Gail Carson Levine

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to take a moment and talk about one of my favorite authors, Gail Carson Levine. She has written several amazing books (most related to fairy tales) and is probably best known for Ella Enchanted which receive the Newbery Honor.

I've been following Gail on her blog, gailcarsonlevine.blogspot.com, and I've seen how interactive she is. She always replies to comments, and every post I've read has been her response to a letter or question mailed to her. I know that successful (busy) authors can't check every email sent to them, but Gail really makes an effort to connect with her fans.

I can't tell you how much I love authors that not only write INCREDIBLE books, but also take the time to connect with their fans.

You're awesome Gail! Thanks for writing such amazing novels.


Who are you favorite authors? Have you had the chance to meet or connect with them?

New Wine in Old bottles

‘Most intellectual development depends upon new readings of old texts. I am all for putting new wine in old bottles, especially if the pressure of the new wine makes the bottles explode.’

(Angela Carter, “Notes from the Front Line”)

I remember when my creative writing teacher first put this idea in my head. Sorting through old fairy tales, myths, and legends, and finding a whole new take on a story, changing it up to make new, different, exiting, or current. One novel that does this PERFECTLY is Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted. If you have not read Ella Enchanted please go get it right now! (you can borrow it from me if you need to...but only if I know you. Otherwise that might just be weird.)

Ella enchanted is a story about a girl who has cursed with the gift of obedience. She lives with her two step sisters, wicked step mother, and is forced to be a maidservant for her family. Sound familiar? Yep, you got it. It's Cinderella. However, Levine adds in Ella's gift of obedience to change up the classic tale, she also creates a dynamic, layered, and extended story that keeps you hooked.

I love the idea of putting new wine in old bottles (well, as long as it applies to story writing). I've been sorting through Grimm's fairy tales myself, trying to find this same creative inspiration. To me it is pure talent to find old fairy tales, myths, or legends and make it an incredible and new story that's all your own.