I’m excited to
bring Naomi Stone back to GLIAS today. She writes very special stories about
amazing people and the underrated superheroes who help them: their Fairy
Godmothers. Naomi has an awesome post for us today about her research into the realm
of these magical women. You’ll enjoy her smart look at them. Welcome Naomi!
Hi everyone! Most people probably don't think of fairy
godmothers as superheroes. They're not buff young people in spandex. Their true
natures and motivations are hard to understand, and they generally appear in supportive,
rather than starring roles. This last, more than anything, may be why they are
underrated. But let's look at the evidence.
Most superhero
origin stories wouldn't stand up to real scientific analysis. Radioactive
spider bite imparts massive genetic changes rather than a rash? C'mon.
Mutations that defy the laws of physics, allowing flesh to stretch far beyond
normal capacities, bones to endure unheard of stresses, eyes to emit laser
beams without going blind, etc, etc? I don't think so. The rays of our sun are
different than Superman's sun of origin and that imbues him with amazing
strength rather than a sunburn? This is not science. This is magic.
And what is a fairy
godmother's stock in trade? Magic - a superpower by another, more honest name.
In fact the fairy godmother in my book WONDER GUY implies that what we see as magic is rooted in an advanced
understanding of the nature of the universe, one in which the emotional
connections between people exert a far greater power than the physical sciences
would recognize. Fairy godmothers have been part of our folklore for hundreds
of years, appearing in tales shared by old wives with their grandchildren in
peasant cottages throughout Europe as well as in the inventions of French courtiers.
Fairy godmothers have stepped in and used their superior powers to help worthy
young men and women find happiness in countless tales. They use their powers
for good - another sign of the superhero. They act as a balancing influence in
a world where the powerful and corrupt too often hold all the cards. They
assert the proposition that good hearts and characters have an edge all their
own.
The superheroes of
comics and movies often use their powers in dramatic ways, the flashier the
better. Very often in folklore the fairy godmother makes a single appearance,
imparting some magical gift or bit of wisdom and departs again, leaving center
stage to the young hero or heroine of a story. They are generous, but it's not
like they don't have anything better to do than interfere in others' lives.
They are powerful but use their power conservatively: just the right touch in
the right time and place to do the trick.
With his fairy
godmother's help, Greg becomes a superhero of the buff young spandex-wearing,
flashy dramatics kind -- but it's all due to the help of the unsung Fairy
Godmothers' Union, who supply the magic.
Are fairy
godmothers an iconic archetype representing the understated power of grannies
throughout history? Of little old ladies working together and behind-the-scenes
to help their offspring and communities thrive? Maybe so. I wouldn't discount
the possibility.
READ the recently
re-released WONDER GUY and all of
Naomi’s Fairy Godmothers’ Union stories. Get all the contact information plus links to a contest and giveaway.
THREE QUESTIONS FOR NAOMI
LIZ:
If you met your fairy godmother, what would you wish for?
NAOMI: As I understand them, fairy
godmothers aren't like genies, granting x number of wishes to whoever holds the
key to their power. 'Godmother' implies both a kind of familial relationship or
at least a role of responsibility toward the recipient of her blessings - and
an assurance that the use of magical influence is intended to be benevolent.
Some genies can be downright wicked, seeking to twist a wish into something far
from the wisher's intent. Fairy godmothers are concerned more with the
well being of their godchild than with the godchild's consciously conceived,
maybe ego-driven wishes. I would not expect my fairy godmother to grant any
wish I might think to ask (unless I was having a day of remarkable inner
wisdom). I would expect my fairy godmother's wisdom to lead her to discern the
deepest wishes of my soul. Like the reader who knows Darcy and Elizabeth belong
together, or the child really wants his father back from war more than he wants
a new bike.
She knows the
wishes formed in my heart, by my 'best self.' Just spit-balling here, but I'd
expect those wishes to be closely tied to my sense of connection to others, to
my concerns about living a life of balance, contributing to the world in a way
that brings benefit to me and to those affected by my actions. That is, my
fairy godmother would discern my heart's desires, even desires I might not be
aware of. Most hearts desire love, but few people know the right shape love can
take to fulfill the best interests of all concerned.
I might wish for
Mr. Tall, Dark & Handsome, but find Mr. Medium Height, Middle-aged &
Rough-around-the-edges clicks in a way that makes us both happy together and
helps us bring our best to the wider circles of our connections. Instead of
making a wish to my Fairy Godmother, I'd trust her to give me the help and
advice I most need.
LIZ:
What first gave you the idea to write about fairy godmothers?
NAOMI: It's hard to say exactly...
seems like a number of threads grew together and combined into that
inspiration. I've always loved fairy tales. Since learning to read, I read all
of them I could find. I read the fantasy stories of E. Nesbitt and Edward
Eager, I've read all the Andrew Lang collections of colored Fairy Books (12
colors). Twice. I've read all the 1001 Arabian Nights, Anderson, The Brothers
Grim and the collection, 'The Turnip Princess and Other Newly Discovered Fairy
Tales' translated from a recent find of previously unknown tales. I've also
read widely in the field of modern fantasy including tales by Elizabeth Ann
Scarborough and Mercedes Lackey. I am long-steeped in tales of magic and
magical beings and these stories have percolated through me and out into the
world. In more recent years I wanted a way to take what I've learned from my
failures in love and turn the lessons into magical gifts I could give
characters in my stories, becoming, as writer, a kind of fairy godmother
myself. Then again, I thought that an anthology of fairy godmother stories
would be a project that might interest my fellow writers in MFW.
LIZ:
How many Fairy Godmother stories have you written?
NAOMI: The anthology never came to
pass, but I’ve been inspired to come up with - so far - eight short stories
(collected in 'Granted Wishes') and the full-length novel, 'Wonder Guy.' Plus
my most recent project, a series of novels revolving around a group of single
women friends whose lives are changed by fairy godmother magic. The first of
these, THANKSGIVING came out this
past November. Where WONDER GUY is light-hearted, even silly fun, the Holiday
Enchantment series is different in tone, taking on the issues of women who for
one reason or another have come to have little expectation of finding romance
in their lives. I look forward to playing fairy godmother to them all.
ABOUT THE BOOK
WONDER GUY is Once
Upon a Time meets the Marvel universe: Greg has been in love AB Gloria, the
girl next door, since they were kids. It takes the interference of his fairy
godmother to get her to see him in a new light as the superhero he was in his
heart all along.'
WONDER GUY is
available at $0.99 as part of a multi-author promotion/contest (http://magicbookdeals.com/giveaway/pnr-book-fair-and
giveaway/) and today (May 14th) is the last day to participate!
LINKS WHERE YOU CAN FIND ALL OF NAOMI’S BOOKS:
Wonder Guy at Amazon:
Wonder Guy at All other online retailers
