Tia Silverthorne Bach's Blog, page 4

I = Iago #AtoZChallenge

I hope everyone is having an amazing Tuesday! Thanks for joining me for another modern-day lesson from a fairy tale... my theme for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge . 
Certain letters this month will pose a challenge. Most of them come toward the end of the month (X will give us all headaches, let's just be honest), but I was a bit difficult. Then I found...
I = Iago
I love Aladdin, and Jasmine was one of my daughter's favorite princesses (so you can probably guess who will be featured tomorrow). Iago was great comic relief, but he also showed a lot of growth.
So...
What can we learn from Iago today?
It's never too late to make a change in your life and move past your previous mistakes. Iago starts out as an evil sidekick to the villain Jafar, but ultimately the bird changes his ways and becomes an ally to Aladdin. We all make mistakes. Don't let them define you forever. That would be the biggest mistake of all.
Laughter is the best medicine. I'm a big believer in humor as a salve to life's challenges. With the internet, it's easy to find something to make you smile or laugh: a cute kid video, animal pictures or videos, a clip from a comedian's routine, a clip from a movie, and so on. Search out ways to find happiness.
Too often, I feel selfish when I put my own needs first, but sometimes we have to. We don't have to be as self-serving as Iago, but I know if I get too drained, I'm no good to anyone.
Did you love Aladdin and the character of Iago? 
Join me tomorrow for... Jasmine.

H = Hansel & Gretel #AtoZChallenge

Happy Monday!
I'm just back from Roanoke Author Invasion. It was amazing. I will do a detailed post with pictures later.
But now it's back to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge and my theme of fairy tales and what we can learn from them today.
For today, I chose Hansel and Gretel. It's one of the first fairy tales I remember from my childhood. It's a typical one to share with kids for the whole concept the don't-take-candy-from-strangers idea.
H = Hansel & Gretel
What would a post be for Hansel without Gretel. And I didn't remember just how dark this tale is. When I looked it up to refresh my memory, I saw that the mother sent Hansel and Gretel out into the forest to die. Eep. And the witch was obviously a cannibal. You know... typical childhood tale. LOL.
What can Hansel & Gretel teach us today?
If something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. Very few of my blessings in life have been easy. Someone who is offering you an amazing deal for little cost from you is probably a cheat. Never be blinded by big promises. Do your research and know that the best things in life take work. Hard work and dedication. 
And of course... Don't Trust Strangers. We tell our children this all the time, but it's a great lesson for adults as well. We should always keep an open mind to new friendships and be kind to strangers, but there's kindness and then there's handing over your life savings to someone you don't know. Know what I mean?
Never give up hope and always fight to find a way. Hope is sometimes the only thing we have in our darkest moments, but try to find a way to bolster it... keep going. 
Do you remember how dark the story of Hansel and Gretel is?
***
Throughout this month, I will be featuring an appropriate Season of the upcoming serial series, War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales. Today, I am highlighting Season 3, which tells the tale of Hansel and Gretel a few years later as they face something even more terrifying. This one is written by NL Greene and Jo Michaels.
And the cover...

For more information, visit www.frayedfairytales.com

Enchanted Souls is on Sale!

Happy Sunday!

In case you haven't had a chance to pick up your copy yet, my paranormal romance, Enchanted Souls, is on sale for only $0.99 for a limited time. Don't miss out!



Buy Links Amazon B&N Kobo iBooks
About Enchanted Souls

A rare occurrence brings the planets into alignment, causing the seals that separate the universes to break. Lost souls search for home while two hearts that were shattered try to find their missing pieces. 
When Alyxandria Duvall meets Micah, sparks fly, and their hearts burst into flames. They welcome their daughter not long after; then Micah goes missing under mysterious circumstances, leaving a path of heartache, death, and destruction in his wake. Still, Fate has more in store for them. 
Galactic anomalies are propelling their lives toward their destinies. Light years separate them, but their souls gravitate toward one another. Can love overpower the universe’s boundaries?




I hope you have an amazing Sunday!! And feel free to share about the sale. 

G = Gothel #AtoZChallenge

Happy Saturday. I am in Roanoke, Virginia today for the Roanoke Author Invasion. I'll post about it when I get home, but I always love interacting with readers, fans, and fellow authors. If you are in the area, come by and see us at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood in Roanoke. It's FREE for readers.

But back to the Blogging with A to Z Challenge . My theme: Modern day lessons from fairy tales.

For today's edition, I had to include a villain I found thoroughly entertaining... Mother Gothel from Rapunzel (or Tangled, if we are going with Disney).

G = Gothel

I will admit something here publicly for the first time... I have sung "Mother Knows Best" from Tangled to my kids on multiple occasions and with as much drama and flair as I could muster. 

What can we learn from Mother Gothel today?
Okay, lessons from villains. It's possible. I love how Maleficent had us seeing a whole other side to her character, one that made us (or at least me) much more sympathetic to her actions.

As a mother myself, I can say I learned that sheltering your kids (locking them away) will not make them happy or keep them out of harm's way. Mother Gothel's intentions might not have been pure, but it's still a very valuable lesson. Part of our job as parents is to prepare our children for the adult world. And the adult world hurts sometimes. Sheltering them too much when they are little only makes it more difficult when they ultimately face real life.

Another valuable lesson, and a line straight from "Mother Knows Best"... Skip the drama. Having three girls, I have taught them to avoid drama as much as possible. Never add to it or stir it in any way. Usually, this just makes it come right back at you like a boomerang. Sometimes avoidance really is the best answer. The ability to see drama and circumvent it is a true gift.

And let's be honest, a huge lesson for parents... Forbidden items are sometimes more appealing. The more we fight the little things (blue hair, multiple piercings), the more our kids will push. It's better to provide information and love them than to go around dictating. 

What did you learn from Mother Gothel or Rapunzel/Tangled in general? Did you like the Disney spin on the classic fairy tale?

***
As I've mentioned in previous posts, I will have a serial series (along with Kelly Risser, Nichole Greene, and Jo Michaels)--War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales--coming out starting 4/24/17. Each Season will feature a different princess/fairy tale character who faces life beyond her fairy tale... and comes up against a paranormal creature. Throughout this month, I'll feature each season through a character. 

Today, I want to show you the cover for Season 3, which features Rapunzel.

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Don't you love it? Jo Michaels did an amazing job with these covers/shoes, which are all original artwork.

For more information,check out www.frayedfairytales.com

F = Fiona #AtoZChallenge

It's Friday! I hope everyone is having a pleasant week.

Welcome to another addition of what fairy tales can teach us today ... my theme for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge . 

Today, I'm going to chat about a princess that didn't fit the standard mold, which is one of the reasons I loved her. 

F = Fiona

Princess Fiona from Shrek started off as the typical princess. She was a beautiful woman hidden away in a castle and dreamed of the day her prince would come. But her story took a very drastic turn. Just like life.

What can we learn from Fiona today?
To love who we really are. Thanks to social media, magazines, television, and movies, women are fed a constant image of "perfect" women, and body shaming runs rampant. At first, Fiona is terrified of turning into the ogre, but ultimately, through love and self-acceptance, she realizes being who you truly are is the most beautiful.

Further, in order to find love, we must first love ourselves. Fiona thought she was looking for a handsome, dashing prince, but that was before she accepted her true self. Once she did, she could see past Shrek's exterior to the man beneath the ogre.

Did you love Shrek? What struck you about Princess Fiona?

And please join me tomorrow for G = Gothel (Mother Gothel).

E = Elsa #AtoZChallenge

Happy Thursday and welcome to my blog. During the month of April, I will be talking fairy tales as part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge . 
I'm a sucker for the classics, but I love to happen upon a new fairy tale. A few years ago, thanks to my three daughters, I became a fan of Disney's Frozen. As the oldest of three girls and the mother of three girls, I loved the tale about two sisters.
And, let's be honest... the main song, Let It Go, became a phenomenon and a song we couldn't stop singing. 
So, I had to feature Frozen in my fairy tales with a modern message.
And...
E = Elsa
While I loved he character of Anna more, and her message of love and family, Elsa had her own things to teach us as well.
What can we learn from Elsa today?
Okay, this is a more modern-day retelling, so the timeliness of the story is more apparent. But thanks to the song, the biggest lesson Elsa has for us is to embrace who we are, even if it means starting a new life. Elsa wanted to protect her sister, but she also couldn't keep fighting who she was, or continue to be ashamed of it.
Of course, she didn't realize the effect it had on those left behind. But she never stopped loving her sister, and eventually accepting that love ultimately showed Elsa how to embrace her gift and be a part of the community she loved.
Which leads me to the ultimate lesson... Trust love and the people who love you. When you try to do everything on your own, it can lead to a cold and empty existence. When people want to help, let them. It will only enrich your life.
What did Elsa teach you about life? Do you love or hate the song now?
And I apologize to anyone who never wanted it to replay in their head again if it is now looping through your mind. *giggles*

D = Dorothy #AtoZChallenge

Happy Hump Day! And welcome to my blog. This month I am discussing fairy tales as part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge . 

I love fairy tales, and I wanted to explore what we can still learn from them today. My next choice is a favorite movie from my childhood and spun off one of my favorite plays as an adult (although if I'm totally honest, I did not love Wicked in novel form).

So for this fine Wednesday...

D = Dorothy

While I don't remember the first time I saw The Wizard of Oz, I do recall showing it to my kids for the first time, watching their faces beam as they escaped into the fantasy of Oz.

I'm sure my mom felt the same way the first time she introduced it to me. And is there anything better than a tale that holds up for generations?

Which leads me to my theme...

What can we learn from Dorothy today?
Fearlessness. First and foremost, Dorothy taught us to be fearless in our pursuits to find home. In a strange land with strange people and happenings, Dorothy followed her destined path, letting nothing stand in her way.

And, even better, along the way she stopped to help others in need instead of being blinded by her own ultimate goal. She could have easily been so headstrong that she failed to notice anyone else, much less take the time to stop and help them.

Believe, but don't blindly believe. Inquisitiveness, and trusting her gut, led Dorothy to uncover the truth behind Oz and to realize the power to return home was hers all along. I believe in mystery, in things we can't always understand, but I also trust our ability to reason and research facts. In our world of technology, there's no real excuse not to check things out, but there are other things where we can take a leap of faith.

Do you love The Wizard of Oz? What lessons did you take from it?

And join me tomorrow for E = Elsa... I know, I know... the song is already stuck in your head. 

C = Cinderella #AtoZChallenge

Welcome to everyone following this month's theme and checking out the Blogging from A to Z Challenge posts. If you'd like to find more posts, check out the website or Facebook page .

My theme this month is Fairy Tales, and more specifically what they can teach us today. My love of fairy tales and the upcoming War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales serial series inspired me to dive deeper.

For today...

C = Cinderella

My middle daughter became fascinated with Disney's Cinderella from a very young age, and we loved the live-action version released a few years ago. On the surface, some princess fairy tales seem shallow and outdated.

But underneath, there are some very important lessons.

So...
What can we learn from Cinderella today?
To begin, one of my favorite Disney ballads comes from Cinderella. Check out the first few words...

A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keepHave faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling thru
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
The dream that you wish will come true(from MetroLyrics)

I'm a big believer in dreaming, in believing you can do more, be more. And something about this song revs me up to be a dreamer again. And in this day and age where we know so much--thanks, technology--we could all use a little more dreaming and believing.

Then, of course, we learn from Cinderella to see the positive and make the best of any situation. Too often in this information-savvy world, negativity reigns. Positivity takes focus. It doesn't mean you accept a situation--after all, Cinderella fought to go the ball--but some situations can't be avoided, and we should make the best of them. Life is too short after all.

Finally, Cinderella reminds us to trust our heart and fight for where it leads us. Cinderella could have given up so many times, especially in her circumstances, but she didn't. 

What struck you most about Cinderella (Disney, original tale, or live-action movie)?

***
Throughout the month, I will occasionally feature a princess from War and Pieces: Frayed Fairy Tales, a serial series debuting 4/24/17 with Season 1: Episode 1. A new episode will debut every other day through ten seasons--each featuring a different princess, three episodes per season. 

In Season 5, you find out what happened to Cinderella after the ball. Oh, and did I mention each fairy tale character/princess faces a paranormal invader. The cover...


For more information, check out our website: www.frayedfairytales.com

B = Belle #AtoZChallenge

Good Monday morning. 

It's Day Two of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, and I will be discussing fairy tales all month--lucky me!--and what they can still teach us today.

B = Belle

First of all, this might be my all-time favorite Disney movie. As a book nerd and someone who always felt different (something I've come to embrace now but didn't as a young child), Belle was my hero.

So I turned into a total fangirl when I heard Disney was making a live-action film. I just saw it this past week... more on that later...

What can we still learn from Belle today?
Books are awesome. Come on, you know I had to say it.

Women can be beautiful and smart. Belle heard the snickers and knew the villagers thought she was odd, but she lifted her head and went on singing and reading. She let her heart guide her, which leads us to...

Don't judge a book by its cover. Belle didn't let the gnarled features, gruff tone, and overwhelming size of the Beast dissuade her. She let her heart lead the way, and she found the inner prince.

***
I took my daughters to see the live-action The Beauty and the Beast this weekend, and overall, I really liked it. But I have to admit I was somewhat disappointed, although I've been having a hard time putting my finger on why.

I loved the added songs, and the movie was beautiful to watch. 

I'm sure it was all about my expectations and how much I loved the original Disney cartoon. There's something magical about the colors of the cartoon version of Be My Guest that was lost in the dark rendition in the live-action film, for example. 


Did you see the movie? What were your thoughts?

Be sure to join me tomorrow for C = Cinderella.

The Peculiar Lives of Circus Freaks is LIVE

It's alive!!

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lF2E1X
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2n7Hkzg
iBooks: http://apple.co/2mmPuoV
Nook: http://bit.ly/2n0bmbl
My story, Shifter Sideshow, is features Karlee who works with the animal trainers with the big cats, but she soon finds out some animals should never be caged.

And I'm announcing for the first time here that Shifter Sideshow will jumpstart a new paranormal series for me, so don't miss our chance to to get a sneak peek while also reading stories from seven other authors.
If you'd like to follow the shenanigans of our author group, join The Peculiars on Facebook .