The UnFairy Tale

A motley crew of adventurers battles the evil Wamlock. Their story is far from perfect (the hero is cursed with a no-happily-ever-after clause, the heroine refuses to act like a proper princess), but it’s a perfect escape for Amanda and her friends, struggling with their own real-life troubles: Clarence the Bug-Eyed Creep, family crises, and Way Too Much Homework. In the end, the Amanda-in-the-fairy-tale and the real Amanda make surprising discoveries, and everyone gets a little closer to that elusive happy ending.

Why "UnFairy" tale? Well, what would you call it when the heroine refuses to act like a proper princess, and the hero (take your pick) is a smelly bear, a dragon who is only six inches long, or a king who has been cursed so he can never live happily ever after? Life is far from perfect for the fairy tale adventurers and their hapless battle against the evil Wamlock, but their story provides an excellent escape for Amanda and her friends, wrestling with their own unfairy-tale trials and tribulations: Clarence the Bug-Eyed Creep, family crises, and Way Too Much Homework. Along the way, the Amanda-in-the-fairy-tale teaches the real Amanda something about friendship, bullies, kindness, and tact, and everyone gets a little closer to that elusive happy ending.

Shari Lane is a former middle school teacher and Young Writers Group leader. Shari and her husband live on a farm in Oregon, where her dogs and chickens (and the neighbor's goats and cows) provide an excellent audience for her stories-in-the-making. Shari's own Amanda is all grown up, but she still visits her mother now and then to read stories and eat chocolate together. Chat with the author at Lane@theunfairytale.com Get a sneak peek at the sequel The UnFairy Tale: Audrey's Turn, at unfairytaletwo.blogspot.com