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After her fairy godmother’s magic act, Cinderella carefully slips her feet into—a set of fine glass seven-league boots.¹ She clicks her heels three times and is whisked away to the land of Oz. Meanwhile, a beautiful princess flees from the prophecy of a deadly spindle. She discovers the house of seven dwarves, where she must hide from a wicked witch along with the witch’s evil sidekick, Rumplestiltskin. What are fairy tale retellings? How do they reenchant us?

Episode sponsors

1. Enclave Publishing: The Unraveling of Emlyn DuLaine by Lindsay Franklin
2. Sunrise Publishing: Squire of Truth by Jill Williamson
3. Kickstarter for A Study in Shattered Spells by Josiah DeGraaf

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Backstory: Kendra E. Ardnek

Kendra E. Ardnek is the self-proclaimed Arista of Fairy Tales. She makes her home in the hills of central Texas with her fellow author husband, who she found at a writer’s conference. When not writing, you can usually find her crocheting her own cloaks, valiantly attempting to read every retelling ever written, and pretending that owning toy dragons makes her a dragon trainer.

• KendraEArdnek.Weebly.com
• FB: @KendraE.Ardnek
• IG: @fairytalearista
• X: @KendraEArdnek

1. Why do all kinds of readers love classic fairy tales?

• Kids re-read classic fairy tales because they’re simple, fun, memorable
• Older kids/teens/YA enjoy these too, especially the “retelling” versions
• Adults like to research them for their deeper and often biblical truth

2. And why do readers also love retelling fairy tales?

• Any adaptation (even Disney ones) helps bring out new/old meanings
• Retellings can freshen an old story with new plot twists, settings, finales.
• Sometimes a retelling can blend other stories, like in this show’s intro.

3. How long may this fairy-tale retelling trend last?

• One way or another, we shall always enjoy new versions of old stories.
• That’s because most fairy tales reflect the simple virtues of God’s law.
• And fairy tales offer not just “tropes” but reflections of eternal heroes.

Com station

Which are your favorite fairy tales to re-read, retell, or research?