Unspun: Announcing a book release!

I'm thrilled to announce that a short story of mine called "Heart of a Thief" will be published in an anthology set to release on April 10. I will post a link as soon as the book is available.

Here is the cover and the publisher's description:

Whatever happened to “happily ever after”? 

Heroes search for happiness, villains plot revenge, and nothing is as easy as it once seemed. Gretel suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, an orphan girl questions Rumpelstiltskin’s legacy, a monster cat searches for a child to eat, and the pied piper realizes stealing a hundred and thirty children may not have been his smartest idea. 

Fairy tales have endured for centuries even though—or perhaps because—their conclusions are often more unsettling than satisfying. In Unspun, eleven storytellers come together to challenge and explore a few of those classic tales. Unexpected twists are sure to provoke both thought and laughter.  

Gorgeous illustrations by Ruth Nickle accompany each piece.

I am very fond of fairy tale adaptations, so when I was invited to submit one of my own, I jumped at the chance. The theme of Unspun can be summed up as "After the Ever After," and all of the stories explore what takes place beyond the traditional ending of a given tale. My own story, which I'll talk about in a separate post, takes place after the events of Jack and the Beanstalk. I am pleased with how it turned out, and even more pleased with stories it sits beside in the collection.

Having read the other pieces (two novellas, seven short stories, and two shorter works), I can recommend the collection wholeheartedly. Each piece takes a different approach to accounting for the fallout of a familiar (or less-familiar) tale, and I'm sure you will find several that resonate with you. I have three personal favorites that I will be suggesting to everyone I know:

• Tatterhood and the Prince's Hand, by Katherine Cowley Based on Tatterhood, this novella is the centerpiece of Unspun, and is a truly standout exploration of acceptance and personal strength. Cowley's excellent storytelling showcases her wonderful characters and interesting magic.
• Breadcrumbs by Jeanna Mason Stay Based on Hansel and Gretel, this beautifully written story is an intimate look at someone struggling to deal with past trauma. Stay's prose is superb and her characterization of Gretel is supremely empathetic.
• Ethical Will by Kaki Olsen Based on The Nutcracker, Olsen's story is emotionally authentic and begs for a sequel of its own. I love how the events of the plot intersect with the main character's stages of grief as she mourns her mother's recent death.

You can learn more about the collection at these links. I'll update the list as more become available:

Amazon page
Goodreads page

Jeanna Stay's Cover Reveal blog post
Kaki Olsen's Blog Post
Anika Arrington's blog
Editors (Ruth and Kathy) Interview at ThroughTheTollbooth