Monday, October 10, 2016

Background of The Spinner and the Slipper



First off, I’d like to thank all my readers for your overwhelming support and wonderful reviews you’ve written. It’s been a while; I’ve been busy with school, family and such. This whole experience has been so strange. I’m still me and I don’t feel any different than before the book got published. So, even though so much has changed, it hasn’t. How’s that for a paradox? ;P

I didn’t think my little story would do this well. Honestly, I’d written it off as a failed draft that needed extreme polishing (which it did), but that it didn’t have much hope of being published. I have other stories in the works that, in my opinion, had more promise. But I still love this story. It's a sort of magic to me.

Rumpelstiltskin has always intrigued me, ever since the first time I read about that creepy old man got mad at the queen for guessing his name and tore himself in two. Talk about a visual that stays with you, especially as a kid! Later on, as I grew up and my love for fairy tales flourished, something didn’t quite fit in the Rumpelstiltskin story. Why would a random old man with magic powers want to help a helpless miller’s daughter? Furthermore, why would he give her a chance to guess his name, then act like a fool, dancing around a fire singing his name? (For those of you unfamiliar with the original story, it’s quite interesting and definitely worth visiting your local library to check out!) No, it just didn’t fit.

Now, I’ve always been fond of fan fictions (I’ve written quite a few myself), and nothing’s out of bounds, not even fairy tales. So, what happens when Rumpelstiltskin is a young man? Well, that changes everything. A beautiful young girl in distress, in need of magical help, would be right up his alley. Why, he would only ask her for trifles in return for his help. Then he’d ask for something which may seem creepy at first, but would actually be the sweetest way of declaring his feelings—he’d ask for her first born child… because he wants to marry her. That sounds like a story worth writing, doesn’t it? I thought so, anyway. ^_^

The Spinner and the Slipper was actually for a Cinderella retelling contest. That was where the pattern-seeking came in handy. Rumpelstiltskin had three days of spinning, Cinderella had three nights of the ball. Magic golden thread, magic glass slipper. Mysterious magical figures helping the heroines in distress. Heroine ends up with a royal. Mmm… that last bit had to go. But the rest of it was perfectly aligned! Obviously, what I originally wrote had to be heavily edited before it became the final product you all have read, but the heart of it is there. :) If memory serves, I actually wrote that original story in a month. I’d had another story planned, then ditched it at the last moment and wrote this story instead. It involved intense research at the library and reading any book involving Rumpelstiltskin I could get my hands on. Once Upon A Time was decidedly avoided, though I enjoy the show. Haha!

In the end, I had a green-eyed faerie in love with a simple miller’s daughter. That was three years ago, actually. So much has changed since then, and I just can’t get over it. I can’t thank Rooglewood Press enough for giving me this opportunity, too. Without them, none of this could have happened (especially not that beautiful cover! It’s gorgeous, right?).

I recently received a letter from three girls who read my book, Q, C, and M. It was so inspiring, and it made everything worth it—every word and second. My goal, ever since I was eleven, was to write books that a mom wouldn’t have to worry about handing her kids without having to read it first. I hope I’ve done that for you guys. ^_^ Thank you for all your support and kind words. It’s meant the world to me.

Til next time!

In Christ,
Camryn

5 comments:

  1. Dear Camryn,
    I just recently finished your book (as in three minutes ago) and wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it. The way you told the tale reminded me greatly of Anne Stengl. The characters were lovable, the world was endearing, and the overall plot left me giddy and wanting more. I couldn't help but love how you tied in the faeries of Shakespeare's dreams, with Titania in all her mischievous beauty and Oberon in all his tyrannical glory. The end left me satisfied with a want to hear more of that world. And I hope to do just that in future.
    Keep up the good work and may God be with you every step of the way.

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    1. Krista,
      thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I greatly admire Anne Elizabeth Stengl, so I'm flattered by the comparison. ^_^ I hope to not disappoint. College has put a lot of my projects on hold, but I'm hoping to have more things out soon!
      In Christ,
      Camryn

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  2. Hey, I read your book this year and I wondered if I could possibly interview you for my blog? There doesn't seem to be any good way to contact you or leave feedback, but if you're interested, you can find me on my blog at www.speedyreadercom.wordpress.com. You can leave me a message through my blog or through Twitter at cindy_bohn. I really liked the story!

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  3. Hi Camryn, I'm a school librarian in an east African country (but am from NC) and we have your book in our library. The students are enjoying it and one just asked me if we had any other books by you. Hope you have plans to publish more books! The student said she really liked your writing!

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    1. Katharina,
      Thank you so much for your comment! Wow, I am so honored to hear that!! ^_^ I can't believe my little book has made it that far across the world. You can tell your student that I don't have anything else published yet, but I want to soon, and I'm working on more stories! ^_^

      Hope this finds you well,
      Camryn

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