by Lynn Hubbard
Once upon a time there was a girl named Penelope. Food was scarce those days, and she had to walk miles looking for roots or berries to eat. After a long, hot morning Penelope was tired and hungry. A delicious scent led her to a cabin deep in the woods. She followed it in anticipation of having all her needs filled.
The Legend of M’Rith
by Miriam Newman
By 1844, an increase in the human population of Ireland has forced Fae inhabitants from their lush green homes in the East to the spare, bare terrain of the West--except for one. M’Rith, half fairie and half elf, has been bidden by her Queen Mother to remain in the forest, promising her a mortal man to love. Kieran, the village blacksmith, has lost his wife and lives in the same painful solitude as M’Rith, but he is a worker of iron that can mortally wound a fairie lover.
To Adventure
by Jae El Foster
There is a black plague crossing from kingdom to kingdom, placed upon a slumbering princess by her wicked stepmother, and only with true love’s kiss can the spell be lifted. Will the plague encompass all before that kiss can be sealed, or will the power of true love make itself known to the handsome Prince Harold, providing him with the adventure of a lifetime?
On To Adventure from Jae El Foster
‘To Adventure’ – my contribution in the DCL Publications anthology Enchanted Fairy Tales – is a story of fantasy, wonder, romance, and betrayal. It is the saga of Prince Harold, a happy-go-lucky man who travels the land atop his trusty steed and beloved companion Philip – a horse with a personality as great as that of any human – in constant search of adventure.
On this particular journey, he happens upon a gypsy campsite and is introduced to a medium that reads his future through her mystical tarot cards. This old gypsy woman is known as Madame Howell, and ‘To Adventure’ is not her only appearance in my universe of characters and books, but it is her first published appearance – even if it wasn’t intended to be.
The character of Madame Howell was created a couple of years ago, before ‘To Adventure’ was ever a thought, in the early draft stages of my novel Beauty Within. In that tale – a retelling of the infamous fairy tale Beauty and the Beast – Howell is portrayed as a witch in a small but active village, where she befriends the protagonist and presents her with a gift that will help direct her to her fate.
A personal set-back followed by a resurfacing of the muses caused Beauty Within’s publication date to be pushed back. A new second half to the story had to be written, and as that was being tended to, the Enchanted Fairy Tales anthology surfaced with a call for submissions.
I put my addition to Beauty Within aside and turned my focus to another fairy tale – the complex and haunting ‘To Adventure.’ Yet, Beauty Within was still on my mind and somehow Madame Howell managed her way into ‘To Adventure.’
With ‘To Adventure,’ I had to be careful as to not leak any Beauty Within spoilers into the story. Yet, like with Beauty Within, Madame Howell’s role was intended to be small but instead played a huge impact on the story. She is a powerful being, and one day, she may prove worthy enough a character to have her story told. That would be interesting.
‘To Adventure’ is my unexpected favorite in my catalog of publications. It allowed me to incorporate my favorite fairy tale elements into one enchanting, if somewhat twisted, story. I used great aspects of the genre that had always stuck out to me like the cursed princess and the prince who would deliver true love’s kiss, the wicked step-mother and the powerful witch, an appearance from a fairy and three godmothers, and my personal favorite – the slaying of the dragon.
I was even able to end the story with my own personal version of a ‘happily ever after.’ It would be impossible for me to delve into the ending without presenting readers of this with blatant spoilers, but I will say that the ending is mystical, magical, vindictive, and powerful.
Readers might notice my nods to classic Disney fairy tales. Philip the horse is fully inspired from Walt Disney’s usage of human personality traits in animals. Prince Harold needed a traveling companion that could keep him company, even through conversation, and although Philip does not speak like a human, his mannerism definitely show through with response. Also, certain key phrases throughout the story might ring a bell of reminiscence. I won’t tell you what they are, but you will know them when you have found them.
I do hope you’ve enjoyed this behind the scenes glance at my story ‘To Adventure.’ If you’d like to read more about the creation of this tale, please visit www.jaeelbooks.com/sbts-to-adventure.
My thanks to Romance Novel Giveaways for hosting me on this virtual book tour! I encourage readers of this post to leave comments and questions below. I will check in periodically and will respond to each.
Thank you also to Goddess Fish Promotions and DCL Publications for this fun event.
Remember always to do good things!
Jae El Foster
On this particular journey, he happens upon a gypsy campsite and is introduced to a medium that reads his future through her mystical tarot cards. This old gypsy woman is known as Madame Howell, and ‘To Adventure’ is not her only appearance in my universe of characters and books, but it is her first published appearance – even if it wasn’t intended to be.
The character of Madame Howell was created a couple of years ago, before ‘To Adventure’ was ever a thought, in the early draft stages of my novel Beauty Within. In that tale – a retelling of the infamous fairy tale Beauty and the Beast – Howell is portrayed as a witch in a small but active village, where she befriends the protagonist and presents her with a gift that will help direct her to her fate.
A personal set-back followed by a resurfacing of the muses caused Beauty Within’s publication date to be pushed back. A new second half to the story had to be written, and as that was being tended to, the Enchanted Fairy Tales anthology surfaced with a call for submissions.
I put my addition to Beauty Within aside and turned my focus to another fairy tale – the complex and haunting ‘To Adventure.’ Yet, Beauty Within was still on my mind and somehow Madame Howell managed her way into ‘To Adventure.’
With ‘To Adventure,’ I had to be careful as to not leak any Beauty Within spoilers into the story. Yet, like with Beauty Within, Madame Howell’s role was intended to be small but instead played a huge impact on the story. She is a powerful being, and one day, she may prove worthy enough a character to have her story told. That would be interesting.
‘To Adventure’ is my unexpected favorite in my catalog of publications. It allowed me to incorporate my favorite fairy tale elements into one enchanting, if somewhat twisted, story. I used great aspects of the genre that had always stuck out to me like the cursed princess and the prince who would deliver true love’s kiss, the wicked step-mother and the powerful witch, an appearance from a fairy and three godmothers, and my personal favorite – the slaying of the dragon.
I was even able to end the story with my own personal version of a ‘happily ever after.’ It would be impossible for me to delve into the ending without presenting readers of this with blatant spoilers, but I will say that the ending is mystical, magical, vindictive, and powerful.
Readers might notice my nods to classic Disney fairy tales. Philip the horse is fully inspired from Walt Disney’s usage of human personality traits in animals. Prince Harold needed a traveling companion that could keep him company, even through conversation, and although Philip does not speak like a human, his mannerism definitely show through with response. Also, certain key phrases throughout the story might ring a bell of reminiscence. I won’t tell you what they are, but you will know them when you have found them.
I do hope you’ve enjoyed this behind the scenes glance at my story ‘To Adventure.’ If you’d like to read more about the creation of this tale, please visit www.jaeelbooks.com/sbts-to-adventure.
My thanks to Romance Novel Giveaways for hosting me on this virtual book tour! I encourage readers of this post to leave comments and questions below. I will check in periodically and will respond to each.
Thank you also to Goddess Fish Promotions and DCL Publications for this fun event.
Remember always to do good things!
Jae El Foster
from To Adventure by Jae El Foster
“I thank you for your time, but I must depart now. I have my horse with me, and it is going to storm soon.”
“That thunder does not mean rain,” she said in a cryptic tone.
“Well, I cannot chance that. Thank you again.”
Prince Harold turned from her and walked to the curtain. This time, Madame Howell did not stop him. He pulled the curtain open and stepped outside, looking up to the sky. Surely enough, the sky was clear, the moon was full, and thousands of stars glistened down upon him.
He saw the young man with the scruffy beard standing alone by the fire. Letting his encounter with Madame Howell remain behind him, locked inside that tent, he approached him.
“Hello again,” he said, stepping up to the young man. “I never did get your name.”
“That is because I never told it to you,” the young man answered.
“Well… may I know your name?”
The young man looked at him and smiled. His smile was less than comforting though. It made Prince Harold uneasy once more.
“I have been called many names,” he told him in a voice that was uncanny and dark. “My favorite has been Mephistopheles.”
Refusing to lose his smile, Prince Harold backed away slowly, placing his hands up before him. “I have heard that name,” he said in a nervous tone. “I think perhaps you shared in too much of the wine tonight, but regardless of that fact, I must be going. My horse awaits me.”
“That thunder does not mean rain,” she said in a cryptic tone.
“Well, I cannot chance that. Thank you again.”
Prince Harold turned from her and walked to the curtain. This time, Madame Howell did not stop him. He pulled the curtain open and stepped outside, looking up to the sky. Surely enough, the sky was clear, the moon was full, and thousands of stars glistened down upon him.
He saw the young man with the scruffy beard standing alone by the fire. Letting his encounter with Madame Howell remain behind him, locked inside that tent, he approached him.
“Hello again,” he said, stepping up to the young man. “I never did get your name.”
“That is because I never told it to you,” the young man answered.
“Well… may I know your name?”
The young man looked at him and smiled. His smile was less than comforting though. It made Prince Harold uneasy once more.
“I have been called many names,” he told him in a voice that was uncanny and dark. “My favorite has been Mephistopheles.”
Refusing to lose his smile, Prince Harold backed away slowly, placing his hands up before him. “I have heard that name,” he said in a nervous tone. “I think perhaps you shared in too much of the wine tonight, but regardless of that fact, I must be going. My horse awaits me.”
Jae El Foster
Miriam Newman
Lynn Hubbard
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for setting up another great tour for us!
DeleteThank you for hosting these DCL authors. You can find more DCL novels at www.thedarkcastlelords.net
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you taking the time to give us a great book description and giveaway as well. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by! If you have any questions on the book or other aspects of DCL Publications or the writers contained within, please let me know!
DeleteThis looks good!
ReplyDeleteI love this book, although I'm partial to it. ;-) Thank you for stopping by! If you have any questions, please let me know!
DeleteGood morning! I'm so excited to be here at Romance Novels Giveaways again! Thank you for hosting DCL Publications on this first day of our virtual book tour promoting Enchanted Fairy Tales! Thanks also to Goddess Fish and DCL for putting on this fun event.
ReplyDeleteI encourage all visitors to ask any questions that might be on your mind! I'll be checking in periodically throughout the day and will answer all to my best abilities! Thank you for stopping by!
If you are new to my writing, DCL Publications has placed one of my books on sale for this virtual book tour! For just 99 cents, you may purchase my 2012 Fictionwise best-seller "Where the Demon Is" for B&N Nook!
ReplyDeleteTo take advantage of this offer (which expires on Saturday), click here for the B&N Page: https://tinyurl.com/y7dplm8b
Sounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rita! I have full excerpts from all three authors included in the anthology available to read at my website if you're interested. https://www.jaeelbooks.com/enchantedfairytalesexcerpt
DeleteGreat info for behind the scenes! Thanks to all for this great tour!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jean!
DeleteThis book sounds so good and I love the cover!
ReplyDeleteThank you, DanieX! This is one of my favorite anthologies and I'm proud to be included in it. Lynn Hubbard, also included in the anthology, did the fantastic cover design for this, and our Prince Charming is none other than Mr. Jimmy Thomas. It is definitely a fun book with three very unique and well-created takes on fairy tales. I think you'll enjoy it. If you'd like to read excerpts from all three, I have them included here: https://www.jaeelbooks.com/enchantedfairytalesexcerpt
DeleteThanks again!
What a fantastic site! Thank you for hosting us!
ReplyDeleteThis was my favorite stop from the Kings & Queens tour also. It's well-run, active, and really well organized. I dig it :) :)
DeleteThanks for sharing the great post, I can't wait to check it out.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Victoria! We sure hope you like it. If you have any questions, please ask. :) :)
Deletesounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim! Thanks for stopping in! It is a great read! I promise, I'm not biased. :) Miriam, Lynn and I worked hard to present readers with something new, which is a fun challenge when it comes to fairy tales!
DeleteThis is a beautiful site. Thank you so much for hosting us!
ReplyDeleteI have never read an erotic fairytale before and am excited to read this one.
ReplyDeleteLynn Hubbard starts this anthology off with a fantastic story that is certain to be a treat for you! Thank you for stopping by and we sure hope you enjoy the book!
DeleteThank you again to Romance Novel Giveaways for hosting us on today's stop along our virtual book tour! To those that visited with us, we hope you've all enjoyed what you've read here, and I'll pop in throughout the week to answer any further correspondences. Thank you for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteSounds great.
ReplyDeleteThanks for swingin' by!
DeleteLook great
ReplyDeleteI would like to give thanks for all your really great writings, including Enchanted Fairy Tales Anthology, and wishing the best in keeping up the good work in the future.
ReplyDelete