Tell a Fairy Tale Day and meeting an author who makes them sparkle

TODAY, February 26 is Tell a Fairy Tale Day. It’s a day to gather the kids around the dinner table and tell an old tale that has been passed down from generation to generation. Or possibly a new tale or a new version of an old tale. What comes to mind are stories like Beauty and the Beast and Rumpelstiltskin or even Dracula or The Lord of the Rings. But fairy tales can be specific to your culture or family and don’t have to be widely known to hold a special place in your memories and your heart.

What sets apart fairy tales from other stories? What does a fairy tale actually mean? Well, for one, the tales usually have a moral behind them. They were told to children to teach them lessons and morals about how to live a good and wise life. Stories were passed on orally before humanity started writing things down and the advent of the printing press. There would be myths and legends shared over the bonfire or travelling storytellers spreading the tales far and wide.

Some of the stories were based on truth. For example, some people believe that Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was based on the life of Margarete von Waldeck, the daughter of the 16th century Count of Waldeck who lived in a town in Germany where mining took place and they used small people (dwarves) or children to work in some of the narrow tunnels. She was an exceptionally beautiful woman who had a jealous stepmother who sent her away. It is believed she fell in love with a prince but then died mysteriously at a young age.

When books came into being, the Brothers Grimm wrote their book of fairy tales which are a bit dark for young children to read. Then came Hans Christian Anderson who wrote lighter, more family-friendly tales. During this time, fairy tales evolved into more fantasy-like tales with mythical creatures like fairies, dragons, giants and trolls.

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In modern times, Disney has brought to life the fairy tales of old and given them their own flavour. But some authors enjoy adapting a fairy tale into a more contemporary or adult story. One such author is Sheritha Singh, a South African author who lives and works near the Durban area. We asked her some questions about her writing and her published novel, When the Roses Die, which she based on Beauty and the Beast.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a lecturer, sister and mom to many, and I still live at home with my family. I love writing and pretty much am an introvert. I’ll go out if there’s shopping involved.

2. Tell us about your writing journey and how you became a published author.
I began writing at a very early age. I was about eight or nine. Publishing in South Africa is not the easiest. I learned a lot about publishing on my own. The journey became easier with access to the internet becoming easier over the years. I’ve completed a writer’s course with the SA Writer’s College, and I intend to study more to hone my craft. I’ve dabbled in many different genres and have been published in different age categories from children’s fiction to adult romance.

3. What inspired you to write a book that is fairy-tale-themed? And why Beauty and the Beast?
There are so many different versions of Beauty and the Beast, and I really wanted to create my own version. Roses are a central point in my story because the beast has to eat roses to remain alive. I also feel it’s important for readers to understand the message. You cannot change someone – you accept them for who they are or move on if you cannot.

4. Was it challenging to write a book on a well-known fairy tale?
Yes. The characters are mostly Asian. It was difficult to explain some of the mythology in a mainstream way. I’ve also written a children’s story, an African retelling of Cinderella. My first criticism of that story was that it was too European. The second rewrite helped me win a contest and get published. It’s always difficult to take a well-known story and write it for people of colour to identify with. There are a lot of attacks from reviewers who prefer the old version of the story and would rather it remain the same. I like rewriting fairy tales because I believe magic and love exist in all cultures.

5. What message/s does Beauty and the Beast have for the younger generation – something that can be passed on from generation to generation?
Love someone for who they are. Everyone has something unique or special about them. The story opens with a blind character. Metaphorically, anyone can be blind to a situation. We have to learn to understand and accept each other.

6. Did your novel have any message/s threaded through it?
Racism is an uncomfortable topic for many of us. People of colour can be racist, too. One reviewer wasn’t impressed with the evil characters in the book being lighter-skinned. The truth is, evil comes in all shapes, sizes and colours.

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7. Do you have any oral or written stories that have been passed down in your family which convey a message/s?
Nothing original. Stories from our Vedic scriptures were usually watered down and narrated to us from a young age.

8. Where can people find your books?
When the Roses Die, the Beauty and Beast story is published by Evernight Publishers and available as a Kindle book on Amazon. I also have a novel on Kindle unlimited. It’s entitled Cherish.

You can find Cherish here: https://storybound-publishing.carrd.co/ and When the Roses Die here: https://www.evernightteen.com/when-the-roses-die-by-sheritha-singh/

If you have a fairy tale to share on social media today, you can use the hashtag, #TellAFairyTaleDay

ENDS