RUMP and I have had a lot of firsts together. RUMP is the first MG manuscript I critiqued. (Shh, don't tell Liesl she was my guinea pig.) It's the first manuscript I critiqued that landed an agent. It's also the first manuscript I critiqued that sold. So RUMP and I have a lot of history. But that's not the reason I'm recommending it.RUMP tells the less-than-fairy tale of a boy cursed with half a name. In The Kingdom, names are your destiny, and Rump's destiny stinks. Because his mother died before she had a chance to finish naming him, Rump is doomed to spend the rest of his days digging specks of gold out of The Mountain so he can trade them for cups of flour and, if he's lucky, a handful of shriveled carrots. Then Rump discovers he has magic, magic that will spin straw into gold. But magic always costs something, and as he and the miller's daughter are about to find out, that cost is rarely worth it.
Like THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, RUMP turns a classic story on its head by turning the bad guy into a good guy, and that's what I loved about it. Liesl took one of the Grimm brothers' most treacherous villains and rewrote him as a hero. In fact, Rump is one of the sweetest, most sympathetic characters I've read in a long time.
RUMP doesn't come out until next year (April 9, to be exact, so mark your calendars now!), but if you'd like a chance to win my ARC*, just tell me in the comments which fairy tale you think Liesl should rewrite next. Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. EDT (or 8:59 p.m. PDT) on Monday, September 10. I'll announce the winner the next day!
*I should have mentioned that this giveaway is only open to people with mailing addresses in the United States. I apologize for not specifying. If you left a comment before 2:30 p.m. EDT today (which is 11:30 a.m. PDT), you're still in, but I'm going to have to ask the rest of our international friends to sit this one out. Once again, I apologize!
31 comments:
I'm not really sure if this qualifies as a fairy tale, but I would love to see a retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon. That's been one of my favorite stories since I was a kid.
If it has to be a straight fairy tale, I'm afraid my answer is going to be a boring one. I'm a sucker for Cinderella and Beauty & the Beast retellings. Can't get enough of them, and I'd love to see a fresh, original take on either.
I can't wait to read this book. It sounds awesome.
As for retellings, I think one of a Boy Who Cried Wolf could be good with the right twists. I'd also love to see Hansel and Gretel or Princess and the Pea with a new twist. Really, there's a lot of good fairy tales to pick from.
I still haven't seen a version of Jack & the Beanstalk I could go head over heels for. And since Rumple is my favorite fairytale character, I would love to see what can be done with one of my least favorite characters.
Thank you so much for the opportunity, Krista! You have such a giving (and loving) heart and it shines through literally everything you do. Tell Liesl thanks as well! This book has been on my radar for a while now and I can't wait to see what's between the (gorgeous!) covers.
Wishing you a wonderful week,
Deserae
I can't wait to read this one! :o)
Now I'm wondering if she could turn Goldilocks into a sympathetic character. Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
I really want to read this one! As for a fairy tale, does Thumbelina count? I loved the story as a child, and not much has been done with it.
Oooh, pick me! Pick me!
Uh ... If I knew the answer to that question I'd try to write it myself!
Just kidding.
Um ... How about Snow White and Rose Red? That's one of my favorites (not to be confused with *just* Snow White). I think there has been a retelling of it, but it was very dark and had incest themes. I'd like to see a nice, fun MG version of it. :)
There you go, Liesl! Start writing! ;)
My vote is for Peter and the Wolf. One of my favs :) Thanks for sharing!
I can't think of any one fairy tale that hasn't been overdone. I'd like to see a nursery rhyme turned into a story - like rub a dub dub. I've always wondered how the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker ended up in a tub.
Wow, these are such fun ideas, some I've never even considered! Wheels turning madly...
Ashley, have you heard of SUN AND MOON, ICE AND SNOW by Jessica Day George? To be honest I haven't, but it's a retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon, and I've enjoyed some of her other books.
Ooohh, I would love to win this ARC! Sounds (and looks) awesome.
How about The Tweleve Dancing Princesses... set in modern times!
Looking forward to reading this - congrats, Liesl!
My vote goes to economic trickle-down theory. Ronald Reagan as the big bad wolf?
Jeff
If Liesl could change the ending of The Little Match Girl into something more upbeat, I'd be hugely appreciative.
(I love the idea of RUMP, and am looking forward to its arrival in 2013!)
How about the Princess and the Pea with the princess recast as a sassy, brassy tween?
I'd love to read RUMP and it's a long wait if I don't win this contest so I'll stop typing now and cross my fingers...
Little Red Riding Hood, with a good wolf figure? I love fairy tales! I was trying to think of the scariest villain I could--and the wolf appears in so many stories...
Plus there's always a fox. The clever, hungry fox.
An arachnophobic Little Miss Muffet sounds like a book I'd read.
How about Hansel and Gretel where the witch is simply misunderstood?
Myrna - Goldilocks as been done where the little bear is the one getting into all sorts of mischief.
I love fairy tales that are retold from a different point of view and with a twist. I would like to read a new version of Town Musicians of Bremen.
Great Question. How about Hansel and Gretel? Can't wait for this book!
I'm gonna go with Hansel and Gretel. Oh darn. I just looked above and saw Robin said that too. I didn't copy her, really. :) I like the witch getting her due at the end.
It's not a classic fairytale but I'd love to see a YA version of the Paper Bag Princess- go girl power!
This has been on my radar for a while now- can't wait for April 9th:)
How about GINGER, the untold story of the apprentice to the old baker and his wife? He accidentally let the wicked little gingerbread man escape and has to pull every magical string in the book to stop the gingerbread man (a pseudo-hit man enchanted by the evil witch) from poisoning the queen, who is deathly allergic to ginger! =)
OOOOH, now I want to READ IT!!!
Oh goodness, I've been waiting anxiously for this book ever since I started writing! :)
Hmm... fairytale. I think I'd love a fairytale version of Star Wars. But that's the nerd in me talking :D
I've heard so many good things about this book already. I'd LOVE to win a copy.
I think it'd be nice to see a new twist on Beauty and the Beast. I can't get enough of Disney stuff.
Ooh, let's see. . .Jack and the Beanstalk. That poor giant and the harp that loved him. :)
erica
I agree - Jack and the Beanstalk with Jack as the villain and the giant as the protagonist! :) Love the cover and the story sounds great!
Not The Pied Piper, because I'm writing that one! But how about Puss N' Boots - not the Shrek version, but something contemporary or maybe steampunk!
I'm voting for Snow White and Rose Red because I'd love to see a cute, funny version of it. :)
Jenilyn stole my first thought--but I'd also like to see a version of King Thrushbeard (besides Jeni's version, of course, which is also very cool).
I would love to see a version of the Seven Ravens, or the Six Swans (the same story, just different birds). It's the story where seven/six brothers are turned into birds. That would make an amazing story, in my opinion.
Ooh, I would like East of the Sun and West of the Moon. I just read it and I love it!!
This sounds so great! My boys would love this! :)
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