Georgina Warren's Blog: Georgina Warren, page 4

New Bookstagram Review on Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers!

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ᥫ᭡. Review: Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers ☘️🍀🌿🌸

ᥫ᭡. Author: Georgina Warren

Forget the “wicked stepmother” trope—this book says, *Not today, clichés!* Georgina’s *Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers* is a bold, beautiful celebration of stepmoms who slay (sometimes literally). From warrior queens to brainy scholars, these women prove that love, courage, and resilience can create magic in blended families.

Every story packs a punch of adventure, heart, and pure inspiration. Whether it’s a stepmom uniting a divided kingdom or teaching her stepkids to believe in themselves, these tales redefine heroism. Seriously, why weren’t these women in our fairy tales growing up? They’d have changed the game!

The best part? The relationships. These stepmoms and their stepchildren show us that family isn’t about blood—it’s about love, trust, and showing up for each other. The feels are *real*, and the stories are as empowering as they are entertaining.

Okay, we *might* have wanted a few stories to be longer because they were THAT good. But honestly, this collection is a game-changer. If you’re ready to see stepmoms become the queens they truly are, pick this one up ASAP.

QOTD: If fairy tales were rewritten today, what’s one stereotype you’d throw out? Share your thoughts!

Hill Rag 2024 Holiday Reading List

The Hill Rag Magazine just released its 2024 holiday edition. Under Arts & Dining, you will find several local DC authors (including myself) recommending new titles to add to your holiday wish list! Click link below to access the magazine and look on page 92. Thank you, Michelle LaFrance!

https://issuu.com/capitalcommunitynew...

A shout out to Matt Fitzsimmons, fellow author and my former English teacher!

The Slate

Here are my personal recommendations:

Ghosted: Dating & Other Paramoural Experiences

A Mole in One: How a little hero found his place in the world of golf.

New Article from Books & Review

'Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers' by Georgina Warren to Launch Soon Featuring 12 Original
Fairy Tales

The concept of a stepmother typically brings forth images of cunning and malicious characters from well-known tales such as Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, and Snow White.

Many people are either in the role of stepmothers themselves or are acquainted with someone who assumes this position in the family. The complexity of navigating the challenges of raising a family as a stepmother is heightened when outdated stereotypes cloud societal perceptions.

REDEFINING THE 'WICKED STEPMOTHER' MYTH

In her latest work, 'Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers,' Georgina Warren seeks to redefine the narrative surrounding stepmothers. Having firsthand experience living with her father and stepmother, she found that the traditional depiction of 'wicked stepmothers' in fairy tales failed to resonate with her family dynamics.

Motivated to provide a more accurate and positive representation, Warren has crafted a collection of short stories that challenge stereotypes and offer a fresh perspective on the role of stepmothers in modern families.

'Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers' comprises a dozen unique fairy tales, both written and illustrated, to dispel the 'wicked stepmother' myth and portray the stepmother as a heroine. In each narrative, the stepmother confronts challenges, safeguards her family, and attains personal fulfillment, effectively challenging and subverting conventional stereotypes.

Georgina Warren's interactions during book signings and her appearance on the 'In The Blend' podcast hosted by Laura Jenkins are great examples of audience engagement.

By posing the question, 'How many of you are acquainted with a stepmother?' she successfully resonates with the audience, prompting numerous hands to be raised. Attendees often respond by sharing personal experiences, and the impact of the message is evident in their multiple purchases of the book to share its enlightening perspective.

Notably, Georgina even made a sale atop Mount Equinox in Vermont at an elevation of 3,484 feet, an outstanding example of her work's broad reach and universal appeal.

COLLECTION OF FAIRY TALES ABOUT STEPMOTHERS THIS FESTIVE SEASON

The relationship between parents and children in these tales exemplifies an opportunity to forge fresh memories. Georgina's contention that stepmothers require support in their roles serves as an exemplary call to action, emphasizing the necessity for blended families to have narratives that entertain, enlighten, and inspire forthcoming generations.

As the festive season approaches, Georgina's recommendation to secure an autographed copy of 'Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers' from Politics and Prose exemplifies a practical way to enjoy improved fairy tales with cherished stepmothers or stepchildren. The availability of the book's paperback and e-book versions on Amazon demonstrates accessibility for a broader audience. Connect with Georgina Warren by following her on Goodreads and Instagram to stay updated on the latest book developments.

Overall, 'Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers' is an exemplary model of a literary work that challenges stereotypes and enriches the discourse on the role of stepmothers in modern society.

*This article was originally posted on Books & Reviews website December 6th, 2023.

https://www.booksnreview.com/amp/arti...

Cyber Monday Book Sale! Tracey Love

This year, get ready for a special Cyber Monday sale with Tracey Love! The sale begins on December 2. You can find a selection of titles on women's fiction when she launches her newsletter, Journey: Women's Fiction - Stories focused on the life experiences and the emotional journey of women. You can also find my book Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers featured in this selection as well. Tag the author's website for more information.

https://www.traceyloveauthor.com/

Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers - Book Review Prompts

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. 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!

Collect 100 reviews before Christmas!

To all my dedicated followers and readers! I’m very happy to see how Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers has been warmly received. Since beginning this journey, I have met so many wonderful new people when marketing on different podcasts and this year‘s local DC Literary Hill Book Fest. I have now achieved a personal milestone, which was to collect over 50 book reviews!

I would like to thank all of the wonderful readers that have read and submitted their reviews, this is made a big difference to my sales!

Anyone else who has recently purchased a copy can submit their reviews to my book pages on Amazon, Goodreads and Barnes & Noble. Help me complete my next goal, which is to collect 100 reviews before Christmas.

Thank you for supporting my mission to promote justice for stepmothers in fiction and reality!

2024 DC Literary Hill Book Fest Afterword

On Sunday, I had a wonderful time at the Literary Hill Book Fest at the Eastern Market on Capitol Hill. Thank you to all the coordinators, volunteers, authors and participants that attended the festival and made this day a really special one! I met so many lovely readers and authors with books that I'm excited to read later. The event was a smashing success! Special thank you to all the stepmoms and stepmom allies I met for supporting Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers and my mission to achieve justice for the modern stepmother.

If you would like to continue supporting the author and Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers, here are some opportunities below:

Sign the petition on Change.org for Disney to give us new movies with good stepmothers! Maybe Disney will choose new stories from my collection if we collect enough votes here.

https://www.change.org/p/the-walt-dis...

Buy my book at Politics and Prose and help me renew my consignment contract for the next quarter. Support independent writers in DC!

https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9...

If you have purchased a copy recently, please add your reviews to my book pages on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads. I'm hoping to confirm a book signing with the local B&N store in my neighborhood this year at their grand re-opening.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tale...

2024 Literary Hill Book Fest - Author Appearance

Celebrate books and authors on Capitol Hill!

Join us at the Eastern Market for the Literary Hill Book Fest on Sunday, October 6th, 2024 from 11am-3pm and explore a selection of titles from local DC authors. You can find anything from poetry to biographies, novels to picture books!

You will find Georgina Warren and her book, Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers featured there in person. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet the author and get your signed copy for you or your blended loved ones. Let’s deconstruct the “wicked stepmother” and enjoy some brand new tales that celebrate all good stepmothers.

https://www.literaryhillbookfest.org/...

The Stepfamily Summit-Authors Panel On Stories and Conflict Management

I am proud to be featured as a contributor for this year’s Stepfamily Summit with stepmom coach Claudette Chenevert! Join us from September 11-13, 2024 online and hear from other speakers as they share their stories and foster stronger relationships in blended families, one step at a time.

I will be featured in a panel of authors, including Renee Bolla, Samantha Berger and her totally not wicked stepmother Holly! Tune in between September 11–13, 2024 and hear our testimonies about creative inspiration, and using stories to identify and address conflict in blended families. Click link below to find registration. Admission is free.

https://thestepfamilysummit.com/

Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers

The Truth About Stepmoms

The Totally NOT Wicked Stepmother

Author Q&A with Deborah Kalb

Georgina Warren has been featured in a new Q&A session with host Deborah Kalb on her blog. Join their discussion on reconstructing the role of the stepmother in fiction and creating stories that resonate with modern blended families.

Click link below for the full story

https://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com...

About Deborah Kalb
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Georgina Warren is the author of the middle grade story collection Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers. She works at the Library of Congress, and she lives in Washington, D.C.


Q: What inspired you to write Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers?


A: As a child, I grew up hearing countless adaptations of fairy tales in books and film, particularly those produced by Disney. It was easy to assume that all stepmothers were wicked villains because these traditional archetypes were the most visible and prominent examples I knew.


When my parents separated, my sister and I lived with our mother in Winston-Salem, and we only saw our father and stepmother on weekends. I was homeschooled and spent my days painting and exploring books in the local public library.


Later I moved to Washington, D.C., with my father and stepmother and started attending schools there. My experiences in the British School of Washington and the Field School awakened a deeper, lifelong passion for the visual, literary, and performing arts.


While growing up with my father and stepmother, I realized that traditional fairy tales like Cinderella and Snow White, stories that featured a “wicked stepmother,” did not reflect the life I shared with my own family. This revelation led me to develop a better narrative for modern readers.


My stepmother has always been an innovative, loving, and brave woman. When I started writing Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers, I imbued my stepmother characters with all the virtues that every good parent should possess like patience, creativity, compassion, loyalty, resilience, courage, and intelligence.


Q: Were you influenced by any particular style of fairy tale or folk tale as you wrote the stories in your collection?


A: Obviously, the three famous fairy tales that inspired me were Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, and Snow White! This trio of stories codified the wicked stepmother and their subsequent adaptions have continued to portray the character of the stepmother as cruel, vain, and negligent.

My style of writing evokes that of classic fairy tale authors like the Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Anderson, Charles Perrault, George MacDonald, and Oscar Wilde. But I also strive to bring a modern sensibility to my narratives so that the lessons in each story resonate with modern readers. My approach has been to blend traditional elements with modern ideas to help my audience relate to the narratives.


Q: What would you say are the most common perceptions and misconceptions about stepmothers?


A: At first glance, many people assume that stepmothers have the same traits as the ones they know from the traditional stories. The stepmother only cares about herself, she will always love her biological children more than her stepchildren, she is replacing the biological mother, etc.


Our culture idealizes the nuclear family with two happily married parents and children. When couples get married in real life, they usually hope to maintain a fulfilling, lifelong relationship while they raise their children, watching them grow up and attend school, get married, start a new job, and have grandchildren.


People apply the same standards to romantic couples in fictional settings. Keeping couples and parents happy together forever is an idealized vision. But in real life, there are many reasons why two people cannot stay together forever.

At the time the traditional stories were created, mothers often died in childbirth and fathers needed another wife to tend the children and the house while they worked at their jobs. Women were only expected to be wives and mothers. Young boys could attend school and learn trades while young girls could only hope to leave their family homes when they found a new husband.


But the modern world that we know is very different. Divorce was once considered a taboo, but many more couples now separate and remarry when they experience interpersonal conflicts that damage a relationship.


None of the fairytales I heard in my childhood told me that some divorced couples manage an amicable co-parenting arrangement with the children dividing time between visiting each parent in separate homes. All I learned was that children that got a stepmother needed to escape from her abuse, marry a prince and find a better home because their fathers were stupid enough to marry the wrong women!


Modern stepmothers can experience some of the following challenges when they are trying to establish their roles in a blended family: alienation, isolation, emotional burnout, manipulation, imposter syndrome, and struggle to mediate conflicts with step-siblings, in-laws, or the ex-wife.


Readers always felt sympathetic to the children of these traditional fairy tales, but in the modern world, the stepmother has always been treated as the true outcast of the family.


Q: What impact did it have on you to write the book, and what do you hope readers take away from it?


A: Writing this book allowed me to express my own ideas about stepmothers and their families in more creative ways. I have also woven aspects of my family’s history into the narratives to pay tribute to everything that I learned from them.


Creating the stories helped me gain more closure on the emotional pain that I felt as a teenager. In addition, I felt a sense of turning the page and starting a new chapter in my life.


After the book was published, I felt a great sense of accomplishment because I made stories that would allow other readers to celebrate all the virtuous stepmothers they know and remove the stigma that has always affected modern blended families.


The “wicked stepmother” stereotype is a curse that has affected families for generations, I wrote this book as the first step to end that curse.


Stepmothers can feel vindicated because they now have a fantasy book that recognizes their daily struggles and celebrates their achievements. Children from blended families can feel affirmation that their family is normal, and they can feel proud of their unique heritage.


Other readers will gain a deeper understanding of some common dynamics in a blended family from these imaginary worlds. Future authors might even be inspired to write new stories that depict a more authentic portrayal of the modern stepmother in fiction and in reality.


With this book, more stepmothers can wear their titles with pride, and children don’t need to be ashamed to tell other people that they have a stepmother.


Q: What are you working on now?


A: Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers is only the first part of a three-volume set I planned to write. Some of these short stories grew bigger and they will be released as companion novels later. I have one pirate story and one circus story in the works as well.


This summer I’m working on the stories and pictures for the second volume in this Virtuous Stepmothers treasury. I’m planning to take the next step of processing the manuscript with my editor soon.


Q: Anything else we should know?


A: Each story has a heraldic crest incorporating stained glass elements which I designed myself. In the medieval era, noble families used different colors and motifs to serve as their “signature” to set themselves apart. The motif of the stained glass represents blended families as a mosaic of different people with diverse backgrounds combining into one entity.


The book is for middle grade readers (ages 8-12) but teens and adults can also enjoy the stories. I designed the stories to speak to the young and the young at heart. Readers can find Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers on Amazon in paperback and ebook formats. They can also follow my author links on Goodreads and Instagram for the latest writing news.


--Interview with Deborah Kalb