In Others’ Words: Fairy Tales

Beth VogtQuotes, Romance, Writing 36 Comments

“Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you … “

Anybody else love that song when it’s sung by Frank Sinatra?

There’s a bit of a fairy tale thread woven into my upcoming release, Catch a Falling Star. And yes, I loved reading fairy tales when I was growing up. Cinderella was a favorite, of course, but I also enjoyed Snow-White and Rose-Red. Recently I enjoyed the updated Disney version of Rapunzel.

What’s the allure of fairy tales? When I was a child, I was thrilled by how they push back the boundaries of maybes and what ifs. Wishing upon a star could lead to a dream coming true … and there might really be someone magical — powerful — listening to me when my heart was broken by hardship or disappointment.

If you think about it, fairy tales offer readers hope. Romance. Happily-Ever-Afters.

That’s why I write … and that’s why so many of the writers I know put hands to keyboard. And yet, somehow, someway, I want to point my readers to something more than a star to wish upon, or to a bitty-bobbity-boo fairy godmother.

Fairy tales are delightful … but the Truth is life-changing.

In Your Words: What’s your favorite fairy tale? Why do you read them?

P.S. Looking for another novel with a fairy tale theme? Watch for best-selling author Rachel Hauck’s upcoming release, Once Upon a Prince!

Comments 36

  1. Maybe several–the girl who spun nettles into a garment to change back to needed form. Rapunzel & the prince who sought her, both of them finding a way for freedom. And challenging glass mountains–have literally dreamed of climbing them several memorable times–not sure if I reached the top or not, but someday . . . Fairy tales stretch our boundaries, dare us to dream big and offer hope that the impossible is possible.

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  2. I loved fairy tales as a girl. I think one of my favorites is Beauty and theBeast. I love the thoughts that 1)If I take the time to look beyond the surface, I may see beauty inside a person who’s not always kind on the surface; 2) the love and encouragement of someone can change another person from the inside out; and 3) Hope.

    Fairy tales in general leave me feeling happy. And I like that. 🙂

    Can’t wait to read Once Upon a Prince–and Catch a Falling Star!

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  4. I also loved the new Rapunzel. One of my other favorite fairy tales is Beauty and the Beast. There’s just something about the great reward Bells gets when she falls in love with the heart of a man – AND THEN gets to see that he’s gorgeous, too! 🙂

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  5. I loooooved Tangled!! So cute! I always loved “Sleeping Beauty” and “Snow White,” because the thought of being awoken only by true love’s kiss is beautifully romantic…and in many ways, represents what Christ does in our lives. It’s only when we are touched by Him that we become alive.

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  6. Oh, I love this post today, Beth. One of my favorites is Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Mostly because I loved the fairies…especially when they’re trying to make Sleeping Beauty’s birthday cake and dress and they make a mess of it. 🙂 Love the fairy tale woven into your book and I’m super pumped for Rachel’s new book!!

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  7. Well, you *know* I love Sleeping Beauty, since I based SpindleWish on it. But I also love the Cinderella story–I wrote a different novel where she can’t let the prince know she was at the ball. I’ll read any fairy tale or re-imagined one.

    My favorite fairy tale authors are Robin McKinley, Juliet Marillier (love Daughter of the Forest), Shannon Hale, and Donna Jo Napoli (who creates the most complex villains).

    Can’t wait to read yours!

    ~Debbie

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  8. Loved fairy tales when I was growing up (and still do). I lived in them more than in reality. They offered a place to hide out, a better life, and, like you said, hope. So happy there are writers who write them for us grown ups. 🙂 Thanks, Beth.

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  9. I am enchanted by fairy tales and always have been. What girl doesn’t want the handsome prince on the white horse? The really cool thing about knowing the Truth, is that we DO have a Rider called Faithful and True who comes riding in on a white horse (Rev. 19:11). That just makes me smile. BIG. 🙂

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  10. Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast are among my favs. I look forward to reading Catch a Falling Star! Congrats on your success, Beth!

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  11. Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast are among my favs. I look forward to reading Catch a Falling Star! Congrats on your success, Beth!

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  12. I loved Tangled. It’s such a fresh look at Rapunzel. My favorite, though, is Beauty and the Beast. I love me a wounded hero. Sigh! Plus, the message of looking below the surface is so important in our image-based society.

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  13. As a happily-ever-after girl, I love fairy tales–Disney versions. Some of the original fairy tales are a bit dark. When my boys were little, we used to borrow Faerie Tale Theatre videos from the library.

    I loved the spunk of the heroine in Tangled. I loved Cinderella and her servant’s heart, even in the midst of her dire circumstances, and the promised hope she received at the end. But my all-time favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast. Love Belle. Love the beast had a heart under his roar.

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  14. Actually, since I’ve been blogging on fairytales over on MBT, I’ve learned the Disney versions is not exactly the Grimms or George MacDonald version of fairytales. Or even Tolkien version.

    Fairy tales are much darker, not kid friendly stories in their original form. LOL.

    But I suppose we have more kindred with Disney’s version since that’s what we all grew up watching!

    Thanks for the shout out to Once Upon A Prince.

    Rachel

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      Agreed, Rachel. The Disney versions, while they all have a villain (or villainess), are not as dark as the original fairy tales. I read some of the original fairy tales again when I was working on Catch a Falling Star.
      And how could I not refer to Once Upon a Prince in this post?
      🙂

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  15. I love, love, love fairytales! My favorite: I’m Cinderella fan! Love happy ever afters and also the movie “Ever After” with Drew Barrymore so much that I named my June upcoming mail order bride story in A Bride For All Seasons–An Ever After Summer. It is can you guess a 1800’s mail order bride Cinderella story 🙂 I had a blast writing it and working with Mary Connealy, Margaret Brownely and Robin Lee Hatcher. http://debraclopton.com/coming-soon/

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  16. Beauty and The Beast does me in every time.

    But I’m going to hop in with one of my favourite non-Western stories “1001 Nights”. Legend has it that the king, Sharyar (sha-REE-ar) was on a wife-killing spree due to his anger against his wife committing infidelity. (I know, not exactly an even argument). He’d marry one virgin, then kill her the next day, marry another, kill her the next day…etc. Many women died, but still the king continued marrying and then killing young women. So brave Scheherazade (sha-HARE-ah-zad) volunteered to marry the king. She told him one spell-binding story, and then began another, but refused to tell him the end-until the next night. For 1001 nights, she had him spell-bound until he agreed to let her live.

    Now THAT is story telling under pressure. I was going to say “deadline” but, yeah…

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  17. I love fairy tales and retellings. I’m a sucker for Cinderella, but I adore Snow white too. Such hard questions for a Tuesday, well, technically Monday, but I’m behind on my blog reading. 🙂

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