Guest Author: Lila DiPasqua on fairy tales

Posted August 18, 2010 by Casee in Giveaways, Promotions | 21 Comments


Author Lila DiPasqua is here to talk about her new book Awakened by a Kiss. I know that I love a good fairy tale. If you do, you should check out this book.

Everyone loves a fairy tale. They have delighted us for centuries. But do you know when or where Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty or other such famous fairy tales came from?

Well, now, I have some tantalizing tidbits to tell…

Once upon a time, there was a land full of decadence and excesses with wealthy lords and ladies who lived in city mansions and sprawling palatial country estates. There were spectacular ballrooms and elaborate masquerade balls. Theater and scandal sheets. Oh, and let us not forget the famous salons. Hosted by women of the upper class, these salons were where the aristocracy and literati – writers, poets, dramatists and grammarians – gathered to discuss and debate history and literature, religion and philosophy.

Yes, it was a time as fine as Regency England. Just as polished. With an added healthy dose of salaciousness.

That time was the 17th century. That place was the sinfully delicious Kingdom of France.

And it had all the elements we find in fairy tales.

There was a King – a lusty one, in fact. Louis XIV loved sex. He and his glittering court were as wicked as they were elegant. The pursuit of sinful pleasures was a pastime. Sex, an art form. The only thing Louis XIV adored as much as women was dance and established the first school of ballet.

There was a queen – two, actually. The first was said to have been poisoned, something not uncommon in fairy tales.

Princes and Princesses – Louis had many mistresses, a brood of illegitimate children, most of whom he legitimized.

A castle – No, better than that! Palaces! Several owned by the King, the most magnificent of which was and still is the Palace of Versailles. Commissioned by Louis XIV, it is majestic. He wanted and got a palace fit for the most powerful monarch in all of Christendom.

It was during this sumptuous time that 17th c. French lawyer/writer Charles Perrault first began writing down fairy tales – folklore that had been passed on verbally for generations – and added morals to his stories. The creator of the Tales of Mother Goose, Perrault wrote Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, to name a few.

I couldn’t resist setting my Fiery Tales series during the very time and place where the genre of fairy tales was born!

My debut historical romance novel AWAKENED BY A KISS – Book 1 in the Fiery Tales series (Berkley Sensation, out now!) – is my scandalous take on:

Sleeping Beauty — Sleeping Beau — Five years ago, the notorious rake, Adrien d’Aspe, Marquis de Beaulain, was awakened by a sensuous kiss—and experienced a night of raw ecstasy that was branded into his memory. Years later, he spots his mysterious seductress—and this time, he has no intention of letting her go…

Little Red Riding Hood — Little Red Writing — Nicolas de Savignac, Comte de Lambelle, has been assigned by the King to uncover the secret identity of the author writing scandalous stories about powerful courtiers. He never expected his investigation would lead to his grandmother’s house, or to a ravishing woman who would stir his deepest hunger…

Puss in Boots — Bewitching in Boots — Elisabeth de Roussel, daughter of the King, is accustomed to getting what she wants—and she wants Tristan de Tiersonnier, Comte de Saint-Marcel, an ex-commander of the King’s private Guard. A recent injury has forced Tristan to leave his distinguished position, but Elisabeth is determined to make him see he’s every bit the man he once was—and more than man enough for her…

Allow me to introduce you to my first sexy rake – Adrien d’Aspe, illegitimate son of the King, and delicious bad boy. Read a juicy excerpt of AWAKENED BY A KISS here

Question: Tell us what you love about fairy tales.

Giveaway: One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of AWAKENED BY A KISS!


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21 responses to “Guest Author: Lila DiPasqua on fairy tales

  1. Hi, Lila! I know why you write such wonderful romance reads–the fairy tales did it!!! They were the earliest contact that many of us had with the romance and adventure of earlier times. Beautifully illustrated books with wondrous fables of a fair maiden swept away into happiness by a handsome prince! Then came Disney. Animated movie magic with a singing fair maiden and her equally vocally gifted handsome prince! Ahhh, then things got juicier…romance books replaced the fairy tales. The fairy godmothers were replaced by Georgette Heyer, Jane Aiken Hodge, Barbara Cartland and Jane Austen. Childhood whimsy turned into a young girl’s fancy! I love “Cinderella” and “Beauty and the Beast”!

  2. Sounds like a great book. I love fairy tales. They always have some form of HEA and a lesson of some kind.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

  3. Hi Peggy – I have to completely agree! So do I! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.

    Hi Virginia C – Well put!! I couldn’t have said it any better. And I love the fairy tales you’ve chosen. In 2011, I have a third “Fiery Tale” out. It’s based on my retelling of Cinderella. I can’t wait for this book to hit the shelves. I’m having a ball writing it.

    Hi Donnas – So very true! Two things that appeal to me as well. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

    Hi Emm – You’re very right! Lots of romances are based on fairy tales. What makes each unique and delightful are the different twists and spins each writer creates. I really enjoyed writing my steamy yet romantic retellings of Sleeping Beauty, Puss in Boots and Little Red Riding in AWAKENED BY A KISS.

  4. Hey, Lila, just wanted to say how much I Luv your sexy take on fairy tales! Who knew happily ever after could take on a whole new meaning 😉

  5. Johanna J

    Love fairy tales. Love happy endings like Cinderella. I love the rags to riches theme. Your book looks hot can’t wait to read it. Thanks for sharing with us today!

  6. Chelsea B.

    I love the happily ever after and the sweetness of the relationship between the hero/heroine 🙂

  7. Hi Maureen — I like that very much, too! 🙂

    Hi Okie — Thanks so much! I’m delighted you like it!

    Hi Johanna – I love the whole rags to riches theme too! I can’t wait to share with readers my version of Cinderella set to be released in 2011. 🙂

  8. goddessani

    I love faery tales! I love the HEA but even more I love the twists and turns. Beauty and the Beast (one of my faves) where she falls in love with someone who looks like a beast but has the soul of a poet.

    Sleeping Beauty where only the right kiss will awaken her.

    Cinderella of the very small glass slipper and a coach made of a pumpkin (at least in the Disney version)!

    And, above all, the faery godmothers who looked after all our princesses. I never wanted to be the princess, I always wanted to be the faery godmother who made things right for everyone. Hence my name!

    Your take on these classic tales sound WONDERFUL!!

    goddessani at gmail dot com

  9. Amber E.

    Hi Lila! Congratulations on your new release. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it, and can’t wait to read it.

    As for what I love about fairy tales it would definitely be reading how the hero and herione reach their happily ever after. Who doesn’t love a good romance story!

    Amber
    adeversmeyer(at)hotmail(dot)com

  10. i’ve been trying to win your book in several places 🙂 hope i can win it here.

    what i love about Fairy tales, the Happily ever after, and they usually have happy endings !

    uniquas at ymail dot com

  11. I have been everywhere trying to win this book. Hopefully my luck is changing. I can’t say it enough, Lila you have a winner on your hands. This book looks amazing and I can’t wait to read it.

  12. Hi Estella — Thanks so much! Great of you to come by! 🙂

    Hi Goddessani– Thank you very much! I love your comment on each tale you mention!! 🙂

    Hi Amber E- “Who doesn’t love a good romance story!”—I couldn’t agree more. 🙂 Thank you for your comment.

    Hi Mariska – Thank you so much for your efforts! My Fiery Tales definitely have happy endings. 🙂

    Hi Danielle – I’m so touched and delighted by your interest! Thank you for the lovely compliment on the book!!

    Thank you to Holly for hosting me here on Book Binge. I’ve had a wonderful time!!

    Hugs,
    Lila

  13. maered

    Who doesn’t love a good fairy tale? My favourite has to be Beauty and the Beast. The spoiled and arrogant prince getting his comeuppance by becoming a beast, and the heroine who could look past his beastly behaviour and looks.

    Your take on fairy tales looks great!

  14. It’d definitely the HEA factor. Sure, the characters suffer, but they will get a happy ending. That’s so not true in real life.

    This “Fiery Tales” series sounds a lot of fun!

    ironss[at]gmail.com

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