Today Im thrilled to welcome Melanie Dickerson author of The Merchants Daughter and The Healers Apprentice to Tinasbookreviews.
Hi Melanie! Welcome to TBR's, to begin please share a little about yourself.
I am the author of The Healer’s Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award for Best First Book. I used to be a teacher of the hearing impaired, I earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Alabama, and I was a missionary for one year in Ukraine. I live with my husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama. We also have a big white dog named Ginger who loves to escape and run wild through the neighborhood. She laughs at us when we try to catch her, but she eventually comes back home. It’s become a game to try to figure out how to keep her from running away. So far, we’re losing.
That's hilarious, I have a daisy dog (Frankenstein mutt) named Oliver who loves to run away too. His legs go fast its like watching speed lightning...we have an adorable park a block away from our home and that's usually where we find him, he laughs too due to the fact that when one of us gets within grabbing distance, he's off again.....lol...it must be a dog thing. So besides chasing dogs, what inspired you to write The Merchants Daughter?
I had just written The Healer’s Apprentice, which was based on Sleeping Beauty, and I decided I wanted to write a story based on Beauty and the Beast. I've always loved the Medieval time period, and I thought a misty village in rural England would make the perfect sort of Gothic setting for my story. I also felt influenced by Jane Eyre, which has some of the same themes as a Beauty and the Beast story.
What sparked your interest in fairy tales?
I’ve always loved fairy tales. They are such timeless stories, and they seem to have characters that are larger than life and yet very relatable. We’ve all encountered people we could compare to the evil stepmother, or the poor orphan forced to work as an indentured servant, or the selfish and vain sisters. I originally got the idea to write a series of fairy tale retellings while watching the Disney movie version of Sleeping Beauty. I thought it would be fun to take the basic story and flesh it out and make it more realistic.
What is your favorite fairy tale (s)?
Beauty and the Beast was always my favorite, and I even wrote a short story retelling of it when I was still in high school. I recently found that story and the cover letter where I submitted it to a magazine back when I was eighteen. I had forgotten all about that, and had put my writing aside for fifteen year after that. It’s funny to see it all come full circle now.
~BAB was always my favorite too, that's why I LOVED The Merchants Daughter!!
~BAB was always my favorite too, that's why I LOVED The Merchants Daughter!!
Did you have to do any major research or traveling to write your novel?
The research was pretty in-depth. I had to find out about village life in the 1300’s in England, and the part about the “trial” and the “hallmote” in the book were the parts I had to do the most meticulous research for. But it was fascinating to see how the justice system worked in 14th century England. It was actually not that different from our own jury trials, although there are many key differences.
If you could pick a song that fit the mood of your book what would it be and why?
I think the book is a bit like the new Switchfoot CD, Vice Verses—kind of hard-hitting, full of truths, and it rocks! At least, I hope so.
I love Switchfoot's new CD!!! So now that were talking entertainment, what's the last great movie you saw?
I recently watched Penelope with my two daughters. It is a great movie, a modern fairy tale with a lot of fun twists, and a really sweet ending! What more could you ask for?
Can you share any future plans?
I am hoping Zondervan is going to publish my next two fairy tale retellings, a Snow White story and a Cinderella story, both Medievals, and I am also working on a Regency romance for Jane Austen lovers. I’m having a great time writing it.
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~Wow- more retellings, call me happy. I love anything resembling a fairy tale they are the first books I usually go for. Thanks so much Melanie for stopping by today and chatting with me.
The Merchants Daughter releases on this week. Dont miss out! I look forward to sharing my review with you all during release week for the blog tour. Find out more about Melanie at her website.
So. How out of the loop am I that I had no idea these were fairytale retellings? I LOVE books like this! Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite too, so these are now on my ever-growing list, thanks ladies!
ReplyDeleteAwesome interview! I know a few bloggers that enjoy fairytale re-tellings and have been curious about the genre myself! Will check this book out :)
ReplyDeletexo,
Lah @ LazyGirl Reads
Tina, thank you so much for having me on your blog!!! And that is too funny about your dog. He sounds exactly like my dog! Usually someone else has to catch her because she runs away from us, but she's so friendly with other people! She thinks everybody wants to rub her belly. :-) And this dog is around 70 pounds!!! She's not small, but she's a goofball.
ReplyDeleteJenny and Lah, thanks for reading the interview! I hope you will get a chance to check out my books. My publisher had some fabulous trailers made for them. You can check them out on my website, www.melaniedickerson.com.
ReplyDeleteBTW, the book should be available as an e-book this Friday. Amazon and the other online stores always overestimate how long it will take to get the book, but Friday is the official release date!
ReplyDeleteThanks Melanie!
ReplyDeleteI added in the trailer, its very lovely...:D
Oh, I love that trailer! The illustrations are amazing.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read many retellings, but B&B has always been one of my favorites too!
More retellings? Nice! Great interview :)
ReplyDeleteSleeping Beauty was always my FAV fairy tale!! Totally adding this!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read this soon -- it's in the cue! And I'm with you, Tina, on reaching for the fairy tales first! Love em! Great interview!
ReplyDelete;-) Serena