Shannon here: Marji Laine shares the inspiration for her latest Historical Romance, A Troll Falls. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for an e-book copy. Deadline: March 18th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Marji:
Today is the release day for my book, A TROLL FALLS, based on the little-known fairy tale of “Snow White and Rose Red.”
You didn’t know that Snow White had a sister? Perhaps this is a different Snow White than the one you’re used to. The sisters befriend a bear. He sleeps by their fireplace every night during the winter and then leaves in the spring to “find his fortune.”
In the summer, the sisters have three encounters with a rude troll. After saving him three times, he does nothing but fuss at them. Then, a bear threatens the troll, and he actually offers the sisters as a better entrée choice than himself. Well, the bear is their friend, and he tears the mean troll to pieces. At that point, the bear turns into a handsome prince, having been enchanted by the troll who stole all of his fortune. Snow White married the prince, and Rose Red married the prince’s brother.
That’s the jest of it, except the last line. That, by my memory, is a quote of the final line of my well-loved storybook. Talk about anticlimactic! Where’s the romance? Where’s the chemistry?
When my hubby and I shared our first kiss on our third date (I guess that makes me his “Shipoopi”, look up the lyrics for the song), I got chill bumps like I’d never experienced before. Now, I’d been kissed before. It wasn’t just that. Somehow, I knew that I would be marrying that man. I definitely knew, even with that first kiss, that I loved him. I’d had my share of infatuations, but I’d never been in love nor ever felt the urge to say the word to any guy. But I sure felt the need to say it from my core to the handsome man who had been my best friend for the past year.
That’s what is missing in this fairy tale. Snow White marries the prince. That’s it. No dating, courtship, or the awkwardness that goes along with a romantic connection. And poor Rose Red gets stuck with “the prince’s brother.” What kind of scandal happened there that the prince’s brother isn’t also a prince? I could make a story out of that, too, but I’ll refrain.
Cold and impersonal have no part in romance. And they have no part in my historical mystery A TROLL FALLS either. Set in Dallas, Texas, in the 1940s, it’s only loosely based on the fairy tale. But Snow White, Opal in my story, and her bear develop real feelings that are challenged, broken, and threatened during a turbulent murder investigation where one or both of them might be involved.
And I didn’t blow off Rose Red either. “Ruby” is a hoot, getting herself into trouble in not one book but two of them. She helps her sister in A TROLL FALLS, and has a fellow of interest. But in March of 2024, she gets to enjoy her own story (and her own romance) in A WOLF’S EXTERMINATION, based on the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood. No romance in that one either, but I make up for it in my retelling!
Question for Readers: So when did you know that you were in love the first time (or the only time)?
About Marji: Marji Laine is a graduated home-schooling mom of four with her twin girls staying in the nest for a little while longer. She and her hubby of thirty-five years also share their North Texas home with a rescue pup named Rosie and their daughter’s newest addition, a shepherd-husky mix named Anastasia.
When Marji isn’t editing or publishing the books for her authors at Write Integrity Press, she indulges in penning her own mystery, suspense, and romance novels. She can also be found supporting a local ministry with its publishing needs or helping other authors through her freelancing.
She loves acting in musical comedy, has directed many stage productions, leads a ladies’ Bible study, and sings alto in her church choir. She prefers mountains to beaches, dogs to cats, NASCAR to football, Tex-Mex, Magnolia pie, white roses, all shades of blue and green, and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. Learn more & connect:
Marji’s Website Marji’s Email Marji’s Facebook Marji’s Twitter
About the book – A Troll Falls:
Murder. Even the word sounds ugly. Almost as ugly as the corpse on the shore.
Dallas, Texas, 1948
Opal Stedman enjoys caring for old Mrs. Farnesworth. But keeping her sister Ruby out of trouble, well that is another issue entirely. Especially now that Ruby has stepped into high society with her new beau. A dubious man. Maybe even duplicitous.
Even the handsome security guard warns her sister about him.
When a body is dragged onto the shore of the lake that borders their home, rumors and worries over the new man become assurances. But why has he involved her household in these gruesome shenanigans?
And why are Opal’s loved ones suddenly having “accidents”?
Loosely based on the little-known fairy tale of “Snow White and Rose Red” this mystery twists its way all along the banks of White Rock Lake during its heyday.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in Marji’s other titles?
Get your copy/copies now!
Come back March 10th for Sara Davison!
Glad to have you here, Marji. The first time I saw my husband, it was his first day at my school. I was fourteen, he was sixteen. I told myself, I’m gonna marry that guy. Based solely on his looks. Thankfully, his personality was just as cute. But he was a bit of a rebel. It took me about two years to tame him. Then two years after that, I married him. 38 years ago.
What an awesome story, Shannon! Sounds like a new book?
how they treat people
I have a winner! Kim Hardie won the drawing. I appreciate Marji for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.