Dear Abby,
So I'm a bit of a newbie here on LitReactor, having lurked for quite a while I'm a recent transplant from Chuckpalahniuk.net with a brand new username and avatar.
Anyway... so the good news: The book that I have been writing for the past two years or so has finally reached the editing phase-having released myself from the bonds of the 'great dump.' And I spend the Holiday weekend putting together the beginnings of a website to start promoting my piece in hopes that it will become published in the near future.
And the bad news: I just caught the article today on this site about a horrible Hansel and Gretel trailer *sigh*.
So why is that bad news? My novel is the story of Gretel, with grand plans to write three books dealing with her, Hansel and the back story (historical fiction where I can finally use that degree I worked so hard forever to finally obtain) that plays out within the book I'm currently writing.
No, there are no gattling guns, leather skin suits, witches or even vampires. It is dark, very dark, as the story of Hansel and Gretel originally was and hopefully will not come across as kooky, sappy or whatever.
I realized from the start that any writing project for a self starter and beginner was going to be an enormous uphill battle.
So WTF, should I put a dull spoon to my wrist and off myself, just let it roll of my back or run with the potential publicity of the film?
Yours,
Sideswiped
Well, the cover is very nice looking. I'd read that book jacket. Does that help?
I'm mildly confused about what it's about, but confused in a way that makes me want to know more. So.
Um, where are these people from?
"I'm a recent transplant from Chuckpalahniuk.net"
Do they still ask new people if they'd like some lobster?
Hello, fellow transplant.
I wouldn't worry about it. If the story is strong, the film will only boost interest.
averydoll, thanks and it does help. Seems the font used for the Gretel title is popular among friends. As to where they are from that is only something that is touched on in this first book and will be the premise for the third (If I ever get to that point). In a nutshell, it basically follows the history of man-without too much religious input. I play on the theories of the Nordic and Aryan peoples made popular in the late Eighteenth Century without getting too Nazi on the reader or ever mentioning 'Nordic' or 'Aryan.' I also use the migration of early eastern tribes and peoples across the Fertile Crescent, Greece and spreading throughout Europe. But the story of Gretel in this book plays out partly here in the US (East Coast -PA, where I'm from and where most of my family lives-as it's familiar and works well in the context of the story) and in Europe-modern day.
Brandon, I'd love some actually.
Mckay, thanks and I hope so... even if it gets a moderate to mild response.
I had heard rumors of this movie coming out, so it has been lurking in the back of my mind for quite some time. But I thought it might have been a bust until I caught the article here today.
I have to say that it's an awkward experience going back and editing what I had written so long ago and the clean up process is going to be extensive in keeping with where the mood of the book eventually ended up.
Perhaps it was a bit premature to jump the gun with a website, jacket cover, etc... but from what I've read and been told it's best to start working on all of that as early as possible as the process can be a very long and drawn out.
Eastern PA? I was born in raised in Pottstown. Went to college in Kutztown. I am very familar with exotic mystery meats. I'd read your book for those reasons.
Question though: I don't know the legalities of such things - but are you allowed to write about established characters? What separates this from fan fiction? Sorry if these are ignorant questions.
Otis,
I'm not familiar with the term fan fiction, so I'm not certain what would or would not separate it from that genre. I would say a bit of it would fall into 'historical fiction' though, but only a small amount in this book.
Since I'm not calling the book "Hansel and Gretel" I don't believe there is a copyright or whatever on using 'Gretel' as a name either as a character or as part of a title of a book. But I'm not a lawyer so.... Plus, I believe that the story of Hansel and Gretel is old enough now to fall into public domain??? Were it 'Luke Skywalker' then I'm certain it would be a different story altogether as far as legalities go. Seems like there's been a more than a few 'Dracula' books since the original.
Anyway, sorry but it's Western PA-Pennsyltucky as we so lovingly call it. I'm not familiar enough with Eastern PA to write about it and have it seem natural as is needed for this story.
Hope that helps and thanks for the response.
Well, in any case the book does sound interesting. Even though it's a part of PA that I don't even recognize on the map.
Thanks. It is just rusty, discarded train tracks and old piles of neglected and forgotten coal with a few Amish people here and there. Oh, and all the Steelers fans.
