Heidi Anne Heiner's Blog, page 91

Fairy Tale Eyelid Art by Tal Peleg

Friend Valerie shared this link with me from Upopin:

An Israeli makeup artist, Tal Peleg, makes miniature paintings on eyelids and shows that a little eyeshadow and some eyeliner can go a long way. The entire eye and face becomes an unbelievable portrait that displays some amazing feeling and detail!

Pretty amazing actually. Thanks for sharing, Valerie! You can see more of Peleg's work on her Facebook page. Which one is your favorite?

New Book: Brick Fairy Tales (As in Lego Bricks)

Brick Fairy Tales: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hansel and Gretel, and More by John McCann (Author), Monica Sweeney (Author), Becky Thomas (Author) has finally been released in both ebook and paperback (there was a difference in release dates).

I've been waiting for some images from this book for sevearl months--since I saw it was to be published--to appear somewhere on the web. The Kindle edition has a look inside feature now available, so I have some screen captures from the Kindle edition's Cinderella. I'm not sure how the layout appears in the paper edition.

From previewing the book, this is one of the most thoroughly illustrated fairy tale collection outside of a graphic novel/comic book. Cinderella is broken down into many small scenes, such as picture below. I can see this being a hit with Lego fans, of which I have several in my family and circle of friends. I was also happy that the Cinderella they used is the German with our heroine visiting her mother's grave for consolation instead of awaiting a fairy godmother.

Book description:

Enter the magical world of fairy tales retold through LEGO bricks! Filled with creative and whimsical settings built from this universally celebrated toy, this book presents an all-new retelling of the original Grimm’s fairy tales of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hansel and Gretel, and more! With one thousand color photographs, this inspired adaptation uses intricately designed brick sets to present some of the most cherished and widely told stories of all time.

Watch the clock strike twelve as Cinderella leaves her glass slipper behind at the ball, and see just how long brick Rapunzel’s hair can grow as she waits in her tower. Watch the seven dwarfs plot against the evil Queen and her brick looking glass, and try to find your way home with Hansel’s path of brick breadcrumbs.

This imaginative take on these age-old fairy tales maintains the authentic text of the Grimm classics but shines a creative new light with fun brick construction! Fairy tales in brick will be a welcome addition to your picture book collection

And now for some images:

Fairy Tale Crayons

I mentioned Fairy Tale Crayons in my post about fairy tale blogging yesterday. But I hadn't yet blogged about them. Last month my parents were traveling and found these in a museum gift shop. Anyway, they are available on Amazon in the US and some fun shops--see image sources below--primarily in the UK. There are no specific fairy tale referenced, but they are fun all the same.

(Image from John Lewis)
(Image from The Literary Gift Company)
(Image from Not on the High Street)
(Image from Not on the High Street)
And while I was searching for fairy tale crayons, I also found these fun ones on Etsy by Little Doodlers, made from recycled crayons and made to order, too.

You Know You're a Fairy Tale Blogger When...

Graphic by Gypsy using Dore's illustrations & Debbie's vintage dust jacket project from Confessions of a Plate Addict (text is the opening lines of Le Chat Botté)
I got tagged by Gypsy at Once Upon a Blog, so now it's my turn:
- See where it began at: Kristin's Tales of Faerie.

You know you're a fairy tale blogger when:

Any fairy tale reference in the "real world" makes your ears and eyes perk to attention.Your husband turns to you and says, "That'll make the blog!" a few times a week.Forget a shelf or two, your home library has a section of shelves devoted to fairy tales and folklore. And it's the only section that keeps physically growing too quickly since you moved to pleasure reading on your ereader.Ditto for the fairy tale DVD collection which does require its own shelves or drawer (my current system). And, no, Disney doesn't dominate it although it's certainly thoroughly represented.You regularly auto search "fairy tale" in search boxes of all types.You need a break so you don't read fairy tale related stuff for "free time fun reading" anymore but are thrilled when they creep into your pleasure reading anyway. Example: Reading Snow-Kissed by Laura Florand on an obscure recommendation while down with the flu and finding yourself thrilled to be floating around in more direct fairy tale references than in Frozen. Yes, Snow-Kissed uses Snow Queen and it is a romance novel of sorts, so beware if that bothers you. I enjoyed.Who are we kidding? All reading and most other experiences of the world are colored by comparisons to fairy tale tropes.You try not to lecture when someone casually mentions the first Cinderella as having sisters with their heels and toes cut off. (Not even close folks!)You feel like shocking someone? Tell them about Sleeping Beauty and rock their sparkly world off their axis.When someone you meet tells you that Goose Girl or Six Swans or Twelve Dancing Princesses is one of their favorite fairy tales, you have found a kindred spirit. Even if those aren't necessarily your own favorite tales.You keep so many tabs open in multiple browsers, hoping for time to post about at least some of the content, that your computer eventually demands a reboot or reboots itself. Sometimes you get your tabs back, sometimes not.If printed, your list of fairy tale blog ideas and links would be longer than your physical height, perhaps twice or three times. By the way, I'm 5'7". No Thumbelinas here.You wish there were four of you so you could answer every email and post every item and read every book.Your parents take pictures of fairy tale related things during their travels (David Hohn's Sleeping Beauty) just to share with you and occasionally bring something back (Fairy Tale Crayons, coming soon).When you travel you come back with fairy tale related items, such as Snow White finger puppets from France, Granny eating Wolves from Ohio.You see and notice an image of a frog wearing a crown somewhere pretty much every time you leave your house. Or go online. They are more common than glass slippers. Went out twice yesterday and saw crowned frogs twice, by the way.You discover that the people who share your passion are some of the loveliest and strangest people on the planet. Both adjectives are compliments.You've been sharing fairy tales on the web since 1998 and love it even more now than you did when you started.
Fairy tale bloggers confessions so far:
Tales of Faerie - Kristin
Once Upon A Blog - Gypsy
Heidi at SurLaLune (see above)
Now tagging... Adam (aka AdamYJ) of Fairy Tale Fandom!

What is this?

From Kristin, of Tales of Faerie: After having a fairy tale blog for years, it really starts to bleed into the rest of your life. Gypsy from Once Upon a Blog and I have been enjoying sharing some of these unique results of our bloggerhood and thought some of you might also have some funny and interesting things to share as well!

Short Time Sale on Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge is temporarily price dropped--this weekend only actually--to $4.99. The book was released in late January and is usually closer to $10.00. I hadn't bought it myself yet, so I snapped it up for my massive TBR pile.


And while we're here, I also noticed that Cinder: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer is still or once again $2.99. A bargain, too.

Book description for Cruel Beauty:

The romance of Beauty and the Beast meets the adventure of Graceling in a dazzling fantasy novel about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom, Nyx has always known her fate was to marry him, kill him, and free her people from his tyranny.

But on her seventeenth birthday, when she moves into his castle high on the kingdom's mountaintop, nothing is as she expected—particularly her charming and beguiling new husband.

Nyx knows she must save her homeland at all costs, yet she can't resist the pull of her sworn enemy—who's gotten in her way by stealing her heart.

For fans of bestselling authors Kristin Cashore and Alex Flinn, this gorgeously written debut infuses the classic fairy tale with glittering magic, a feisty heroine, and a romance sure to take your breath away.

Indie Friday: Thorn by Intisar Khanani

Thorn by Intisar Khanani is the featured book for Indie Friday, books that are self-published but stand out from the crowd. The cover is attractive and the novel retells "The Goose Girl." I admit I am intrigued. Are you? Has anyone else read this book yet?

Book description:

For Princess Alyrra, choice is a luxury she's never had ... until she's betrayed.

Princess Alyrra has never enjoyed the security or power of her rank. Between her family's cruelty and the court's contempt, she has spent her life in the shadows. Forced to marry a powerful foreign prince, Alyrra embarks on a journey to meet her betrothed with little hope for a better future.

But powerful men have powerful enemies--and now, so does Alyrra. Betrayed during a magical attack, her identity is switched with another woman's, giving Alyrra the first choice she's ever had: to start a new life for herself or fight for a prince she's never met. But Alyrra soon finds that Prince Kestrin is not at all what she expected. While walking away will cost Kestrin his life, returning to the court may cost Alyrra her own. As Alyrra is coming to realize, sometime the hardest choice means learning to trust herself.

Thorn has received a Badge of Approval from Awesome Indies.

What people are saying:

"A troubled princess, an unknown prince, a betrothal, a magnificent white horse, a dangerous sorceress, a wanted thief, magic, mystery, and danger. What more could you want? How about an interesting, in-depth plot that deals with issues such as abuse, grief, justice, loss, pain, revenge, and betrayal? This book has all of these and more." - Vendethiel, Amazon review 7/1/2012

"Princess Alyrra/Thorn is the most engaging main character I have met in a long time. All she wants is to be left alone and yet, when push comes to shove, she does step up and do the right thing. She is humble and compassionate and brave, though she doesn't believe it." - Author Elisabeth Wheatley

"The climax is a bit of a show-stopper, a wonderful outbreak of magical manipulation with everything at stake, and no real certainty of how things will go." - Pauline's Fantasy Reviews 8/24/2012

Readers of Robin McKinley and Mercedes Lackey are sure to enjoy this retelling of the classic Grimm's fairy tale, "The Goose Girl."

David Hohn: Sleeping Beauty, Red Riding Hood, and More

The Children's Theatre at the Arkansas Arts Centre currently has a production of Sleeping Beauty. That's no where convenient for most of us, but the production poster is fun to see. The illustration is by David Hohn who has illustrated the covers for books like Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George, familiar to several readers here.



And so I visited Hohn's portfolio site and found a few more lovelies to share today:






That last one is an awesome Snow White and Rose Red, yes?

Bargain Ebook: Whatever After #1: Fairest of All by Sarah Mlynowski

Whatever After #1: Fairest of All by Sarah Mlynowski is currently $1.99 for ebook format. Later books in the series are $4.61 or $9.99 so this is a nice bargain price that may be changing tomorrow with the new month since many ebook sales will end tonight with April's ending. Hopefully there will be some great new bargains tomorrow!

Book description:

A fresh, modern spin on a classic fairy tale--from bestselling author Sarah Mlynowski!

Mirror, mirror, on the basement wall . . .

Once upon a time my brother and I were normal kids. The next minute? The mirror in our basement slurped us up and magically transported us inside Snow White's fairy tale.

I know it sounds crazy, but it's true.

But hey -- we're heroes! We stopped Snow White from eating the poisoned apple. Hooray! Or not. If Snow White doesn't die, she won't get to meet her prince. And then she won't get her happy ending. Oops.

Now it's up to us to:
- Avoid getting poisoned
- Sneak into a castle
- Fix Snow White's story

And then, fingers crossed, find our way home.

New Book: The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw by Christopher Healy

The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw by Christopher Healy will be released tomorrow.

As I mentioned before, this was a definite preorder for me, especially for my 11-year-old niece Leighton who has loved the series. She read the first book--The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom (which is bargain priced right now for $1.99 ebook)--during her visit at Christmas 2012 and my copy went home with her after her puppy dog eyes look. Which she does not use very often--she's not that type of child actually and doesn't reread books nearly as often as I do. I had listened to her laugh and laugh while reading it, so I knew it was a happy, fun book for her voracious reading tastes. And it is. She reads everything from Rick Riordan to Dork Diaries to college level nonfiction regularly and isn't impressed with too much in her jaded reading experience already. Her biggest literary crush is Sherlock Holmes actually.

Another SurLaLune reader mentioned that it's nice to have the princes/heroes DOING something for once, which is also refreshing I admit. This should be a fun read for the boys and girls in your life including yourself.

Book description:

The League of Princes returns in the hilariously epic conclusion to the hit series that began with Christopher Healy's The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, which the Los Angeles Times called "one of the more clever, hilariously successful incarnations of the current literary rage to rip apart and rewrite fairy tales."

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You think you know those guys pretty well by now, don't you? Well, think again. Posters plastered across the thirteen kingdoms are saying that Briar Rose has been murdered—and the four Princes Charming are the prime suspects. Now they're on the run in a desperate attempt to clear their names. Along the way, however, they discover that Briar's murder is just one part of a nefarious plot to take control of all thirteen kingdoms—a plot that will lead to the doorstep of an eerily familiar fortress for a final showdown with an eerily familiar enemy.

Lots of Fairy Tale Inspired Big Ebook Deals

Amazon just posted a new The Big Deal: Kindle Books Up to 85% Off Now through May 11, 2014. There are several fairy tale titles in the list, one of which has never been discounted this deeply before so I'll share it first.


A Question of Magic by E. D. Baker is $1.99. This has Baba Yaga! Fun!

Book description:

Serafina was living the normal life of a village girl, when she gets a mysterious letter--her first letter ever, in fact--from a great aunt she's never heard of in another village. Little does 'Fina know, her great aunt is actually a Baba Yaga, a magical witch who lives in an even more magical cottage.

Summoned to the cottage, Serafina's life takes an amazing turn as she finds herself becoming the new Baba Yaga. But leaving behind home and the boy she loves isn't easy, and as Serafina grows into her new and magical role answering the first question any stranger might ask her with the truth, she also learns about the person she's meant to be, and that telling the future doesn't always mean knowing the right answers.

In her inimitable and bestselling way, ED Baker has crafted a funny and romantic story that combines some fabulous details from the original Slavic tale, with an all new spin!

Passion And Poison: Tales Of Shape-Shifters, Ghosts, And Spirited Women by Janice Del Negro (Author), Vince Natale (Illustrator) is $1.99.

Book description:

"Giovanna undid her cloak, and it slipped to the ground. The sun was coming up over the edge of the sea, and the light caught the rubies around Giovanna’s throat and set them on fire. Rafael could not take his eyes from those flaming stones. Giovanna reached behind her head to undo the clasp that held the rubies."

Janice M. Del Negro’s unique storyteller’s voice enlivens this collection of eight original tales about strong, resolute females. Whether she’s spinning a story about a brave housekeeper who does not suffer fools gladly or a woman who uses her wits to avenge her sister’s death, she embroiders her tales with elegant language and vivid imagery. There are characters and settings that will chill the bones, from the skulls in a moonlit mausoleum to the apparition of a wealthy woman "in a cyclone of light and fog" to three cauldrons filled with hair, bones, and blood. Mysterious shape-shifters and ghostly figures appear, but the women here handle them with grace and conviction. Acting to achieve justice and fairness, these characters become heroines in the landscape of the imagination. An author’s note is included.

My Fair Godmother and My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison are $1.99 each.

Book description for My Unfair Godmother:

After her parents' divorce Tansy never really felt like her life got back to normal. And now that her too-busy parents and their respective new spouses don't seem to have time for her, Tansy has been sent to live with her semi-neurotic grandmother. After one incident involving a bad date, a can of spray paint, and the police, Tansy fears she is doomed for life. Enter Chrissy Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining er... high heels. With three wishes to help set her life right, Tansy is taken along for a ride that includes Robin Hood and his Merry Men, who turn out to be trouble when they steal from the rich in her town. When the police chief's son, Hudson, sees Tansy hanging out with these fairy tale criminals, she'll have some serious explaining to do. That's if Tansy can find a way to stop spinning gold and undo the "help" that Chrissy has bestowed.

The Story of Princess Olivia by Charles Egbert is $.99.

Book description:

From School Library Journal

Gr 3–6—Princess Olivia lives with King Horace and Queen Cora in a crumbling castle in the Green Mountain Kingdom now known as Vermont. Her mother is a worrywart, and her father is quite melancholy-especially when he thinks about the poor condition of the royal bank account. Princess Olivia goes out to her bower one day to play, where she befriends a hoop snake, a snake that has swallowed its own tail, turning itself into a living hula hoop. In the woods, Olivia runs into the dreaded and villainous Count Carlos Maximillian Von Dusseldorf, who cannot believe his good luck to have stumbled upon the princess all alone. He promptly throws her into a cage and carts her off to the middle of the woods with his magical minion, Georgette, in order to blackmail a ransom out of her parents, not realizing that they are, in fact, destitute. With the moaning and groaning king and his worrisome queen rambling through the woods searching for their missing daughter, helped by the dashing Prince Dropoffsky, the Count and Georgette try to stay one step ahead of them, while the intelligent princess spends her time with Mr. Snake, plotting her escape. This slight but humorous story is filled with rigorous and playful vocabulary that would be fun to explore in a classroom. The bumbling actions of the royals, along with the descriptions of Count Von Dusseldorf, allow for creative-writing extensions as well. Pen-and-ink illustrations complement the text. Readers who enjoy fractured fairy tales and their original counterparts might enjoy this whimsical chapter book. Consider for larger collections.—Lisa Kropp, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

Princess of Glass (Twelve Dancing Princesses) by Jessica Day George is $1.99.

Book description:

Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program. She travels abroad hoping to find better political alliances and perhaps a marriage. But thanks to a vengeful fairy, Poppy's happily ever after gets complicated. This companion to Princess of the Midnight Ball will delight readers with action and romance.

Once Upon A Curse (Tales of the Frog Princess) by E. D. Baker is $1.99.

Book description:

Many years ago a slighted fairy placed a curse on a beautiful young princess-a curse that caused her and all her female descendants to turn into mean, ugly witches if they ever touched a flower after turning sixteen. Now, Princess Emma, who is about to turn sixteen herself, is determined to break the spell once and for all. Emma travels back in time to the day the curse was placed on her ancestor in the hope of preventing the curse from being cast. Unfortunately she isn't successful in her efforts, but she does learn how to break it. Armed with this knowledge, Emma returns to her own time full of hope. But disaster ensues and Emma is about to give up completely-until true love shows itself in the most unexpected place of all.

Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry is $1.99.

Book description:

In a secluded village, magic sparkles on the edges of the forest. There, a young girl named Evie possesses unusually strong powers as a healer. A gypsy's charms-no more than trinkets when worn by others-are remarkably potent when Evie ties them around her neck. Her talents, and charms, have not escaped the notice of the shy stonemason's son. But Evie wants more than a quiet village and the boy next-door. When the prince's carriage arrives one day, and his footman has fallen ill, Evie might just get her chance after all . . .Berry's debut novel garnered glowing reviews and strong sales-and now she's done it again with a beautifully woven tale to keep all readers, young and old, absolutely charmed.

Shifting by Bethany Wiggins is $1.99.

Book description:

After bouncing from foster home to foster home, Magdalene Mae is transferred to what should be her last foster home in the tiny town of Silver City, New Mexico. Now that she's eighteen and has only a year left in high school, she's determined to stay out of trouble and just be normal. Agreeing to go to the prom with Bridger O'Connell is a good first step. Fitting in has never been her strong suit, but it's not for the reasons most people would expect-it all has to do with the deep secret that she is a shape shifter. But even in her new home danger lurks, waiting in the shadows to pounce. They are the Skinwalkers of Navajo legend, who have traded their souls to become the animal whose skin they wear-and Maggie is their next target.