Regina Doman's Blog: Regina Doman's Updates, page 8

Author's Note: I'm participating in a "blog hop" for auth...

Author's Note: I'm participating in a "blog hop" for authors writing young adult fiction. While Rapunzel Let Down is technically adult fiction, the rest of the Fairy Tale Novel series is for young adults.

What are you working on right now?  A new series, for adults, based on the Bible. Been planning it a long time. It's kind of tough going but I find it really inspiring. It probably won't be Christian fiction: I'm planning on publishing it in the secular realm.

How does Rapunzel Let Down differ from other works in its genre?  Probably the Catholic angle. Plus it's very gritty for what would normally be considered Catholic fiction, since it's a story about the consequences of mortal sin.

Why do you write what you do? 
Because I love telling stories and retelling old stories with my own twist on them. How does your writing process work? I usually write by synopsis but sometimes if I'm stuck I do some freewriting. It's a hard process no matter what!

Thanks for reading today's blog hop! And check out these blogs

by Henry Vogel:
 Storyteller site: http://www.henryvogelstoryteller.com/
Serialized online novel:http://cliffhangertwofifty.blogspot.com/ 

as well as the series that I manage:
 www.johnpaul2high.com 

 and a story by my friend Bill Powell:
 http://www.billpowellisalive.com/blog/tomas-of-the-flaming-sword

About Rapunzel Let Down

I have received some questions asking why I am saying that Rapunzel Let Down is a heavier and harsher book than the other books in the series.

In some ways, it's so very different from the other books that I seriously contemplated releasing it as a different series altogether.  However, it is still a Fairy Tale Novel, told in the same manner as the others, part of the same universe and involving some of the same characters.

However, it is clearly a book for older readers of the Fairy Tale Novels, and I am happy that there are now so many of them who are ready for a book like this one. Although I wrote this book in 2004, I am only publishing it now, because I feel many of the fans have grown up and are facing deeper and darker questions about human relationships and the problems of human sexuality. This is a book for them.

I will try to inform you of the contents of this book without giving away the story. Please forgive the abstract and ponderous and somewhat allegorical language as I attempt to do so.  The story is hopefully not as didactic as it may sound below.

This book presumes that the reader has already become acquainted with the sad state of human sexuality, and knows something of the sorrows and the burdens of the loss of innocence, and the banal sexual depravity that taints so much of our lives. This is a book for readers who are searching earnestly for answers to those problems, even subconsiously, and who need hope.

What does this have to do with the fairy tale Rapunzel? Everything.

Rapunzel Let Down is the story of a young couple in love who falls from grace and innocence into mortal sin, which lacerates and divides them, seemingly forever. Consequences of their actions deal them a stunning blow that plunges both of them into suffering and drives them forward on a dark and lonely journey. Each seeks to escape that wound, and along the way each encounters cunning and dangerous dragons who promise to solve their problems, the problems of human sexuality.

The dragons come out in their full colors in this book: prostitution, pornography, forced abortion, rape, lesbianism, homosexuality, child molestation, and vicious hatred of the other sex all make an appearance. Characters speak openly about sexual aberrations using blunt and profane language. While very little is graphically shown, many things are frankly discussed as possible solutions to the problem of man and woman, and their genius for wounding one another.

As an author, I usually try my best to use veiled language to convey harsher topics. In my previous books I was able to touch on some of the above subjects obliquely. But when I set out to write this book, I realized I was writing for a different audience entirely.

This book is not for readers who are innocent of the above dragons. Parents, please do not allow me to initiate your child into these particular evils! I have never had a desire to be edgy in order to be cool, to push the envelope, or to give a tour of secret sins, even to warn against them. If your sons or daughters are innnocent of any or all of the above topics, please don't let them read this story.  Read it yourself and judge when they will be ready for it.

But if your sons and daughters have already seen the dismal state of the human condition, if they are sad and struggling, if they are questioning and angry, then this is a good book for them. I hope to give some answers and some hope.

You see, my purpose is not to inform readers of these evils: I'm telling this tale for those of us who are already sick at heart over them. The only reason I'm offering to walk readers through this dark valley is to show them the passionate glory of the heights and mountains that lie beyond it. There is something of the epic about this tale, and perhaps that's why I felt that for once, the dragons had to be shown in their true size and shape.

Some stories just come along, seize the author by the throat, and demand to be written. Rapunzel Let Down was one of those tales. It was a terrifying roller-coaster of a book to write, and I hope it will be to read. And I would be grateful beyond words if it helps readers of either sex find healing, forgiveness, and courage in their relationship with one another.

Coming in 2013 ... the next Fairy Tale Novel

I apologize for having neglected this blog for so long (but aren't all blogs neglected these days in the drift towards Facebook and Pinterest?) but at times, a web log can be the perfect venue for making a public announcement, and this is one.

For those of you who have been waiting for the next book in the Fairy Tale Novel series, I have good news! The next Fairy Tale Novel is on its way, at last.  I can't tell you a lot, but here's what I can tell you:

The title:  Rapunzel Let Down: a Fairy Tale RetoldTentative release date: Easter 2013Tentative retail price: $20.00
As for the last item, the $20 price means we think it will be a book at least as long as Waking Rose, which is the longest and hence the most expensive of the Fairy Tale Novels.  However, the eBook will be $5, just like the other Fairy Tale Novels.

What else can I tell you about it? It involves new characters you've never seen before.  It takes place several years after Fish and Rose's wedding, and also after Paul and Rachel's wedding, which could mean that it's between four and five years after the events of Alex O'Donnell. (I won't get more specific so that I can change my mind if I need to.) Paul has a cameo in the book, and Fish appears as a minor character, often unseen, in several scenes, where he gets to be very Fish-like. (What a great guy he is.)

I also need to tell you that this is a more serious and heavier book than the others. The subject matter is harsher.  It's about premarital unchastity.  It's about an out-of-wedlock pregnancy.  It's about serious (ie: mortal) sin. It's probably not appropriate for 14 year old readers to read without their parents.  One reason why I've been holding off publishing this book is because I've been worried about you parents out there who have honored me so much by trusting me to entertain your young teens.  I don't want to violate that trust.

But these past few years, I've been having conversations with many of you parents, and many of you have encouraged me to go forward with this book.  Also, I realize that many of my readers have grown up. Some of you might have been 14 when you first read Shadow of the Bear, but you're in college now.  I feel confident that many of you will appreciate this book.

Why, you may ask, am I writing such a dark book?  Well, it strikes me that while there are quite a few books that focus on premarital unchastity from a girl's point of view, I don't know too many books that tell the story from the point of view of the guy.  That's what this book is about: it's about a prince who fails.

Read the original story of Rapunzel (the original Grimm's, mind you).  That handsome prince was no hero. He messed up: and messed up big time.  You've got a girl trapped in a tower by a witch. A prince discovers her. Why doesn't he rescue her? Isn't that a prince's job?  So why does he leave her there?

Why indeed.

Notice how harshly he's punished: how hard his penance is, and how his beloved suffers because of his sin. And notice how the happily-ever-after only happens after he and Rapunzel are reunited and she forgives him.

We live in a world that doubts that men and women are much good for one another. Why else is the very definition of marriage being called into question?  It's because men and women are so exquisitely adept at wounding one another so very deeply. Given how deep that hurt can go, I personally can understand why some want to give up on the opposite sex altogether.

So is a fairy tale still possible in today's world?

I believe it is.  And that is what this book is about.

So I hope you will pray for me as I prepare this book for publication.  And I hope that when it comes out, you'll make sure it finds its way into the hands of the appropriate readers.  I'll do my best in the cover design to flag the book as a story for more mature readers. Tangled, this ain't.

There's a lot to be done: I need to do the final story edit, I need to get permission to use a beautiful poem by Carl Sandburg, and we need to do photo sessions with the models we've picked (yes, we already have our cover models!) and design the cover.  Anything could go wrong along the way and cause delays, so keep us in your prayers.

And I can take some more questions on the book, but I won't give out too many details yet. Remember, we haven't finished the final story edit.

I'll start out by answering a few other questions I've been asked quite a few times in the past year or so:

Q: When will you write/ why won't you write another book about Fish and Rose (or Blanche and Bear, or all four?)?

A: I don't know, because I don't have a really good idea for a new book about them yet. I know I would hate to write a bad or stupid book about them. (And I know you'd hate it even more!) And thanks to all of you who've sent me ideas and suggestions for new books, but none of them have kindled my imagination yet.  But I do promise you this: if and when I do get a good idea, I will write another book.

Q: What about the Fish book based on Rumplestilskin you promised, Goldspinner?

A: It's still in the works, but I haven't been able to work on it much, and the book on Rapunzel is already mostly finished. So we're going with Rapunzel Let Down first.  In order to do Goldspinner, I need to do some research, and since I haven't done it methodically, I haven't found out the answers I need to find. Yet. At some point I may get more serious about research and finish it, but that time hasn't come yet.  Plus, believe it or not, I have yet another series I want to find time to write.  The first book in that series needs to be written soon.  So, it may be a few years before another Fairy Tale Novel comes out after Rapunzel.

Q:  Why is all this taking so long?

A: Actually, none of you have asked me this directly: you are much too polite to do so! But I guess there is an answer why there's been a delay in the release of the next Fairy Tale Novel.  You know my editorial duties have taken up more of my time these past few years. I have loved being the editor of the John Paul 2 High series and I've enjoyed co-writing Catholic Philosopher Chick and the first book of the still-in-process Ruah Chronicles (see the Chesterton Press Facebook page for details). I also love my work editing for Manga Hero. But time spent editing is time not spent writing.  I love to edit and I need to edit: it's a passion, plus it's a job that pays bills.

The other big reason I am slowing down on my writing is that my family is larger. I no longer only have little kids crawling over my computer keyboard: I have (three!) teens of my own who will come up to me and say, "Mom! I need to talk to you about my life RIGHT NOW."  I love them tons and they won't be under my roof forever, so I need to spend time with them.  Also means less time to spend writing.  Right now.
But what is really good news for you is that these teens love my books and want me to write more. So don't worry: I won't be giving up writing Fairy Tale Novels.  It just might take me longer.

Q: So what did you think of the Disney movie Tangled?

A: Oh, it was delightful. But not much like the real story in many respects, and thankfully, not much like my book at all.

So ask away ... on my Facebook page, on the Fairy Tale Novel Forum, and on this blog. I'll try to answer your queries as soon as I can.  If there's a delay -- remember, I take longer to do things these days, but blessed be the Lord, I'm still here.  Just not online.

Habemus Papam Cover Art!

Wow!  So here's the cover art for my first-ever manga on the life of Pope Benedict XVI from MangaHero.  I love Sean's magnificent style.   His first draft for the cover was also good, but I like the more welcoming image of the newly-elected Pope Benedict.  Plus, this ties this cover visually to the short version of Habemus Papam by Gabrielle Gniewek which MangaHero did for World Youth Day.  My version is a 225 page graphic novel with a pretty cool appendix.  One small point: the cover is oriented towards the left, not the right, because Japanese books read from right to left, so this book will open "backwards" - that is, from right to left.  It's an interesting exercise to help compose a cover this way, especially since we Westerners still read the words on the cover from left to right. Seeing this cover brings home to me that the book is more than 75% drawn, and that we may just be seeing it in print soon!  

Getting into Manga...

For nearly a year now, I've been working with Manga Hero, the company that created Many are Called, Paul, and Judith (all about to be released on new editions).  I started editing for them about a year ago, and this past fall I was asked to rewrite their comic on Pope Benedict XVI, which was an honor and a neat opportunity.  We're finishing up that comic right now, and I'm about to start on a new project for them, an original comic based on the book of Esther. I've been writing it for about a month now.

I'm really enjoying the challenges of the manga format, which to me seems like a meld between the novel and the screenplay.  I like visual writing, since I tend to think in images.  But screenplay writing has many strict conventions which I'm still struggling to learn.  Writing a manga, at least for a small company, doesn't seem to be so strict.  So long as I'm communicating to the artist, we're good.

Readers regularly ask me if I'm planning another Fairy Tale Novel (specifically, another Rose/Fish or Blanche/Bear book). The answer is, not now.  Between starting Chesterton Press, managing John Paul 2 High and various other projects, and writing/editing for MangaHero, I think I'll be busy for the next year or two.  I like to think of this as a nice transition, because I've got something totally new I'd like to start writing.  Right now I'm stuck behind a writer's block that's about a mile thick (or so it seems), but I really hope I can start writing in earnest soon.

So when I do come back to the Fairy Tale Novels, it will hopefully be with a fresh mind and some new plot ideas.  But for now, I think it's time for a rest.  If you can call it a rest... ;)

In the meantime, I hope to post more on my progress on Esther soon!

Introducing: Fish & Rose T-Shirt!

For Christmas, I have a VERY special t-shirt that I'm posting on Zazzle for you. Created by artist Mary MacArthur, this shirt features both Fish and Rose in an imaginative setting that captures their passionate love and innocence. The opening words of the book "I love him more than poetry ... I love him more than song" are quoted on the shirt. Rose, arrayed as a princess, plays her violin in a thorny clearing while Fish, revealed as a knight, approaches.

When Mary first posted this image a few years ago on the Fairy Tale Novel Fan Forum, I knew I wanted to buy it from her. And now we have it: just in time for Christmas!

The shirt can be printed on a short or longsleeved shirt of the pastel color you choose in the size you want. The shirt shown is only $21.95 from Zazzle. Click here to buy it. Order by Dec. 15th for guaranteed Christmas delivery. (Order right now using order code DECDELIGHT11 and get 15% off!)

Happy shopping, and look for more products with this image on it from Zazzle! (PS: Email me if you have something in mind you want to see this image on.)

Buying a Kindle? Stock it with Catholic Fiction!

Buying a Kindle this Christmas?
Buy it stocked with Catholic Fiction!


Click here to see a list of our books!



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Not doing e-Books yet?
For signed copies (the kind printed on paper)
visit us at our new website
PS: Let me know if you'd be interested in posting this ad in your own blog sidebar or post! Thanks!

John Paul 2 High Book Trailer

PRE-ORDER JP2 High Book 3: Summer of My Dissent

Toward the end of September I obtained the rights to publish the John Paul 2 High series. We are working like crazy to put new covers on the books and release Book
3: Summer of My Dissent by November 1.
All three books are available for PRE-ORDER at http://www.fairytalenovels.com/RetailOrders.cfm#JP2H
We plan to release Book 4 by Easter 2012.

Christian Manga: Many Are Called...

A wedding is prepared... a lost princess is sought ... an enemy is faced ... all before dawn...



As a longtime Christian, I've seen LOTS of retellings of Christ's parables, and I'm sort of used to how the storyline of such retellings goes. No surprises, heavy morals.



If that's true for you as well, I invite you to experience MANY ARE CALLED.



This offbeat steampunk manga is a compilation of Christ's parables of the End Times like you've never seen them before. Think the parables of Ten Bridemaids plus the Two Servants. Plus the overarching narrative of The Parable of the Banquet. And oh yeah, there's a villain and a lost princess as well. And a prince and his loving Father who remind us greatly of ... well, you can guess.



Now, a disclaimer. I'm a professional fiction editor, and I do work for the company which published this book, Manga Hero. However, this book was in prodution when I was first hired so I had nothing to do with its creation.



The narrative, written by Gabrielle Gniewek, is original and inspired. As for the artwork, veteran manga artist Sean Lam tops himself in this highly-detailed rendering. This is manga at its best: showy, gritty, flash and fire.



Sure, there's a message: what parable doesn't have a message? But instead of snatching at trying to be "relevant," the creators keep the message timeless, as Christ would have wanted it. They allow the parable to speak for itself. "Many are called: few are chosen." Sad, but true.



If you (or someone you know) can't get enough of the Japanese-inspired comic books called manga, check this one out. You'll be in for some nice surprises. In particular, I liked the obscure but tantalizing glimpses of Christ and his apostles in the frame of the story, including two Sons of Thunder and a eyeglass-wearing Apostle Matthew. If Gniewek and Lam revisit Christ's parables in manga form again, I hope we'll see more of them.



MangaHero is known for their comic book series on the apostle Paul and the Biblical heroine Judith, as well as for their recent comic on Pope Benedict XVI (read it online for free!). You can find more of their books at www.mangahero.com and you can ask for the book at your local Christian bookstore or order it on Amazon.



So as we head back to school this fall, keep your eye out for this new book! Speaking of school, teachers, parents, religious eduction directors, youth group leaders, anyone who works with Christian youth: MANY ARE CALLED is one manga comic you've got to get your hands on!



Pass the word!