Bestselling author and RITA winner Catherine Mann returns to the Lair today. Catherine writes action-packed military romantic suspense for Berkley and Sourcebooks and steamy romances for Silhouette Desire. She'll have new book, The Maverick Prince, out from Desire next month, but today she's talking fairy tales. Welcome back, Catherine!I enjoyed responding to a recent reader comment about the enduring appeal of romance as found in popular fairytale premises. So much so, I decided to tackle the topic in a more public forum where we could all think about this idea.
As an author for Silhouette Desire, I find myself reveling in those time transcendent fairy tale themes. For example, Cinderella type stories are popular in the Desire line. Throughout history in different cultures there has been a Cinderella narrative of some sort, earlier versions tracing all the way back to China in around 850 AD and Egypt in around 550 AD. Historically as well, there are European Cinderella tales, and there's even a Native American Cinderella legend.
Little Red Riding Hood – also known as Little Red Cap - has more than thirty-five different retellings, including a Chinese adaptation that replaces the wolf with a tiger. Other versions can be found Africa, Japan, Burma and even a Norse poem. Beauty and the Beast – one of my personal favorites – was first noted in France in the 1700s and has variations in Italy. Pygmalion dates back to Greek mythology.
Obviously, there's something in these themes and tales that resonates in our psyche at a core level, so much so that we seek them out as they’re retold with a new twist over time. For me, as a writer, it's awesome to think I have the opportunity to touch people's lives with my own take on these centuries old beloved themes. As a romance reader, I'm overjoyed to revisit those beloved fairytales in all their different incarnations, shared by my favorite authors!
My newest Silhouette Desire trilogy – “Rich, Rugged and Royal” – touches on the time-honored Cinderella theme, with a bit of Beauty and the Beast blended in.The three Medina royal heirs lived most of their childhood in pampered isolation. Their father, deposed Prince Enrique Medina, left his Spanish island homeland of San Rinaldo after his wife’s assassination and built an impenetrable fortress off the Florida coast. Once old enough to break free of their father’s smothering stronghold, the trio of Medina sons set out for the U.S. mainland to forge their own destinies and fortunes. Over twenty five-years after that violent coup, their royal secret is out… and three women find their destinies changed when a secret prince next door is revealed.
Book 1: THE MAVERICK PRINCE, November 2010
Book 2: HIS THIRTY-DAY FIANCEE, January 2011
Book 3: HIS HEIR, HER HONOR, March 2011
What’s your favorite fairytale? When do you recall seeing your first Disney cartoon movie? I'm giving autographed copies of The Maverick Prince to two commenters today.
122 comments:
Congrats on the upcoming release, Catherine. My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast. The Disney animated movie is one of my favorites. I can't recall when I saw my first Disney cartoon, but it must have been when I was about 5 or 6.
Jane, congrats on getting the GR today. Have fun with him.
Catherine, I think my favorite fairy tale has got to be Cinderella. I grew up on fairy tales - my mother was a firm believer in them, but then, she also taught us that smurfs are real and used to take us smurf hunting :-).
I don't recall the first Disney cartoon that I ever saw but I have not stopped watching them since. I still catch every one of them when they come out.
A rather vivid memory was being taken to the cinema to watch "Bambi" on the big screen when it first came out. That was a huge deal for me back then. I think it was my first cinema experience. Might have been my first Disney experience too, but I'm not sure about that. I cried when the mother died, but then again, who didn't?
Your Prince trilogy sounds wonderful.
Correction on the release of "Bambi". I meant when it first came out on the big screen in the country I was living in.
Hi Catherine (waving madly) -
I love books with fairy tale themes. I've used CInderella in a novella, and ran a theme of the Frog Prince though SEDUCTION OF A DUKE.
Hmmm... I think the first Disney movie I saw was either Snow White, or Bambi. Either way, I most likely saw it when my parents loaded the kids in the old station wagon and drove us out to the drive-in theater. Remember those scratchy speakers that hooked onto the window? And the long intermissions with the dancing hot dog and bucket of popcorn?
I remember taking my daughter to see Snow White when she was about four or five. Good thing we sat on the aisle as she couldn't stay in her seat. She just had to dance when the music played.
Fun memories - and much more innocent, I suspect, than your current series (grin). Those sound like fun, but of a more adult version.
Aloha, Catherine! I live in a fairytale setting - warm weather, gorgeous sea, and breathtaking mountains ... plus Hawaii Five-O!
Looking forward to reading your new book!
I use to like the Cinderella story where the girl is taken from her less than desirable circumstances and gets to live like a princess in a palace. But as I got a bit older I found it more than silly that the Prince does not recognize her at all. Does he look at her dress only? Can't he remember her face? Her smile? Her wit? Rather superficial, no Beauty and the Beast is my favorite. For they love each other for who they are. Not what the wear or look like.
I love the version from Disney. Belle is a brunette, like me, and likes to read. Also one of my greatest joys. The Beast is lovely underneath. I adore the scene where she's coming down the stairs, then he is coming down. He bows and she's wearing that gorgeous yellow gown. They eat and they dance. The teapot is singing Tale as old as time... I always swoon a bit at this part of the film.
Well done Jane have fun with him
Catherine
My favourite is Cinderella themed stories probably because Cinderella is one of my favourite stories. I can't remember what my first Disney cartoon movie was but I do remember the first one I watched with my children and that was Dumbo my eldest daughter was about 3 years old and sobbed her heart out when Dumbo's mother got taken away she still talks about it even though she is 30 now.
Love the sound of your new books Catherine and thanks Nancy for inviting Catherine back today
Have Fun
Helen
Hey, Jane, congrats on the rooster! Deanna will be pining for him down under! ;-)
Ooh, Deanna, so close!
Catherine, welcome to the lair. I love the photo! And congratulations on the new trilogy! I love royal stories.
Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale although I must say I love a stack of them - Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, you name it, I love it.
I actually think Beauty and the Beast goes back to Cupid and Psyche so it's a VERY old story indeed!
Hi All,
I LO♥E a good fairytale....
The Frog Prince and The 12 Dancing Princesses are my favorite stories.
I have a very special love for the Disney movie Snow White because my Granddad and Aunt took me to see it for my 6th birthday (I still cry watching it now!!)
Thanks for the great blog and good luck with your Royal series, it sounds great... and who doesn't love a Prince?!
Cheers
Cath
cbcowley@gmail.com
Anna, I'm feeling lonesome already.
Hi, Catherine! Your "Rich, Rugged and Royal" series sounds totally irresistible! Cinderella holds a special place in my heart. Who wouldn't want to live in a magical kingdom where pumpkins became coaches, and fairy godmothers granted dreams come true? Then there's the handsome prince, rescuing you from a life of despair and carrying you away to live happily ever after in the castle!
I know so many of us love wonderful romance reads--the fairy tales did it!!! They were the earliest contact that many of us had with the romance and adventure of earlier times. Beautifully illustrated books with wondrous fables of a fair maiden swept away into happiness by a handsome prince! Then came Disney. Animated movie magic with a singing fair maiden and her equally vocally gifted handsome prince! Ahhh, then things got juicier...romance books replaced the fairy tales. The fairy godmothers were replaced by Georgette Heyer, Jane Aiken Hodge, Barbara Cartland and Jane Austen. Childhood whimsy turned into a young girl's fancy! I love "Cinderella" and "Beauty and the Beast"!
Hey Cathy *waving* Great to see you and welcome back to the Lair.
The first movies I remember seeing are Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, possibly Snow White too. The reason I remember them so well is that I was in Iran (my mother is Persian) and my cousins and I were taken to see those films. The spoken word was in Farsi, but the songs were all in English - which was kind of mind-blowing. In those days I spoke Farsi fluently, so was able to switch between the languages fairly easily.
I also remember going with my English grandmother to see Alice in Wonderland - but I think was too young really to enjoy it.
Cinderella is probably my fave fairy tale, followed by Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. I also really like The Ugly Duckling and The Frog Prince.
I always thought the Princes and the Pea was a little silly *g*.
My fave Disney movies are Lady and the Tramp and The Aristocats. *happy sigh*
Love the sound of your new series!
So ... when do we get the next books in your Dark Ops series. There are going to be more, aren't there? Please, please!
I love fairy tales, my favorite is Sleeping Beauty. I can't remember the first animated Disney movie I saw, but the first Disney movie I saw was Toby Tyler. I have a lot of the Disney animated movies for my grandkids, they really enjoy them and I enjoy watching them too.
My favorite fairy tale--Disney version, that is--has to be Robin Hood. But not because of Robin & Maid Marion. Those two are boring saps. I'm into Lady Cluck & Little John. Those two know how to throw a party. :-)
That's the story of my life, I think, as a writer & a reader. I always like the secondary characters best. They don't have to be so perfect. They smart off, they mess up, they enjoy a good brawl. So I struggle with the prince & princess types, & like 'em best when they play against type.
I'm looking forward to seeing how you handle the three princes of Medina! Any particular inspiration for their three personality types?
Jane, congrats on the bird! I love Beauty and the Beast, too. My favorite Disney movie is, and probably always will be, Sleeping Beauty. But I'd rather _be_ Belle than Aurora, if that makes sense.
Daz, your mom sounds like a lot of fun.
The first Disney movie I remember seeing was Sleeping Beauty. I saw Bambi, but I won't watch it again. Too sad for me.
Donna, I remember drive-ins and those scratchy old speakers that hung on the car windows. There was one outside the town where I grew up. I think they're a fading bit of Americana. That one near my hometown is a condo complex now.
Hi, Kim--Do you ever see Five-O filming? I hear the people in Vancouver sometimes got a look at the Stargate crew in the city.
I've had students who were over the moon for Alex O'Loughlin, the new Steve McGarrett, from his vampire show, Moonlight.
Kirsten, good point about Cinderella's prince. I like Cinderella stories, and I still enjoy the Disney version, but on some level, ya gotta wonder.
It's kind of like no one at the Daily Planet recognizing Clark Kent as Superman. Some years back, the comics offered a sort of lame explanation having something to do with generalized super-hypnosis, but nobody really bought it. Like I said, lame. But we all go with it anyway, as with Cinderella's prince.
Hi, Helen--Dumbo is another sad one, isn't it? I'm sure I must've seen it on the Disney TV show, but my first memory of it is at a comic book convention in New York. They showed it during movie night.
I like the Dumbo ride. It's about as fast and swoopy as I tolerate well.
Hi, Anna--isn't that a great photo? Ties in so well with Catherine's volunteer work for animals.
I heard there was a flip on Rapunzel coming out, where it's the prince hwo needs rescuing, but of course I can't remember where I heard it.
Cath, I love The Twelve Dancing Princesses. When the boy was small, he had a beautiful picture book (purchased by his mother) of that story. He liked the way the hero tricked his way to success.
Virginia, I love your take on the link between fairy tales and romance novels. I wouldn't mind having a castle if it came with servants to keep it clean. Our house is enough of a challenge for us most days.
Anna, the dh loves Alice in Wonderland. It's probably his favorite Disney movie.
I have another bilingual friend (English and Spanish), and I've heard her switch back and forth from one sentence to the next. I envy people who're fluent enough to do that.
Linda, I think I remember Toby Tyler. Was it about a circus? Did it star one of those kid actors who made bunches of things for Disney?
Susan, it's interesting that you go for the secondary characters. I generally don't, unless one of them is better developed than the hero or heroine. But the world is more interesting if the secondary characters are well drawn, and they make interesting mirrors for the h/h.
Can you pick one favorite fairy tale?
Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorites--I remember seeing it in the theater when I was very small--and the frightening dragon and the prince who battles his way to wake the princess up. I always thought that was how it should be done: that one day I'd kiss a boy and it would be like sleeping beauty.
But then I saw Beauty and the Beast in the theater, and THAT was my favorite. The heroine who lives in books, who loves her father so much she's willing to sacrifice herself for him, and the beast she eventually grows to love. I think we all want to be part of the fantasy that our love for someone would change them for the better.
My favorite is Beauty and the Beast. But not really the Disney version, though. I remember this doll animation from former Czechoslovakia I rahter liked.
Disney Tarzan - Savage Garden - Animal song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcBgHWjJ9vA&feature=related
and that was Dumbo my eldest daughter was about 3 years old and sobbed her heart out when Dumbo's mother got taken away she still talks about it even though she is 30 now.
I don't blame her. I remember seeing that movie on TV (probably part of ABC's Sunday Night Disney) and I remember crying so hard when he went to find his mother and she rocked him through the cage bars.
Wow, y'all have been busy chatting this morning!! Cool!! Happy to know the theme generated conversation. ;-) Jane, the Disney Beauty & the Beast totally rocks, no doubt!! I'm hearing "Be Our Guest" in my head right now! LOL!
Hi Daz! I hear ya on the crying when Bambi's mother died. When my oldest was about 2, he loved the Land Before Time cartoon movies with the dino Little Foot. My father in law was watching him this one time and I left the video to keep them entertained. My f-i-l was so upset when afterward - mother dies in that one too. There sure are some hefty issues packed in some kid movies!
Donna, omg, I looooved going to the drive ins! My parents used to take us all the time. And if it was a grown up movie, they would make us cover our eyes if there was a "kissing" scene - which I always thought was silly since it was a drive in movie, for Pete's sake. Everyone driving by on the road could see the screen. ;-) It's sad that there aren't any more drive ins!!
Hey there, Kim! Sounds like you are making the most of living in your tropical paradise. :) Hope when y'all move back over you're a little closer to Florida, though!
Welcome to the lair, Catherine!
I love fairy tale romances. My favorite story is Cinderella. My favorite Disney movie is Beauty and the Beast...mostly for the music.
The first Disney movie I remember going to see was The Jungle Book. But I have no idea how old I was when my dad took me. I still enjoy seeing it when it comes out.
Kirsten, I agree the brunette Belle is a nifty addition (my daughters both have brown hair.) And I love what you said about Cinderella's prince not looking at her face.... great point! Interesting how our perspective changes with age. We leave a bit of the fairy tale behind and gain some wisdom along the way.
Helen, thank you so much for reminding me of Dumbo! When my kids were little, it was such fun getting to revisit those movies Ihad watched.
Anna, VERY cool pointing out about Cupid and Psyche being the roots of Beauty and the Beast!! Will add it to my notes as I can see myself revisiting this kind of blog again in the future. I loooove this topic. I worked in children's theater back in my 20s and did a lot of delving in fairytales during under grad adn grad school.
Hi Chath! Frog Prince is such a great tale too.... a wonderful message to kids to look below the surface and see the person. So many of these fairytales have life messages - their original purpose and why they've endured, imho, for passing down a moral to kids generation after generation. :)
Virginia!!!! I adore the notion of romance authors becoming the fairy godmothers in creating romance!! That ROCKS!!!! You've inspired me to write today (and believe me, I was very sleepy and uninspired feeling when I woke up this morning. ;)
I didn't like the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast all that much, because as far as I can remember -it's been a while since I saw it last time- the prince was turned into a beast because he wasn't very nice to the old woman. In all the versions, he was nice, but he was turned into a beast because a with was jealous of his good fortune.
Hi Anna S! I adore Lady & the Tramp too! That's the first Disney movie I recall seeing on the big screen. The spaghetti scene stays vivid in my mind to this day. :)
I'm so pleased to hear you're looking forward to both my royal romance series and my military suspenses! In answer to your question, I have three military suspense books coming out next year.
I have a new military suspense series starting - "Elite Ops" - begins with COVER ME in July 2011 followed by HOT ZONE in December 2011.
In fall of 2011, there will be another "Dark Ops" book - tentatively titled AVENGER. I'm finishing it up now. Between now and next December I have 8 new books and a reissue of my first 2 Silhouette Desires coming out. Also have an online short story that will be featured at eharlequin in Jan-March. A very happily jam-packed 2011 for me! (Thank you for asking!)
Hi Linda! How fun to watch the movies with your grandkids. I look forward to that day!!
Hey there Susan! My inspiration for the Medina brothers.... Gerard Butler, James Caviezel and Cristián de la Fuente. :)
Hi Nancy! You're so sweet to remember my volunteer work at the shelter - yep, those two puppies I'm holding were foster pups named Smokey and Pepper. They were afghan hound mixes. They've both been adopted and have AWESOME families. As much as I adored them, it's special to think about the joy they're bringing to others.
I'm fostering two goofy black lab/boxer mix puppies right now - Daisy and Duke. They'll be ready to go up for adoption in a couple of weeks. My family has fostered over 35 puppies and adult dogs over the years. :)
Ms Hellion - great point remembering about Belle's love of her books. Wonderful to see an academic role model for kids!!
Minna - Thanks for the Tarzan video link!! Fun!! There are some amazing soundtracks that have come out of kids' movies. I wish there were more kid movies coming out... This song reminded me of Jungle Book and Lion King too!
Ahhhhh Christie!! Love "Bare Necessities" from Junge Book!! Here's a youtube link to lighten up our monring! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ogQ0uge06o
Here's another favorite:
Mulan's revolution
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGfQLythl48
I'm surpriced no one has done Tarzan version out of this one yet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NuA7AripfU
Hi Catherine. Congrats on your upcoming release. Sounds great. My favorite fairytale is Cinderella. I saw my first Disney movie when I was 5 years old.
I love fairy tale themes in romances, particularly if the author twists the original in some way. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite, but I like Cinderella a lot too. I can think of more favorite romances that use the Cinderella theme. The title alone would persuade me to give The Maverick Prince a try, Catherine.
Anna S., Eloisa James has said that her next book after the January 2011 release, When Beauty Tamed the Beast, will be based on The Princess and the Pea. I'm especially eager to see what she does with that story.
Congrats on your upcoming release, Catherine! Sounds fabulous! Yeah, Bambi scarred me for life. And I think the drive-in could do a come-back! Wouldn't that be fun? Thanks for a fun post!
Hi Crystal! Isn't five such a magical age? What a perfect time to enjoy a fairytale on the big screen!
Hi Janga! Thanks for mentioning Eloisa's next book! Have put it on my TBR list. :)
Marian, the Bambi scene where she loses her mom is so traumatic.... an yet the original versions of fariytales are actually pretty violent too. Not sure what I think about that, but interesting that they've been toned down over the years... and then video games ramped the violence right back up again...hmmm.... I'm sure there's a point in there somewhere.... =8-O
I'm a Beauty and the Beast girl... I'll bet a lot of fans of medieval historicals enjoy that one, as I can see it at the heart of so many medieval stories. The medieval warrior, after all, is a bit beastly :-). Whereas the Regency stories so frequently tap Cinderella... anywho, the Beast captured my heart long ago, even pre-Disney version, although I thought their Beauty and the Beast was brilliant. Great post, Cathy!!
Joanne, I'm intrigued by the notion that different time periods lend themselves more easily to certain fairytale types. Fun point to ponder!
Hi Catherine!
*waves madly*
Welcome back to the lair! It's always wonderful to see you here. I love your books. And what a great subject today!
I really REALLY don't want to love fairy tales, being the hard-nosed practical sort I *coughpretendtobecough* am.
But the truth is, I'm a sucker for them. :0/
Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella in particular. For a couple of years I've been looking up every film based on a Cinderella story I can find. One from my childhood is my favorite, and it's remained in my psyche for years--it was on the CBS Saturday Afternoon Film Festival, with Kukla, Fran and Ollie. (I'm giving my age away here and some of our readers won't remember this show.)
Anyhow, one Saturday they had a film called (no laughing) Three Nuts for Cinderella. It's Czech, so the whole "nuts" connotation isn't quite the same in that language I guess--Okay Bandits, STOP HOOTING, cuz these were magic nuts which fell from a TREE dangit.
In that version, Cinderella was a brilliant horsewoman, could hunt with a crossbow better than most guys--neither of these was considered okay for a girl in that day--and probably influenced me as one of the first kick-butt heroines I'd ever seen. No swooning or deference in sight.
I went looking for this film in earnest two years ago and thanks to the internet, finally found it. It's been repackaged as Three Wishes for Cinderella for the American market, but it's still the same beautifully filmed, magical love story I remember.
The thing that gets me is how YOUNG Cinderella and the Prince are. It's in keeping with the sensibilities of that culture at that time, but it's a shocker in ours I think. It was made in Czechoslovakia in the early 1970s, but is set decades earlier.
I also love the version with Drew Barrymore as Cinderella--can't remember the name of that one.
The power of these stories is what I don't understand. I can't figure out why they resonate so deeply with me.
I just don't buy into the idea that it's a cultural thing taught to girls--that we need to be saved--because I wasn't taught that, and don't believe it now.
There's something magical and archetypal in these stories. Something powerful. I love it when authors tap into that for modern stories and no question, it works. WHY it works...I'm not sure I get that part.
Jane, great grab for the rooster!
Catherine said:
I'm fostering two goofy black lab/boxer mix puppies right now - Daisy and Duke. They'll be ready to go up for adoption in a couple of weeks. My family has fostered over 35 puppies and adult dogs over the years. :)
Oh, this is one of my favorite things about you--you're an angel to sweetheart dogs! Those in your photo are so cute. Glad to know they found homes. And lab/boxer mixes? I'm guessing the doofus quotient is high in your house right now because of those goofy pups. ;0)
I just love any of the Disney movies, anything with the hint of romance and I'm interested. But the first Disney movie that I ever watched was Were The Red Fern Grows it was the saddest movie that I had every seen. We were given tickets from the factory that my dad worked for every Christmas and I swear to you the next year our tickets was to see Old Yeller. After about 5 years of tickets from the company that Christmas gift ended. Which was a good thing, don't you think. Can't wait to read The Maverick Prince.
Ooh - do tell, Cathy - who features in Avenger?
Can't wait for your other new series too. *g*
My favorite fairy tale has got to be Snow White and the seven dwarfs.And my all the favorite Disney movie is Ratatouille.Very original and engaging theme.And another is WALL-E.I was charmed by Eve.Both these pictures have been distributed by WALT DISNEY.
Hi Cassondra! I agree that remakes of fairytales are great, great fun! I think the Drew Barrymore one was called "Ever After." (I also enjoyed her fairytale like makeover movie "Never Been Kissed.") Great to see you here - and thanks again for having me back to blog!!
Cassondra - LOL!! Just got to you note about the foster pups - Doofus quotient is VERY high with these two. They're a stitch to watch!! The shelter is jam packed full right now, so I've had these two a little longer. They're 12 wks old and will go up for adoption in 2 more weeks. We're gonna miss them!!!!
Hi kbrito - Even seeing the titles of Where the Red Fern Grows and Old Yeller make me cry!!!! Actually, our yellow lab that we adopted was called Yeller at the shelter. He's Sam now. ;-)
Hi Anna! Avenger features Chuck Tanaka as the hero, and we see more of the Colonel and Livia in the secondary storyline. :) Thanks for asking and for wondering!!
Hi Bluestocking! Snow White's 7 buddies always did crack me up!! Great characters, all of them!! Hi ho... hi ho.... ;-)
What a fascinating post, Catherine, and welcome back to the Lair! Thanks for bringing her, Nancy.
The stories of these three princes sounds great. Love the concept and the idea that "princes in disguise" have made their own fortunes.
I adore Beauty and the Beast stories.
Hi Jo! Glad to hear you're intrigued by the 3 secret princes notion... I enjoyed figuring out how each independently made his own fortune.... and their backstory of the coup in their homeland was pretty dark and traumatic too. I'm so thankful Silhouette Desire gave me the opportunity to tell these three stories!! I had a blast writing them. :)
MsHellion, I love the part in Sleeping Beauty when the prince fights the dragon. I just think that's so cool!
I also think he's one of the more dynamic Disney princes. I mean, it's not ALL about the princesses--at least, not at my age.
Minna, the animated Beauty and the Beast sounds interesting. That's a very popular fairy tale around here today.
Christie, the dh loves The Jungle Book. After Alice in Wonderland, it's probably his favorite Disney movie.
Catherine, it's great to know you have so many books coming out. More for us to read.
You're a busy woman.
Crystal, I think I was also about five when I saw my first Disney movie. Maybe that's about when kids become able to sit through a movie in the dark and not get too restless.
Janga, I think Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast are both very popular romance themes. That's interesting about the Princess and the Pea.
Marian, I also think it would be fun if drive-ins had a resurgence.
Joanne wrote: The medieval warrior, after all, is a bit beastly :-)
Very true! That's an interesting point about Cinderella in the Regency era.
Cassondra, that Cinderella movie sounds wonderful.
(Now that I've stopped hooting *g*)
I also liked the Drew Barrymore version, Ever After.
Catherine, I had no idea your foster activities had been so extensive. I hope Duke and Daisy find wonderful homes.
kbrito, I wept at Old Yeller. I just can't stand sad animal stories.
Bluestocking, our whole family enjoyed Ratatouille. It's one of those movies the dh and I agreed to go see because the boy wanted to, and it was just wonderful.
We liked Snow White, too. It was a pioneering film, feature-length animation, and it's just beautiful.
Jo, I like princes in disguise, too.
Hi, Catherine! I think my favorite is Beauty and the Beast. Or possibly the Ugly Duckling--I like stories where what's underneath the surface is more important than what you first see :) As for my first Disney cartoon... I can't remember! Maybe Bambi? That was a weeper!
Hi flchen! Love the Ugly Duckling too! Reminds me of lesser known E. B. White book that I adored in elementary school - TRUMPET OF THE SWAN. Awesome read!
Hi, Fedora--I like The Ugly Ducking and stories based on it, too.
Congrats on the new trilogy - it sounds fabulous and I know it will be. I love Beauty and the Beast but I can't remember when I first watched it.
Hi, Lisa--Lots of us here today like Beauty and the Beast.
I always enjoy your posts & Facebook comments, Catherine! Good luck in all your writing! My favorite fairy tale is Cinderella because my middle daughter loves it and she's in college! She has always loved it! I think my first Disney cartoon was Snow White or Peter Pan!
Thanks, Lisa, for th congrats on my "Rich, Rugged and Royal" trilogy!! Hope you enjoy it. :)
Ah yes, Valri!! How could I have forgotten to mention Peter Pan?! Loooove that movie - and I adored the Robin Williams version HOOK. Still one of my favs to re-watch.
My favourite fairy tale is Snow White. I saw my first Disney movie at the theatre when I was 4 or 5. I think it was Cinderella.
Yay on both counts, Cathy - thanks for letting me know, so I can look forward to reading Avenger even more! (I know, shameless fan-girl, but then you already know this *g*)
Congrats on your impeding release!
Hm, favorite fairy tale... does Puss in Boots count? I've pointed out to my young niece that the women in fairy tales don't have a choice - either the prince or suffering. There's not even a choice of princes. And don't get me started on Rumpelstiltskin or Rapunzel.
I do enjoy reading books with fairy tale tropes though. So I'm not anti-fairy tales.
As for the first Disney film, I don't remember. I do remember taking my little cousin to see "The Fox and the Hound" and seeing "Fantasia" by myself as a teen (with all those little kids in the audience screaming for Mickey Mouse).
Favorite Disney Fairy Tale: Hercules. The brains, the brawn, the comedy! Loved it from start to finish!
First Fairy Tale that I remember seeing: Cinderella. Watched it over and over and over with my sister when we were little girls. I imagined I was Cinderella and my sister was one of the ugly step-sisters.
Oooooo....sounds great! I love the fairy tale theme too.Can't wait to read about your latest hero.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Valri, I think I saw Peter Pan very early on, too. My favorite Disney ride is the Peter Pan ride, soaring over London in a miniature pirate ship.
Chey, Snow White is a beautiful movie, isn't it?
Sheree, I love Fantasia. The animation and the music go together so beautifully. Night on Bald Mountain is a great sequence.
Brenda, I've never seen Hercules. The boy was going through an anti-Disney phase when it came out, so we missed it. I should rent it. I like the Hercules story.
Hi, Paula--Thanks for stopping by.
My favorite is Aladdin. I loved taking my daughter to see it when she was small. I loved Robin Williams wacky humor in it. Just loved everything about it, really, including the music.
The first one I can remember seeing was Snow White.
Hi Chey! Isn't it fun how that first Disney movie experience sticks with us? I can almost taste the popcorn!
Hey there, Sheree - Of course Puss and Boots counts, imho, if for no other reason than it makes me think of Antonio Bandaras in Shrek. ;-) (Yum! I could listen to him talk all day long!!)
Thank you, Anna!!!!!!! :):):)
Brenda, fun pick with Hercules! I agree that brains, brawn and humor make for a winning combination in a guy. :)
:::Smmoches:::: Thank you, Paula!! You are always so supportive - I appreciate you!
:::waving::: Hi JV! I used to dream of having a magic carpet when I was a kid. ;-)
Hi, JV--Aladdin is fun, isn't it? I think I'd like a magic carpet, but I'm also afraid of heights. Could be trouble. Not much point in having a magic carpet if you never go higher than 6 or 8 feet.
My cousin took me to the movies
for my 11th birthday. We saw
Pinocchio. I know it wasn't the
first I saw, but it was the first
I remember!
Pat Cochran
Pat, the dh loves Pinocchio, too. I was always scared at the carnival part.
Nice catch, Jane! Enjoy our own little fairy tale (don't tell the GR - he thinks he's real!)
Hello, Catherine ! Love the premise of this trilogy. And three handsome hunky princes are no hardship to read about at all!!
My first Disney memories are of Bambi and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Loved both of them!
I think Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella are my two very favorite fairy tales. Each of them has someone who is the underdog, who is more than what they seem. I like that sort of story.
The Little Mermaid all the way! :D The first ever Disney cartoon movie I saw was Bambi. Actually, I think it may have been the first movie I ever saw in theatres.
Hi Pat! Pinocchio was my sister's fav! So many great lessons for kids in that story. I've had such fun with this discussion today thanks to all the great feedback from y'all!
Louisa, insightful note about rooting for the underdog - that really does draw us into a story. :)
Hi Pissenlit! The Little Mermaid soundtrack was soooooo amazing! Great sing along tunes and the sea creature band ROCKED!
Louisa, I like underdog stories, too. Beauty and the Beast had lots of fans here, as you've probably noticed.
Hi Cathy - Can't believe I miss one day stopping by and you were here - one of my all time favorite authors. Love fairy tales and I think my all time favorite was Cinderella. It gave every plain little girl hope of something exciting in their future.
Hi to Rob and I'm sooo looking forward to your new suspense series.
Hi Dianna!! ::::waving wildly:::: Say hey to Karl from Rob and me! :)
congrat son the release i know im totally late wante dto chime in tho lol
my fav fairy tale wasthumbilina and sleeping beauty
i rememebr first disney movie i ever seen was snow white not sure why but iw as never a huge fan of snowwhite leats not disneys version loveddd the brothers grimm version
Hi Sinn! Glad you could make it over to chat!! My youngest daughter didn't care for the Snow White movie either - the witch scene at the end scared her to pieces!! There wasn't enough after that scene for her to calm back down and reclaim the magic of the movie. Interesting how movies affect different people in different ways. Thanks again for stopping by! I appreciate the comment - this has been a super fun guest blogging spot for me!!!!
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