Rowena thinks the Grimm’s infamous podcasts are simply another teen fad until she finds herself trapped in a land of nightmarish storybook characters. She tries desperately to flee Mezzanine and return home, but Dresdem, Mezzanine’s wicked monarch, plans to use Rowena’s access to her world to bring dark magic and absolute rule into Georgia and beyond.
But when Rowena’s dear friend Madeline falls into Dresdem’s grasp, her battle with him becomes war, and all hopes of home are temporarily thwarted. With the help of an invisible hero, a beast, and an owl, she sets out to free Madeline from a deadening sleep. But Rowena must become her own hero when she finds herself bound by the kingdom’s darkest family. She must make the ultimate choice – align herself with her enemies or live on the run forever.
The dirt shifted beside me, and
the end of the tunnel opened. The crevice felt like it plucked me up
in a whirlwind. In seconds, I landed on the ground face first on the
surface of whatever lay beyond the tunnel. It smelled like nature
after a storm. When I opened my eyes, I stared down at my mud-covered
hands. The darkness that I once thought would be my tomb was now
gone, and two low hanging moons lit the forest where I found myself.
Even though I had no idea where I was, the fact that I was out of the
hole sent a surge of relief that filled my entire being. I stood up,
dusted off all the mud I could, and looked back. Strangely, there was
nothing but trees. As I moved closer to the spot where I’d most
certainly came from, all I saw was a mirror that reflected the woods.
An illusion. I touched its smooth surface, tried to find the end of
it but couldn’t. Another dead-end.
Before I could figure out what to
do, I heard a voice and spun around to confront it.
“What are you
doing here?” I heard a man’s voice growl, but I couldn’t see
anyone. I looked around. He sounded like he was only a few feet from
me.
“Where are you?”
“First, tell me why you’re
here?”
“I don’t know why I’m here.
I’m lost, I think. I was at a party, and while walking in the woods
behind the house, I fell into a hole. Now here I am. I have no idea
what happened. Where am I?”
Silence.
Right square in front of me, he
appeared out of thin air. I blinked my eyes in disbelief. He seemed
to be about my age and wore his hat cocked to one side with
suspenders atop a blue button-up and brown trousers. It reminded me
of Dashielle’s costume. I guess he could read the amazement on my
face, so he answered the question that my mind was trying to form.
“Invisibility.
That’s all.”
10 Fabled Facts:
1.)
Trapped in a world of dark magic, Rowena must learn how to become her
own hero. Easier said than done.
2.)
In Mezzanine, neither time nor death exist.
3.)
Many storybook characters appear, but they’re not as friendly as we
remember.
4.)
Kidnapping and slavery doesn’t sound like a fairy tale, or does it?
5.)
Adelaide Kane would be my pick to play Rowena in a movie.
6.)
The Brothers Grimm make an appearance.
7.)
Someone becomes possessed, and someone gets married.
8.)
Sometimes aligning with your enemies is the only solution.
9.)
Betrayal of a sister is the worst of all wounds.
10.)
Home isn’t how she left it.
Question and Answers
1.)
Where did you get your inspiration for your book?
I
studied the Grimms for nearly a year before I started Fabled.
I wrote an academic paper “Fairy Tales Revisited: Cause and Effect
of Adult Enchantment” and presented it at the PCAS Conference in
2012. Later, I attended a poster session at my university with my
paper, “A Grimm History: Nazi Uses and Abuses of Fairy Tales.” It
wasn’t until I understood the true purpose of folklore that I
realized how pivotal and timeless it is. I hope in some small way to
have contributed to the literature with Fabled
by not retelling what’s already been told but building on it with
new stories and characters.
2.)
What is Fabled
about in two lines?
Trapped
in a world of dark magic, Rowena must learn how to become her own
hero. Easier said than done.
3.)
If you could invite your favorite literary character to dinner, who
would it be and why?
Probably
Jacob Grimm from Tom McNeal’s Far
Far Away. That’s one of my
favorite books of all time. I’ve had a fascination with the Grimms
since I spent a year researching them academically. I’d ask him to
share all his wisdom and teach me how to tell off bullies in German.
4.)
What are you working on now?
I’m
currently drafting a young adult southern gothic about an orphan who
finds her family in another time, and I’m also working on Book Two
of Fabled.
5.)
If you could give any advice to writers what would it be?
Live
a life worth writing.
Vanessa K. Eccles graduated Troy University with a degree in English. She currently serves as executive editor of Belle Rêve Literary Journal and is founder of the book blog YA-NASisterhood. When she’s not writing or devouring books, she enjoys the lake life with her Prince Charming and their four dogs.
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