I’m a big fan of Once Upon A Time (we’re only halfway through the season here) for that very reason, and the show (and the many other fairytale adaptations that are out/coming up in movies and TV) has had me thinking about fairytale retellings in YA fiction.

One of my favourites is Ella Enchanted, a Cinderella adaptation by Gail Carson Levine. She also wrote a Snow White adaptation, Fairest, set in the same universe, but unfortunately I have yet to read it.

Adele Geras, in addition to expanding on Greek myth, wrote a trilogy of fairytale retellings based around three best friends at at English boarding school in the 1960s. The first, The Tower Room, is Rapunzel; the second, Watching the Roses, Sleeping Beauty; and the third, Pictures of the Night, is Snow White.

I read and reviewed (and enjoyed) Beastly by Alex Flinn, but have yet to read any of her other fairytale retellings. Speaking of Beauty and the Beast, it’s a popular choice for adaptations, with Robin McKinley writing not one but two – Beauty and Rose Daughter – as well as the Sleeping Beauty adaptation Spindle’s End.

One idea that I love is the “sci fi retelling”. I really enjoyed Cinder by Marissa Meyer and am looking forward to the sequels, and I have heard good things about A Long Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan.

But overall, my favourite retelling of a fairytale is the Snow White and Rose Red adaptation Tender Morsels. Lanagan also has a story in the first Tales From The Tower book, a series of fairytale retelling anthologies which I really want to read.

But of course, there’s always the classics: Grimms Fairytales, Andrew Lang’s Coloured Fairy Books and more, which can be found on the Gutenberg site. And, if you’re a Once Upon A Time fan like me, this illustrated collection of thirty tales, with an introduction by the show creators, by the artist behind some beautiful Once Upon A Time posters, such as this Rapunzel one.

The first volume of George R R Martin’s glorious high fantasy tells the tragic story of treachery, greed and war that threatens the unity of the Seven Kingdoms south of the Wall. Martin unfolds with astonishing skill a tale of truly epic dimensions, thronged with memorable characters, a story of treachery and ambition, love and magic. Set in a fabulous world scarred by battle and catastrophe over 8000 years of recorded history, it tells of the deeds of men and women locked in the deadliest of conflicts and the terrible legacy they will leave their children. In the game of thrones, you win or you die.

And in the bitter-cold, unliving lands beyond the Wall, a terrible winter gathers and the others — the undead, the neverborn, wildlings to whom the threat of the sword is nothing — make ready to descend on the realms of men.

So I have finally caught up with what seems like the rest of the world and read A Game of Thrones, the first book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series and basis for the HBO series¹ that bears the name of the first book. I’ll confess that one of the reasons I read less high fantasy (especially adult high fantasy) than I should/wish to is the sheer length of them. So you can imagine my trepidation when I held A Game of Thrones in my little hands², knowing how many even thicker books were to follow.

But despite the many hundreds of pages, the multiple narrative viewpoints and the many intertwining storylines A Game of Thrones never felt as long as it might have. Martin’s writing is compelling and his characters – even when they are completely unlikeable (and believe me, there are many in this book) – are fascinating and complex. Of them all, my favourite sections of the book – my favourite characters – were those focussed on Eddard, Jon, Tyrion, Ayra and Daenerys. Each one had their own facets that made them interesting, and each gave me a different view of the massive, impressive and complex world of the series.

Even without the knowledge of the many books that follow, I was very easily left with the impression that things are going to get more epic as A Game of Thrones barely scratched the surface of this world. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am looking forward to continuing the series, watching the HBO adaptation of the books and checking out the graphic novel adaptation. And if you’re one of the few people who have yet to experience A Game of Thrones, I highly recommend you give it a go too. It’s well worth it³.

1. Which I can watch now that I have read the first book.
2. It was very difficult, let me tell you, as I have teeny weeny hands
3. And not just because, like me, you’ll finally understand what all those jokes and references – like this one – are all about

I was lucky enough to have Claudia Gray answer a few questions about her writing process. It’s always fascinating, for me anyway, to learn how other writers approach their tasks and I hope it is the same for you. And don’t forget to stick around after the Q&A as I have not one but two signed copies of Balthazar to give away, courtesy of the wonderful people at HarperCollins New Zealand!
 

What kind of preparation work/research do you do before starting a novel?
I don’t do tons of research before I begin — I usually research as I need, as I go. However, I do a lot of preparation. For me this has more to do with getting to know the characters and the story beats/arc before I sit down to begin. 

Are you a heavy-outliner, a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pantser or somewhere in between? Please elaborate.
To go with the above: I’m definitely an outliner. I don’t see outlining as separate from the writing process; for me, it’s just a way of working out all the macro issues for the book before working on the nitty-gritty of sentence/paragraph/chapter structure. Outlining usually takes weeks, sometimes months; at least once, I spent more time coming up with the outline than writing the actual prose. The length and detail of the outline tends to vary from project to project. Not entirely sure why that is! But sometimes I want a very precise road map, and other times I know I can navigate with more general directions. 

I always end up deviating from the outline slightly in the end. Sometimes a chapter drags more than you thought, or a character reacts differently, etc. But I spend enough time developing my outlines that I rarely wind up changing something truly fundamental to the book at that stage. 

What kinds of tools and software do you use for your projects and why?
Gosh, I use Word. I use Wikipedia. I own an Oxford English Dictionary. That’s about it. If I can type, I can write. 

Where do you do your writing (a private office at home, in a cafe etc.) and why?
Mostly I write at home, in my office, or at one of the local coffee shops. Sometimes I’ll mix it up a bit for variety, or out of necessity — you know, if the writing needs to get done, it needs to get done, and that can mean you have to work in a hotel or at your parents’ house or wherever. Really the only places I can’t write are when I’m in transit, i.e., in a plane, train or automobile. Just doesn’t work for me. Other than that, I feel like it’s important to be able to work almost anywhere. 

Describe your typical writing day/schedule.
Honestly, there is no typical writing day for me. There are days I work for twelve hours. There are days I don’t work at all. Sometimes I’m outlining; sometimes I’m working on the text; sometimes I’m just brainstorming; and sometimes I go back and forth between them all. And there are days like today, when I’m on tour to promote the books, so I’m definitely working hard, but won’t get a word written. That’s one of the things I like best about it, though — I get to define each day for myself, and use it in whatever way is most productive. 

New Zealand fans, use the form below for your chance to win a signed copy of Balthazar!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fans can meet Claudia live on Saturday 31 March 2012 at 2pm at Next Page Please, 445 Lake Road, Takapuna, Auckland.

So remember to stop by On The Nightstand on the 22nd to learn more about how Claudia Gray writes as well as perhaps another surprise.

So after hearing one too many times guys insisting that girls and women don’t read comics at all, I thought I would do a couple of rec posts on the subject. Today I am generally going to be touching on horror/supernatural comics, and then later I’ll jump into the big world of superheroes.

Anya’s Ghost: When Anya finds a ghost at the bottom of a well, she thinks she’s found a best friend. But it seems Anya has found a whole heap of trouble instead.
Coraline: The graphic novel of the book, Coraline Jones discovers a little door that leads to an Other Mother, an Other Father… and danger.
Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things: When Courtney and her parents move in with Uncle Aloysius, Courtney discovers that she can do magic and there are creatures that live in the dark.
The Good Neighbors: As Rue is about to discover, things – like murder and families – are never simple when the fae are involved.

Locke and Key: After their father’s murder, the Locke kids and their mother move to Keyhouse, a house with a voice in the well and a number of keys that do more than just open doors.
American Vampire: Witness the birth of a new species of vampire, following first American Vampire Skinner Sweet, an outlaw, and his progeny, struggling silent film actress Pearl Jones.
The Walking Dead: In the series that inspired the TV show, Rick Grimes wakes from a coma after being shot while on duty to find that the zombie apocalypse has arrived.

Sandman: After being imprisoned for 70 years, Dream sets out on a quest to recover his lost objects of power.
Madame Xanadu: Follow the ageless fortuneteller Madame Xanadu throughout the ages, from the time of King Arthur to the court of Kublai Khan to Marie Antoinette’s side and more.
The Unknown: A renowned private detective with only six months left to live, Catherine Allingham is determined to solve the greatest mystery of all: what awaits us after we die?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: In the original series that inspired the shows/movies, four infant turtles are transformed by a mysterious ooze and trained by a rat to become… well, you know.
Static Shock: In the original comic that inspired the cartoon series, Virgil Hawkins develops superpowers after being doused with a chemical during a gang war and becomes the hero Static.
Gargoyles: A continuation of the Disney cartoon, Gargoyles follows a clan of some of the last surviving gargoyles – creatures who are stone by day and warriors by night.
Young Justice: Based on the Cartoon Network series, Young Justice follows a group of sidekicks who have now formed their own superteam to perform missions on behalf of the Justice League.

Title: The Night of the Solstice
Author: L.J. Smith
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
New Zealand Orders: Fishpond, MightyApe
International Orders: The Book Depository, IndieBound, Amazon

When Claudia Hodges-Bradley meets a fox, she knows it will be an extraordinary day. Not just any fox, this vixen is the magical familiar of the sorceress Morgana Shee. For years Morgana has guarded the solitary gate between Earth and the Wildworld, a shimmering parallel universe where legends still live. She alone holds the secret of the mirrors that serve as the last passage to enchantment. But Morgana has been betrayed and imprisoned in Wildworld, and the fox is determined to recruit the Hodges-Bradley kids for the rescue mission.

Armed only with courage and determination, Alys, Charles, Janie and Claudia must save Morgana before the Winter Solstice when the evil sorcerer Cadal Forge plans to escape Wildworld and conquer Earth. And with December 21 only two weeks away, there is no time to lose….

Title: Before I Die
Author: Jenny Downham
Publisher: Random House
New Zealand Orders: Fishpond, MightyApe
International Orders: The Book Depository, IndieBound, Amazon

Tessa has just a few months to live. Fighting back against hospital visits, endless tests, drugs with excruciating side-effects, Tessa compiles a list. It’s her Ten Things To Do Before I Die list. And Number One is sex. Released from the constraints of ‘normal’ life, Tessa tastes new experiences to make her feel alive while her failing body struggles to keep up. Tessa’s feelings, her relationships with her father and brother, her estranged mother, her best friend, her new boyfriend, all are painfully crystallized in the precious weeks before Tessa’s time finally runs out

This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:

Title: Pink Smog: Becoming Weetzie Bat
Author: Francesca Lia Block
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: April 20 (NZ)
New Zealand Pre-Orders: Fishpond, MightyApe
International Orders: The Book Depository, IndieBound

“Weetzie,” I whispered. “My name’s Weetzie.”

Despite how much Louise Bat insists, no one will call her Weetzie. It’s her dad’s nickname for her, but it won’t stay put. Unfortunately, neither will her dad. After he leaves, Louise must sift through the smog of her heartbreak.

Weetzie Bat was originally published more than twenty years ago, and the character remains an iconic treasure. Beautifully crafted and brutally honest, Pink Smog is the story of how Louise becomes the beloved, inimitable Weetzie Bat, from the luminous hands of Francesca Lia Block. This new story will introduce Weetzie to a new generation who will fall in love with her celestial and sparkling world.

Although it’s already out in places like the US, we have to wait a while.

First of all, happy Waitangi Day.

I’m just finishing off Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, being about halfway through the aptly-named The End. It’s been quite a ride and I’ve really enjoyed the book series as a whole and am really looking forward to LSATWQ, whatever it may be.

I am also about two-thirds of the way through the audiobook of The Minister’s Daughter, a historical fantasy about witch-hunts and fairies.

Books I Have Been Reading

Because it’s the start of a new year, I’ll just recount the ones that I have read so far this year.

A Dictionary of Fairies by Katharine Briggs: Sadly this seems to be out of print as it’s a fantastic little book. Although I got it from the library for research, to look up specific things, I had a lot of fun reading through the whole thing. I found so many fantastic pieces of information there. If you like fairies and folklore, look up this book.

• If you liked the time travel and the romance of Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier, try The Named by Marianne Curley.
• If you liked the Victorian setting and the clever sleuthing of A Spy In The House by Y.S. Lee then try The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer.
• If you liked the magic and romance of The Secret Circle by LJ Smith then try Sweep and Balefire by Cate Tiernan.
• If you liked the graphic novel format, the dark creatures and the art of The Good Neighbors by Holly Black and Ted Naifeh, then try Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things, also by Ted Naifeh.

Welcome to 2012! My goal this year is to read 120 books (up from the easily-met 100 of 2010 and 2011) and I am already on my way.

I have just started reading Looking for Alaska by John Green. It will be my first proper book by John Green, who has been an author I’ve heard talked about everywhere but not really read. I did start Will Grayson, Will Grayson but put it aside before the half-way mark. This was mainly because of the major disconnect between what people described it as and the book I actually read: instead of getting “The Wacky Adventures of Two Guys with the Same Name who Met in an Adult Shop” I got “The Tiny Cooper Show”. And since I personally was not a fan of the Tiny Cooper Show I set the book aside and did not finish it. It was not a bad book, just not the book for me.

Anyway, I have just started reading Looking For Alaska and while I am not looking forward to the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope everyone has mentioned, I am liking Miles so far (of course, I am only twenty pages in. So.)

Books I Have Been Reading

Because it’s the start of a new year, I’ll just recount the ones that I have read so far this year.

Balefire by Cate Tiernan: Like with the Sweep books I read Balefire back when it was juuuuust heading out of print and I was delighted to hear Balefire was going to be bound-up like Sweep, as both series need more love. I wish, though, it had been split into two books of two, as all four books in one was painful to hold. Fabulous books – if you like LJ Smith’s Secret Circle books you really should check out both Balefire and Sweep.