Today Only: Bargain Ebook for $1.99: Oz Reimagined: New Tales from the Emerald City and Beyond

Oz Reimagined: New Tales from the Emerald City and Beyond by John Joseph Adams (Editor) and Douglas Cohen (Editor) is bargain priced in ebook format on Amazon today only for $1.99.

Book description:

FOREWORD BY GREGORY MAGUIRE, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WICKED.

When L. Frank Baum introduced Dorothy and friends to the American public in 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz became an instant, bestselling hit. Today the whimsical tale remains a cultural phenomenon that continues to spawn wildly popular books, movies, and musicals. Now, editors John Joseph Adams and Douglas Cohen have brought together leading fantasy writers such as Orson Scott Card and Seanan McGuire to create the ultimate anthology for Oz fans – and, really, any reader with an appetite for richly imagined worlds. Stories include:

Frank Baum's son has the real experiences that his father later fictionalized in Orson Scott Card’s “Off to See the Emperor.”

Seanan McGuire’s “Emeralds to Emeralds, Dust to Dust” finds Dorothy grown up, bitter, and still living in Oz. And she has a murder to solve – assuming Ozma will stop interfering with her life long enough to let her do her job.

In “Blown Away,” Jane Yolen asks: What if Toto was dead and stuffed, Ozma was a circus freak, and everything you thought you knew as Oz was really right here in Kansas?

"The Cobbler of Oz" by Jonathan Maberry explores a Winged Monkey with wings too small to let her fly. Her only chance to change that rests with the Silver Slippers.

In Tad Williams’s futuristic “The Boy Detective of Oz," Orlando investigates the corrupt Oz simulation of the Otherland network.

And more…

Some stories are dystopian…Some are dreamlike…All are undeniably Oz.

Includes stories by these authors:

Dale Bailey, Orson Scott Card, Rae Carson, David Farland, C.C. Finlay, Jeffrey Ford, Theodora Goss, Simon R. Green, Kat Howard, Ken Liu, Seanan McGuire, Jonathan Maberry, Rachel Swirsky, Robin Wasserman, Tad Williams, Jane Yolen

A Note On Suggested Reading Age: L. Frank Baum’s original Oz books were works of children's fiction--albeit ones that have been known and loved by "children of all ages" throughout their existence. Though many of the stories contained in this anthology are also suitable for the aforementioned children of all ages, Oz Reimagined is intended for ages 13 and up, and as such, some of the stories deal with mature themes, so parental guidance is suggested.

Upcoming Book: Snow White and Rose Red by Kelly Vivanco

Oh, I am such a tease today. I was browsing and saw this release slated for January 2014. But it is such a different and wonderful take on Snow White and Rose Red, literally emphasizing the ying yang of the sisters. It is rare to see this scene from the tale illustrated. And it is so rare to get a Snow White and Rose Red picture book anyway, so I am quite excited about this book. You can see more of Kelly Vivanco's work on her website.

Book description:

Snow White and Rose Red are loving, happy sisters, although they are different as day and night. Together they live with their mother in cozy, peaceful cottage in the woods. Then, one snowy day, their peace is disturbed by a giant black bear looking for a warm place to rest. At first scared, the girls and their mother soon realize the bear is kind—in fact, there is more to the bear than meets the eye. Will the girls’ giving spirits rescue the bear from his troublesome and secretive fate? This age-old Brothers Grimm tale is here deftly retold and stunningly re-illustrated with modern, magical paintings by Kelly Vivanco.

 

Preorder Snow White and Rose Red on Amazon.

Preorder Snow White and Rose Red on Amazon.co.uk

New Book: It's Not Fairy by Ros Asquith

 

It's Not Fairy by Ros Asquith was released in the US not too long ago. It was released first in the UK last year and I have had my eye on it since then. As you can see above, they got the same cover treatment in both countries.

I was raised on the "Life's Not Fair" refrain, a top phrase from my father. My siblings and I laugh when we hear it now, but not so much when we were kids. Anyway, I think the book is a great concept and it has been added to my wishlist.

Book description:

The IT'S NOT FAIRY flaps round all night,
sorting out what's wrong or right.
But there's so many kids saying it's not fair —
she's ranting and raving and tearing her hair.
She's shouting, 'The very next kids I meet,
I'm pretty sure I'm going to EAT!'

Billy and Mary say they don't believe in the It's Not Fairy, but that's before she turns up at their house! And it's not only the children she wants to bake into a fairy cake - Mum and Dad come in for their share of blame too. There's nothing for it - the whole family may have to change their ways and be nicer to each other!

This is a wonderful, hilarious fantasy starring a very feisty fairy on a mission, which will have the whole family laughing out loud, as well as encouraging discussion about fairness.

I especially love the fairies from the book's endpapers. You can click on these and see them a little larger.

And here are some pages from the text:

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.