Fairytales
My life is pretty boring at the moment, and I have to write a synopsis today, which is something that it is not possible to psych myself up for. I do not like writing them. Period. SO, as a diversion, today is totally random question day on ye olde blog.
What’s your favorite fairytale, and why?
I have a few that I love, of course. What kind of paranormal romance writer would I be if I didn’t inherently love fairytales? But my favorite would have to be the classic Beauty and the Beast, and in looking at my work, that’s a theme I return to again and again. You could probably say that I write Beauty and the Beast stories, a thing which has (lucky for me) endless variations. Of course, sometimes the heroine is both beauty and beast! That’s also fun. And my hero is always, in his way, a beast. I suppose I love this story because there’s a lot of raw passion in its undercurrents…the hero can barely contain his animal nature, and I will admit, I always sort of wished they’d gotten to it even before he managed to turn himself back into a prince. It’s a romantic, emotional story, and you have to figure that Beauty must be a pretty strong woman to deal with all of what comes her way. So, this one’s my favorite. Cinderella comes in second, but you know, her prince isn’t nearly as interesting:-)
So let’s hear it. Tell me your favorite fairytale, and help me not lose my mind while writing this stupid synopsis!
Not even fairy tales can make synopsis writing less of a chore. I feel your pain!
I always liked any fairy tale where the younger son’s name was Boots–which is to say, most of those I read as a child! LOL! What IS it about a guy named Boots? Just conjures up a guy with GREAT BIG BOOTS!!!! And we all know what shoe size is good for….
I like Beauty and the Beast a lot too. I saw a live theatre showing of it here at the community theatre and watching the man who played the Beast was inspiring. He really played the character well. I always wanted to be the type to find a character such as the Beast and see the real man underneath.
I like how Disney has turned certain fairytales and shown them well for children like Cinderella. Watching that movie always makes me think of magic. Although I have to tell you I don’t like Sleeping Beauty at all. I don’t like to think of a heroine having to wait for her prince to save her. Then again that would be like Snow White wouldn’t it? LOL. I went off on a ramble.
What about Mulan? Would that be fairy tale ish? I liked that a lot.
Well, The first name that came to mind was Sleeping Beauty. And now I think of it with a beauty, a witch, and a sexy vampire lover to wake her. And Puss and Boots. He’s a Shifter who’s really a very sexy Johnny Depp with very big Boots. And Snow White with her 7 Dwarfs to wait on her and take care of her every need. I’ve grown up. So my Fairytales have too. LOL!!!
Morning all! My first thought upon pondering your question was that I would pick Cinderella. I think it’s because I always identify with the underdog, so to speak, and I like that she always did the right thing and still came out on top. It’s a happy ending, and well, who doesn’t like a happy ending. I’m with Donna, though…I’m glad the fairytales I read today come with some spice!
Oddly, thinking about this reminded me of a show from years ago called Beauty and the Beast with Linda Hamilton and Ron Pearlman. Ron played a lion/man who had to live underground because of how he looked. Linda Hamilton played the woman who he loved and she loved him of course…anyone ever watch that? You were probably too young Kendra.
I LOVED that show so much, but sadly I can’t remember why he was like he was-part man with a lion face and I think it was cancelled before their relationship was ever, err, resolved.
Good luck with the synopsis Kendra.
LOL, Cheryl, WHY does this not surprise me?? And now I will never read another tale with a son named Boots without thinking of his shoe size!! I love it:-D
Hi Ana! Yes, that is definitely part of the story’s appeal…being the woman to find the man in the beast. And then, if you play your cards right, you get to have a bit of both! I’m a big fan of Disney movies, and I’ve always loved Cinderella. I’m not personally big on Sleeping Beauty either, though I do get a kick out of the faeries in the movie, and Maleficent is one badass villain! Snow White is waaaayyyyy too goody-goody for me. And that voice…argh. Mulan, I love, and I’d certainly call that a fairytale! I’m a fan of anything where the heroine saves everyone!
Hi Donna! Okay, if there was a vampire in Sleeping Beauty, I would love it. That one and Beauty and the Beast probably have the most, umm, erotic potential out of the bunch, I think. Then again, I would LOVE to see Puss in Boots done that way! Man, I love the way you think, Donna:-)
Hi Lisa! LOL, I think we posted at the same time, there. My mom used to watch that show, actually, but I was too young to be very interested. I think you’re right about their relationship never really being resolved (just like Moonlight, damn it), and I don’t remember why he was like that either. Hmm. That’s definitely a sort of cult classic, though! I know a ton of people loved it. I agree on Cinderella…I will NEVER stop enjoying the comeuppance of her wretched family! Plus, she had a great dress. Also, hooray for spicy fairytales!!
I have to confess, I really don’t care for classic fairytales, never have. My great grandmother used to have a really old book, like from the 1800′s that was full of ‘enchantment stories’ about the Fae people and pixies living in the forests etc. They were often grim and dark, but oh so fascinating – sort of like Stephen King telling a bedtime story! LOL Creepy, scary but still engaging and enchanting like the book said. I never got tired of those old stories and for most of my childhood I was convinced the Fae people lived in every forest but were simply hiding from humans.
Those old Fae stories spoiled me for the Disney stuff (not a Disney fan sorry).
MsM
PS The NEW Project Runway (back in New York) starts tonight!! Can’t wait!!
OK Lisa you are telling our ages…bad girl…I saw Beauty and the Beast on TV with Hamilton and Pearlman. Loved it, loved it so much I named my son after one of the characters that made a brief appearance. Devon was Fathers son. I liked the name, so, the rest, as they say is history.
As far as Fairy Tales…I’m with MsM, I’m not a fan. You all know all the classics, but I remember one from a book I had as a kid. I young mermaid sold her hair/voice, I can’t remember, to a witch for a chance at a Prince. If she didn’t win the guy, she dies. This was one tale that scared the crap out of me. She didn’t get the Prince but was given a second chance if she cut out his heart, and for the life of me I can’t remember what she was to do with it, but as soon as the heart left the Princes body she turned into a ‘butterfly’ like creature and flew away with others who had, like her, sold something precious and lost.
Creepy huh? I can’t remember the name of the tale, just that most of it occurred on a big ship! Just remember I read this over 40 years ago!!!LOL;)
Hi Jessica-yeah, I do that a lot here-age myself. I don’t feel my age…well most of the time! I sent on youtube after posting…there are tons of clips from that series. Too funny!
Kendra: check email!
Oh Jessica that sounds like the sort of creepy stories I read or had read to me in that old enchantment book – it was a THICK hard cover book with one black and white drawing per story- maybe two, but not much. They were very detailed though and creepy! I loved them!
I remember one about a giant who ate children and crunched their bones – gross! LOL
Those old stories were really horrible for children’s stories now that I reflect on them but I adored them as a child (what does that say about me??!!). LOL
MsM
Hi MsM! I wish I’d had those Fae stories as a kid…I would have devoured them! I did a lot of Grimm’s fairy tales, though, which are creepy and gross enough. I really loved how the bad people always got their heads cut off or their eyes pecked out. Yeah, I’m sick, I know. There’s a reason Disney went with the French version of Cinderella for the film instead of Grimm! Also, YAY for the return of PR! I’m so curious…and hopeful that this crop of designers doesn’t suck as bad as the last group.
Hi Jessica! Oh, I love the name Devon. And that fairy tale you describe sounds like a version of The Little Mermaid. You’re right, it WAS creepy, and I never liked it because it had a miserable ending. In the original Hans Christian Andersen tale, she made that deal with the sea witch, but the prince fell in love with some other chick, mistaking her for the woman who’s saved him. And the mermaid can’t talk to tell him otherwise, of course. So then she gets…something, can’t remember…if she cuts out his heart, but she can’t do it, so when her time on land is up she evaporates or something and becomes a Daughter of the Air and it’s all very depressing. Bad fairy tale! BOO!
Lisa, I’m going to have to look up that series on wikipedia to see what it was all about..I only remember pieces. But like I said, I do remember my mom being a total fan! Occasionally she and one of her friends will still have a discussion about how hot Vincent was:-)
MsM, the awful scary stories are the best ones…I used to actively seek out stuff like that to read! Which is probably why I graduated to Stephen King pretty early for a kid, LOL.
Kendra…THAT’S IT…that the story I was trying to remember, but in my book she did relieve the Prince of his two-timing heart, then turned into a Daughter of the Air..Yes! I remember the last picture of the ship in the background with the dead Prince in the deck and all these “Butterflies” flying away…Still creeps me out…
Ron Pearlman is built like the proverbial brick shit house…he is not the most handsomest man I’ve ever seen, he’s very rugged looking, in Beauty and the Beast he was very Lion looking…
Yeah, that one’s right about at the top of my Most Hated Fairytales list. I remember reading it, waiting for the happy ending, and…nope. Which left me with this terribly dissatisfied feeling of “WTF did I read that for, then?!” Even the fairytale with the freaking talking dead horse head had a happy ending. I don’t remember what it was called. The Goose Girl, maybe? And she loved that stupid horse, and then someone killed it and nailed its head to a gate, and she used to go talk to it. I think its name was Fala. I swear I am not making this up. Also, as far as Ron Perlman goes, I remember seeing some picture of him once (not long after the time of my mom’s obsession) and thinking, “Huh, he’s better looking with the lion face.” Ain’t nothing wrong with being built like a brick shit house, though, LOL!