New Issue of Faerie Magazine

The newest issue of Faerie Magazine is hitting newsstands and mailboxes soon and this is a great issue. Of course, I am slightly prejudiced since my latest column is included, this time it's an article about the Grimms' tale, The Three Spinners. Bet you didn't expect that one, did you? I didn't but when editor Kim Cross requested a tale about spinning, this was the perfect choice, especially considering I've already written about Rumpelstiltskin in a previous issue. I struggled with finding material and learned a little myself since I hadn't studied this one much previous to writing this article for readers like you.

Here's the brief description for the issue:

Faerie Magazine Issue #22 includes an in depth interview with writer Charles de Lint, the life of Edmund Dulac (fairy illustrator of the Victorian era), Dancing in the Green: Robin Hood and the Faeries by John Matthews, The Three Spinners by Heidi Heiner of Surlalune, and much much more! Enjoy!

I just received my author copies today and it is very full of wonderful imagery--very expected with Edmund Dulac featured--and many more articles not listed here such as one about the aforementioned spinning as well as one about The Mabinogion by Claire Matthews and even one about mushrooms in Victorian paintings which is much more interesting than you might think at first thought.

Hansel and Gretel Article on Faerie Magazine Site

Another one of my articles is featured on The Faerie Magazine site this week, this time my article about Hansel and Gretel from the Winter 2008 issue. This will only be available through the weekend so if you want to read it, do so soon!

Here are the first few lines:

“Hansel and Gretel” is one of the best known fairy tales. It is also one of the most horrific, offering up several nightmare-inducing elements in just a few pages. Child abandonment. Evil witches. Cannibalism. Murder, albeit in self-defense. Perfect bedtime reading! Yet somehow it remains one of the most popular fairy tales in children’s picture books with new versions published each year.

Faerie Magazine: Summer 2009 Issue

The Summer 2009 issue of Faerie Magazine should start appearing on newstands today and in the coming weeks. (Yes, it has been delayed due to multiple reasons, but it is coming slowly but surely.)

My contribution to this issue is an article about Jack and the Beanstalk, a rather summery tale to me but still quite lovely for autumn harvest time, too. As always, I discuss the history of the tale and modern versions.

The issue also includes a feature on Paul Kidby, the illustrator to Terry Prachett; the unique vision and fantasy art of Jasmine Becket-Griffith; an article on Glastonbury Abbey: King Arthur's last resting place and Charles Vess' Midsummer's Play.

And since I wrote about Jack and the Beanstalk, I will be offering extra Jack and the Beanstalk posts this week. Let's call it Jack and the Beanstalk week. I'll continue the newsy and current events posts, too, but add some extra posts of my favorite Jack and the Beanstalk related work.

Faerie Magazine: Spring 2009 Issue

The Spring 2009 issue of Faerie Magazine should be available by now at your local booksellers and should remain on shelves for another month or so. Most Barnes and Noble and Borders locations carry them in their periodical sections if you're not interested in a subscription. My column in this issue is about Beauty and the Beast, one of my favorite fairy tales, so it took me a few years to finally write about it.

The article is titled "Beauties and Their Beasts." In it, I discuss the tale's literary origins and the two versions by Madame Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve and Madame Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont as well as some modern versions that are well-known today.