The Storyteller’s Daughter

by Victoria McCombs
Publisher: Parliament House Press
Release Date: July 14th 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings

Synopsis:

His shadowed face lit by flames,

Rumpelstiltskin is my name…

For as long as anyone can remember, every child in Westfallen has been born with a Gift, and these Gifts defined them.

Then Cosette is born, Giftless.

An attempt to hide her misfortune brings her before the King, who entraps her to use her Gift as a pawn in his war.

Caught in a lie, Cosette desperately searches for a power strong enough to free her. Intrigued by whispers of an old king and a dark curse, she calls upon Rumpelstiltskin and finds him trapped in a magic deeper than she bargained for. Now, Cosette must fight to reclaim her freedom from the King and break Rumpel’s curse. When time runs out, she’ll lose more than her heart. She’ll lose her life.

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Interview

What drew you to writing a Rumpelstiltskin retelling?

I love fairytale retellings. Like, really love them. I breathed Gail Carson Levine, Jessica Day George, and E.D. Baker as a girl. Those will always be some of my favorite books. I wanted to write one that was different from the mainstream Beauty and the Beast or Cinderella. Rumpelstiltskin has a special place in my heart, so it felt like the right place to start. Book two (Woods of Silver and Light) will be Robin Hood told from the view of a girl at court, Book three (The Winter Charlatan) is a Sleeping Beauty retelling with a lot more action and political intrigue involved, and Book Four (Untitled) is Rapunzel.

Every authors journey to publication is different, can you tell us a bit about your journey?

I started writing seriously about two years ago. The first book I wrote was one I plan to revisit, but it helped set the foundation. From there I researched a lot of tips, read a lot of books, and began The Storyteller’s Daughter. I finished it in four months. A month later was PitMad, and I saw an agent post about wanting fairytale retellings. I reached out, and ten days later had an offer of publication. From there the book has been given to editors and undergone a lot of changes, had the cover made, the second and third book written, and is finally being released!

Do you remember the first story you wrote? If so, how old were you and what was it about?

Oh gosh. The very first book I wrote was in 6^th grade. I wrote in in a little journal, and it was about a girl who teams up with her talking pet to find a dragon and save the land. I think there was an evil witch, too. Also, that journal is lost.

What are you looking forward to the most about release day?

Can I say everything? This is my debut, so I have no clue what to expect. I have several book tours that will be running so mainly I’m excited for the world to see my book! I’ve got lasagna and a glass of Moscato wine planned for later that evening!

Are you going to write more retellings in the future?

This book is part of a companion series, the first of four. Each book has its own plot and characters, but some characters will overlap. Anika, the main character’s sister, is the only to appear in all four. The next is Robin Hood, then Sleeping Beauty, then Rapunzel. I’d love to do Aladdin or Peter Pan someday, but I think I’ll be all done with retellings after this. I have a lot of other ideas I want to write instead of retelling old ones.

What are some of your favorite retellings?

I love ones not done often, like Princess and the Pea. Beauty and the Beast is done a lot, but I think that’s because us writers really enjoy working with Belle. I love A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer, based on this tale.

What are you reading now?

I’m reading Three Dark Crowns series by Kendare Blake. I’ve only read the first book but I’m obsessed!!!! Sisters out to kill each other, I’m oddly here for it.

Author Bio

I write YA Fantasy. I love being transported to worlds that take my breath away. Worlds so complex and vivid, and yet I get to hold them in my hands. My writing inspirations are John Flanagan, P.W. Catanese and C.S. Lewis.

In June 2018 I signed a publishing contract with Parliament House Press for my debut novel, The Storyteller’s Daughter. In October 2018 I signed my second contract. I now have a contract for the first four books in that series, which will be my only fairytale retellings. Beyond that, I have a Pirate Adventure in the making, and series with a vivid world with rich kingdoms and other races, already one book done.

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