Fairy Tales for Grown Ups

by Rain Trueax

Recently during a good conversation about many things, a friend told me she was unwilling ever to read my paranormals. She has been supportive of my romances, but a world with demons and monsters was a bridge too far. My mind is much on these books since I finished the rough draft of my seventh in a series called Mystic Shadows.

I didn't ask her specifically about what she feared from them because that's her business. If she's uncomfortable with something, then that's enough reason. I can think of possible reasons she might have concerns, which led to this blog.

Most religions have supernatural elements to them. Ancient mythologies, likewise, with monsters and heroes to overcome them. With what we grew up is what most of us accept as being true. When something conflicts with that, it can be upsetting.

So where it comes to my books that delve into the unseen world, the Mystic Shadows series, I tend to see them as uplifting not frightening. They are to me-- adult fairy tales. I think, in general, most people see fairy tales as good for children. But, we are supposed to grow out of reading them.

There are pluses to fairy tales. Of course, they have ogres and child-eating witches, but they teach lessons. Some of the early fairy tales did not have happy endings-- an example being Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Match Girl where the only happy ending is that this impoverished child, ignored by her community, gets hypothermia and dies with sweet visions. Native American myths don't always have happy endings either. They were often intended to warn the tribe about the risks of the wilderness. They explained why someone might've just disappeared. Humans like explanations for what they don't control.

With changing times, and less wilderness around them, people wanted their stories to make them feel good about life, be uplifting. Fairy tales had their endings adjusted to make that happen especially when along came Disney.

For adults, a fairy tale romance has to have some of the same elements of good and bad guys, with a conflict leading to a happily ever after, and with magical solutions. I have enjoyed writing these books and only actually have seen their benefits recently with the last one finished (still with beta readers before one more deep edit by me). 

My witches are contemporary, ordinary women with careers. They have powers they were born with like throwing plasma bolts, using spells, accessing the Akashic Records, reading people's memories, apparating, etc. etc. When it comes to conflict, they use their powers only under certain conditions-- not to gain something for themselves but when they see a need that only they can meet. Once in a while, they have fun with their powers, but that doesn't always end well for them. 

At one time (in my 50s, when exploring metaphysics), I had an interest in witchcraft and read books on it long before I decided to write a book about natural

born witches. I've written how that came about earlier in the blog and how my inspiration came when driving through Barrio Viejo and the mysticism I felt when there. 

To have heroines as witches can be turnoff to some readers. Witches are much misunderstood and of course, have been punished severely in earlier times-- if someone was so much as suspected of being a practitioner of the Craft. Some religions have the same views today. In reality, true witches have a creed that would prevent them from trying to control others or harming innocents for personal gain.

The witch's Creed says-- If you harm none, do what you will.

which goes along with The Threefold Law-- all good and the harm that a person does to another returns threefold in this life.

What I hadn't realized when I began the stories of the recent family of Hemstreet witches was that my mystical books were connected-- especially Diablo Canyon but also the first one, Sky Daughter. While they stand alone, looking at them this year, I saw a karmic thread as they grew in terms of what they were about. They combine imagination with metaphysical thinking. I am not a witch. After looking into them, I knew I didn't want to join any religion. Although witches can be solitary practitioners, it hasn't suited me because I am reluctant to try and change what others want for their lives-- even if it could be done.

So what are the things that might turn someone off of reading such books (other than lack of interest). Adult fairy tales give someone encouragement and permission to look at the world beyond the rules with which they grew up. It is possible to open oneself to see fairies and gnomes where others see dragonflies and badgers. 

Is the possibility of seeing a ghost or spirit frightening? It would depend on how one sees the world. If someone's world view is of a benevolent universe, then it'd be great to see beyond the physical to a world of magic. If their worldview is benign, then it doesn't matter does it? No harm -- no gain. BUT what if one does not see the world like that? What if they see it as bestial and malevolent? What if they believe humans have no powers against such? That could make seeing other worldly beings frightening. There might also be the fear that someone would lose touch with reality or be swallowed by what is predatory.

Do we know which our world is-- benevolent, benign, or bestial? Can it be all three or go through cycles where one dominates and then it all appears to change when even bacteria and climate turn on us? Do some of us live in one world while others a very different one?

I understand my friend rejecting my adult fairy tales because they do have villains who misuse power with the help of demons, as well as the occasional monster. What makes the stories work for me and lets me spend the hours writing them is the power of those who accept their own gifts while they do see the other side-- discerning good from not good-- and then doing something about it. Good wins out even if it takes a struggle.

My books delve into the hidden world while also using techniques I've read others have
experienced. They go to mythologies and religious teachings and in the end, crate this unique world-- one where witches can be born with powers and overcome what would attack them. It's a world where magic is not frightening but empowering and even joyful.

My witches aren't always appreciated by the world around them, since fear of witchcraft isn't that far off from killing people who were suspected of it. It still happens in some primitive cultures where the people need to have something to blame when ill befalls them.

For me, it's  been enjoyable to bring to life a world where there is magic. Too often, in what we call the real world, the good guy doesn't win and sometimes because of what seems a random cause. An adult fairy tale goes beyond just the mind to the heart. It's what I try to use in these fantasies where good will triumph.

This blog has gone on long enough. For a while though I want to discuss paranormal (I use the world loosely) or metaphysical (this is closer to how I see them) stories. Next time will be about when I first dipped my toe into a story of an alternate reality--yeah, with some sexuality. Hey, that is life too...