WHAT IF? Fairytale Madness BlogFest!

I'm here today with the WHAT IF? Fairytale Madness BlogFest!

Here's what they have to say about the BlogFest:

Have you noticed that by changing one detail; one event, one character trait, one thought...you can completely alter the rest of the story?

For this bloghop we are exploring "What If?"

Not only do we want it to be fun, but it will hopefully be a fun writing exercise and make for some great reading during the hop!

To enter:


Think of your favorite "well known" fairytale and ask "What If…!"


Then, pick one of these four categories:


· Best Plot Twist


· Best Love Story


· Best Tragedy


· Best Comic Relief


Finally, write a scene(s) illustrating a new detail of the fabled fairytale that changes our perspective. 


The prizes on offer are: Save the Cat by Blake Snyder (Leigh) A FULL manuscript critique (Morgan),  A $25 Amazon Gift Card (Cassie Mae) and A $25 Hawaiian care package (Mark).

For the full list of participants, and to hop around to the other blogs and read their entire, see here.  

For my entry I've chosen to go with the category Best Love Story and I'm doing a modern re-telling of the Beauty and the Beast story, where the Beast is a figurative monster, not a literal one.

Sorry it's longer than 300 words. I hope you won't hold that against me. 

"Stay," I begged. I turned my face away from his, I didn't want him to see my tears.

He lingered at the doorway, the light from the hall causing shadows to fall across his face, marring his usually handsome features and making him appear grotesque. For an instant I was reminded of the old Alicio and how his face contorted with rage. I shook the memory from my head, and focused on the present.

"Alicio, I'm sorry," I told him.

"It doesn't matter now," he said shaking his head. "I should have known someone like you could never love someone like me."

"I … we … what you saw, with James -"

"It doesn't matter. You're free of your contract. Go to him if you want."

I got up off the bed and crossed the room to the window, looking out onto the snow covered grounds of Alicio's estate. All I'd ever wanted was spread out before me. My tuition fees and debts were paid off, and James finally wanted to take out relationship seriously, he'd even hinted at marriage.

It wasn't enough. I wanted none of it now. I only wanted him. I had to make Alicio believe me.

I turned away from the window, and padded across the soft carpet towards him, flicking on the light as I neared. The overhead chandelier illuminated the room, and the previous spell of the shadows was broken. It amused me how much like turning a light on our relationship had been. When I'd first met Alicio he'd been a complete arsehole, a veritable beast, but some patience, understanding and gentle coaxing had finally revealed the prince underneath.

I took his rough and calloused hand and brought it to my cheek.

"Alicio, there's something I have to tell you."

"Saskia, you're crying," he said, wiping away a tear with the pad of his thumb. "What is it?"

"I love you," my voice was barely above a whisper, but he still heard me. His eyes, caramel brown and framed by long dark lashes, widened in surprise. He crushed his lips against mine, and the air was sucked out of me.

Heat travelled through my body as Alicio wrapped his arms around me and deepened the kiss. I felt the brush of stubble against my cheek, and his tongue delved into my mouth.

In one fluid motion, Alicio flicked off the lights, walked me backwards towards the bed, and pushed me gently down onto it.



45 comments:

  1. That was good! A modern retelling, as most monsters these days aren't literal but defined by their actions. Good stuff, Clare.

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    1. Thanks Alex, that's exactly what I was going for. :D

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  2. I love the way you used the shadows and light to alter his features. ^_^ But you so shouldn't have ended it there. That's darn near as evil as what I did to poor Cinderella.

    You know, the more I think on it, the more I'm believing the Beauty and the Beast tale is a major influence in my current WiP. Can't decide if that's a good or a bad thing right now. >_>

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    1. Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! :) Well, I had to end it somewhere, I could have gone on but I thought that might make the post a little too steamy ...

      I think it's a good thing, I really like the Beauty and the Beast theme/ trope. :D

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  3. Ow, ow! I totally felt the tension here... nice work, Clare...

    "The air was sucked out of me" <---Yeah, I liked that ;)

    You do a great job at fitting in a lot of information in a small space, without seeming info-dumpy. And man, I totally felt the chemistry. I wouldn't mind being in Saskia's place... ;)

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    1. Thanks Morgan, glad you liked it, and that you thought I did well with the word count limit. :D

      Pleased you liked Saskia and her chemistry with Alicio. :)

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  4. Excellent work, and very well written! <3

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  5. So glad she saw him for who he was and didn't let go!

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  6. A love story with a little bite to it. lol. I enjoyed your rendition. Lovely stuff.

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  7. I love it! Very well written. Emotional and tender.

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  8. Interesting retelling. Nice you made the beast figurative instead of literal. Thanks for reading My Entry.

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    1. Thank you Sheena, I'm glad you liked my retelling. :)

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  9. Sigh....

    I'm still swooning. Great love story, glad she made it up to him! :D And beautiful writing, too!

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    1. Thank you Cortney, I'm flattered to hear it made you swoon, and that you liked the writing. :)

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  10. Oh Clare- this was brilliant. You have been on writing fire! What a beautiful little piece. I wanted to read more and more.

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    1. Aww thank you Jay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. :D

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  11. Whoo! Hot and heavy! I love it!
    Amazing entry Clare! So glad you participated. This was fun to read. :)

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    1. Thanks Leigh, I'm glad you liked it. And thanks for having me, and doing such a hosting. :)

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  12. Romantic and steamy, nicely done!

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  13. Nice imagery and a great love-story twist!

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  14. This was wonderful! I love your take on "the beast." Thanks for sharing!!

    Samantha
    Writing Through College

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  15. I wasn't sure it was going to end well, but you pulled it back. Nice take on it!

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  16. Hi, Claire,

    OVer from the blogfest. Nice to meet you. Your writing is excellent. You descriptions and details added wonderful tension.

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    1. Nice to meet you too Michael. Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. :D

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  17. Ooh steamy! Go Alicio!

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  18. Oh ho ho! Smexy! I love this! Totally pulled me in and I love that it's a figurative beast. Making out with a furry animal probably would've taken me out of it, haha!

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    1. Thanks Cassie Mae, glad you enjoyed it. Yeah, I furry beat might have been a little jarring! LOL

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  19. I'm another fan!!

    And I don't think there's anything wrong with steamy endings... I know my imagination was running a little riot :)

    Great work, Clare, and thanks for participating ;)

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    1. Thanks for following Mark, and for the compliments on the piece. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

      Thanks for hosting, you and the girls are doing a great job! :D

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  20. So... do they do it?

    Nicely done!

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    1. I'll leave that to your imagination. ;)

      Thanks for the comment. :D

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Thank you for taking the time to read this entry, and comment. I really appreciate it.