Heidi Anne Heiner's Blog, page 117

New Book: The Rose Throne by Mette Ivie Harrison

The Rose Throne by Mette Ivie Harrison is released tomorrow. (This Mette, by the way, rhymes with Betty despite the Danish heritage of her name.)

Book description:

Richly-imagined fantasy romance from the author of Princess and the Hound, a tale of two princesses--one with magic, one with none--who dare seek love in a world where real choice can never be theirs. For fans of Megan Whalen Turner, Catherine Fisher, and Cassandra Clare.

Ailsbet loves nothing more than music; tall and red-haired, she's impatient with the artifice and ceremony of her father's court. Marissa adores the world of her island home and feels she has much to offer when she finally inherits the throne from her wise, good-tempered father. The trouble is that neither princess has the power--or the magic--to rule alone, and if the kingdoms can be united, which princess will end up ruling the joint land? For both, the only goal would seem to be a strategic marriage to a man who can bring his own brand of power to the throne. But will either girl be able to marry for love? And can either of these two princesses, rivals though they have never met, afford to let the other live?

Tab Clearing: April/May 2013 Part 1

I haven't done a tab clearing in a while and this one is mostly tabs from April. How is 2013 going by so quickly? Anyway, in case you missed these:


Read an interview: New Voice: Liesl Shurtliff on Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin By Cynthia Leitich Smith for Cynsations:

But at the end of the day, I think what I really love about fantasy is the connections between the fantasy and the real world. It isn’t really the strange and different things that make fantasy so wonderful. It’s the way those strange and different things are similar to the ordinary. They give a lens for us to view our everyday lives in a different way, and hopefully come away transformed.

Doctor Who, fairy tales, children's literature and strong female characters at Doc-in-Boots:

Recently I've been musing about how female fairy tale characters are rewritten as 'feisty' and how this seems to be a response to a perception that the default for female characters is 'passive.' Perhaps once we rewrite the default for female characters, we can start to better enjoy the spectrum of strong female characters?

What I Mean by "Merrie England" at Spinning Straw into Gold:

A lot has been said about why fairy tales take place "once upon a time."

The consensus, at least as I have seen it, is that the vagueness allows the fairy tale to take place at all times and any time, making it accessible to all people throughout the ages.

It also shows that the "once" and the "time" of the story are parallel places and times, a fantasy world where we are asked to suspend our disbelief and play along with the magical, absurd, and pure evil things that can and do happen.

Princess Culture and Consumerism at SDSU CHILDREN'S LITERATURE:

But before I sign off, I do want to pose the question of why fairy tale wedding dresses and jewels are so popular. What is it about the pervasiveness of princess culture that these items exist for grown women to purchase? As someone who was never wildly into Disney princesses, I'll admit that I have no personal connection with this. Is it because it evokes childhood happiness? Is it because in spite of our progressive times, many women still subconsciously want to be beautiful princesses who are revered for their exquisiteness, because that's what we're so often taught in mainstream children's media?

April 14, 1961: Robert Carlyle is born. Bookshelves of Doom celebrated it by highlighting A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth Bunce.

Anyway, in honor of his birthday, I'm pointing you back to my old post about Elizabeth C. Bunce's A Curse as Dark as Gold, winner of the 2009 Morris Award:

Curse has loads of atmosphere and the story feels familiar but, at the same time, new and different and surprising. Elizabeth C. Bunce's spin on protective circles was simple and just (I can't believe I'm about to say this, but here goes) lovely, and her Author's Note provides not only suggestions for further exploration but also her issues with the original story.

LOVE. THAT. BOOK.

Interview with Mette Ivie Harrison of THE ROSE THRONE at The Enchanted Ink Pot:

I don’t know that I would really wish to change any part of my career, but one of the most important lessons I have learned along the way is to write the books that you think will never sell. For one thing, it’s really hard to know what will sell or won’t sell, but for another, constantly chasing sales numbers can make you artistically bankrupt. I really like to toy with weird ideas that no one else would dare try, and I love to break rules.

New Book: The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague

The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague was released a few weeks ago. Yes, another Three Little Pigs picture book. But this one deserves notice for its author/illustrator alone. And because we here never tire of fairy tale picture books anyway, am I right?

Do you realize you are probably already a Mark Teague fan? If you have ever enjoyed reading How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? or its many companion books written by Jane Yolen to a favorite child or just yourself and enjoyed the illustrations, you are a Mark Teague fan.

I've enjoyed his work for years--and not just his collaborations with Yolen which are personal favorites--but also for his Pigsty. (Which I just saw is bargain priced to $6.38 for hardcover on Amazon. I should pick up a few gift copies! It's that good and I haven't thought about it in a while.) I used it for piggy story times when I worked as a librarian and it has a place on my shelf, too. That was one of Teague's earliest books to feature pigs. And I don't think he has worked with fairy tales much either, so I hope this is only the beginning of a new creative avenue for him. I love his humorous, retro-influenced style.


Book description:

Three little pigs, a somewhat bad wolf, sody-pop, chips, hay, mortar, bricks, and some huffing and puffing!

Award-winning author and illustrator Mark Teague tells his humorous version of "The Three Little Pigs" with a zany twist!

Three pigs spend their money on different things: potato chips, sody-pop, and building supplies. It comes as no surprise that a wolf is able to blow down the first two pigs' houses. When the wolf can't blow down the third pig's brick house, everyone comes together and the fun begins. The first two pigs give him potato chips and sody-pop, and the third pig makes everyone a healthy meal. Since only one pig has a house left, the other two pigs and the wolf move in with her. The somewhat bad wolf is no longer hungry.

New Book: The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy

The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy was released last week for his happy fans.

I had preordered the book for my niece Leighton, who adored the first one, The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom (The League of Princes). I gave her a Kindle a few months ago so we can share an account despite living 350 miles away from me. She gets one new release a month and this was her pick for April. Never fear, she has LOTS to read with the other titles I have accumulated over the years, too, and the bargains I pick up regularly. So I didn't get to witness the giggle-o-meter while she read it, but it was certainly high while she read the first one during her Christmas visit. To be clear, Leighton is not much a giggler and her usual favorites are high fantasy or Sherlock Holmes, although Ruby Redfort Look Into My Eyes was another hit for her in April and Ruby Redfort Take Your Last Breath is her May book pick.

Her review for The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle, received by email, a few days after the book's release:

Yes, I have!!! I'm so sad I finished it. It was really good, but a little hard to follow with all the characters and plot. 5 Stars!!!!

Book description:

Prince Liam, Prince Frederic, Prince Duncan, and Prince Gustav, the charming princes from the fairy tales of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Briar Rose, saved the countryside from an evil witch in The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom. And now, they have to save the day again, by keeping a magical object from falling into the hands of power-mad warlords who would use it for evil.

The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle is the second in Christopher Healy’s funny and action-packed middle-grade series, the perfect pick for kids who love the Shrek movies and readers who like their fantasy adventures with a heaping helping of humor.

Crazy Bargain Price: Cloaked In Red by Vivian Vande Velde

Cloaked In Red (Kindle Edition) by Vivian Vande Velde is 85 cents. And Cloaked in Red (Hardcover) is even less at 80 cents. I don't know how long this will last. But I paid $9.99 for the hardcover and 99 cents for the Kindle edition.

The book also made an appearance in my What Is Your Library Saying? post yesterday.

I mean really. Can you pass that up? And be quick because that price can't last long.

Book description:

So you think you know the story of Little Red Riding Hood, the girl with the unfortunate name and the inability to tell the difference between her grandmother and a member of a different species? Well, then, try your hand at answering these questions: Which character (not including Little Red herself) is the most fashion challenged? Who (not including the wolf) is the scariest? Who (not including Granny) is the most easily scared? Who is the strangest (notice we're not "not including" anyone, because they're all a little off.)? Who (no fair saying "the author") has stuffing for brains? Master storyteller Vivian Vande Velde crafts eight new stories involving one of the world's most beloved (and mixed-up) characters in literature. You may never look at fairy tales in quite the same way again.

And one of the reader reviews says, "Interesting Idea. I'd Love To See This For Other Fairy Tales."

Ha! Vande Velde herself has several not to mention so many others discussed here at SurLaLune. I wish she would apply the concept to Beauty and the Beast myself, not that she has dealt with Riding Hood and Rumpelstiltksin (The Rumpelstiltskin Problem), to name a few.

More Charlotte Olympia Fall 2013 Fairy Tale

Here are more images from the show that launched the Charlotte Olympia Fall 2013 Fairy Tale. The images are reposted from The Terrier and the Lobster's post, who in turn collected them from here and here and here. These provide some different perspectives on the design as well as some environmental design for the event.

Charlotte Olympia Fall 2013: Fairy Tale Handbags

And as promised, the handbag post, part of the Charlotte Olympia Fall 2013--of which I posted about the shoes today, too. I've also found some images of the line's launch which will share separately since they provide different angles and some fun environmental design, too, for the event. I like the book above and the cottage below especially. Which are your favorites?

Faerie Shoe Alternatives

I shared the above shoe in today's post about Charlotte Olympia Fall 2013: Fairy Tale Shoes. It's not in the price range of many of the artists and authors who frequent here, but it reminded me of some shoes I considered for my summer wardrobe at about 10% of the price. So I thought I would share because they are pretty, too.

These shoes are by Spring Step and retail between $50 and $100 (instead of $500 and $1,000). The first three are the colors available in the Carolyn style. Not quite the Charlotte Olympia heels but more practical! I actually got a pair of the Linda style for my birthday. Be warned that Spring Step often runs small for me. I had to send back and get a size up in the Linda.

After all, no one want's Puss's boots or iron shoes for summer weather, although Seven League Boots would made for an interesting summer vacation...




Spring Step Women's Carolyn

Women's Spring Step Linda Comfort Fashion Thong Sandals (available in several colors)
There are also other styles that may interest:

Spring Step Women's Azalea Sandal (available in several colors)


Spring Step Charlotte Sandals (available in several colors)


And I got the Spring Step Women's Flourish Sandal above in the most beautiful turquoise and the sizing was accurate on them. For my birthday again. Which is tomorrow!

Charlotte Olympia Fall 2013: Fairy Tale Shoes

These shoes are part of the Charlotte Olympia Fall 2013 collection and are inspired by fairy tales. There is also a handbag collection that I will post separately today. These retail in the $500-$1,500 range, so they are definitely out of my budget. But they are cool to look at! There was a trunk show--which has ended--and some are still available for preordering if they happen to be in your price range.

I admit that some of these are also a tad on the arts and craftsy side of appearance--like we could have made them for a class project. The frog prince red flat could be easily replicated, yes? Others are rather stunning. I like the bear one without the bear head, reminds me of the tennis shoes I designed years ago with Kay Nielsen's painting from East of the Sun which were the bestsellers on Zazzle in my collection until they quit making them. I never bought them myself and am still sad over it. And bestselling is relative, about 25 people in the world own a pair.

New Book: Towering by Alex Flinn

Towering (Kendra Chronicles) by Alex Flinn will be officially released next week on May 14th.

Book description:

New York Times #1 bestselling author Alex Flinn reimagined the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast in Beastly and gave a twist to the story of Sleeping Beauty in A Kiss in Time.

Now with her gothic and darkly romantic YA novel Towering, Alex Flinn retells the tale of Rapunzel.

When Rachel was taken to live in a tower by a woman she calls Mama, she was excited. She felt like a princess in a castle. But many years later, Rachel knows her palace is really a prison, and begins to plan her escape. She is encouraged by the speed that her golden hair has been growing. It’s gotten long enough to reach the ground. And she’s begun dreaming of a green-eyed man. Could he be out there in the world? Is he coming to save her? Or will she find a way to save herself?