So by this time next week, Magic Denied, will be live on Amazon! I am super excited about this book and even more excited to share it with you!
I wrote the first draft in 2023 as a bit of an experiment. I was immediately in love with my main character and the story, but I also struggled with the manuscript.
I knew something was missing from the story, but as the writer, I couldn’t identify it. Most writers will admit that our heads are too immersed in our made-up worlds and the creative process. As a result, we are blind to our work. This means there are things we miss or literally can’t see. We need fresh eyes and a different perspective. It was at this point that I turned to Alpha readers. Alpha readers give honest but exceptionally helpful advice. And I very much appreciate mine.
My favorite alpha reader ripped the story apart. Not really, she’s very supportive and can point out exactly what needs fixing. And so I deep-dived into rewrites and edits. And then it was off to the editor for polishing.
As a result, my princess is the strong female lead I envisioned. I love the princess’s character arc. She always believed she was helping her people even while trapped in the tower. But through a series of circumstances, she realizes she has to be more, do more to really save the kingdom. And this ignites her pursuit of change.
For my first fairy tale re-telling, I’m impressed, and I know you’ll love Cress’s journey as much as I do. The unique take on the beloved classic kept the original elements, and inspired the rest.
As for tropes, you can expect to find the following fantasy tropes. (But with a few fun spins.) Magical artifacts; Chosen one; Magical world; and Magical creatures. As for my magic system, it’s soft.
For romance tropes. My books are always low spice. Who the princess loves is forbidden. Her father has arranged a marriage. The dragon claims her as his mate. So there’s a lot happening there.
Will there be more? I don’t have a direct answer. I can say that I do have a few projects in the works that are inspired by fairy tales. So my deep dive into this realm isn’t over. Are you ready to take the plunge with me? Start with Cress’s story, Magic Denied, inspired by the beloved Rapunzel classic. You can find it on Amazon, and it goes live on August 1st.
K. M. Wray 