JacQueline Vaughn Roe's Blog, page 2

How to Choose the Right Book for Your Mood

If you head over to Instagram, you’ll find all kinds of readers, self-professed book lovers, who are constantly sharing their favorite novels. They take beautiful pictures of book flatlays or do funny dances on their reels sharing what they loved and hated. But the question always comes down to what a book lover should reach for next. Just because you loved this particular author or series, are you really in the mood for more of that, or do you need something different? Are you a reader in search of the right formula to determine how to choose the right book for your mood?

What is a moody reader?

First, I need to state that not all of us bookworms are needing a formula. Many readers have a system that works for them. They have go-to authors or genres that they know will satisfy their book-cravings no matter what else is happening in their lives. What happened at work or in their personal lives does not change what they want to read. Horrible traffic or a screaming toddler who won’t go down for a nap? Doesn’t matter. They can just go on blissful autopilot when clicking for the next book.

But, if you are like me, you are HIGHLY impacted by your mood. In fact, your Goodreads might have several books “open” at a time on your “currently reading shelf”. Each day you might even be making progress in a different book. Go ahead, scroll through my Goodreads account. It will seem completely random, but I have discovered that it is anything BUT random.

How the pandemic changed my reading life

My mental health and current environment directly impact how I am feeling and what I’m reading. Right now my environment is still made up of a tightly knit family of Bible-believing bookworms who are still stuck at home due to the global pandemic. Struggling with chronic pain as well as depression and anxiety during the best of times, this past year has been . . . interesting.

Before the pandemic, I was reaching for lots of angsty young adult fantasy and Christian romantic suspense as my comfort reads. I loved the fast-pace and coming-of-age story arcs common in the former and the intrigue with the love story of the latter. But listening to fiction audiobooks? No, thank you. It literally put me to sleep. I preferred paperback to ebooks and hardbacks to paperback. Let me smell my fiction. Raise your hand if you’re a book-sniffer, too!

Now? I am still reading young adult fantasy books, but because of the angst level in many of those books, I have discovered that middle grade fantasy and clean romance/romantic comedies are more comforting right now. Fun action with magical worlds is still necessary, but I also need simple plot lines where two people have the promise of a happily-ever-after at the end of each book. Also, I’m taking greater care with my spiritual life, knowing it impacts my mental health directly. I used to sit and read my Bible almost every day (hey, I’m not perfect. I’d miss some days here and there.) But all of a sudden, I just couldn’t read it with my eyes anymore. I don’t know why, so I tried audio. Now, I’m listening to more of the Bible than I used to read daily and it is making a huge difference. As my speed in reading has increased, I also started gravitating towards ebooks. And once I started listening to the Bible, I tried ya fantasy and that was a win, too. Who knew?

How to judge the mood of a book

How did I know I needed to change my reading habits? I was no longer excited about reading. Simple as that. What had once been enjoyable suddenly felt like work. So I changed it up by noticing what was engaging and in what format I found it engaging. Mental health is a weird beast, but I’ve learned that if I remain flexible, my overall health benefits.

So, as you look to what you might need in your reading life right now, look closely at the covers. What colors and images are pulling you in? You’ll know it when you see it. Now, glance at the book description. What keywords are standing out? Are you finding that you like the sound of a straightforward, problem-solving, how-to book instead of a novel? Check out some self-help based on your interests in self-improvement. Do you desire to escape into a paranormal world where people are not what they seem and you can imagine you have secret gifts waiting to be discovered? Why not try paranormal fantasy? Or maybe, you feel drawn to something with comforting words, something that feels like a warm hug with a cookie (or biscuit for my UK friends) on the side. Cozy (or cosy) mysteries might be exactly what you need.

How to choose the right book for your mood

Do I think this will be forever? I doubt it. I’ve gone through many reading stages in my life and I always come back around to loving anything fantasy-related, so that’s a staple for me. Like I said, I’m still reading young adult fantasy, just enjoying it through my ears right now. I’ve also usually reached for something that had some sort of love-story, but because of my faith I choose to keep the steam-level to a minimum. That’s me, but what are you like?

At the time of writing this, vaccines are coming out and hope is on the horizon. Maybe there is peace ahead of us. But at the same time, racism is raging and the cancel-culture has people taking offense over so many details that many of us can’t keep up. If you’re a mood reader, you’ll be impacted by these things and need to choose your books wisely. Be open to new ways of thinking, but also be true to what you know is right. If you need escapism, choose something fun. If you’re ready for some deep thinking, go for it! Whatever you choose, enjoy your reading life and don’t let it become work.

Free Book(s) for you

If you are ready to try something new, why not sign up for my newsletter list and receive the prequel (free-quel) to Rapunzel’s journey, Before the Tower? You’ll get at least one email from me each month containing book recommendations and silly, bookish fun to engage your imagination and make you smile. Not ready for the commitment of a newsletter? You can wait on the prequel and start at book one for free. Click here to meet Rapunzel in Beyond the Tower as she stumbles through the fairy tale world after the witch casts her out. Book one is available in paperback and on all the online retailers where you can grab your copy now.

About JacQueline

Author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures. She also wrote  Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, which chronicles her battle with chronic pain and depression. JacQueline uses her writing to share stories of hope and joy. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline to keep her writing healthy at no additional cost to you.

JacQueline currently lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All of her writing is from her own experience and based on her opinion. Do not substitute it for a professional therapist.

JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author coach, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free coaching call to learn what steps you should take next now.

Photo Credit: Sincerely Media, Sincerely Media, Natasha Tirtabrata, Silviarita, and Tesjavi Ganjoo.

The post How to Choose the Right Book for Your Mood appeared first on Author J Roe.

A Cheat Sheet for Fairy Tale Lovers

What on earth is a “Cheat Sheet for Fairy Tale Lovers”? you may be wondering. Recently, a reader emailed me about a special project. Her family is reading aloud all the books that have been published so far in Rapunzel’s journey. For school, they are also researching the different fairy tales that Rapunzel and her friends get mixed up with. She asked if I could provide her with a cheat sheet of the fairy tales I use in each book.

I’m only too happy to provide that with a little insight as to why I chose those fairy tales and what you might expect as the series nears its end. So, buckle up as we explore some of my favorite fairy tales.

Fairy Tale Lovers’ FAVORITE Retellings

Not surprisingly, the best-loved of all fairy tales in Western culture have become popularized by Disney’s animated films. Since Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was released in 1937, Disney has taken fairy tales and retold them with happy endings. This is their brand, even if the first recorded tales didn’t have a happy ending. You can probably guess the top four: Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty.

I’ll admit, I didn’t go near a single one of these well-loved stories for this series. Why? I’m not sure. Maybe I thought they already had enough books dedicated to them or (more likely) I couldn’t come up with a new way to reinvent their stories. I wanted to do something a little different when I first started writing. Funny thing is that I now have an interesting idea involving all of the four major fairy tales, but I’m going to save that idea for the next series I write.

The Hole in Rapunzel

When I began writing the first book in my series waaaaay back in 2003 (I didn’t publish it right away), I wanted to retell Rapunzel’s story by exploring the hole in the plot. It hadn’t yet been made into a movie by Disney, so I felt safe. Now, we all know every story is supposed to have a beginning, a middle, and an end. But Rapunzel’s middle doesn’t really exist. She is imprisoned in her tower by a witch, meets a man who climbs her braid, falls in love with said man and loses him. About two years later she finds him again. He’s blind, but her tears bring back his sight. Oh, and she might have twins with her, depending on which version you’re reading.

I couldn’t help being frustrated when I would read this story. I loved the idea, but what happened to her while they were separated? Where did she go? Who did she meet? How did that change her? Also, was she super-shy or maybe even awkward from all those years in her tower alone?

After some research, I realized if I wanted an answer to these questions, I’d have to discover it myself. So, I plunked myself down and began typing away. That short story became a long book that I eventually split up and turned into The Journey series.

Lesser Known Fairy Tales

In writing Rapunzel’s story, it seemed only natural for her to “happen upon” other fairy tale characters in the middle of their own stories. At first, I relied heavily on the works of the Brother’s Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen. But before long, my mind was composing original stories out of fairy tale elements. Evil, grief, greed, jealousy, and fear all seemed to rise up to greet Rapunzel as she journeyed along.

There was also the supernatural element inherit in most of these fairy tales. They had been told to children in order to encourage them to trust their parents and obey God. But if Rapunzel had been raised by a bitter witch, wouldn’t she have been taught to hate and distrust God? Many of the stories I began weaving into Rapunzel’s tale encounter the Christian God. His strange love story perplexes Rapunzel, how He sent His son to die for the sins of the people He created.

My Rapunzel struggles with all she learns in the world beyond her tower. It takes three books for her to really sort out what she believes and who she trusts. But once she has discovered this, she has also created a new family for herself. In that family are others from different fairy tales who are likewise weighing out what they believe in the face of evil and loss. The question of whether or not people can be redeemed becomes paramount. And, just so you know, I’m now wrestling with whether or not villains can be redeemed in these last two books I am writing.

A Cheat Sheet for Fairy Tale Lovers {WARNING: Spoilers ahead!}

Part of the fun and surprise of writing this series has been seeing what fairytales pop-up. I never want to spoil the fun of discovering those fairy tale myseries. So, if you haven’t read the books yet, you can grab the first one free and the second for 0.99 USD. But, if you have, read on for the cheatsheet for fairy tale lovers.

I tried to annotate the original source if I could verify it. Some are stories that I heard at different points and I don’t have an exact reference. If I have not specifically listed a story that you liked, then it was probably original from me.

I hope this helps and that you enjoy the journey. It has, thus far, been the joy of my life to bring Rapunzel’s misadventures to life for you.

Before the Tower, free book 0Rapunzel’s backstory, The Brother’s Grimm (found in the whole book)Beyond the Tower, book 1Rapunzel, The Brother’s Grimm and other versions (found in chapters 1-5)Princess in Disguise, The Brother’s Grimm (found in chapters 6-9)The Rose Elf, Hans Christian Anderson (found in chapter 12)Bear Prince (found in chapters 13-14)Bluebeard (found in chapters 15-21)The Emperor’s New Clothes, Hans Christian Anderson (found in chapter 17)The Soldier (found in chapter 28)The True Daughter (found in chapter 31)The Maiden Without Hands, The Brother’s Grimm (found in chapter 32)Amidst the Castles, book 2The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces, The Brother’s Grimm (found in chapters 1-3)The Goose Girl, The Brother’s Grimm (found in chapters 1-3)The Pink, The Brother’s Grimm (found in chapters 4-6)Wild Swans, Hans Christian Anderson (found in chapters 9-11)The Princess and the Pea, Hans Christian Anderson (found in chapter 16)Rapunzel, The Brother’s Grimm (found in chapters 22-26)Within the Spell, book 3The Fisher King, Arthurian legend (found in whole book, especially chapter 5)Rapunzel from Paul’s perspective, The Brother’s Grimm (found in chapter 5)The Bonnie Swans, traditional medieval lyrics I first came across in the music by Loreena McKinnet in her album, The Mask and the Mirror (found in chapter 13)The Poor Man and the Rich Man, The Brother’s Grimm (found in chapter 25)Under the Curse, book 4The Pink (found in the whole book)Among the Kingdoms, book 5 coming in 2021The Goose Girl, The Brother’s Grimm (found in the whole book)

Photo credit: Colton Sturgeon, Gaman Alice, and JacQueline Vaughn Roe.

About JacQueline

Author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures. She also wrote  Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, which chronicles her battle with chronic pain and depression. JacQueline uses her writing to share stories of hope and joy. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline to keep her writing healthy at no additional cost to you.

JacQueline currently lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All of her writing is from her own experience and based on her opinion. Do not substitute it for a professional therapist.

JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author coach, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free coaching call to learn what steps you should take next now.

The post A Cheat Sheet for Fairy Tale Lovers appeared first on Author J Roe.

Our Need for Redemption in Fairy Tale Retellings

When talking about the need for redemption in fairy tale retellings, I suppose it would make sense to start with “once upon a time in a faraway land,” and proceed with who was good, what was evil. But fairy tale retellings of our time are far more complicated than that. I’ve discussed before why we love to retell fairy tales and what makes them our favorite. Now I’d like to explore further and discuss light versus dark and the need of humanity for stories of redemption.

One of my favorite authors likes to say on his podcast, “I’m about to take things too seriously” and I completely relate. Imagine me raising my hand. I do take books seriously. Like, probably too seriously. These books that I love reading often have a dark edge, like a razor’s blade. That’s not always a bad thing! Stories are the expression of what we believe and feel, they can cut to the truth of the matter and I need that in my life. But what if the cutting isn’t clean, what if they mar or mutilate under the guise of telling an engaging story?

Does Redemption Mean Light and Fluffy?

Don’t get me wrong. I understand dark and twisty, I really do. My life has been dark and twisty at times, and like most people, I need to know I’m not alone. A great story is a reflection of the struggle of humanity since the fall of creation. For now in this fallen world, we cannot comprehend our need for the light until we recognize the darkness. But like the book of Romans says, I yearn for the day when that will no longer be the case.

If you are looking for dark and complicated stories that cause you to question what you believe, there’s nothing wrong with that as long as you’re up for it. Sometimes I am, sometimes my mental and spiritual health aren’t. Some of the more mature ya fantasy fairy tale retellings like Melissa Albert’s Hazel Wood series, Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreaker trilogy, even Erin A. Craig’s The House of Salt and Sorrow might intrigue you. Do I appreciate these books? I do. There is a quality to the storytelling that exceeded my expectations. Albert’s prose is gorgeous. Kemmerer’s pacing is fantastic. Craig’s world building is hypnotic.

Why We Need Redemption in Fairy Tale Retellings

My caution here is that books like these tend to get so dark, that we can miss the point. We probably need to discuss books like these in order to get to what the truth is. It doesn’t have to be a formal book club, but a trusted person or group of people who share your beliefs. What we consume and how we digest it matters. It has the power to transform or harden us.

Are you shaking your head at me, yet? I told you, I take books seriously and yes, I’m one of those people. I believe every tale has a theme, a distinct arrow directing us {hopefully} to the truth. Though it should never be beating you over the head with it, I want my stories, both those I read and write, to enlighten. To literally redeem and bring healing into what was broken.

In recognizing the darkness and depravity of the fallen world, we need stories that make room for light, that focus on what’s right and pure, that allow and encourage the growth in the characters as good fights evil. If something is going to get very dark, then I hope and pray for the light that will eradicate the dark.

Just For You

In case you are wondering what I mean about redemption at play in a story, I have included this theme throughout my Rapunzel retelling. Click through and purchase Beyond the Tower for free and Amidst the Castles for only .99 USD. Then, decide for yourself. Should light triumph over darkness in fairy tale retellings, or not?

Photo Credit: Nana Kim, Christina Woc, Jayalekshman.

About JacQueline

Author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures, and  Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, which chronicles her battle with chronic pain and depression, JacQueline uses her writing to share stories of hope and joy. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline to keep her writing healthy at no additional cost to you.

JacQueline currently lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All of her writing is from her own experience and based on her opinion. Do not substitute it for a professional therapist.

JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author coach, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free coaching call to learn what steps you should take next now.

The post Our Need for Redemption in Fairy Tale Retellings appeared first on Author J Roe.

5 of Our FAVORITE Quiet Heroines

In a day and age when feisty women full of courage ready to fight to the death fill bookshelves and Bookstagram’s feed, one might wonder where our favorite quiet heroines have gone. Have they disappeared completely, never to be heard from again? Are they still on this journey with us making their way quietly, but learning powerful lessons of strength and endurance?

When the topic comes around, each book nerd has their own curated list of what they are looking for in a heroine. I, like so many others, appreciate a good fight scene with a brave woman brandishing her weapon, making her enemy kneel before her. But the truth is that lately I have picked up too many books with self-absorbed heroines who use too much violence and seduction to get their own way. And, to be honest, they rarely seem to learn anything.

I like my characters to learn, grow, develop, become more than they thought possible. Give me a book with depth and keep the rest somewhere far from me! My favorite characters can be the feisty ones when they learn great things, but often the greatest growth happens in those underestimated “quiet girls.”

Favorite Quiet Heroines: The Goose Girl

I just completed reading The Goose Girl. Can you hear my happy sigh? It was lovely and, as I told my favorite readers in my newsletter (sign up here and receive a free book!), lyrical and engaging. I love when the main character of a fairy tale retelling is a female who doesn’t understand her worth and must fight for it in order to save those she loves. I applaud an author who in this day and age dares to write a woman who is unsure of herself at the beginning and has no talent with swords. Not that I don’t like applaud strong, loud women. We need people of all kinds! But this was a wonderful change of pace.

I don’t want us all to have to be Spartans, or Vikings, or fierce Celts. Let’s just say, I take karate and have worked with various weapons. Therefore, I can safely say some of us are just not great at it no matter how wonderful our instructors are. (Yes, I’m raising my hand.) Not that it’s not a blast, but I’m better at reading and writing. So finding a book with a female who learns to use other talents was affirming for me and if you pick up the book, I bet it will be for you, too!

The Blue Castle’s Valancy

Let’s not dismiss L.M. Montgommery’s lesser known favorite quiet heroine, Valancy Stirling from her book, The Blue Castle. Considered an “old maid” by her stodgy clan of kinfolk, Valancy escapes her boring life in an imaginary blue castle. People forget she is sitting next to them or that she has feelings because she is so painfully shy and quiet. What they don’t realize is that she is witty and bright, just too timid to share herself with the world.

When she receives a terminal diagnosis, she loses all her fears and begins to live the life she always wanted. She says what she is thinking, begins caring for others outside herself, and even proposes to a man she’s in love with. She doesn’t embrace a wild, reckless life, but finds the beautiful, quiet life that she’s always wanted. The question is, how long will it last?

I love Valancy and how she throws off the constrictions of those who don’t have her best interests at heart. I totally cheered her on when she discovered a quiet, moving faith in God instead of blindly following her family’s traditions. If you haven’t added this book to your TBR, I highly recommend you do!

Another of Our Favorite Quiet Heroines: Rapunzel

When I first began writing what would become Beyond the Tower, I met the imprisoned Rapunzel. She was a lonely young woman living on books and waiting for visits from her witch. Rapunzel dreamed of great things, but lacked the courage to take her life in her hands. Until, that is, she met Paul, who climbed her braid to meet her.

Quiet characters can be tricky and I worried people might underestimate my Rapunzel and her dry wit. As her story continued, I learned more about her. She revealed why she held people away from her, how she didn’t trust herself because of the way she was raised. I also learned of her hopes, her dreams. Like a flower she slowly unfurled, revealing a depth of character I had not fathomed. It has been a great adventure to write the tale of such a creature, and I love offering her first book for free on all online stores.

The Quiet, but Passionate Jane Eyre

I have a confession to make, my Rapunzel may have been subconsciously based a little on Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. I discovered my love for this classic in eighth grade, slogging my way like a typical adolescent through the first quarter of the book. But then, once the composed and quiet Miss Eyre arrived at Thornfield I could not put it down. The mysteries surrounding her life at Thornfield shocked and horrified me, keeping me turning those pages.

Though Jane had a passionate temper as a child, life taught her to be almost silent and withdrawn. She was awkward in company and had a horrible time making and keeping friends. But once she left behind the odious boarding school of her miserable childhood, this quiet woman grew to embrace life. She made friends as she served as a governess, she began to trust herself and her worth. Though she was tempted to leave behind her self worth for the temptation of love, she fought her way through until she found true love at the end.

And Finally, Cress from The Lunar Chronicles

Our last of the favorite quiet heroines is a different take on Rapunzel. Whereas my Rapunzel has grown up isolated in a tower, Cress has grown-up in space on a satellite all alone. Given to fits of fancy based on the dramas she consumed daily, her life is upended when she is “rescued” and made part of the rebel group. Her tale is book 3 in The Lunar Chronicles, Cress is the quiet heroine that some may find a little too simpering. (My bestie and I had this disagreement, and I had to laugh at how differently we viewed her). But considering her upbringing, I love Cress’s quiet courage as she leaves all she knows behind. She is literally stranded in a desert, later kidnapped, and falls in love with a bit of a rogue captain.

I enjoy a fairy tale retelling with a different twist, don’t you? A tech-geek Rapunzel grown up in space who has to use her neediness to defeat the lunar queen while learning how to socialize? Yep, that makes Cress a favorite quiet heroine!

Now Your Turn

I have by no means exhausted the list of our favorite quiet heroines. There may need to be many more additions or parts to this particular post. Who are some of your favorite quiet heroines and what sets them apart?

Don’t forget, if you are still wanting to make 2021 your best reading year, just go download your free book tracker here. There is no obligation to sign up to my newsletter, unless you want to join the fun!

About JacQueline

JacQueline is the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures.  Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, chronicles her battle with chronic pain and depression, and JacQueline uses her writing to share stories of hope and joy. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline to keep her writing healthy at no additional cost to you.

JacQueline currently lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All of her writing is from her own experience and based on her opinion. Do not substitute it for a professional therapist.

JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author coach, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free coaching call to learn what steps you should take next now.

Photo Credit: Kelly Sikkema, JacQueline Vaughn Roe (2 book flatlay), Til Jentzsch, and Kristina Flour.

The post 5 of Our FAVORITE Quiet Heroines appeared first on Author J Roe.

Make 2021 Your Best Reading Year So Far!

Are you ready to make 2021 your best reading year so far? I hope so! 2020 has been full of crazy things none of us planned for and I think you will agree that it’s time to say goodbye. I want to plan for better things, and that means making plans for a year of wonderful reading.

Use What Motivates You

When I set up reading goals and exercise goals at the beginning of 2020, I had no idea that one would help me come up with a great idea for the other. But not only did I listen to more podcasts while exercising this year, but I also had fun listening to books. What was really great was printing off the fun exercise tracker that Fit2B created. I literally began counting down the hours each day till my work-out. All for the satisfaction of checking off those little boxes!

Now, not everyone is motivated the same way, but this year I actually set up my reading goals on Goodreads and it gave me the same satisfaction. I love seeing how the bar grows as I record how far I’ve gotten on each book I’m reading. And though some people easily consume a book a day, I couldn’t even read a book every week–until now! Thanks to Goodreads and some fun, bookish friends, I completed over 60 titles this year. And that doesn’t count the many times I reread my own books for editing purposes. 

What will it be?

I hope you have fun reading tons of great new books in the coming year. In fact, I hope that you will download the tracker I’ve attached here and/or you will follow me over on Goodreads so we can encourage each other.

What are your reading goals for this coming year? What book(s) are you looking forward to most?

 Can’t wait to hear all about it!

[image error]



About JacQueline

JacQueline is the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures.  Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, chronicles her battle with chronic pain and depression, and JacQueline uses her writing to share stories of hope and joy. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline to keep her writing healthy at no additional cost to you.

JacQueline currently lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All of her writing is from her own experience and based on her opinion. Do not substitute it for a professional therapist.

JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author consultant, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free author assessment to learn what steps you should take next now.

Photography: Ray Hennessey, Weston Mackinnon.

Social Media: JacQueline Vaughn Roe

The post Make 2021 Your Best Reading Year So Far! appeared first on Author J Roe.

5 of Our FAVORITE Feisty Redheads

The Magic of Red Hair

Have you noticed a love in literature for a feisty redhead? I have started take note of them, and see that they have been influencing me for a long time. Once upon a time I was a plain, ordinary teenager with dull brown hair. When I became chronically ill with migraines, my normally conservative parents decided to let me try something new and different. I got to dye my hair. Red! And you know what? It did something for me. It changed how I viewed myself. I didn’t get well overnight, but you can ask my best friends, I became feistier. Those migraines weren’t going to hold me back forever!

Now, what on earth does this have to do with books, right? Well, like I said, I think my love of red hair can be traced back to some of my favorite literary heroines. I’ve been talking to other bookworms like me, and there does seem to be a great love for our favorite feisty redheads.

Feisty Redhead: Anne of Green Gables

Anne Shirley of L.M. Montgommery’s classic Anne of Green Gables books, is almost everyone’s favorite feisty redhead. The incorrigible orphan with an overactive imagination is constantly bumbling through one mishap or another. Her well-documented temper causes no end of trouble, but her sincere loyalty and devotion win us over.

What I found great was that even as an adult, I could pick up Anne’s books and begin to enjoy them all over again with a new appreciation. Having my own redhead made me think, what is it about redheads that makes them so fun and irrepressible?

Feisty Redhead: Molly or Genny Weasley from Harry Potter

I’m not sure that anyone else has this debate going on in their homes, but the question remains here: Molly or Genny Weasley? My children love Genny Weasley. I agree, Genny is wonderful, but when compared to Molly Weasley . . . I just can’t see anyone being better than Molly Weasley. Fierce, devoted, it is Molly Weasley who not only raises a house full of mischievous redheads, but takes in orphan Harry Potter who is in desperate need of a mom. She is constantly feeding someone or arguing with them. And, spoiler alert, it is Molly Weasley who takes down one of the nastiest villianesses in the climatic conclusion to the whole series.

Feisty Redhead: Scarlet from The Lunar Chronicles

As much as I enjoyed the different take on fairy tales in Marissa Myer’s Lunar Chronicles, the series didn’t really take off for me until book 2, aptly named Scarlet for the red-headed heroine. As a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, Scarlet was everything a feisty redhead should be:

strongsassyfiercely loyal

I loved her complicated relationship with Wolf and the twist that Marissa Myers did to keep us guessing as to whether or not we should root for him.

My Newest Addition: Lady Gwynndolen in honor of my daughter

Now, I need to admit something. When I first began writing my retelling of Rapunzel long ago, I was newly married and had no children. But as the story grew and grew, my family did, too. My golden-haired Rapunzel came to resemble my dry-witted, introverted eldest daughter. In Beyond the Tower, we discover a young woman unsure of herself. She doesn’t know how to respond to people or God when she is cast out from her tower.

As the series progressed and Rapunzel matured, I found myself looking forward to telling the stories of the found family she develops. Not surprisingly, Lady Gwynndolen loudly asserted that she wanted her story told. Should it shock us that she resembles my red-haired, middle daughter? Not really. And when her ladyship is teaching swordplay to the difficult Prince Edmund, did I have my daughter help me stage the fights? Of course I did. With her own prowess in martial arts, it was fun to put some of that know-how to use and finally write action scenes that would cause Rapunzel to pale.

You can begin your own adventure traveling through The Journey series by downloading the free origin novella here or skip ahead to learn more about Lady Gwynndolen in book 4, Under the Curse.

Your Turn

Now, I trust I’m not the only one who has cheered for redheads in different books. Maybe you’re a Pippi Longstocking fan. Maybe you adore the Weasley twins or another character I’ve left out. If so, share below or on social media who your favorite redheads are and what you like best about them. I’d love to hear all about it!

About JacQueline

JacQueline is the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures.  Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, chronicles her battle with chronic pain and depression, and JacQueline uses her writing to share stories of hope and joy. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline to keep her writing healthy at no additional cost to you.

JacQueline currently lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All of her writing is from her own experience and based on her opinion. Do not substitute it for a professional therapist.

JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author consultant, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free author assessment to learn what steps you should take next now.

Photography: Johnny McClung, Christopher Campbell, Brad Lloyd, Jenna Anderson, Gabriel Silverio.

Social Media: JacQueline Vaughn Roe

The post 5 of Our FAVORITE Feisty Redheads appeared first on Author J Roe.

3 of Our FAVORITE Flawed Heroes

My favorite stories are those with a flawed hero. As a genuinely flawed individual I find them relatable. This means I inadvertently fall in love with protagonists that have some serious issues. They may have issues with their fathers, they may struggle with a curse, they may even be so gifted with brilliance that they can’t seem to have normal human relationships. Yep, sign me up, these are the strange, difficult heroes I am here for.

Flawed Hero Jarron, The False Prince

I just want to go on the record as saying that no one writes complicated heroes like Jennifer A. Neilsen. Seriously, she is the best when it comes to showing you all the challenges and never smoothing them over. She lets each hero explain himself, but only after you want to smack him a dozen times or so. Then you think, “Oh! That’s why you are the way you are!” And, yes, that’s why her deeply flawed characters are some of my favorites, because they are real people.

Take, for example, Sage/Jarron from The Ascendence trilogy. Based on two of Neilsen’s real-life students, this complicated orphan/prince is constantly in trouble, causing trouble, and getting hurt. His mind never rests and as he strategizes several moves ahead of each foe he encounters, he keeps us flipping pages. If all heroes were as frustrating and as fun as Jarron, we might never go to bed but stay up all night reading.

Flawed Hero Prince Edmund, Under the Curse

To say that Prince Edmund is deeply flawed would be putting things mildly. When he first appeared in the middle of my story about Rapunzel, I really didn’t know what to do with him. Even though he and Rapunzel kept parting ways, he always managed to reappear when I least expected him. I finally got the point, he wanted a chance to tell his own story. So after writing the first three books that tell the story from Rapunzel’s point of view, Under the Curse begins where we left Edmund and finally we get some answers.

Unlike Rapunzel’s beloved, Prince Edmund has a dark side, has been cursed by a sorceress, and struggles with some deep-seated anger towards his father. His backstory is messy, his intentions unclear, but his potential is evident. One might say that what he really needs is a good woman who can help him find his way. More about her in my next blog.

To receive the Rapunzel’s free origin novella, you can sign up for my newsletter here. Of course, you can skip ahead in the series and pre-order your copy of Under the Curse to learn more about this unlikely hero.

Flawed Hero Prince Ren, A Curse so Dark and Lonely

Despite some of my misgivings about the inconsistent heroine in this book, the complicated hero won me over. A fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Ren has been the beast caught in a curse that causes him to repeat the same season over and over until he can find a maiden to love him. But this season will be his last chance, the curse is coming to an end.

What Ren doesn’t plan for is a maid who comes not just from another world, but from another way of thinking. The best part of this book was not just how Ren related to the lady in question, but to his man-at-arms, Grey. The brotherhood between these two humanized Ren and caused me to long for him to be released from the curse. The agony that Ren went through knowing he had caused so much devastation each time he transformed into a beast also turned my heart towards him.

What do you think?

So, what’s your take on any of these? Do deeply flawed heroes make you snap a book shut, or turn the pages faster? Are you someone who longs to know more about their motivations and backstories? Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media and tag me!

About JacQueline

JacQueline is the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures.  Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, chronicles her battle with chronic pain and depression, and JacQueline uses her writing to share stories of hope and joy. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline to keep her writing healthy at no additional cost to you.

JacQueline currently lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All of her writing is from her own experience and based on her opinion. Do not substitute it for a professional therapist.

JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author consultant, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free author assessment to learn what steps you should take next now.

Photography: Kyle Johnson, Nicole Wolf, Ian, Hunter Newton, Joey Nicotra.

Social media design: JacQueline Vaughn Roe

The post 3 of Our FAVORITE Flawed Heroes appeared first on Author J Roe.

Grief, Book Week, and Our FAVORITE Portal Fantasies

How We Turned Grief into Book Week

Grief anniversaries pile up for our family in the fall and early winter. Last year, even as summer was coming to an end, I realized I needed serious help. I had become debilitated by chronic pain and sorrow that had me contemplating suicide. One of the things that got me through that dark time was my grief counselor helping me recognize that though I missed my beloved sister and mother, it was okay to keep living and enjoy the things I love. Like books. In fact, Book Week is all her fault.

With much prayer and my rekindled desire to begin living my life again, I set aside time and energy for two important parts of my life; my business as an author and (of course!) my children. I write my books with my children in mind, creating worlds that I want to share with them. When I realized how grief had overtaken our lives, I tried to think outside the four walls of our home. Though I couldn’t always drive places due to chronic pain and vacations were (at that time) outside my ability, maybe I could celebrate something fun with them over Fall Break. Something we all like to geek out over.

Book Week is Born!

And so, we had our first Book Week. We played quidditch in our yard while raking leaves celebrating our love of Harry Potter. Neighbors saw us run around chasing each other in a hide-and-seek with cyborgs versus Lunars celebrating our love of The Lunar Chronicles. We had sword fights and scaled the walls of our home in celebrating The Ascendence Trilogy. For fun, we invited friends over and ate blue food all day, celebrating Percy Jackson. We concluded the week by going on a short hike with a picnic lunch to celebrate Rapunzel’s misadventures in my books, The Journey series. I was exhausted and fighting pain through the week, but it was so worth it. I was beginning to live life again.

This year, vacation is out of the question for a whole new reason. Though most Americans have hated 2020, I have progressively gotten better as I’ve processed grief, slowly lost some of my grief weight, reduced my number of anxiety attacks, and increased my exercise and outdoor time exponentially. Oh, and that reading and writing thing? I’m about to release another book in my series and I’m sharing more books than ever with my kids.

My kids are now schooling at home because we are still in the middle of a global pandemic. When Fall Break rolled around again with no opportunities to travel, we decided to celebrate several books whose worlds we have loved visiting. Almost literally. Because this year, Book Week is all about what 2020 has lacked: secret portals that take us to different worlds.

The Chronicles of Narnia

One of the places I have found solace in is a “secret” passageway between one side of our neighborhood to another across the creek. My son and I first started taking walks back when I was struggling with suicidal thoughts. I was in desperate need of sunshine and movement and we found this little path to what felt like a magical world. When I told my grief counselor about it, she said we had discovered Narnia.

As a family who loves not only the world of Narnia, but the allegorical message of redemption contained within its story, it seemed perfect to create a book week of portal worlds with a visit to Narnia. You should have seen the looks on our neighbor’s faces as they saw us walking down the street with one of my daughter’s wearing a beard playing a dwarf. What hilarious fun! We each played a favorite character and filmed a sword fight in slow motion that we laughed at later.

The Inner World Series

I first became aware of The Inner World Series when I hopped on Instagram to find out if connecting with the readers in the #bookstagram community would be a good fit for me. Oh, WOW! Talk about geeking out. There are millions of Instagram users daily sharing images and stories all about the books they love. Everyone is a reader and several of us are also writers.

When reader/writer @spacheships_and_dragons began following me, I checked in on her. A young mom, R.L. Medina generously shares upcoming releases of authors she knows as well as fun stories about her family. I loved each time that she gave a sneak peek into her series about a half-elf princess. A high schooler with an anxiety disorder? I can relate. Besides, who doesn’t want to find out they belong to a high caste of elves?

I had fun getting into the series, but I warn all who read them, books 1-2 in this trilogy end with a cliffhanger. The best characters are the ones I’m not sure should be trusted and I love seeing how Medina is growing as a writer. My kids and I had a fun Fae War in our backyard!

Nevermoor

Like most of the books we celebrated, Nevermoor is middle grade fantasy, a secret world of magic that the real world is unaware of. Morrigan Crow is a fascinating little girl who has lived her entire life believing she is cursed. When she is rescued from the normal world, she is taken to Jupiter North’s hotel. Her bedroom recreates itself overnight, always surprising her with what she will wake to. She meets fascinating creatures, discovers hard truths, and makes friends for the first time in her life. But she’s not convinced she isn’t still cursed. Jupiter is determined to be her patron in the Wondrous Society, but Morrigan doesn’t think she has the knack that requires.

Nevermoor has some of the best descriptions of delicious food, so we decided to celebrate the series by going to one of our favorite magical places: Barnes & Noble bookstore and cafe. We ordered rainbow layered cake which was almost to sugary to eat. We also got dark chocolate cupcakes and vanilla bean mini cupcakes. Then we treated ourselves to wandering along the magical aisles of books and dreamed about taking all of the books home. The third book in The Nevermoor series was scheduled to come out in spring 2020, but was rescheduled because of the pandemic. Sadly, we could only order it, but now eagerly anticipate the call that it has come in. That isn’t all bad, anticipation will make us enjoy it that much more!

The Haven Series

If you love Harry Potter and miss his world, I highly recommend diving into the world of Haven. Author S.J. Howland recently came on the scene and has proven just how amazing an indie author can be. She introduces us to a boy named Xander who discovers his talent with crystals when he accidentally uses a travel-ling (yes, I used two “LL”s on purpose, that is the UK acceptable spelling for the first book “The Traveller’s Stone“) stone.

He is whisked away to a world where brownies are tiny people who clean houses (as long as no one is looking). Gnomes control the network of crystals that supply the land with energy. Xander feels very, very lost at first. Taken in by a large, quirky family while the “travellers” try to determine how he is able to use the crystal, he finds his way. Though he misses his mother, he discovers a kinship he’s never known before. This doesn’t stop him from worrying he might be the source of trouble that has come to Haven. Why are the shadows growing? What can he do to help?

Oh my goodness, my children and I devoured this book and eagerly await the upcoming sequel. For our celebration, we went on our favorite hiking path and made sure to take brownies (the kind you can eat) with us. We each played a different character from the series and had a crazy day full of fun misadventures (like getting stuck in the mud!) as we traveled miles due to the fact that our crystal orbs weren’t working. Sigh. We need more magic.

Alice in Wonderland

While all of this fun book craziness was going on, I was also planting a garden. I call it Rapunzel’s Garden and in it is a section in memory of my mommie, whose birthday was on our second book day. I planted a couple of decorative cabbages at the base of her transplanted roses with some memorial stones. Beyond the Tower, my first novel, was dedicated to her. Unlike Rapunzel’s mother, mine would never trade me for a head of lettuce or cabbage.

Despite this solemn note of sorrow, we decided that transferring my mother’s roses would take place on Alice in Wonderland day. My mommies would have loved this. We joked that we should “paint the roses red” to keep the Queen of Hearts from getting angry. Of course, we didn’t, which meant during our mad tea party the queen, played by me, had ample opportunity to declare, “Off with his head!”

My eldest played Alice, my middle daughter the Cheshire Cat, and my son played the White Rabbit who was running late. It was a fun and silly day and I let the kids enjoy a great many cookies. The weather was gorgeous and it was wonderful to look over and see my mother’s roses while we played.

Is Book Week Right for Your Family?

Would book week work for your family? I don’t know. If you have found that certain books minister to you, cause in-depth discussions, or are a great source of entertainment for your family, I say “go for it!” It doesn’t have to be an entire week, it can be a weekend or just one day in which you celebrate the overarching theme or characters from a book or series of books. Go do something fun together, celebrate the life you were blessed with, enjoy time with the people you love. If you need to, spend a little time remembering someone you miss. Whatever you do, allow books to remind you how good life is. You don’t need a secret portal to reach that conclusion, even if you are living in 2020.

My gift to you: If you love clean young adult fantasy and are looking for books to read, sign-up for my newsletter and receive your free copy of Before the Tower, a tale of two sisters, greed, and what led to Rapunzel’s tower.

About JacQueline

JacQueline is the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures.  Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, chronicles her battle with chronic pain and depression, and JacQueline uses her writing to share stories of hope and joy. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline to keep her writing healthy at no additional cost to you.

JacQueline currently lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All of her writing is from her own experience and based on her opinion. Do not substitute it for a professional therapist.

JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author consultant, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free author assessment to learn what steps you should take next now.

Photo credit: Chris Lawton, Jenna Anderson, JacQueline Vaughn Roe, Debby Hudson, and girl.

The post Grief, Book Week, and Our FAVORITE Portal Fantasies appeared first on Author J Roe.

Villains We Love to Hate: Our FAVORITES!

As the weather turns cooler and my kids begin asking for creepy pastimes like roaming through graveyards, I find my mind thinking of the most frightening villains we love to hate. You know the ones, the antagonists whose twisted minds create havoc for our favorite heroes. The ones who, in a great story, often frighten us and we wonder how they will ever be defeated.

We Love to Hate Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter

You knew I had to start this list of favorite villains with Lord Voldemort, didn’t you? The infamous sorcerer who pursues power at all costs, even risking his own soul, sends chills through us. As J.K. Rowling grew the series, we see development not just in Harry Potter and his friends, but also in our understanding of just how horrific this villain and his followers are.

And yet, there is that little part of us wonders, could it all have gone down differently? What if someone could have reached him, swayed him toward the right kind of magic? What if Dumbledore could have found him years earlier than he did, helped shape him? Of course, our loss would be great as we would never have received this amazing series. Still, we wonder.

This is where the brilliance of a great villain comes from. It is the genius of J.K. Rowling who gives us just enough backstory to make the villain real and somewhat sympathetic. Don’t you agree?

We Love to Hate Levanna from The Lunar Chronicles

If anyone could compete with Lord Voldemort, it’s probably the Lunar Queen, Levanna from Marissa Myer’s Lunar Chronicles. Based on Snow White’s stepmother, this queen-of-the-moon-villainess has mind-controlling powers that can actually cause people to commit suicide if she desires it. And with those very powers, she keeps everyone in her presence mesmerized by her beauty, beauty that isn’t real after all.

Marrissa Myers, the author, even lamented in a Goodreads Q&A session that she felt she gave too much power to the moon-dwelling Lunars. As the series went on, she found it difficult to control them and she struggled to write an ending where good could win when evil was so, well, powerful.

In fact, Myers seems addicted to this storyline and even after completing the series, she went on to write several more novellas, two graphic novels, and Levanna’s own horrible backstory. Why was she disfigured and what made her so cruel? We authors just can’t seem to get away from our favorite villains, can we?

We Love to Hate: Eufemia, Rapunzel’s Witch From The Journey Series

With examples of villains like this before me, it’s no wonder that when I began publishing Rapunzel’s journey, I wanted to make sure that the villain was someone readers would love to hate. Since childhood, I have loved the story of Rapunzel and been intrigued by the witch who incarcerated her. I mean, what was her deal exactly? What would drive anyone to imprison someone you say you love?

One summer, I caught sight of huge sunflowers peeking over a wall surrounding a private home. Every day I looked forward to seeing their great, sunny heads bobbing in the wind. Then one day they were gone. And that’s where my seed of a story began for Rapunzel’s books, The Journey series.

Rapunzel had loved the sunflowers beyond the tower, just out of reach, but her witch cut them down. Why? Why was her witch cruel? As I wrote, I discovered that she was cursed as a young child. She sat in her rocking chair telling her tale in her gravelly voice. The curse had changed her entire life–and it began the series that has made my writing career. I went back and wrote the origin story, exploring what she would have been like as a child and the tragedy that left her twisted and strange. You can get your free copy here.

We Love to Hate: Lord Endrick from The Traitor’s Game

I had not read The Traitor’s Game when I began publishing The Journey series, but Lord Endrick is the kind of villain who fits in nicely with Lord Voldemort, Levanna, and Eufemia. One might even wonder if they would have a respect for one another and form a club, or turn their hostilities against each other with cataclysmic consequences.

A tyrannical meglomaniac, Lord Endrick has been draining the magical people of their power. Any who defy him will find their will turned against them and he violently harms those in his way. The series begins with a defiant Kestra, who hates but knows better than to cross Lord Endrick whom her father works for.

Lord Endrick commands an army of Ironheart soldiers in the dark kingdom of Antora, their hearts corrupted to do as he wishes. Only the Olden Blade threatens his immortality, a lost dagger believed to be the only thing that can kill the power-hungry king. With such a fantastic villain, my family was thrilled when the trilogy completed this year. Believe me when I say that variations of “Wait, I’m not to that part yet!” has been hollered more than once.

Your Turn

Do you and your bookish friends talk “villains we love to hate” and other silly banter? Who comes up? Whose backstory do you wish was available? Have you ever thought of writing an origin story for a villain/ess?

About JacQueline

JacQueline is the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures.  Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, chronicles her battle with chronic pain and depression, and JacQueline uses her writing to share stories of hope and joy. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline to keep her writing healthy at no additional cost to you.

JacQueline currently lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All of her writing is from her own experience and based on her opinion. Do not substitute it for a professional therapist.

JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author consultant, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free author assessment to learn what steps you should take next now.

The post Villains We Love to Hate: Our FAVORITES! appeared first on Author J Roe.

Why Prequels and Origin Stories are Our FAVORITES

Have you given thought to why prequels and origin stories are some of our favorites? The beginning fascinates us, doesn’t it? The world’s best-selling book, the Bible, opens with, “In the beginning . . .” and we are introduced to the God of heaven and earth, what was good–and what went horribly wrong.

Some of the best loved literature, though, does not begin at the beginning. The authors published their stories and only later went back and published what set everything into motion. Those prequels, or origin novels, are cherished by the raving fans who adored the originals.

Prequels and Origin Stories: The Hobbit

If you love fantasy books, chances are you are familiar with The Lord of the Rings. Perhaps you traveled with Frodo and his companions on that fateful journey to destroy the ring. You know Middle Earth, tried to learn elvish, and despaired when the fellowship of the ring had to separate.

I like to imagine what it was like for the first readers to get their hands on the massive tomes written by J.R.R. Tolkien. Were there book clubs in little pubs all over the United Kingdom? And as they closed The Return of the King, how many of them had questions about Bilbo Baggins and his journey?

Tolkien was a brilliant, wordy man. The world-building he created for his series was vast in breadth and depth. Each character so well-formed, each people group so complete, that it wasn’t difficult to see the backstory was just waiting to be told. And so we were gifted with the origin story, the tale of how the ring came into the possession of Bilbo, and what began it all.

I, for one, am so grateful this prequel was shared with the world, aren’t you? Who doesn’t want more about the world’s best mentor, Gandalf?

Prequels and Origin Stories: The Magician’s Nephew

The beloved writer and theologian, C.S. Lewis, was not only a contemporary of J.R.R. Tolkien, but a close friend. I love hearing stories of their literary and writing group, The Inklings. Though the men differed in how they thought stories should be told, many of their readers like to group their fantasies together.

Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia begins with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, in which the Pevensie children discover the world of Narnia and help free it from the curse of the White Witch by the aid of Aslan, the lion and ruler of Narnia. Written as an allegory to lead readers to see the story of Jesus’ Christ sacrificial death and resurrection in a new light, the book has become a perennial classic.

But how did Narnia come to be? And how did a wardrobe in our world become a portal to carry children to Narnia? C.S. Lewis, a man of great thought, decided to answer these questions when he penned The Magician’s Nephew. The story was so powerful that a controversy arose as to how the books should be numbered, since this prequel was actually number six in the series. But I enjoy reading it as number six, right before the end. I love how Lewis put it there intentionally, as part of the allegory that leads people to think of their own “in the beginning” and who created them.

Prequels and Origin Stories: Before the Tower

I suppose it should be no surprise that these great men, and others like them, eventually inspired me to write my own prequel or origin story. My series began with what happened to Rapunzel after the witch had cut her hair and thrown her from the tower. I had always wondered, how could she survive in a world that was unknown to her? How would she make friends? What would she think of the God that the witch had taught her to hate?

In answering some of these questions while writing Beyond the Tower and the sequels, I found other questions. Who was the witch and why did she hate God so much? What could have twisted the woman to become the type of person who would incarcerate a young girl in a tower and isolate her from the world of men?

While most people have heard one version or another about Rapunzel, Before the Tower focuses on the relationship between two sisters whose lives are unraveled by greed.

Sneak Peek

“Give it to me now!” The old woman leaned close to Eufemia’s face, grabbing her hand. Katterina watched her sister instinctively step back. The putrid smell wafted near the two sisters as the old woman gave a gruesome smile showing her rotting teeth. “You think you smell better, little brat? You think you’re a beauty? It will be your curse! All you long for you will never be able to hold, all you reach for will be taken from you. You will die alone and lonely. All your birds will have wings and they will leave you crippled. Mark my words, child.”

Get your free copy now

Eufemia and Katterina have always been close. Cloistered in their small home and selling cheese at the market while their mother lies sick is the only life they’ve known. But when Eufemia is cursed by an old woman, something twists inside her. She will never be the same. Before the sisters lie two paths on life’s journey. Katterina discovers she can have a family of her own, but only if she denies Eufemia the man they both want. Eufemia, apprenticed up in a cove in the Soontrisse Mountains to an old widow whose health is failing, realizes the woman is not what she seems. Katterina grows suspicious, what is Eufemia really learning?

One curse. Two secrets. Betrayal in the garden will lead to Rapunzel’s tower. My gift to you is this free book you can get here.

Your turn: share a favorite prequel you have enjoyed in the comments here or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and tag me.

About JacQueline

JacQueline is the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures.  Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, chronicles her battle with chronic pain and depression, and JacQueline uses her writing to share stories of hope and joy. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline to keep her writing healthy at no additional cost to you.

JacQueline currently lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All of her writing is from her own experience and based on her opinion. Do not substitute it for a professional therapist.

JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author consultant, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free author assessment to learn what steps you should take next now.

Social Media design by JacQueline Vaughn Roe, cover design by Sara Oliver Design.

Photo Credit: Wen Photos, Mira Cosic, Ricardo Helass.

The post Why Prequels and Origin Stories are Our FAVORITES appeared first on Author J Roe.