Free eBook: The Cinderella Curse by J. L. Penn

The Cinderella Curse by J. L. Penn is FREE probably only for the rest of today or through tomorrow since Amazon only allows these self-published titles to be free for three days.

Book description:

Please note that this is a novella equivalent to 70 pages of a hardback novel.

From the acclaimed author of Reunion comes the hilarious tale of a girl who whacks a witch, gets cursed, and becomes a pumpkin at midnight. Sound strange? She thinks so.

Cindy had a fairy tale life – well, not literally – but she was pretty and popular. Then one fateful autumn day, while picking apples, she encountered a real-life witch. After accidentally clocking the witch on the head with her basket of apples, the angry witch put a spell on her. As Cindy would soon find out, she was destined to live out her nights turning into a pumpkin at midnight. Talk about a crimp in your social life!

There is only one antidote for Cindy’s terrible curse - if only she knew what it was. Hilarity ensues as Cindy attempts to lead a normal life as a part-time pumpkin.

Princess and the Pea Retelling: The Duke Is Mine by Eloisa James

Eloisa James has released a few fairy tale inspired category romances the last few years and today is the release date for her latest: The Duke Is Mine. It might not sound like it from the title, but this one is inspired by The Princess and the Pea which gets a big hurrah from me since this one so rarely inspires any novel.

Book description from the publisher:

Destiny will be decided between the sheets in this all-new tale of “The Princess and the Pea.”

For Olivia Lytton, betrothal to the Duke of Canterwick—hardly a Prince Charming—feels more like a curse than a happily-ever-after. At least his noble status will help her sister, Georgiana, secure an engagement with the brooding, handsome Tarquin, Duke of Sconce, a perfect match for her in every way . . . every way but one. Tarquin has fallen in love with Olivia.

Quin never puts passion before reason. And reason says that Georgiana is his ideal bride. But the sensual, fiery, strong-willed Olivia ignites an unknown longing in him— a desire they are both powerless to resist. When a scandalous affair begins, they risk losing everything—Olivia’s engagement, her sister’s friendship, and their own fragile love. Only one thing can save them—and it awaits in the bedroom, where a magnificent mattress holds life-changing answers to the greatest romantic riddle of all.

James's previous fairy tale inspired titles include A Kiss at Midnight (Cinderella) and When Beauty Tamed the Beast (Beauty and the Beast).

Advertising: Dixon Homes and Fairy Tales

For small, local spot ads, they're not bad. And they're Australian! (I'm in the U.S., so that makes them more interesting...)

The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood by J.G. van Caspel

De Schoone Slaapster in het Bosch

Mother Goose Fairy Tale.

by J.G. van Caspel (Dutch)

(02-05 1870--06-02 1928)

Found via Love for Books.

Advertising: Red Bull and Fairy Tales

Frog Prince

I'm not a fan of Red Bull myself and never really cared for these ads, but in the interest of sharing ad campaigns, here they are! At least they went for less of the princess tales and some of the others instead.



Rapunzel



Aladdin

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you dear readers which ever celebrations you honor this week. This week is special to me here at SurLaLune because it is also the 13th anniversary of SurLaLune on the 28th. Here are some pictures of my poor tilted tree this year with many fairy tale ornaments on it. I never got the other ornaments dug out of the garage thanks to a few mishaps the past few weeks which has also lead to my relative quiet on the blog. But in its simplicity, the tree has still delighted. I hope your holidays are as delightful through the new year.

Here are some close-ups in which you can identify some of the illustrations and fairy tales if you like, there are many more, but this is what my camera agreed to capture without overexposing...

Advertising: Bensons for Beds and Sleeping Beauty

Simple and effective. That's a fun way to use Sleeping Beauty in advertising!

Bensons for Beds 'Sleeping Beauty' TV ad by Wand Agency

Advertising: Perdue and Goldilocks

Well, that's one I never saw before. It was disconcerting at first, but then all made sense, of course...

R. A. MacAvoy Returns

 

One Christmas present arrived a few days early for me this week. But first I must preface.

We all have them, those beloved authors who wrote a pivotal book, a comfort read, or some tome that resonated for some reason, sometimes undefinable. One of those authors for me is R. A. MacAvoy. I discovered her in my teens and fell in love with many of her books, especially The Grey Horse and Tea With the Black Dragon and Twisting the Rope. For me, they were simply different. They still are. The latter two have very definited aged technology in them, but The Grey Horse is ageless, and I admit, my favorite. It wasn't an easy read for the fifteen year old me when I first read it with its dialect which is quite easy for me now. But I was an inexperienced reader then. The Grey Horse is still a favorite--two original copies have resided on my bookshelve for years--then I purchased the rereleased paperback--then I bought it for my Kindle soon after I acquired my first Kindle. So, yes, it's a beloved book.

And MacAvoy's work was beloved although she virtually disappeared for years and years and years from the publishing scene. There has been no new book for a very long time. Every so often, I would stumble across someone else lamenting the lack of more MacAvoy. Her small library of titles have been on my shelves for years, escaping every purge although I don't reread all of them very regularly. But they were precious because they were by her.

Gushing much, Heidi? Sure. My fifteen year old fangirl still lives inside me.

Anyway, this week--a few weeks after publication!--I learned that there is finally a new R. A. MacAvoy title, Death and Resurrection. I ordered it within minutes of this discovery. And now I share here just to get the word out. The previews have been positive and I am thrilled. But now I am debating when to actually read it. Do I wait a few more days until the pressure of the holidays has passed? Do I stay up late tonight devouring it? What do I do?

Either way, since I haven't read it yet, I will go ahead and reiterate that if you want a lovely read, do pick up a copy of The Grey Horse. The original cover thrilled my heart back in its day. The current is rather plain and unassuming but don't let that deter you. It's Ireland. It's fae. It might sound cliche, but it's not. I have to be careful whenever I pick it up and open it because I tend to start rereading from that point and not stopping until I've reached the end. It does that for me. It just might do that for you, too.

And thanks for sharing your work again, R. A. MacAvoy. I am grateful....

Advertising: Hansel Sandwiches

Sleeping Beauty

Hansel Sandwiches. What a natural name to inspire fairy tale themed advertising...


Snow White


Little Red Riding Hood

Fairy Tale Music: A Preview

A few of you asked for my fairy tale playlist that I have on my MP3 players. I don't want you to think I have forgotten you, like I forget so much here on the blog. I don't have the full list to share today, but I do have an old list that is buried on the SurLaLune site which may be of interest to you now. It's on the old bookstore page at Fairy Tale Music. It is a long list, so don't think I am shirking!

I am planning a fairy tale music month here on the blog in March 2012 for Music in Our Schools Month. March has a lot of pertinent themes for the blog, but this year I am using the music theme since I haven't done so previously.

There are also song listings on the Modern Interpretations pages for each fairy tale on the SurLaLune main site, too.

And, by all means, do not forget to use the Music subject tag on this blog either to read about other fairy tale music. I have several entries about interesting projects.

So if you are curious and want a preview of some of what is to come, that's where to start. Or, if you got new listening devices for holiday gifts and want new things to fill it. I've been told that happens sometimes.

And, by all means, if any of you have fairy tale music to share, please do! This is one of my weaker categories besides graphic novels, especially manga. It's hard to do lyrics searches for songs and find the themes we seek as fairy tale fiends, so many miss my radar. And then there's the issue of most searches bringing up audiobook tracks instead of actual music. It can be a tedious process to find new examples of fairy tale inspired or simply referenced music.

It’s the Journey: “Beauty and the Beast” vs. “Cinderella” by Joanna Novins

An article comparing two popular fairy tales and their strength as romance plots can be found at It’s the Journey: “Beauty and the Beast” vs. “Cinderella” by Joanna Novins. Here's an excerpt of the article which spends a splendid amount of time praising Robin McKinley's Beauty. Why, yes, that is always a worthy activity...

The first few paragraphs from the article:

Though I’m not a gambler, I’d be willing to bet that “Cinderella” is the fairy tale most commonly retold in modern-day romances. What’s more appealing than the mistreated scullery maid who, with the wave of a wand, is provided a complete makeover, including fabulous shoes, and entrée to a ball, where a handsome prince instantly falls in love with her?

But in my opinion, Cinderella and Prince Charming are the laziest hero and heroine ever. Sure, there’s that whole grain sorting/floor scrubbing/impossible task so she gets magical help thing, but really, all Cinderella has to do win the prince’s heart is get a makeover and show up. As for Prince Charming, all he has to do is be tenacious in his efforts to find the owner of the size 5 glass slipper. Time consuming, yes, but heroic? Meh.

Nothing new for SurLaLune readers but sometimes it's nice to read about Beauty and the Beast and how so many adore the tale...