Rabia Gale

alchemical fantasy

fairy tales

prompt me: the fairy tale edition

Today, I finished up a fractured fairy tale, this one based on Snow White and Rose Red. It’s been a while since I did one of these and I’m reminded of how much I enjoy them.

I’m busy with The Sunless World series, so I don’t have time for long side projects. However, I’m eager to stretch my creative muscles with drabbles and flashfic.

Here’s where you all come in. I need prompts, specifically a fairy tale (or fairy tale character) and a concrete noun to go with it. Something like Prince Charming/chimpanzee or Sleeping Beauty/disco ball. Weirdness is encouraged, because Snow White/mirror and Cinderella/shoe have been done already.

So. Have at it. I’ll post my short pieces in response to your prompts as I write them.

In which I and others talk about fairy tales

I had a blast with Thea van Diepen, Katherina Gerlach, and Elizabeth McCleary discussing the attraction of fairy tales, our favorite retellings, the intersection of magic and technology, and more!

If you missed the live event, you can watch it right here (or on YouTube):

Happy Anniversary, Shattered!

Three years ago, I dipped a toe into the self-publishing waters with Shattered, a collection of three fractured fairy tales.

Shattered: Broken Fairy Tales

Since that time, Shattered has become what I fondly refer to as “my little book that could”. It’s sold the most copies, was the first to recoup the small monetary cost I put into it, and still finds its way into new markets.

Shattered was followed up by another broken fairy tale, Wired, about a cybernetic Rapunzel in a post-apocalyptic setting.

Wired cover

Over a year ago, I published another fairy tale collection, Entangled. I didn’t plan this, but all three retellings ended up exploring some variation on the theme of mothers and daughters.

I was in the midst of a burnout, so poor Entangled slipped through the cracks and got no marketing push. I think I even failed to announce its release on this blog. It didn’t have its own page on my site until a week or so ago.

It does now, complete with excerpts from all three stories.

Entangled: Broken Fairy Tales

Many, many thanks to Robin Cornett, who designed all three covers and came up with the titles for Shattered and Entangled (including the “broken fairy tales” subtitle).

So, what’s next for the broken fairy tales anthologies? I wanted to write retellings with stronger scifi elements, and happily my muse handed me three more ideas. (She’s used to working in threes when it comes to fairy tales.) I’m especially excited by the one featuring space mercenaries.

I have other projects on my plate, but I’m hoping to squeeze these in around them.

In the meantime, Happy Anniversary, Shattered!