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The Witch Made Me Do It: Modern Fairy Tales
An improbable genii, a color-shifting cloak, a helpful skunk-some of the things in this shimmering collection of wonder tales for children. These fairy tales are set in today's world, in places where the young readers and listeners already live. Literally a labor of love, this collection was first written for the author's grandchildren who star in most of them. The tales are waiting for you to read them aloud to your children and grandchildren.
107 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2015
About the author
Edward Ahern
143 books28 followersResumed writing after forty odd years in foreign intelligence and international sales. Original wife, but after fifty years we are both out of warranty.
Have had a couple hundred short stories and poems published so far, and three books. A collection of my fairy and folk tales, "The Witch Made Me Do It" is published by Gypsy Shadow Press. A novella, "The Witches' Bane," is scheduled for republication in June of 2018, and my collected fantasy/horror stories, "Capricious Visions," from Gnome on Pig Press. A chapbook of individually published poems is currently being shopped around.
Speak German, French and Japanese in that order of fluency. Lived in Germany, Japan and England, and visited over seventy countries. Dissipate my free time fly fishing and shooting.
Have had a couple hundred short stories and poems published so far, and three books. A collection of my fairy and folk tales, "The Witch Made Me Do It" is published by Gypsy Shadow Press. A novella, "The Witches' Bane," is scheduled for republication in June of 2018, and my collected fantasy/horror stories, "Capricious Visions," from Gnome on Pig Press. A chapbook of individually published poems is currently being shopped around.
Speak German, French and Japanese in that order of fluency. Lived in Germany, Japan and England, and visited over seventy countries. Dissipate my free time fly fishing and shooting.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 23, 2015
I've enjoyed other short stories by Edward Ahern in various magazines, and so I was pleased to pick up his newly released book, The Witch Made Me Do It: Modern Fairy Tales. The book is composed of fifteen stories previously published in a variety of magazines, gathered together for the first time in a collection. These stories are in Mr. Ahern's usual very readable style, and I finished the book in about a day.
The retold fairy tales are taken from a variety of sources - some Russian, some European, some Native American. Some are set in classical settings in the past, some are adapted for the modern day. They highlight a number of traditional dichotomies, such as good versus evil, men versus women, hard work versus laziness, poor versus rich.
I'm a sucker for fairy tales, and I thought this was a very nicely composed collection. I'm sure that my kids would enjoy them as much as I did, although some of the stories have more grown-up themes that might pass over their heads right now. While the tone of the stories is generally straightforward, there are some instances of tongue-in-cheek humor that elevate them just a touch and gives them an added layer of meaning. I enjoyed the collection as much as I've enjoyed Mr. Ahern's previous stories, and would definitely read more work by him. For fans of fairy tale retellings, I think this is a great collection, and I'd recommend it.
The retold fairy tales are taken from a variety of sources - some Russian, some European, some Native American. Some are set in classical settings in the past, some are adapted for the modern day. They highlight a number of traditional dichotomies, such as good versus evil, men versus women, hard work versus laziness, poor versus rich.
I'm a sucker for fairy tales, and I thought this was a very nicely composed collection. I'm sure that my kids would enjoy them as much as I did, although some of the stories have more grown-up themes that might pass over their heads right now. While the tone of the stories is generally straightforward, there are some instances of tongue-in-cheek humor that elevate them just a touch and gives them an added layer of meaning. I enjoyed the collection as much as I've enjoyed Mr. Ahern's previous stories, and would definitely read more work by him. For fans of fairy tale retellings, I think this is a great collection, and I'd recommend it.
April 24, 2015
This collection of modern fairy tales and retelling of folk tales, some long out of print, are a delight to read for children and adults. The fairy tales combine classical storytelling with modern age conveniences like television and plastic wrapped hams. The author, Ahern, adds a sense of wry wit to his storytelling. There is a dragon with a taste for dumpster trash as well as cream filled chocolates it receives in exchange for teaching a boy to outmaneuver a bully. In another story, a witch with an eating disorder, skilled at mooching off family dinners, is outwitted by the girl she's given a curse to. Think the Brothers Grimm but with some snark. Ahern infuses many of the stories with slimy textures and putrid smells, all in good fun. Some carry useful life lessons for young readers. However, others contain descriptions that may not be appropriate for all ages of children, so some parental discretion may be warranted.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews