The Baba Yaga is one of my favourite mythic characters, and she seems to be making a bit of a cultural reemergence, so I thought I'd share a few contemporary books where she plays a starring role. Out recently is Sophie Anderson's wonderful The House on Chicken Legs. I loved it so much. It's a delightful…Read more Baba Yaga Books
fairy tales
The Making of a Dress
I spent much of last week making a dress. The best thing? I didn't even need a sewing machine. The worst? I can never wear it, and I really want to! Kate and I are working on the follow-up to Vasilisa the Wise, and I'm in the wonderful phase of dreaming up new illustrations. I couldn't…Read more The Making of a Dress
Castlemaine Launch
Last Thursday, Castlemaine Library hosted the first launch of Vasilisa the Wise and Other Tales of Brave Young Women. About seventy people came along and shared the celebration, one that's been several years in the making. The wonderful Carmel Bird gave the launch speech and began: Once in a kingdom far far away there lived…Read more Castlemaine Launch
Seven Podcasts for Fairy Tale Lovers
If you're anything like me, you use podcasts to get you through the day - out walking, in the car, cooking dinner: all the stuff where sometimes it's great just to have some else's voice in your head for a while! I also spend a lot of time at the computer working with images and,…Read more Seven Podcasts for Fairy Tale Lovers
Proof of a dream
The creation of a book is often likened to the birth of a baby - it's a simile that works well, because really, that's exactly what it is. When authors call their books their "book baby", they are likening their creation to something they have nurtured from conception to birth, and has a deep connection…Read more Proof of a dream
Twice Upon a Time: books that will make you rethink Fairy Tales
We hope that Vasilisa the Wise and Other Tales of Brave Young Women will encourage people to rethink the fairy tales they have always known. Many people think of princess tales as the standard, but looking back through the history of fairy tales, you'll find many stories of women who slayed dragons, rescued princes and…Read more Twice Upon a Time: books that will make you rethink Fairy Tales
The Illustration Process
When you look at Lorena's illustrations, do you see paint? Ink? Paper cut outs? Her work is certainly inspired by the incredible pen and ink illustrations of Arthur Rackham and the watercolour and cut-out works of Jan Pienkowski, but she uses an altogether different method. In an extract from a conference paper she recently gave…Read more The Illustration Process
10 gift ideas for folklore & fairy tale lovers
Inspired by Vasilisa the Wise and Other Tales of Brave Young Women, we've trawled the Internet to seek out a range of gifts for the folklore and fairy tale lover in your life. From the stunning to the quirky, we're sure there's at least one thing here that will thrill its recipient. 1. Baba Yaga…Read more 10 gift ideas for folklore & fairy tale lovers
Into the woods…
"Into the woods to find there's hope Of getting through the journey." - STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Fairy tale forest
You wouldn't think you'd find a place like this in Australia ... but that's exactly where this is. This photo was taken by Serenity Press editorial director Monique Mulligan at Golden Valley Tree Park in Balingup, in Western Australia's South West. Fog and mist shrouded the garden, lifting slowly for a stunning interplay of light…Read more Fairy tale forest
Long Lost Fairy Tales 