P.J. Brackston's latest mystery novel is The Case of the Fickle Mermaid.From her Q & A with Deborah Kalb:
Q: What do you see as the right blend between the modern references and the fairy-tale era conventions in these novels?Visit Paula Brackston's website.
A: I wanted to be playful with the conventions of writing historical fiction. The fairy-tale element gave me the freedom to reinvent things and change things. Or at least, that’s the way I see it!
I do write more conventional historical fiction (as Paula Brackston), which I enjoy, but with this series I wanted to be a bit more adventurous. Purposefully putting in anomalies and anachronisms is a risky strategy, but I think it can give a story a truly original and individual feel.
Also, the traditions of fairy-tales are very broad. Some are more “realistic” than others. Many are common to different cultures and languages so have fundamental differences even though the essential story is the same. I think they are...[read on]
Writers Read: Paula Brackston (February 2013).
Coffee with a Canine: Paula Brackston & Bluebell.
--Marshal Zeringue