The Fairy Tale Feminista
Answering life’s questions one fairy tale at a time.
Summer Short #2: Jump Back, Move Forward
Last night was the celebration of San Juan, and in Puerto Rico people head to the beach and jump backwards into the ocean at midnight (or any body of water) for good luck and to wash off any negativity. As a kid, I liked the idea because it meant staying up late when it usually wasn’t allowed. Now, I like the idea of being able to wash away the bad parts of the year and bring in the good. Sort of like a New Year’s do-over. It started out pagan then became Christian, but I think of it as cultural. I’d overlooked it for some years, but this year seemed like a great time to bring it back. I can’t trek to the ocean at midnight where I am, but I can get rid of the old and welcome some new. And another way to mark the middle of the year.
A Mage's Path release
The last book in my Enchanted Path series comes out tomorrow and I was interviewed by one of my favorite blogger, Ari Meghlen. Enjoy and while you're at it check out her amazing blog.
https://arimeghlen.co.uk/2024/11/29/interview-with-author-i-l-cruz-2/
Smuggler Prices
In less than two months, A Mage’s Path, will be released. It’s the last book in the series and it’s been a pleasure (and sometimes a pain) to write it.
Old Book, New Offer
Hey readers!
As I’ve mentioned more than once lately, I’ve been working on the last book in my Enchanted Path series, A Mage’s Path. Ending a series is harder than I thought it would be. A part of me is relieved and proud that I’ve finished an entire series with characters and places that will stay with me forever. The other part is exhilarated to start the next chapter (pun intended) of my writing life. Not to give too much away, but I’m already working on my next project (I refuse to say series, but who are we kidding?) and I’m excited about it.
Where I've been
I decided early in this blog that I wouldn’t apologize for long absences because it was inevitable. Blogging has always been in service of my writing. Don’t get me wrong—I’ve loved interacting with the blogging community I’ve become a part of and I've made wonderful friends. But I also know that when I have a limited amount of time to pursue writing, my fiction gets priority every time. This is all to say, I’ve been away because I’m writing.
The List
Romantic comedies (and any romance genre for that matter) are our modern-day equivalent of fairy tales. At least the “girl-finds-a-prince or the boy-is-given-a-princess-type” fairy tale. It has a discernable formula—two people meet, they fall in love, an obstacle separates them (and according to Hallmark movies, that’s at the hour and thirty mark), and then all hurts are mended to a happily ever after conclusion—and often used devices. One of the most used is the List.
Reacquainting with Rapunzel
I recently re-started editing my book. As you may or may not remember these are the edits I forced during the quarantine and the results were a mess, to put it kindly. I had to leave it alone for a while and then reacquaint myself with my words. It required a lot of “killing my darlings” which was by turns painful and wonderful. It got me thinking about Rapunzel.
Are you a Good Witch or a Magical Mastermind?
Remember the part in the movie, The Wizard of Oz after the Wizard leaves Dorothy behind? Dorothy and her friends are distraught because they thought he was the only ticket out of town. And then Glinda shows up and tells Dorothy she had the power to go home all along and points to the ruby slippers. Dorothy clicks her heels, chants her, “There’s no place like home,” line and all’s well that ends well, right?
Travels through Faery
FF Readers, I recently did something that I haven't done in a long time. Or at least a long time for me. I went on a vacation. One of my favorite activities is traveling and the recent pandemic stopped that particular hobby. It felt wonderful to vacate the everyday and travel just for its sake. We took a road trip on the West Coast and I was pleasantly surprised to find little hints of the fey even there. I hope you don't mind me sharing some trip pics.
Liminal Lands
Are you a collector? I collect words. Hear me out. When I was little, I collected stickers and interesting rocks. When I got older I started collecting glass bottles. I’ve always collected journals and pens, but as any collector knows, collections need space. There comes a point when you must tell yourself the collection is finished. Not so with words!
Mechanical Creativity
As I'm sure you've noticed, new posts to my blog have been absent. I considered pushing through to make sure I had consistent content, but that's how I ended up in this predicament in the first place. Let me explain.
Second-Hand Stories
Myth: n. a traditional story serving to explain some phenomenon, custom, etc.
Mythology: n. the study of myths
Writers Don't Always Write
All this time at home should be a gift to a writer, but I’ve discovered the opposite is true. Inspiration comes from the outside world. A chance encounter with a stranger while waiting in a line. A funny mix-up with a cashier. Meeting a friend unexpectedly and remembering the time when…you get the picture.
Rain, Mattresses and a Pea
The Princess and the Pea is a story I’ve been thinking about lately. A woman appears one the prince’s doorstep on rainy night, drenched and claiming to be a princess. His mother, eager to marry off her son, conceives of a test where she puts a pea beneath a stack of mattresses and waits to see if the girl has a good night’s sleep or not. In the morning she’s told that the girl in fact had a terrible night because it felt like she was sleeping on a boulder. As proof, she shows the queen her back, which is completely bruised. The mother declares that she must be a princess because only a princess would feel a pea through all those mattresses.
Ravens, Writing Desks, and Series Writing
When I was little I used to watch certain videos over and over again. One of them was Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. My favorite part was the mad tea party. It looked like it would be a good time if you weren’t desperately trying to get home. I imagined drinking cups of tea, talking to the March Hare and the Mad Hatter and coming up with crazy riddles that no one could solve.
Fairy Support
This morning I woke up and yet again had to be reminded that a post is due. It was particularly difficult because I was finishing one of those books that makes you snarl at anyone who interrupts the experience. But the reading gave me my next post.
Fairy Tale Issues
Readers, I’m supposed to post today, but for those who don’t know I am a US citizen and today is the Superbowl of politics for us (at least those of us who care about politics). It’s been on my mind for a while now and as such I’ve completely shirked my blog writing time. It wasn’t intentionally done, so you’ll have to forgive the slap-dash work.
Simple Pleasures (other than fairy)
I remember being 13 and pretending to be sick to stay home from middle school. I’m pretty sure my mother knew I wasn’t sick, but I was a good student, so she allowed the deception. And I used the day to read a book from cover to cover (another likely reason she let me stay home). It was delightfully decadent made all the more so because the book in question was Forever by Judy Blume.
Fairy Tale Billing Switch
Ever wonder how fairy tales get their titles? Some make perfect sense like Cinderella or Snow White, but how about Jack and the Beanstalk? I understand Jack, but how does the vegetation get higher billing than say, the Giant? Or what about Rumpelstiltskin? He might be pivotal, but the woman (who they didn’t bother to name) has way more lines.
Lost in the World of Faery
Before the Victorians made fairies cute and cuddly, they were naughty and dangerous. It was said they would whisk a person away to dance at their court for what seemed like an afternoon and yet years would pass in the mortal realm.
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