* * *
Fairy
Tale Elements in Young Adult Fantasy
by Beth Barany
Hi Anne, Thanks for
having me on your blog! I’m excited to share a little bit about my latest young
adult fantasy novel, Henrietta and the
Dragon Stone, book 2 in my Five Kingdoms series, and to offer fun prizes! More
on the later at the end of this post.
When I wrote Henrietta The Dragon Slayer, book 1 in
my Five Kingdoms series, I was inspired to share about the Five Kingdoms world
I created through songs, poems, and sayings. I love fairy tales and folktales,
so I wanted to add elements that sounded like oral lore, tales handed down from
the ages, songs, sayings, and other elements of Henrietta’s life.
I did that by creating made-up
poems, songs, and other lore. I put them at the start of every chapter, lending
another texture or counterpoint or hint. After I added them, I learned they
were called “epigraphs.”
Wikipedia defines them epigraphs well: “In literature,
an epigraph is a phrase, quotation,
or poem
that is set at the beginning of a document or component. The epigraph may serve
as a preface, as a summary, as a counter-example, or to link the work to a
wider literary canon, either to invite comparison or
to enlist a conventional context.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigraph_(literature))
I created more
epigraphs for book 2, Henrietta and the Dragon Stone, and even expanded and
excerpted ones I created in book 1. Here are a few of my favorites from that
book:
The
Dracontias, dra-con-ti-as, emphasis
on the second syllable, is the most powerful gem in all the Five Kingdoms, and
more powerful than all the other so-called Kingdom Stones. This one and only
Dragon Stone unifies the kingdoms and empowers its user. But beware its one
fatal flaw.
—from
the Fire Wizards Compendium
In
and out, Fate weaves her spell
She
jumps out and runs from here to hell
All
that remains
Is
alive and well
So,
do hold tight
Do
hold fast
Do
not let go
Of
your heart, dear child
—The Weavers of Yore chant
From
Romania, a valley town born
The
Dragon Slayer strides
As
the crow flies west down the river ways
The
Dragon Slayer strides
Tempered
at the castle mount
Tested
on battlefield and in cave
The
Dragon Slayer strides
The
Dragon Slayer strides
—From
Ode One of the Valley version of “Song of
the Dragon Slayer”
More
about Henrietta and the Dragon Stone (Book 2):
Henrietta
the legendary dragon slayer wants to return to her village for a heroes’
welcome. But an unknown sorcerer rides after her and her Dragon Stone and aims
to destroy everyone she cares about. Can she claim her newfound powers sparked
by the Dragon Stone and keep her loved ones safe, or will the sorcerer destroy everyone and
everything she loves?
* * *
Purchase Henrietta and the Dragon Stone
(Book 2) on
Learn more about Beth Barany on her website.
Raffecopter Giveaway until 2/28/2014:
Beth is giving
away 3 prizes!
·
A
$25 Amazon gift card
·
One
print copy of Henrietta and the Dragon Stone (US only)
·
One
jumbo bag with a Henrietta and the Dragon Stone image
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