars**

Five Enchanted Roses is an interesting collection of five different retelling of The Beauty and the Beast, by five different authors. For the most part, it’s a memorable and enjoyable collection. But, unlike the first book, Five Glass Slippers, this collection seems to follow a theme (not as much variety perhaps?), with dark-ish and quite magic-filled stories ...

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ESPRIT DE LA ROSE by Kaycee Browning. A young woman is upon her father’s pirate ship only long enough to get to London. However, she doesn’t quite conclude the trip before meeting up with some strange creatures and finding an even stranger world or sorts. Is there hope for saving herself and the dark souls around her? Or is all lost because of the stealing of a mirror?

It isn’t where you usually expect to find yourself when starting a fairytale—on a pirate’s ship, that is. But it was an interesting and fun take on the classic tale of The Beauty and the Beast anyway! Though there were some slight creepiness/gross elements, it wasn’t an amount that would make me really dislike the story. There was also some magic, but I thought that was pretty tastefully done as well. There was an underlying allegory in Esprit De La Rose that I found to be intriguing and rather profound. The lessons learned were thoughtful and had depth. I really liked how Cecilia stood up and fought for goodness, nearing the end of the book.

My biggest complaint, actually, would be a short conversation between the main character and another character that felt irreverent to God. And that was never resolved. So I was just a bit disappointed that the characters would talk like that ... I would have like to see more spiritual growth! But who knows ... maybe there will be a sequel? It certainly could have a sequel to show us more of what happens after the story ends! *wink*

The beast’s dry humor kept me laughing! *grins* He was an interesting character for sure. The mysteriousness/suspense part kept you wondering and waiting. There wasn’t much for romance, but that’s totally alright! It worked out in a sweet and poignant way. Curly! I just want to hug him! I liked Cecilia too—she was a very nice “Beauty” character! So yes. I enjoyed this story! The epilogue was especially fun and lovely. I would just like to read more!!

*

WITHER by Savannah Jezowski. An abbey looms in the distance; and all sorts of foul stories of ghosts and a beast within its walls are whispered about in the village. When Lilybet’s father has a run-in with “the beast”, she makes a rash decision. But all is not as it seems. Will Lilybet come to realize that before it’s too late?

To be honest, I didn’t expect to like this story. Wraiths and ghouls—demons of the Netherworld—really not my thing. However, I was in for rather a surprise. Wither was written superbly. It had a fantastic twist on the classic relationship. Speaking of the relationship, I just ended up adoring how it came about. And the thoughts on love. This story had a poignancy and profoundness to it that I really liked. It also had an allegory, and spoke of the Ever Father and whatnot.

My complaints? Yes, it still had the ghouls, wraiths, and whatever else. Some descriptions were rather ghastly. It wasn’t really a story where you shiver in terror, but it still had the slight gruesomeness/element of darkness. Some of the themes reminded me of Frank Peretti’s children/YA books, which I’m not at all fond of. Trying to keep demons contained to the Underworld ... just yeah. Seems weird.

But as I implied above, that doesn’t really consume the story. It focuses a lot on the relationship between “Beauty” and “the Beast”, and I found myself quite interested and thoroughly enjoying it. There was also an element of magic in this tale ... some of it I felt was rather weird; but for the most part, it was done in an okay way, I thought. And again, I want to read more! These novellas definitely need sequels, *grins* And that’s not meant in a bad way.

So yes, this was really a lovely tale. If you can get over the dark twist, it’s quite intriguing.

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STONE CURSE by Jenelle Schmidt. A former lady-in-waiting helps a couple servants look over the castle of Thorndale ... where stone statues litter the throne room, and the prince roams about as a beast. Armed with a rose, Karyna seems to be the only one who understands the unpredictable, cursed prince. Will someone ever be able to find the enchantress and break the curse?

This was an intriguing storyline, and I liked that it centered on a lady-in-waiting. Karyna and Prince Barend were both likable characters, and I enjoyed their story. When I reflect back on reading it, it just leaves me with a pleasant feeling. It had a few surprising twists and turns, and a very sweet and wonderful ending.

One thing that made the story less likable for me, is how it started sort of in the middle of things. I guess I would have liked to see some more backstory. But that’s just personal preference I’m sure! *smiles*

Stone Curse felt a little slower than the other stories perhaps, but it was still a good and enjoyable tale all in all. Not quite as much magic as the majority, maybe. It had a dark theme, but a very happy, satisfactory ending!

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ROSARA AND THE JUNGLE KING by Dorian Tsukioka. Born amongst a rather brutal jungle tribe, where woman are taken as wives forcibly, Rosara long to escape. Especially since the man seeking to take her as his wife already has two wives and is noticeably challenging her father’s position as chief. Rosara meets a peculiar jaguar, and learns of a mystical answer to her problems ... but is it a solution she will regret?

Though I feel this story was well-written, and it did keep your interest; it was my least favorite of the collection. The brutality/violence was a little much for me! And I just didn’t feel comfortable with the jungle spirits and even the whole jaguar thing. It felt somewhat like a fairytale, and then a lot like jungle tribes’ myths and magical legends or something like that.

Maybe you would like this tale. It has romance, action, and danger. But it just wasn’t for me.

*

THE WULVER’S ROSE by Hayden Wand. When misfortune strikes, a well-off family is forced to move to a humble cottage of Scotland. The youngest daughter, Bonnie, struggles with guilt and with the eerie mystery of a little girl crying out for help in her dreams. When a wulver demands a payment, who will deliver? And will Bonnie be able to save the ones who need her?

I quite enjoyed this tale! I was intrigued by the epilogue, and then fell into Bonnie’s story, feeling her pain and guilt! I liked the Scottish setting, the market day scene, the cottage, and all that. I feel the magic/fairytale element of The Wulver’s Rose as really well done! It was done in a way that I was pretty much completely comfortable with—and I loved the “light-is-stronger-than-darkness” theme, and how calling of the name of the Lord pushed away strong evil. All in all, it was a touching, sweet, and enchanting tale. I enjoyed both Bonnie and the Wulver. And Bonnie’s family was quite sweet as well!

I don’t really have any complaints for this tale! It was endearing and unique, yet still held lots of traces of the original The Beauty and the Beast story.

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So yes. If you’re a fan a fairytales, you might want to give this collection a try! *smiles* But do beware if you’re sensitive or don’t like magic. As I mentioned at the beginning of the review, all the stories seemed to have a pretty strong element of eeriness/darkness/magic. Some I was okay with, while others left me feeling a little leery.

But Five Enchanted Roses did have some lovely stories! Exciting retellings of The Beauty and the Beast!

Looking forward to seeing what the next collection of fairytales is like! ^_^

I received a copy of Five Enchanted Roses from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Cover Reveal: Five Magic Spindles (Fairytale Writing Contest)

     I am so, so excited today to help announce the next fairytale retelling writing contest that author Anne Elisabeth Stengl is hosting!! EEP!! Take a look at the gorgeous cover!!! <3

Rooglewood Press is delighted to introduce their third fairy tale novella contest—

Five Magic Spindles

a collection of “Sleeping Beauty” stories

The challenge is to write a retelling of the beloved fairy tale in any genre or setting you like. Make certain your story is recognizably “Sleeping Beauty,” but have fun with it as well. Make it yours!

Rooglewood Press will be selecting five winners to be published in the Five Magic Spindles collection, which will be packaged up with the phenomenal cover you see here. Maybe your name will be one of the five listed?

All the contest rules and information (how to enter, story details, deadline etc.) may be found on the Rooglewood Press website. Just click HERE and you will go right to the page.

Rooglewood Press’s first collection,Five Glass Slippers is available for purchase, and our second collection, FiveEnchanted Roses is scheduled to launch on July 27, and is currently available for pre-order. Be certain to get a copy of each and see what previous winners did with their wonderful retellings.

Cover Illustrator:

This cover illustration was rendered by Julia Popova, “ForestGirl.” You can find out more about this gifted artist on her website: www.forestgirl.ru

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     Did you hear that, guys?? Five Magic Spindles... retellings of Sleeping Beauty!! Eek!! So super excited!! :D My mind is spinning with ideas of what kind of interesting retelling I could come up with, ^__^

     If you are a writer, do join this contest!! It's always such fun . . . and in the end, even if you don't win, you're still helping fellow writers get their stories out there! :) It's a great experience all in all . . . and who knows, your story might get picked!

     Oh my, I just feel so fluttery happy right now, ;D Fairytales are the best! Even if I don't end up participating, I so can't wait to read five more Sleeping Beauty retellings come Summer 2016!

     Also, if you want to share about this exciting contest, do share this blog button and link on your own blog! :)

http://www.rooglewoodpress.com/#!writing-contest/c22i6

     Tell your family, friends, and fellow writers!! This is news not to be missed!! ;D :)

     Sleeping Beauty! *Squeals*

A Dash of Randomness

     So the first month of the new year has gone by. Already. Wow. No wonder I’m one book behind schedule on my book-reading challenge on goodreads. Time flies, :p

     Some of you perhaps read my post about Garbanzo Bean Fudge, and noticed my Health Food and Fashion tabs. I do fully intend to get some more yummy, healthy recipes on here! But it just turned out that my family came down with a nasty flu right after my great inspiration for health, and so I haven’t been baking much lately. However, that should all change soon here, :) :D So be on the look-out for healthy cheesecake, sugar-free chocolate chip cookies, Greek-yogurt, flourless pancakes, and things like that!! :)

     As for Fashion, well yeah, I’ve been meaning to get that started too. Probably I’ll just be sharing little, modesty tips and some outfits I’ve put together, for the most part.

     Reading. I’m currently in the middle of Winter Queen by E. Kaiser Writes. And quite enjoying it, I must say. I also have bookmarks in Every Tear by Molly Evangeline (which is also a grand tale so far), and Thunder by Bonnie S. Calhoun (this one’s a bit confusing at the moment, but still good!). And I have a kindle full of exciting tales just WAITING to be read…!!

     ...To name just a few.

 

     ...And a fair amount of books on my bookshelf also waiting, expectantly. I’m a little overwhelmed, and try not to get caught in their accusing gazes, lol.

 

     Oh! And Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s Beauty and the Beast contest has come to an end! I didn’t make the top five, but I thought I’d share the results…

     I am really excited to read this new collection!! :) Although, by the story descriptions, I fear that some of them might be a bit spooky for my taste, haha, :p We’ll see. Anyway, coming out Summer 2015, so be on the lookout, fairytale-lovers!

 

     Writing. My novel, Silver Rose, is currently being edited by a wonderful blogger friend; and one of my dear friends is also doing a bit of editing work while she reads it. I am so, so grateful for their willingness to take on this project!! :)

     I started writing the sequel, and had a couple days of lovely inspiration, putting me at a word count of 10,642 words. Then I just, stopped. Writer’s block, you know. :/ But I shall start writing again!! Erm, hopefully. (Let’s not mention that I got distracted on a rather deep and personal retelling of Rapunzel, :p) Anyway, I’ll share a few pictures from pinterest that lend me inspiration for Diamond Dark:

 

DESPAIR...

 

...CLASHES WITH HOPE...

 

...AND BLACK BEASTS HAUNT THEM ALL...

 

 

...IS THE LIGHT MORE POWERFUL?

 

 

     And… one movie I’m looking forward to watching this year? Beyond the Mask. I can’t tell you how excited I am for this Christian, independently-made, Revolutionary War drama film… Eek!! Check out the trailer here. It’s going to be epic! :) :)



      Last, but of course not least(!), a verse that was especially poignant to me this fresh year of 2015: Ephesians 4:29-32

^29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. "

     Praying God’s blessings on you all, dear readers! May your readings and writings go well, and may we all grow ever closer to the King!

Book Review: Five Glass Slippers

Purchase HERE

Title: Five Glass Slippers: A Collection of Cinderella Stories

Author: Elisabeth Brown; Emma Clifton; Rachel Heffington; Stephanie Ricker; & Clara Diane Thompson

Series: Rooglewood Press Fairy Tale Collections #1

Genre: Fairy Tale Retelling/Historical/Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Audience: Young Adult

~ MY REVIEW ~

**5 stars**

Goodness, what a passel of incredible authors! I was surprised and delighted again and again by their imagination, cleverness, humor, thoughtfulness, and skill. These are definitely not Cinderella  retellings to be missed!

Five Glass Slippers is a collection of five stupendous retellings of the heartwarming fairytale of Cinderella, below is a synopsis and little review of each.

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WHAT EYES CAN SEE by Elisabeth Brown. The Prince falls for shy, secretive Arella, but she refuses to return his most ardent attentions. Prince Frederick won't give in, but neither will stubborn Arella. Meanwhile, stepsister Anastasia longs for a love of her own, and stepsister Drusilla calmly watches this all go on, even while holding secrets in her own heart.

An altogether adorable story ... a perfect Cinderella tale with a lovely twist. What Eyes Can See kept me guessing and wondering; and always smiling! It was so gentle and sweet, I believe it makes my favorite of the whole collection! The storyline was engrossing, the characters splendid. I love how Elisabeth Brown made them grow. A sweet, heart-warming story, but with a firm realness and thoughtful lessons. Delightful!

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BROKEN GLASS by Emma Clifton. Rosalind is not going to marry the crown prince; who cares if she fits the slipper! She is in love with his younger brother Henry! Marius is not too fond of her either. But add in shadowy, middle brother Darcy, an ill mother, and stubborn father ... and what's a young woman to do? Rosalind and Marius decide to take matters into their own hands ... which isn't always the greatest idea, they find.

This was definitely meant to be the humorous tale. I quite enjoyed it, despite Rosalind's occasional snootiness. *smiles* There was a rather unusual and fun array of characters, and their stories ... whether bewildering, sweet, or wicked ... drew me in. A witty, imaginative tale, it was fun to read! *smiles* I really liked how Emma Clifton tied another fairytale into the end of this Cinderella story ...

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THE WINDY SIDE OF CARE by Rachel Heffington. Lady Alisandra knows that she is heir to the throne. But as for how to go about proving who she really is ... she is rather at loss. With the help of a fellow maid and  a “fairy godfather”, she is just gaining ground when she meets a dashing young man, who unintentionally causes quite a bit of trouble. Will she ever get the throne? Or are some things more important?

I really liked The Windy Side of Care, with its snappy wit, sweet moments, and life lessons. Rachel Heffington proportioned things pretty nicely, and I suddenly find myself eager to read more of her work, namely Fly Away Home. This story was a little reckless, in a good way. *smiles* It made me smile humorously, sigh happily, and straighten in surprise. Rachel has a slightly different, but fun writing style. Though Alisandra tends to cause a lot of purposeful mischief, the story was quite sweet altogether. Mischievous but sweet, that's this tale!

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A CINDER'S TALE by Stephanie Ricker. Elsa is a cinder, mining the planet of Aschen. With her fellow miners, Bruno, Gus, and Jaq, plus a fay named Marriane, she does her daring space work, even while longing to go on adventures consisting of exploring more galaxies. Then a legendary ship arrives, along with the King of Stars, and Elsa's life is about to get more exciting than she ever thought!

Crazy, imaginative sci-fi isn't my usual pick of genre, but I have to admit, this tale caught me up and held me in for a wild ride! *smiles* Cinders, coaches, and pumpkin patches, clones, cyborgs, and fays, it was an interesting story to be sure. Elsa was really a sweet girl; I very much enjoyed her character. Also, all the “Cinderella themes” Stephanie Ricker wove throughout were charming. —Especially Gus and Jaq. *smiles A crazy, but touching and heartfelt story ultimately.

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THE MOON MASTER'S BALL by Clara Diane Thompson. In a quaint, little village, Tilly Higgins works faithfully for Lord Hollingberry. She never could have imagined all the magic swirling around, or that her benevolent employer would ask her to return to the place of her worst fears. But people need her help, a warden and even a little rodent. The time has come to face her nightmare ...

What a tale! This has to be the most thrilling story of the whole collection! Written flawlessly, The Moon Master's Ball kept me turning pages until I reached the end. Tilly was a lovely character; the suspense, the surprises, the spooky touch, kept me well entertained. Truly a delicious work, though it did have a darker theme. Unlike the previous stories of this collection, The Moon Master's Ball did have an evil villain. Evilness is definitely not my preference, but Clara Thompson did pretty well to keep it subdued to levels I'm okay with. Though not the usual sweet Cinderella tale, this story came about beautifully, and I just have to say ... it was superbly captivating.

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So there you have it, five, unique and wonderful Cinderella tales. Though there were some stories I didn't enjoy quite as much as others, I think Five Glass Slippers as a whole deserves five stars. Good job, ladies, for creating a memorable collection!

Five Glass Slipper Blog Tour: Rachel Heffington

 

    Here I am again as part of the Five Glass Slippers blog tour!! The Cinderella of the day today is author Rachel Heffington, with her story The Windy Side of Care.

 

Rachel Heffington is a Christian, a novelist, and a people-lover. Outside of the realm of words, Rachel enjoys the Arts, traveling, mucking about in the kitchen, listening for accents, and making people laugh. She dwells in rural Virginia with her boisterous family and her black cat, Cricket.

In February 2014, Rachel released her debut novel, Fly Away Home, and is excited to collaborate on Five Glass Slippers with her fellow authoresses. She hopes to release her second full-length novel and first mystery (Anon, Sir, Anon) in autumn 2014. For more on Rachel, her current projects, and writing in general, visit her on her blog: www.inkpenauthoress.blogspot.com.

 

 

Alisandra is determined to have her rights. She knows that she is the king’s secretly dispossessed daughter, the true heir to the throne. Prince Auguste is an imposter, and if she plays her cards right, Alis will prove it to the world! That is, if charming Auguste doesn’t succeed in winning her heart before she gets her chance . . .

 

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And we come to the interview...

 

Me: How did you come up with the title, ‘The Windy Side of Care’?

 

Rachel: When in doubt, quote Shakespeare. If you look under the decorative title of the first chapter of TWSOC, you will see a quotation from Much Ado About Nothing. That quote was the spring-board for my entire retelling. :)

 

Me: Shakespeare, sounds very neat! :)

 

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The Windy Side of Care sounds like a lovely story! I'm hoping to start reading it and all the other Cinderella retellings from Five Glass Slippers soon!! :)

 

ONE BELOVED STORY,  FIVE EXCITING WRITERS
A COLLECTION TO CHERISH

What happens when Cinderella is so painfully shy that she cannot bear the idea of attending the royal ball? Or when the slipper fits . . . but on the wrong girl? What happens when Cinderella is determined to oust an imposter prince from her rightful throne? Or when she is a cendrillon miner working from a space station orbiting a cthonian planet? What happens when Cinderella, a humble housemaid, is sent with a message for a prisoner trapped in a frightening fairy circus?

Here is Cinderella as you have never met her before, wearing glass slippers and off on unforgettable adventures!

Available now in paperback and Kindle formats!

 

So, if you haven't heard yet, there's some exciting sales and giveaways concerning Five Glass Slippers. Below are some details:

 

 

The Five Glass Slippers collection will be on sale for only $.99 in Kindle format for the duration of the blog tour (June 23-28)!

 

 

Here’s your chance to be Cinderella of the ball! One lucky winner will receive a paperback copy of Five Glass Slippers, several Cinderella-themed items (including a bookmark crafted by Belle on a Budget, a journal, and a DVD copy of the Disney movie), as well as special gifts handpicked by a few of the collection’s authors (a glass slipper cookie cutter with recipe, freeze-dried astronaut ice cream, and an Apple Tree Inn cup and saucer). This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only.

 

 

<a id="rc-15cee331" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/15cee331/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>

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So there's my post, :) I'm excited to meet all the rest of the authors in the next few days... but you'll have to find them on someone else's blog. Check out the blog tour schedule at http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/p/five-glass-slippers-blog-tour.html