CTRWA Fiction Fest Aftermath

            Fiction Fest was a success, and I'm not just talking overall, which it was, but my end of it. My presentation/Q&A went very well. I fulfilled my promise of ruining childhood fairy tales for everyone, but we all had a good time doing it (heh).

M3 Little Red Riding Hood Cap

            I chose Red for our first foray because she’s well known, and there have been some recent film interpretations that have left people scratching their heads, especially regarding the sexual under(and over)tones. Each of these analyses will be relatively short since I don’t want to spend one full post on each of the interpretation (though I could do that if asked nicely). So here we go.

F3 Sobering Drinks

            I skimmed in low over the black water at almost midnight. Despite the number of ships, there was still a path for a Storm Rider cloud surfing into New York City. I had never been here before, though everyone knew that skyline.

A Break from Summer

            I’m in Boston (about to go to Connecticut), enjoying a break from summer. Yes, it’s September, but in Arizona, summer can last until November. Triple digits will persist throughout the entire month, so I am really digging the cool of Boston right now (though it could be cooler still for my tastes).

Analyzing Fairy Tales

            I need to preface this by talking about analyzing myths (though it applies to lots of different kinds of literature). Most myths have a lot of specific information. The characters are more fleshed out and definite. The setting is established, rooted in the particular culture that created the myth, and so by careful analysis it’s possible to derive specific messages of intent and find patterns that help establish what the myth is to be about and any hidden messages underneath.

F3 Referral

            Kate and I watched in satisfaction as the storm delivered its payload over Belport. The sweltering heat had helped the storm’s convection cycle faster, dropping copious amounts of rain over the city, but it didn’t develop into a full thunderstorm, which was perfect for what we wanted.

Out of Here

            So I’m off to Boston where I’ll visit some dear friends before relocating to Connecticut for CTRWA’s Fictionfest, where I’ll be presenting on Fairy Tales. I just need to make sure I pack all the right stuff: magic beans, glass slipper, spinning wheel, apples, basket of goodies, fairy dust, leprechaun . . . nope, that’s the wrong kind of faerie. Get out of here, you!

M3 Fairy Tales: Overview

     I'm presenting a bit on fairy tales at the CTRWA's Fictionfest conference in September, so I thought I would talk a little bit about it here. This is the first half of the same handout I will be giving out at the conference (the second half is about adapting them to fiction). I will follow-up with more detailed information, and even an examination of some popular tales, presenting some unorthodox (and disturbing) interpretations.

F3 Barnstorming

            Flynn looked at the odd contraption that Hank and Ann had cobbled together. It looked . . . flimsy, despite the assurances from both that it would fly.

            “Why haven’t you enclosed the cockpit?” he asked.

Prep Work

            I’ve been invited to speak at a conference next month, so I need to go through my prep work. Not so much the speaking. Since my day job entails me standing in front of people every day and presenting material to them, I’ve got a handle on that part.

            No, it’s the packing and preparation to fly across the country that I need to get a handle on. Even though I’ve got my various lists all sorted out and have the method down, it is just an ordeal at times.

            Maybe I should have tried to speak at a local conference. . . .