Kate G. Jameson

I thought I’d take a slightly different approach to a blog post for today, given the date. Instead of fairy tales, let’s focus on the (admittedly somewhat muddled) real history behind Valentine’s Day and how the legend has grown over the centuries.

Some Thoughts on Querying

I thought I’d check in with you all, as I’ve been “in the query trenches,” as I’ve seen some writers put it, for almost six months now.

But before I dive into my experience, I want to talk a little bit about what agents do, why I’m pursuing this route, and what the process entails.

An Interview with Carrie Anne Noble

Meet Carrie Anne Noble! She’s an award-winning author of several YA fantasy books, including The Mermaid’s Sister and Gretchen and the Bear. I’m a big fan of hers and have read several of her books, with the rest on my TBR list. (You can check out my reviews if you’re interested!) She’s a fellow fairy tale enthusiast and was kind enough to take time to answer some questions about writing and storytelling. Thanks for stopping by, Carrie!

Mermaids Around the World

As I sat down to brainstorm a blog post (and as I’m writing, as a matter of fact), my friend Bex finally convinced me to watch the 2023 live action The Little Mermaid. I wouldn’t say I’ve been avoiding it, but it hasn’t been high on my to-do list (shocking, I know, given that I’m all about fairy tales). You might say that I have opinions on the Disney live action remakes, but that’s a rant for another day.

But it got me thinking about mermaids. I recently got to interview L.E. Richmond about her upcoming debut, The Mermaid’s Tail. And I’ve got a special treat next week with another author who has dabbled in mermaid lore! So I started thinking about mermaid stories and legends and how they vary in different cultures, and I’ve decided to bring you a brief overview of some mermaid-type tales from around the world.

Fairy Tale Facts: King Thrushbeard

In December 1812, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published their first book: volume one of Kinder- und Hausmärchen ( or Children’s and Household Tales). The fifty-second story in their collection was called “King Thrushbeard,” and that story is the topic of today’s post. So let’s dive in!

An Interview with L.E. Richmond

I recently discovered a fellow writer on Instagram who I immediately started following. Her name is L.E. Richmond, and her debut novel, The Mermaid’s Tale, comes out this fall. It has a gorgeous cover and a fantastic premise, and I can’t wait to read it! What’s more, she was kind enough to sit down with me last month for a conversation about writing.

L.E.’s website has a link to the preorder page, and you can also follow her on Instagram!

I’m hoping to put together one or two more interviews this year, so let me know if there’s anyone you’d like to hear from.

Until next time, word nerds!

6 Tropes I Hate

Last month, I wrote about my favorite literary tropes, and I wanted to follow it up with a look at a few tropes that I’m less fond of. My intention isn’t to complain or cast judgment (for the most part), but to explore what it is about each trope that I dislike. Several of the entries on this list are actually quite good, when executed well. It’s just that I don’t see them done well all that often. As before, these are in no particular order.

Once Upon a Start

It’s been said (and sung) that the beginning is a very good place to start. And figuring out how to start is a problem writers and creators have faced since they began creating. A good opening has to catch the audience’s attention, draw them in, and set the tone for the whole story or piece.

Fairy tales have mastered openings. Not only do they set the tone well, they’re immediately recognizable. As soon as you read “Once upon a time,” you know exactly what you’re getting into.

9 Tropes I Love

Readers and writers alike love to throw around the word “trope.” Some people say it with derision, but are tropes always bad? What does trope even mean?

Being someone who lives and breathes books, I thought I’d put together a list of my favorite tropes (and next month, my most hated tropes). These are in no particular order, and while many of them relate to the fantasy genre, it’s not only fantasy tropes. Also, I wanted very badly to keep this list in the single digits, or I’d be tempted to go on forever, but I do include some honorable mentions at the end.

Idioms: All the Stops

A Reason to Celebrate