Georgina Warren's Blog: Georgina Warren, page 2
June 9, 2025
ROUND 2 All Authors Book Cover of the Month Contest June 2025
Welcome to Voting Round 2
I'm excited to announce that my book, Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers has been selected for the All Authors Cover of the Month Contest for June 2025. Help me win by signing in and adding your vote in each round every week until the winner is announced at the end of the month. Follow the link below and vote today!
https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-mo...
All voters that participated in Round 1 are welcome to vote again in Round 2. Thank you for your support.
Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers
Rank #22
49 Votes
Round 2 voting ends on Saturday, June 14th.
Final day for voting is June 30th.
I'm excited to announce that my book, Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers has been selected for the All Authors Cover of the Month Contest for June 2025. Help me win by signing in and adding your vote in each round every week until the winner is announced at the end of the month. Follow the link below and vote today!
https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-mo...
All voters that participated in Round 1 are welcome to vote again in Round 2. Thank you for your support.
Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers
Rank #22
49 Votes
Round 2 voting ends on Saturday, June 14th.
Final day for voting is June 30th.
June 2, 2025
ROUND 1 All Authors Book Cover of the Month Contest June 2025
Welcome to Voting Round 1
I'm excited to announce that my book, Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers has been selected for the All Authors Cover of the Month Contest for June 2025. Help me win by signing in and adding your vote in each round every week until the winner is announced at the end of the month. Follow the link below and vote today!
https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-mo...
Final day for voting is June 30th.
I'm excited to announce that my book, Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers has been selected for the All Authors Cover of the Month Contest for June 2025. Help me win by signing in and adding your vote in each round every week until the winner is announced at the end of the month. Follow the link below and vote today!
https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-mo...
Final day for voting is June 30th.
May 22, 2025
Cautionary Step Tales and Steps in Peril - Wicked Witches and Serial Killers
In the course of my research on the portrayal of stepparents and blended families in fiction, I have noticed that when stepmothers and stepfathers are villains, they have distinct personality traits that frequently show up in films and TV.
Evil stepmothers are usually wicked witches, seductive mistresses or vain socialites in films, but evil stepfathers are usually portrayed as serial killers, domestic abusers or sexual predators. In both cases, the horror of the bad stepparent is underscored by their lack of a biological bond with their stepchildren.
When you see a bad stepmother or stepfather in horror or thrillers, they are often portrayed as villains or victims. If they are victims, the viewer will cheer when these characters meet their demise.
According to the Seven Deadly Sins, bad stepparents usually have a combination of the following vices, and I will rank them according to which ones appear first:
Bad Stepmothers
Pride
Envy
Lust
Greed
Wrath
Bad Stepfathers
Wrath
Lust
Pride
Envy
Sloth
Gluttony
Greed
For obvious reasons, I'm not going to list every bad stepmother from the old fairy tales like Snow White and Cinderella, that list is more than ten miles long. Here we are primarily exploring examples of more modern titles that are not derived from preexisting folklore.
I also won't spend too much time on divorced parents that get back together after the disposable fiancé/new partner is gone. We already have too many of these stories that suggest divorce has a reset button. Some couples cannot get back together after surviving a crisis. (I'm looking at San Andreas, 2012, and Moonfall by the way).
Wicked Stepmother - witch
The Parent Trap - prima donna
It Takes Two - gold digger
Nanny McPhee - prima donna
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie - prima donna
Dolls - prima donna
Thanksgiving - prima donna
Some of the titles listed above feature kids attempting to break up their father's wedding and prevent him from marrying the wrong bride and help him choose the good bride instead. So, we get a contrast between the two female love interests of the guy. If they are not putting curses on their stepchildren, the wicked future stepmother usually wants to keep her man and his money to herself while sending the kids off to boarding school. The bottom line is that it's alright for the father to get remarried just as long as he chooses a woman that fits right with him and his children.
The Stepfather - serial killer
Domestic Disturbance - serial killer
Burning Bright - domestic abuser
Critters 3 - jerk
Piranha 3DD - jerk
Pan's Labyrinth - abusive husband
Big Bad Wolf - werewolf
With wicked stepfathers and mom's new boyfriend, they usually get drawn to a family for money or an attractive woman. They are usually domineering, indifferent and they always want to control everyone in the family. They will often attack at the first sign of resistance and if they can't control the family, some would rather let them die. Bonus points if this character is a serial cheater or a pedophile. In some movies there is a plot twist revealing a sinister secret about mom's new boyfriend (in The Lost Boys, he is a vampire and in the Child's Play remake, he is an adulterer). After this revelation, this character usually dies.
A couple of movie remakes like Body Snatchers (1993) and The Amityville Horror (2005) feature good stepparents that get forced into a villainous role because of malevolent forces. The stepmother in Body Snatchers gets an alien clone while the stepfather in The Amityville Horror gets possessed by demons. In both cases, these figures become a threat to their family, and they need to be defeated.
In two other cases, we have movies like The Craft and Dolls that feature a good stepparent that survives and a bad stepparent that dies.
In The Craft, Sarah's stepmother is out of focus, but we can infer that they have a positive relationship, and Sarah cares about her as well as her dad. In contrast, Nancy has an abusive stepfather, and he dies from a heart attack.
In Dolls, Judy's wicked stepmother and negligent father get their comeuppance at the hands of the titular villains. But Judy survives along with another friend Ralph, and he takes on a protective fatherly role to her. When they leave the haunted mansion, the ending implies that Ralph will get together with Judy's mother.
But there are also many horror stories that feature good stepparents that protect their families and survive the dangers facing them in the plot.
Examples of heroic stepmothers or dad's girlfriend in horror:
Fear - stepdaughter's abusive boyfriend
Unforgettable - jealous ex-wife
Damsel - dragon
Imaginary - demon
Daddy's Head - demon
Mother's Boys - jealous ex-wife
Examples of heroic stepfathers or mom's boyfriend in action/disaster movies
Independence Day - alien invasion
Dante's Peak - volcano
Poseidon - capsized ship
The Meg - prehistoric killer shark
Kindergarten Cop - mobsters
Pixels - alien invasion
It is interesting to consider the different characteristics of stepmoms and stepdads in the lists mentioned above.
When the main character meets a single parent with kids, the biological parent may be gone for different reasons: the biological mother is usually dead while the biological father has left the family. Both types of stepparents must earn their place in the family. The new stepmom must then help the family heal from the loss and lead them forward in life while the new stepdad must prove his worth and dedication to make up for the previous father's departure. When there is a problem, these characters must work together to overcome different challenges so that they can achieve a happy ending.
Heroism manifests differently for the new stepmom and the stepdad in these plots.
The stepmom is more likely to face interpersonal conflict, a smaller-scale disaster that only affects her and her family, especially when the enemy is a jealous former lover. She must gain trust from the children while facing an enemy that is trying to destroy their bond as well as their lives.
When the stepdad is facing danger, the catastrophe is usually on a larger scale, a force of nature that affects everyone in the world. He must then protect and guide the single mom and her children to safety and if possible, help rescue other people in peril. The stepdad earns his place when the family survives at the end of the crisis. His power comes from his physical strength and intellectual capabilities. The force of nature does not challenge the characters' bonds as much as it challenges their existence.
It is interesting to consider how the characteristics of stepparents manifests differently based on their gender in film. Future writers should take note of these patterns and think about new ways to portray blended families in different situations. I hope you enjoyed my exploration of stepparents in horror and thrillers. If you have other ideas, share them in the comments.
Evil stepmothers are usually wicked witches, seductive mistresses or vain socialites in films, but evil stepfathers are usually portrayed as serial killers, domestic abusers or sexual predators. In both cases, the horror of the bad stepparent is underscored by their lack of a biological bond with their stepchildren.
When you see a bad stepmother or stepfather in horror or thrillers, they are often portrayed as villains or victims. If they are victims, the viewer will cheer when these characters meet their demise.
According to the Seven Deadly Sins, bad stepparents usually have a combination of the following vices, and I will rank them according to which ones appear first:
Bad Stepmothers
Pride
Envy
Lust
Greed
Wrath
Bad Stepfathers
Wrath
Lust
Pride
Envy
Sloth
Gluttony
Greed
For obvious reasons, I'm not going to list every bad stepmother from the old fairy tales like Snow White and Cinderella, that list is more than ten miles long. Here we are primarily exploring examples of more modern titles that are not derived from preexisting folklore.
I also won't spend too much time on divorced parents that get back together after the disposable fiancé/new partner is gone. We already have too many of these stories that suggest divorce has a reset button. Some couples cannot get back together after surviving a crisis. (I'm looking at San Andreas, 2012, and Moonfall by the way).
Wicked Stepmother - witch
The Parent Trap - prima donna
It Takes Two - gold digger
Nanny McPhee - prima donna
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie - prima donna
Dolls - prima donna
Thanksgiving - prima donna
Some of the titles listed above feature kids attempting to break up their father's wedding and prevent him from marrying the wrong bride and help him choose the good bride instead. So, we get a contrast between the two female love interests of the guy. If they are not putting curses on their stepchildren, the wicked future stepmother usually wants to keep her man and his money to herself while sending the kids off to boarding school. The bottom line is that it's alright for the father to get remarried just as long as he chooses a woman that fits right with him and his children.
The Stepfather - serial killer
Domestic Disturbance - serial killer
Burning Bright - domestic abuser
Critters 3 - jerk
Piranha 3DD - jerk
Pan's Labyrinth - abusive husband
Big Bad Wolf - werewolf
With wicked stepfathers and mom's new boyfriend, they usually get drawn to a family for money or an attractive woman. They are usually domineering, indifferent and they always want to control everyone in the family. They will often attack at the first sign of resistance and if they can't control the family, some would rather let them die. Bonus points if this character is a serial cheater or a pedophile. In some movies there is a plot twist revealing a sinister secret about mom's new boyfriend (in The Lost Boys, he is a vampire and in the Child's Play remake, he is an adulterer). After this revelation, this character usually dies.
A couple of movie remakes like Body Snatchers (1993) and The Amityville Horror (2005) feature good stepparents that get forced into a villainous role because of malevolent forces. The stepmother in Body Snatchers gets an alien clone while the stepfather in The Amityville Horror gets possessed by demons. In both cases, these figures become a threat to their family, and they need to be defeated.
In two other cases, we have movies like The Craft and Dolls that feature a good stepparent that survives and a bad stepparent that dies.
In The Craft, Sarah's stepmother is out of focus, but we can infer that they have a positive relationship, and Sarah cares about her as well as her dad. In contrast, Nancy has an abusive stepfather, and he dies from a heart attack.
In Dolls, Judy's wicked stepmother and negligent father get their comeuppance at the hands of the titular villains. But Judy survives along with another friend Ralph, and he takes on a protective fatherly role to her. When they leave the haunted mansion, the ending implies that Ralph will get together with Judy's mother.
But there are also many horror stories that feature good stepparents that protect their families and survive the dangers facing them in the plot.
Examples of heroic stepmothers or dad's girlfriend in horror:
Fear - stepdaughter's abusive boyfriend
Unforgettable - jealous ex-wife
Damsel - dragon
Imaginary - demon
Daddy's Head - demon
Mother's Boys - jealous ex-wife
Examples of heroic stepfathers or mom's boyfriend in action/disaster movies
Independence Day - alien invasion
Dante's Peak - volcano
Poseidon - capsized ship
The Meg - prehistoric killer shark
Kindergarten Cop - mobsters
Pixels - alien invasion
It is interesting to consider the different characteristics of stepmoms and stepdads in the lists mentioned above.
When the main character meets a single parent with kids, the biological parent may be gone for different reasons: the biological mother is usually dead while the biological father has left the family. Both types of stepparents must earn their place in the family. The new stepmom must then help the family heal from the loss and lead them forward in life while the new stepdad must prove his worth and dedication to make up for the previous father's departure. When there is a problem, these characters must work together to overcome different challenges so that they can achieve a happy ending.
Heroism manifests differently for the new stepmom and the stepdad in these plots.
The stepmom is more likely to face interpersonal conflict, a smaller-scale disaster that only affects her and her family, especially when the enemy is a jealous former lover. She must gain trust from the children while facing an enemy that is trying to destroy their bond as well as their lives.
When the stepdad is facing danger, the catastrophe is usually on a larger scale, a force of nature that affects everyone in the world. He must then protect and guide the single mom and her children to safety and if possible, help rescue other people in peril. The stepdad earns his place when the family survives at the end of the crisis. His power comes from his physical strength and intellectual capabilities. The force of nature does not challenge the characters' bonds as much as it challenges their existence.
It is interesting to consider how the characteristics of stepparents manifests differently based on their gender in film. Future writers should take note of these patterns and think about new ways to portray blended families in different situations. I hope you enjoyed my exploration of stepparents in horror and thrillers. If you have other ideas, share them in the comments.
May 19, 2025
Best Tragic Romances in Film (Millennial Edition)
Here I will share a few titles of the best tragic romances in film.
In my experience of studying blended families, I learned that these members always come together after a separation or a loss of the previous spouse. This led to me thinking about the ways in which society has romanticized couples in fiction. But sometimes true love doesn't last forever, and the journey is more important than the destination. These stories do not feature the standard "happily ever after" at the end. Each of the films listed below features a couple in love, but they face different challenges that ultimately break them apart or the story ends with one or both characters having a tragic death or separation.
I'm mostly sharing titles of films that have been released during my lifetime and that other millennials will remember.
Spoiler warnings for the endings:
Casablanca - 1942
Ghost - 1990
The Bodyguard - 1992
Romeo + Juliet - 1996
Titanic - 1997
City of Angels - 1998
Message in a Bottle - 1999
Moulin Rouge! - 2001
A Walk to Remember - 2002
In my experience of studying blended families, I learned that these members always come together after a separation or a loss of the previous spouse. This led to me thinking about the ways in which society has romanticized couples in fiction. But sometimes true love doesn't last forever, and the journey is more important than the destination. These stories do not feature the standard "happily ever after" at the end. Each of the films listed below features a couple in love, but they face different challenges that ultimately break them apart or the story ends with one or both characters having a tragic death or separation.
I'm mostly sharing titles of films that have been released during my lifetime and that other millennials will remember.
Spoiler warnings for the endings:
Casablanca - 1942
Ghost - 1990
The Bodyguard - 1992
Romeo + Juliet - 1996
Titanic - 1997
City of Angels - 1998
Message in a Bottle - 1999
Moulin Rouge! - 2001
A Walk to Remember - 2002
Deborah Kalb's author spotlight: Jane Harrington
Tune in for Deborah Kalb's latest interview with author Jane Harrington as they discuss her new book: Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance: The Forgotten Founding Mothers of the Fairy Tale and the Stories That They Spun.
Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance: The Forgotten Founding Mothers of the Fairy Tale and the Stories That They Spun
The book comes out in August, but readers can pre-order their copies now. I'm already excited to explore this new collection of women writers in folklore!
Follow the link below to read interview.
https://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com...
Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance: The Forgotten Founding Mothers of the Fairy Tale and the Stories That They Spun
The book comes out in August, but readers can pre-order their copies now. I'm already excited to explore this new collection of women writers in folklore!
Follow the link below to read interview.
https://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com...
May 16, 2025
Notable Stepbrothers and Stepsisters in Fiction
We all know how Cinderella gave stepmothers a bad name, but this fairy tale also gave stepsisters a bad reputation. In most works of fiction, people expect some conflict between stepsiblings when their respective parents remarry. Some stepsiblings cannot get along but there are many others that become each other's greatest friends.
I never had stepsiblings, but I know there are many people that have them in their blended families.
Some stories feature two single parents that remarry and have a new baby, so we have a blended family with a stepchild and a half-sibling. This dynamic may be different compared to the one found between older stepsiblings.
Here I will share some examples of good siblings in blended family movies and TV shows:
FAMILY MOVIES AND TV SHOWS
Labyrinth - Sarah and Toby
A 16-year-old girl (Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly, Best Supporting Actress, A Beautiful Mind, 2001) is given 13 hours to solve a dangerous and wonderful labyrinth and rescue her baby brother when her wish for him to be taken away is granted by the Goblin King (David Bowie).
Sarah lives with her father, stepmother and baby half-brother in a suburban neighborhood. Her parents leave her to babysit little Toby while they go to party, so the plot mostly focuses on the children and Sarah's quest in the Goblin King's fantastic domain.
Stepsister from Planet Weird - Megan, Trevor and Ariel
A teenager (Courtnee Draper) discovers her mother's fiancé and her own future stepsister (Tamara Hope) are actually aliens hiding out on Earth.
Megan and Trevor's human mother falls in love with Ariel's alien father and they become stepsiblings.
Cinderella 2 (Dreams Come True) and 3 (A Twist in Time) - Cinderella and Anastasia
Dreams Come True - Jaq and Gus create a storybook based on three events that happened after the first film. The stories include Cinderella's opposition to the court's strict etiquette, Jaq's becoming human for a day, and Anastasia's redemption through love.
A Twist in Time - When Lady Tremaine steals the Fairy Godmother's wand and changes history, it's up to Cinderella and her mouse friends to restore the timeline and reclaim her prince.
In the first movie, Cinderella starts off oppressed by her wicked stepmother Lady Tremaine and her spoiled stepsisters Anastasia and Druzella. In the sequel movies after Cinderella marries the prince Anastasia has a redemption, and she is able to reconcile with Cinderella after escaping the toxic influence of her own mother and sister.
Disenchanted - Morgan and Sofia
It's been fifteen years since Giselle and Robert wed, but Giselle has grown disillusioned with life in the city. They decide to move their growing family to the sleepy suburban community of Monroeville in search of a more fairy tale life – unfortunately, it isn’t the quick fix she hoped for. Suburbia has a whole new set of rules and a local queen bee, Malvina Monroe, who makes Giselle feel more out of place than ever. Frustrated that her happily ever after hasn’t been easy to find, she turns to the magic of Andalasia for help, accidentally transforming the entire town into a real-life fairy tale, placing her family’s future happiness in jeopardy. Now, Giselle is in a race against time to reverse the spell and determine what happily ever after truly means to her and her family.
At the end of the first movie Enchanted, Morgan's father and Giselle got married and Morgan was an only child. In this sequel they had a new baby daughter, Morgan's half-sister Sofia.
Over the Moon - Fei Fei and Chin
An adventurous girl builds a rocket ship to meet a mythical goddess on the moon.
Fei Fei's dad and Chin's mom fall in love and the two children go on a journey to the moon to find the moon goddess.
Rugrats - Chuckie and Kimi
In the long-running animated series' second feature film, the focus is on the show's perennial second banana, Chuckie (Christine Cavanaugh). Dads Stu (Jack Riley) and Chaz (Michael Bell) are unexpectedly sent to Euro-Reptarland in Paris, where the animatronic dinosaurs they built for the amusement park are malfunctioning, much to the displeasure of manager Coco La Bouche (Susan Sarandon). When the dislikable Coco gets interested in the single Chaz, Chuckie and his friends swing into action.
Chuckie's dad and Kimi's mom fall in love when they meet in Rugrats in Paris: The Movie and the two children become stepsiblings.
Sofia the First - Sofia, Amber and James
A girl (Ariel Winter) must adjust to a life of royalty when her mother marries King Roland II (Travis Willingham) of Enchancia.
Amber and James's royal father and Sofia's mother fall in love and they become stepsiblings.
Phineas and Ferb - Candace, Phineas and Ferb
Phineas Flynn and his stepbrother, Ferb Fletcher, are determined to make every day of their summer vacation fun. They try building a full-scale roller coaster, becoming musicians, building a backyard beach, and traveling back in time to meet dinosaurs. Their family pet, Perry the Platypus, doubles as a secret agent and battles evil. Meanwhile, older sister Candace is tattling on them to Mom and Dad, though she can never seem to catch them in the act.
Phineas and Candace's mom marries Ferb's dad, and they are stepsiblings.
ADULT MOVIES**
Pan's Labyrinth - Ofelia and Pedro Jr.
In 1944 Spain young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) and her ailing pregnant mother (Ariadna Gil) arrive at the post of her mother's new husband (Sergi López), a sadistic army officer who is trying to quell a guerrilla uprising. While exploring an ancient maze, Ofelia encounters the faun Pan, who tells her that she is a legendary lost princess and must complete three dangerous tasks in order to claim immortality.
Ofelia's mother married Captain Vidal, and she died after the birth of baby Pedro Jr.
Lights Out - Rebecca and Martin
When Rebecca left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn’t real when the lights went out…and now her little brother, Martin, is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that had once tested her sanity and threatened her safety. A frightening entity with a mysterious attachment to their mother, Sophie, has reemerged. But this time, as Rebecca gets closer to unlocking the truth, there is no denying that all their lives are in danger…once the lights go out.
Rebecca and Martin share one mother and two different fathers. Both fathers were murdered by the same demon that is haunting their mother.
**Both adult movies mentioned above feature dysfunctional, absent or abusive parents, but the stepsiblings share a positive bond and support each other during the plot.
So far, it looks like the most common types of stepsiblings are brother and sister pairs or stepsisters and there are many older stepdaughters with a baby sibling. This list features only a few selected titles, but I am open to including others.
Think about what you see with these stepsiblings. Imagine what types of characters you want to see in future works. Please share your ideas in the comments below.
I never had stepsiblings, but I know there are many people that have them in their blended families.
Some stories feature two single parents that remarry and have a new baby, so we have a blended family with a stepchild and a half-sibling. This dynamic may be different compared to the one found between older stepsiblings.
Here I will share some examples of good siblings in blended family movies and TV shows:
FAMILY MOVIES AND TV SHOWS
Labyrinth - Sarah and Toby
A 16-year-old girl (Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly, Best Supporting Actress, A Beautiful Mind, 2001) is given 13 hours to solve a dangerous and wonderful labyrinth and rescue her baby brother when her wish for him to be taken away is granted by the Goblin King (David Bowie).
Sarah lives with her father, stepmother and baby half-brother in a suburban neighborhood. Her parents leave her to babysit little Toby while they go to party, so the plot mostly focuses on the children and Sarah's quest in the Goblin King's fantastic domain.
Stepsister from Planet Weird - Megan, Trevor and Ariel
A teenager (Courtnee Draper) discovers her mother's fiancé and her own future stepsister (Tamara Hope) are actually aliens hiding out on Earth.
Megan and Trevor's human mother falls in love with Ariel's alien father and they become stepsiblings.
Cinderella 2 (Dreams Come True) and 3 (A Twist in Time) - Cinderella and Anastasia
Dreams Come True - Jaq and Gus create a storybook based on three events that happened after the first film. The stories include Cinderella's opposition to the court's strict etiquette, Jaq's becoming human for a day, and Anastasia's redemption through love.
A Twist in Time - When Lady Tremaine steals the Fairy Godmother's wand and changes history, it's up to Cinderella and her mouse friends to restore the timeline and reclaim her prince.
In the first movie, Cinderella starts off oppressed by her wicked stepmother Lady Tremaine and her spoiled stepsisters Anastasia and Druzella. In the sequel movies after Cinderella marries the prince Anastasia has a redemption, and she is able to reconcile with Cinderella after escaping the toxic influence of her own mother and sister.
Disenchanted - Morgan and Sofia
It's been fifteen years since Giselle and Robert wed, but Giselle has grown disillusioned with life in the city. They decide to move their growing family to the sleepy suburban community of Monroeville in search of a more fairy tale life – unfortunately, it isn’t the quick fix she hoped for. Suburbia has a whole new set of rules and a local queen bee, Malvina Monroe, who makes Giselle feel more out of place than ever. Frustrated that her happily ever after hasn’t been easy to find, she turns to the magic of Andalasia for help, accidentally transforming the entire town into a real-life fairy tale, placing her family’s future happiness in jeopardy. Now, Giselle is in a race against time to reverse the spell and determine what happily ever after truly means to her and her family.
At the end of the first movie Enchanted, Morgan's father and Giselle got married and Morgan was an only child. In this sequel they had a new baby daughter, Morgan's half-sister Sofia.
Over the Moon - Fei Fei and Chin
An adventurous girl builds a rocket ship to meet a mythical goddess on the moon.
Fei Fei's dad and Chin's mom fall in love and the two children go on a journey to the moon to find the moon goddess.
Rugrats - Chuckie and Kimi
In the long-running animated series' second feature film, the focus is on the show's perennial second banana, Chuckie (Christine Cavanaugh). Dads Stu (Jack Riley) and Chaz (Michael Bell) are unexpectedly sent to Euro-Reptarland in Paris, where the animatronic dinosaurs they built for the amusement park are malfunctioning, much to the displeasure of manager Coco La Bouche (Susan Sarandon). When the dislikable Coco gets interested in the single Chaz, Chuckie and his friends swing into action.
Chuckie's dad and Kimi's mom fall in love when they meet in Rugrats in Paris: The Movie and the two children become stepsiblings.
Sofia the First - Sofia, Amber and James
A girl (Ariel Winter) must adjust to a life of royalty when her mother marries King Roland II (Travis Willingham) of Enchancia.
Amber and James's royal father and Sofia's mother fall in love and they become stepsiblings.
Phineas and Ferb - Candace, Phineas and Ferb
Phineas Flynn and his stepbrother, Ferb Fletcher, are determined to make every day of their summer vacation fun. They try building a full-scale roller coaster, becoming musicians, building a backyard beach, and traveling back in time to meet dinosaurs. Their family pet, Perry the Platypus, doubles as a secret agent and battles evil. Meanwhile, older sister Candace is tattling on them to Mom and Dad, though she can never seem to catch them in the act.
Phineas and Candace's mom marries Ferb's dad, and they are stepsiblings.
ADULT MOVIES**
Pan's Labyrinth - Ofelia and Pedro Jr.
In 1944 Spain young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) and her ailing pregnant mother (Ariadna Gil) arrive at the post of her mother's new husband (Sergi López), a sadistic army officer who is trying to quell a guerrilla uprising. While exploring an ancient maze, Ofelia encounters the faun Pan, who tells her that she is a legendary lost princess and must complete three dangerous tasks in order to claim immortality.
Ofelia's mother married Captain Vidal, and she died after the birth of baby Pedro Jr.
Lights Out - Rebecca and Martin
When Rebecca left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn’t real when the lights went out…and now her little brother, Martin, is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that had once tested her sanity and threatened her safety. A frightening entity with a mysterious attachment to their mother, Sophie, has reemerged. But this time, as Rebecca gets closer to unlocking the truth, there is no denying that all their lives are in danger…once the lights go out.
Rebecca and Martin share one mother and two different fathers. Both fathers were murdered by the same demon that is haunting their mother.
**Both adult movies mentioned above feature dysfunctional, absent or abusive parents, but the stepsiblings share a positive bond and support each other during the plot.
So far, it looks like the most common types of stepsiblings are brother and sister pairs or stepsisters and there are many older stepdaughters with a baby sibling. This list features only a few selected titles, but I am open to including others.
Think about what you see with these stepsiblings. Imagine what types of characters you want to see in future works. Please share your ideas in the comments below.
May 9, 2025
Famous Stepmothers in Film and TV - Honorable Mentions
Today I will share a list of good fictional stepmothers, future stepmothers and dad's new girlfriend that are featured in various genres of film and TV series. Here are some honorable mentions:
Action
Letty Ortiz - Fast and Furious 8, 9 and 10
Animation
Mrs. Zhong - Over the Moon
Giselle - Enchanted and Disenchanted
Sylvia Marpole - An Extremely Goofy Movie
Kira - Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
Queen Miranda - Sofia the First
Linda Flynn-Fletcher - Phineas and Ferb
Comedy
Joanna Mintz Stayton - Overboard
Bren MacGuff - Juno
Skyler Cooper - What to Expect When You're Expecting
Amy Anderson - Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Valentina Valencia - Zoolander 2
Carol Brady - The Brady Bunch
Gloria Delgado-Pritchett - Modern Family
Carole Hudson - Glee
Drama
Isabel Kelly - Stepmom
Katie Feldman - Safe Haven
Julia Rossmore - Daddy's Little Girls
Fantasy
Delia Deetz - Beetlejuice
Katherine Lewis - Toothless
Drew McDonald - Life Size
Evangeline - Nanny McPhee
Lady Bayford - Damsel
Anna Coleman - Freakier Friday
Horror
Emily Cashen - The Cellar
Kim Raphael - Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
Jessica - Imaginary
Laura - Daddy’s Head
Musical
Maria - The Sound of Music
Nellie - South Pacific
Truly Scrumptious - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Giselle - Enchanted and Disenchanted
Romance
Lori MacGregor - The Three Lives of Thomasina
Shelly DeVoto - My Girl
Annie Reed - Sleepless in Seattle
Melanie Parker - One Fine Day
Kat Valdez - Marry Me
Science Fiction
Celeste - My Stepmother is an Alien
Sara Barnes - Smart House
Marissa Wilson - Spy Kids: All the Time in the World
Ellie - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Helen Benson - The Day the Earth Stood Still
Nora Clayton - Revolution
Thriller
Colleen 'Callie' Harland - Mother's Boys
Laura Walker - Fear
Julia Banks - Unforgettable
Holiday
Carol Newman - The Santa Clause 2
Emily Hobbs - Elf
Honorable mentions of real stepmothers:
First Lady Jill Biden
Vice President Kamala Harris
Queen Camilla
Some of these women mentioned in the list are stepmothers, but they can also be dad's new girlfriend or fiance. If you know of more famous stepmothers to include in the list, please share your ideas in the comments.
Action
Letty Ortiz - Fast and Furious 8, 9 and 10
Animation
Mrs. Zhong - Over the Moon
Giselle - Enchanted and Disenchanted
Sylvia Marpole - An Extremely Goofy Movie
Kira - Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
Queen Miranda - Sofia the First
Linda Flynn-Fletcher - Phineas and Ferb
Comedy
Joanna Mintz Stayton - Overboard
Bren MacGuff - Juno
Skyler Cooper - What to Expect When You're Expecting
Amy Anderson - Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Valentina Valencia - Zoolander 2
Carol Brady - The Brady Bunch
Gloria Delgado-Pritchett - Modern Family
Carole Hudson - Glee
Drama
Isabel Kelly - Stepmom
Katie Feldman - Safe Haven
Julia Rossmore - Daddy's Little Girls
Fantasy
Delia Deetz - Beetlejuice
Katherine Lewis - Toothless
Drew McDonald - Life Size
Evangeline - Nanny McPhee
Lady Bayford - Damsel
Anna Coleman - Freakier Friday
Horror
Emily Cashen - The Cellar
Kim Raphael - Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
Jessica - Imaginary
Laura - Daddy’s Head
Musical
Maria - The Sound of Music
Nellie - South Pacific
Truly Scrumptious - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Giselle - Enchanted and Disenchanted
Romance
Lori MacGregor - The Three Lives of Thomasina
Shelly DeVoto - My Girl
Annie Reed - Sleepless in Seattle
Melanie Parker - One Fine Day
Kat Valdez - Marry Me
Science Fiction
Celeste - My Stepmother is an Alien
Sara Barnes - Smart House
Marissa Wilson - Spy Kids: All the Time in the World
Ellie - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Helen Benson - The Day the Earth Stood Still
Nora Clayton - Revolution
Thriller
Colleen 'Callie' Harland - Mother's Boys
Laura Walker - Fear
Julia Banks - Unforgettable
Holiday
Carol Newman - The Santa Clause 2
Emily Hobbs - Elf
Honorable mentions of real stepmothers:
First Lady Jill Biden
Vice President Kamala Harris
Queen Camilla
Some of these women mentioned in the list are stepmothers, but they can also be dad's new girlfriend or fiance. If you know of more famous stepmothers to include in the list, please share your ideas in the comments.
April 21, 2025
Recommended Movies for Blended Families!
Greetings dear readers, since we are now approaching Mother's Day, Stepmother's Day and Father's Day, I decided to share some titles of movies that offer a sympathetic portrayal of stepmothers, stepfathers and siblings in blended families.
I will categorize them into family movies and adult movies just to keep things simple and to help you choose the right kind of entertainment. If you think of any more titles, feel free to add them in the comments below. I also want to hear your ideas about any plot elements you have seen most frequently in these stories. There are too many misconceptions and stereotypes about these characters, and we need to bring some honesty to the table.
Good Stepmoms in Family Movies
1. South Pacific - (1958)
2. The Three Lives of Thomasina - (1963)
3. The Sound of Music - (1965)
4. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - (1968)
5. My Stepmother is an Alien - (1988)
6. Beetlejuice - (1988)
7. My Girl - (1991)
8. It Takes Two - (1995)
9. All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 - (1996)
10. Toothless - (1997)
11. Smart House - (1999)
12. Rugrats in Paris: The Movie - (2000)
13. An Extremely Goofy Movie - (2000)
14. Life-Size - (2000)
15. The Santa Clause 2 - (2002)
16. Nanny McPhee - (2005)
17. Enchanted - (2007)
18. Spy Kids: All the Time in the World - (2011)
19. Disenchanted - (2022)
20. Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice - (2024)
Good Stepmoms in Adult Movies
1. The Cellar - (1989)
2. Like Water for Chocolate - (1992)
3. Sleepless in Seattle - (1993)
4. Mother's Boys - (1993)
5. Corrina, Corrina - (1994)
6. Fear - (1996)
7. Stepmom - (1998)
8. Elf - (2003)
9. Man of the House - (2005)
10. Juno - (2007)
11. Daddy’s Little Girls - (2007)
12. The Day the Earth Stood Still - (2008)
13. What to Expect When You're Expecting - (2012)
14. Safe Haven - (2013)
15. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - (2014)
16. Unforgettable - (2017)
17. The Fate of the Furious - (2017)
18. Fast & Furious 9: The Fast Saga - (2021)
19. Love Hard - (2021)
20. Marry Me - (2022)
21. Fast & Furious 10 - (2023)
22. Imaginary - (2024)
23. Damsel - (2024)
24. Daddy's Head - (2024)
Good Stepdads in Family Movies
1. The Aristocats (1970)
2. Ghostbusters II (1989)
3. Look Who's Talking (1989)
4. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)
5. Junior (1994)
6. The Santa Clause (1994)
7. Man of the House (1995)
8. Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996)
9. Kazaam (1996)
10. The Iron Giant (1999)
11. Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire (2000)
12. Maid in Manhattan (2002)
13. Cadet Kelly (2002)
14. Freaky Friday (2003)
15. The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004)
16. Are We There Yet? (2005)
17. Beauty Shop (2005)
18. The Nativity Story (2006)
19. Superman Returns (2006)
20. Are We Done Yet? (2007)
21. Tooth Fairy (2010)
22. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
23. Ant-Man (2015)
24. Monster Trucks (2016)
25. Transformers: Bumblebee (2018)
26. Onward (2020)
27. Haunted Mansion (2023)
28. Ghostbusters Frozen Empire (2024)
Good Stepdads in Adult Movies
1. Dolls (1987)
2. Kindergarten Cop (1990)
3. The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
4. Independence Day (1996)
5. Dante's Peak (1997)
6. Waking Ned Devine (1998)
7. Practical Magic (1998)
8. Where the Heart Is (2000)
9. Love Actually (2003)
10. Something's Gotta Give (2003)
11. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
12. Poseidon (2006)
13. 2012 (2009)
14. Legion (2010)
15. Pixels (2015)
16. Daddy's Home (2015)
17. Hidden Figures (2016)
18. Daddy's Home 2 (2017)
19. The Meg (2018)
20. Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
21. Moonfall (2022)
22. The Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
Good Blended Families in Family Movies
1. Labyrinth - (1986)
2. Look Who's Talking Too - (1990)
3. Problem Child 2 - (1991)
4. Look Who's Talking Now! - (1993)
5. The Neverending Story III - (1994)
6. Stepsister from Planet Weird - (2000)
7. Yours, Mine and Ours - (2005)
8. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause - (2006)
9. Over The Moon - (2020)
10. Cheaper by the Dozen - (2022)
11. Freakier Friday - (2025)
Good Blended Families in Adult Movies
1. Overboard (1987)
2. Poltergeist III (1988)
3. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
4. Stepbrothers (2008)
5. Blended (2014)
6. Lights Out (2016)
7. Zoolander 2 (2016)
8. Bad Moms (2016)
9. A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
10. Overboard (2018)
11. 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019)
12. My Mother's Wedding (2023)
One final disclaimer, some of these movies feature stepmom and stepdad characters as established family members while other characters become stepmothers or stepfathers at the end of the story when they get together with their chosen partner and their children. Some of these movies feature good stepmoms/stepdads as protagonists while others feature them as supporting characters to the hero.
I will categorize them into family movies and adult movies just to keep things simple and to help you choose the right kind of entertainment. If you think of any more titles, feel free to add them in the comments below. I also want to hear your ideas about any plot elements you have seen most frequently in these stories. There are too many misconceptions and stereotypes about these characters, and we need to bring some honesty to the table.
Good Stepmoms in Family Movies
1. South Pacific - (1958)
2. The Three Lives of Thomasina - (1963)
3. The Sound of Music - (1965)
4. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - (1968)
5. My Stepmother is an Alien - (1988)
6. Beetlejuice - (1988)
7. My Girl - (1991)
8. It Takes Two - (1995)
9. All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 - (1996)
10. Toothless - (1997)
11. Smart House - (1999)
12. Rugrats in Paris: The Movie - (2000)
13. An Extremely Goofy Movie - (2000)
14. Life-Size - (2000)
15. The Santa Clause 2 - (2002)
16. Nanny McPhee - (2005)
17. Enchanted - (2007)
18. Spy Kids: All the Time in the World - (2011)
19. Disenchanted - (2022)
20. Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice - (2024)
Good Stepmoms in Adult Movies
1. The Cellar - (1989)
2. Like Water for Chocolate - (1992)
3. Sleepless in Seattle - (1993)
4. Mother's Boys - (1993)
5. Corrina, Corrina - (1994)
6. Fear - (1996)
7. Stepmom - (1998)
8. Elf - (2003)
9. Man of the House - (2005)
10. Juno - (2007)
11. Daddy’s Little Girls - (2007)
12. The Day the Earth Stood Still - (2008)
13. What to Expect When You're Expecting - (2012)
14. Safe Haven - (2013)
15. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - (2014)
16. Unforgettable - (2017)
17. The Fate of the Furious - (2017)
18. Fast & Furious 9: The Fast Saga - (2021)
19. Love Hard - (2021)
20. Marry Me - (2022)
21. Fast & Furious 10 - (2023)
22. Imaginary - (2024)
23. Damsel - (2024)
24. Daddy's Head - (2024)
Good Stepdads in Family Movies
1. The Aristocats (1970)
2. Ghostbusters II (1989)
3. Look Who's Talking (1989)
4. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)
5. Junior (1994)
6. The Santa Clause (1994)
7. Man of the House (1995)
8. Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996)
9. Kazaam (1996)
10. The Iron Giant (1999)
11. Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire (2000)
12. Maid in Manhattan (2002)
13. Cadet Kelly (2002)
14. Freaky Friday (2003)
15. The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004)
16. Are We There Yet? (2005)
17. Beauty Shop (2005)
18. The Nativity Story (2006)
19. Superman Returns (2006)
20. Are We Done Yet? (2007)
21. Tooth Fairy (2010)
22. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
23. Ant-Man (2015)
24. Monster Trucks (2016)
25. Transformers: Bumblebee (2018)
26. Onward (2020)
27. Haunted Mansion (2023)
28. Ghostbusters Frozen Empire (2024)
Good Stepdads in Adult Movies
1. Dolls (1987)
2. Kindergarten Cop (1990)
3. The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
4. Independence Day (1996)
5. Dante's Peak (1997)
6. Waking Ned Devine (1998)
7. Practical Magic (1998)
8. Where the Heart Is (2000)
9. Love Actually (2003)
10. Something's Gotta Give (2003)
11. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
12. Poseidon (2006)
13. 2012 (2009)
14. Legion (2010)
15. Pixels (2015)
16. Daddy's Home (2015)
17. Hidden Figures (2016)
18. Daddy's Home 2 (2017)
19. The Meg (2018)
20. Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
21. Moonfall (2022)
22. The Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
Good Blended Families in Family Movies
1. Labyrinth - (1986)
2. Look Who's Talking Too - (1990)
3. Problem Child 2 - (1991)
4. Look Who's Talking Now! - (1993)
5. The Neverending Story III - (1994)
6. Stepsister from Planet Weird - (2000)
7. Yours, Mine and Ours - (2005)
8. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause - (2006)
9. Over The Moon - (2020)
10. Cheaper by the Dozen - (2022)
11. Freakier Friday - (2025)
Good Blended Families in Adult Movies
1. Overboard (1987)
2. Poltergeist III (1988)
3. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
4. Stepbrothers (2008)
5. Blended (2014)
6. Lights Out (2016)
7. Zoolander 2 (2016)
8. Bad Moms (2016)
9. A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
10. Overboard (2018)
11. 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019)
12. My Mother's Wedding (2023)
One final disclaimer, some of these movies feature stepmom and stepdad characters as established family members while other characters become stepmothers or stepfathers at the end of the story when they get together with their chosen partner and their children. Some of these movies feature good stepmoms/stepdads as protagonists while others feature them as supporting characters to the hero.
April 4, 2025
Book Review Prompts - Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers
To my dedicated readers, I have a few requests when you submit your reviews. When you finish the book, I’ve included a list of prompt questions, and you can submit your answers when you review Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers. You can choose one prompt from this list and write your response.
1. Share the titles of your favorite stories from my collection.
2. Choose two or three names of your favorite fictional stepmothers from the book and share how they felt inspiring to you.
3. Pick one favorite story and tell me the names of your favorite famous actors you would cast as the characters.
4. If you could choose three or four stories to be made into animated movies or musical plays, which ones do you choose?
5. Any parents sharing the books with their children please submit their words in your reviews so that other readers will know how they felt about the stories.
Thank you for taking the time to read these instructions. I’m excited to hear your perspective on the book. Enjoy!
1. Share the titles of your favorite stories from my collection.
2. Choose two or three names of your favorite fictional stepmothers from the book and share how they felt inspiring to you.
3. Pick one favorite story and tell me the names of your favorite famous actors you would cast as the characters.
4. If you could choose three or four stories to be made into animated movies or musical plays, which ones do you choose?
5. Any parents sharing the books with their children please submit their words in your reviews so that other readers will know how they felt about the stories.
Thank you for taking the time to read these instructions. I’m excited to hear your perspective on the book. Enjoy!
COUNTDOWN TO STEPMOTHER'S DAY MAY 10
Okay readers! We are now one month away from Stepmother's Day. If you haven't heard the news yet, my family always celebrates that holiday on May 10 before Mother's Day.
I will give a shout out to some creative stepmothers and their brands if you want some cool gift ideas for the season. You can even design your own gift package for the special stepmother in your life!
Remember to grab your copy of Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers and submit your reviews to:
Amazon
Goodreads
Barnes & Noble
Fable
The Storygraph
Michelle Turner - Art by Michelle
https://www.artbymichellet.com/originals
The Bonus Life Collective - apparel and gifts
https://www.bonuslifecollective.com/p...
Recommended titles to add to your stepmother's gift package by age group
Pre-K
The Truth About Stepmoms
The Totally NOT Wicked Stepmother
My Fairy Stepmother
Always Your Stepmom
I Have a Stepmom
Middle Grade
Stepmothers and the Big Bad Wolf
The Wicked Stepmother Helps Out
The Not-So-Evil Stepmother (Fairy Tale Twists) by Katie Dale
Enchanted: The Junior Novelization
Karen's Stepmother
Teens
Blended
Bras & Broomsticks
The Stepmother's Third Chance
The Reluctant Stepsisters: Cinderella's Untold Story: Unveiling the Truths Behind the Fairy Tale Facade
Where the Stars Still Shine
Adults
Stepmom
Safe Haven
The Stepmothers' Support Group
Welcome To My Blended Family Circus: In The Beginning, 2015
No Little Girl Ever Dreams Of Becoming A Stepmom: A Companion Guide For The Stepmom Journey
Also, do not forget to add your signature to the good Disney stepmother petition on the Change.org website. Only 700 signatures left to complete it!
https://www.change.org/p/the-walt-dis...
I will give a shout out to some creative stepmothers and their brands if you want some cool gift ideas for the season. You can even design your own gift package for the special stepmother in your life!
Remember to grab your copy of Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers and submit your reviews to:
Amazon
Goodreads
Barnes & Noble
Fable
The Storygraph
Michelle Turner - Art by Michelle
https://www.artbymichellet.com/originals
The Bonus Life Collective - apparel and gifts
https://www.bonuslifecollective.com/p...
Recommended titles to add to your stepmother's gift package by age group
Pre-K
The Truth About Stepmoms
The Totally NOT Wicked Stepmother
My Fairy Stepmother
Always Your Stepmom
I Have a Stepmom
Middle Grade
Stepmothers and the Big Bad Wolf
The Wicked Stepmother Helps Out
The Not-So-Evil Stepmother (Fairy Tale Twists) by Katie Dale
Enchanted: The Junior Novelization
Karen's Stepmother
Teens
Blended
Bras & Broomsticks
The Stepmother's Third Chance
The Reluctant Stepsisters: Cinderella's Untold Story: Unveiling the Truths Behind the Fairy Tale Facade
Where the Stars Still Shine
Adults
Stepmom
Safe Haven
The Stepmothers' Support Group
Welcome To My Blended Family Circus: In The Beginning, 2015
No Little Girl Ever Dreams Of Becoming A Stepmom: A Companion Guide For The Stepmom Journey
Also, do not forget to add your signature to the good Disney stepmother petition on the Change.org website. Only 700 signatures left to complete it!
https://www.change.org/p/the-walt-dis...
