Fairy Tale Confessions in My Bookbag: (Story #2) Blayze & Ash by Jessica Sorensen

I find this re-imagining of the Beauty and the Beast to be smart, engaging and well-written. In this modern twist of the well known story, Sorensen highlights the values of sacrifice and of seeing the depth of someone, despite what others see on the surface. She uses a plot device that is very well thought out… a very intelligent twist on what it means to be ‘a beast’. I am impressed with the storytelling and believe this work deserves 4 3/4 stars.

Now in My Bookbag: Uncloaked by Wendy Owens (Fairy Tale Confessions Story #1)

What an intriguing and unique take on the Little Red Riding Hood story. It is so well imagined and well written. The characters are striking in their personalities, backstories and motivations. This fairy tale is indeed twisted in the roles played by its characters, the introduction of a paranormal element, and the inner monologue provided for Ruby, the red riding hood for an older audience. Owens does a fantastic job in this re-imagined fairy tale, and this story deserves 5 stars.

Fairy Tale Confessions Author Interview: Wendy Owens

There are 14 authors who wrote the stories of the Fairy Tale Confessions collection.  This post will focus on Wendy Owens, author of Uncloaked. 

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 Wendy Owens is a writer, born in the small college town of Oxford, Ohio. After attending Miami University, Wendy went onto a career in the visual arts. After several years of creating and selling her own artwork she gave her first love, writing, a try. It’s become a passion ever since. Wendy now happily spends her days writing the stories her characters guide her to tell, admitting even she doesn’t always know where that might lead. Her first series, The Guardians, is a YA fantasy series about angel and human hybrids.Since then she has branched into NA Contemporary Romance and released titles to include Stubborn Love, Only In Dreams, and Do Anything. Her next romance, The Luckiest is scheduled to be released in July 2014.

When she’s not writing, this dog lover can be found spending time with her tech geek husband, their three amazing kids, and two pups. She loves to cook and is a film fanatic.

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 Wendy, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for us…

Q: Why are so drawn to write stories about contemporary topics such as teen depression, learning to be your own hero, learning to trust again, and experiencing romance?

A lot of what I write about I draw from real life experiences. I’ve been through a divorce and was a single mother before I found the love of my life. That entire experience helped me to believe in second chances. A few years ago my family was brought to its knees when my brother-in-law, age 40, passed away. It was one of the most painful times of our lives and watching what my sister went through as well as my children made me want to put that pain on paper. We’ve had friends lose a child to suicide as well and with all of these tragedies it showed me one important truth in life. Sometimes all we can rely on is the hope for a better tomorrow and the people around us. If I went through these things I assumed other people were as well and I wanted to reach out and connect with that audience in the best way I knew how, through written word.

Q: Did your young adult paranormal stories create a desire in you to participate in this twisted fairy tales anthology?

I consider my contemporary romance my therapy where I work through the things life throws at me. That being said, paranormal is where a big part of my heart rests. I will write more paranormal in the future, it’s a passion. That being said, as soon as I was approached about twisted fairy tales it was a no brainer.

Q: Did you find it difficult to ‘twist’ a well-known fairy tale?

Not at all! I loved it. I knew the moment I heard that I wanted Little Red Riding Hood. I have a novella urban paranormal series that I put episodes out in my spare time and I knew I would be able to tie that story in perfectly with this story. When you read the story and meet Tynder Crown, just know there is so much more to her story. Plus, come on, Little Red Riding Hood was begging for a vampire/werewolf twist.

Q: Your author information from Amazon mentions that you are an artist, a cook, and a film fanatic. Have you always been drawn to the arts, or is it something that developed as you have grown older?

Always. In college I took every art and creative writing elective I could cram into my schedule. Even in high school I blazed through all the art classes and then started having independent studies in studio art. I feel like the thing that truly sets us apart from animals is our ability and need to create. Prior to writing full time I balanced my time as a photographer and painter. It was a tough career that didn’t have the flexibility I wanted as a mother. I never thought writing would be a viable career option until my husband sent me an article about self publishing. The rest was history.

Q: Is there a character from one of your stories that has surprised you in some way?

My characters love to keep me on my toes. The one that comes to mind is Paige from Only In Dreams. She had a decision to make at the end of the story and she actually chose the opposite of what I had originally outlined. I’m glad she did make the choice though. I think in the end it felt more real.

Q: Where (or when) do you get the most story inspiration?

When I listen to music. In fact the Stubborn Love Series are all song Titles.

Q: What are you working on currently?

I have a couple projects I am working on at the same time. A contemporary romance entitled, It Matters to Me, which is the follow up to Do Anything. And I have started work on a YA Paranormal Dystopian called the Vale Saga (LOVING THIS PROJECT). At some point I would also like to do a follow-up to Wash Me Away if the book finds enough readers who want it. I think there could be a lot more to Julia’s story.

Q: Do you see yourself participating in more anthologies?

Absolutely. This was a great experience and I think it is a wonderful way for readers to get to try out a lot of new authors for one low price. A win win in my book.

Q: What does your writing process look like?

I am a cross between a planner and pantser. I start out with an idea. I then create a time line and fill in major plot points. From there I do chapter summaries for the entire book. Once all that “planning” is done, the pantsing part comes in. I sit down and start writing each chapter. Almost every book drastically changed from my original outline, but I just go with it. The books are better for it. The point of the chapter summaries are more to prevent writers block and allow me to jump around. On It Matters to Me the entire plot changed from my original outline once I hit chapter 5 and I had to redo my chapter summaries. I know it sounds crazy, but it works for me. The lost time of one afternoon is better than weeks staring at a blank page.

Q: How important are the character names you choose? How do you choose them?

I put WAY more thought into the names of my paranormal characters. They relate to their personality and role in a much deeper way. In my romances, its more whatever I am feeling in the moment.

Q: What are your 10 favorite books and why?

This is so stinking hard! This is not in any particular order. Just a random listing of top.

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – by JK Rowling – It’s hard to say book 7 was my favorite because I would never have loved these characters so deeply without books 1-6. That being said, the love, the loss, the tenacity, the hope, literary perfection.
2. The Five Stages of Falling in Love – by Rachel Higginson – it wrecked me. I love when people can do that to me.
3. Under Different Stars – by Amy Bartol – world building and strong character development got me vested in this series.
4. Hopeless – by Colleen Hoover – she delves into the grit and I love that.
5. Hidden Wings – by Cameo Renae – I love this series. Obviously I have an angel thing, I wrote my first series about them.
6. Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins – the entire series really pulls back the curtain about what it wrong with so much of our actual society, while also entertaining us with a make believe world.
7. Destroy Me – by Tahereh Mafi – Honestly the entire Shatter Me series. It was a fresh approach and anyone who can twist up my feelings about Warner like she did, I bow to you!
8. The Maze Runner – by James Dashner – love a book that makes my heart beat a little quicker.
9. The Law of Moses – Amy Harmon – All the feels!
10. The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath – If you haven’t read this book, please do yourself a favor and read it soon. It stands the test of time. It’s real and raw and the most honest look at mental illness I’ve ever read.

Follow links for Wendy Owens

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Now in My Bookbag: Broken by S.J. West (The Watchers Chronicles Book #1)

(The review for this book/series is long overdue. I finished this series in May of 2014 and merely rated it without writing a review.)

This book opens The Watchers Chronicles fifteen years after the end of The Watchers Trilogy. It centers around a Watcher Agent named Jessica Riley and a Watcher named Mason Collier, who was first introduced in the trilogy.

Where the trilogy maintains a lighter feel, Broken definitely feels a bit darker. West includes subject matter that is much more serious, and characters who are much more broken.

This book has a rather fascinating storyline and well thought out plot devices. The storytelling is wonderful. West creates a whole new reality, in rich detail, that is engaging and believable. 

This series promises to be one that is loved by Watcher fans everywhere. 5 stars

Now in My Bookbag: Forgiven by S.J. West (The Watchers Trilogy Book #3)

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Forgiven is a solid conclusion to this great trilogy. Like the other two books of the trilogy, this part of the story is built around a bit of theology and includes earthbound angels in half of the main cast of characters. However, that is not the only theme of this trilogy.

I appreciate the moving romance, loving friendships and broad definition of family that West carries through the entire series like a thread that stitches the series together. The storytelling includes just the right amount of humor and happiness to lighten what could have become a little too serious. Oh, there are tears to be shed in this book, but the overall feel is hopeful.

I think that the story is creative, well thought out, and a perfect set up for a sequel series.

4 1/2 stars

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Now in My Bookbag: Caged, A Retelling of Rapunzel by L.P. Dover (Fairy Tale Confessions Story #8)

I love that this story starts with “Once upon a time”. More importantly, I love that ‘Rapunzel’ is such a strong female character.

Dover redefines the concept of being trapped, of being a prisoner in a tower. She expresses the concept of the tower as having reached the pinnacle of success, which siphons almost every personal freedom from the main character.

‘Rapunzel’ faces ugly truths and realizes that she was ‘caged’ for quite a while without even realizing it. She finds her inner strength. Dover develops a ‘Rapunzel’ strong enough to save herself.

I am very impressed with this contemporary re-imagining of the classic ‘Rapunzel’ fairy tale. I am confident in giving this story a 5 star rating.

Posted on September 28, 2015 by KarenM

Now in My Bookbag: Priceless – The True Story of Rumplestiltskin by Sarah J. Pepper (Fairy Tale Confessions Story #6)

Pepper’s twist on Rumpelstiltskin is very clever. She takes concept and characters from the original story and completely shakes them up. Most of the story is the very definition of a love/hate relationship. She shows that, even in the world of Rumpelstiltskin, life is rarely just black or white.

The ideas are fresh and exciting. The storytelling is fascinating and has a great flow. The ending is unexpected and truly freeing. This is an engaging, twisted tale. Pepper really delivers a well written read. My Bookbag rates this story at 5 stars.