Deva Fagan
This week, we’re celebrating Deva Fagan’s debut! Deva Fagan likes searching for patterns, which is how she explains both her degree in mathematics and the echoes of old fairy tales in her stories. She lives in Maine with her husband and her dog. This is her first book.
Here’s a little bit about FORTUNE’S FOLLY (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers).
Ever since her mother died and her father lost his shoemaking skills, Fortunata has survived by telling fake fortunes. But when she’s tricked into telling a grand fortune for a prince, she is faced with the impossible task of fulfilling her wild prophecy—or her father will be put to death.
Now Fortunata has to help Prince Leonato secure a magic sword, vanquish a wicked witch, discover a long-lost golden shoe, and rescue the princess who fits it. If only she hadn’t fallen in love with the prince herself !
FORTUNE’S FOLLY by Deva Fagan
If you had to give your book a movie rating: G through Rated R, which one would you give and why?
PG. There’s a bit of violence and blood-shed, but otherwise I would say it is a relatively “clean” read.
What topics, issues, or themes does your book address? What drove you to write about them?
One of the themes my book explores is the concept of “making your own destiny”. The main character Fortunata is a take-charge girl who doesn’t believe in magic. But when she has to make her fake fortune come true, she discovers that maybe life isn’t that simple. Sometimes we make things happen, sometimes other people help us, and sometimes things happen we just can’t explain.
I got the initial idea while pondering the trope found in numerous fantasy novels in which there is some sort of grand “prophecy” that tells the main character their “destiny”. I asked myself what would happen if that prophecy was a fake. What would happen then?
Name three examples of readers who would identify or like your book.
- Girls around the age of 10 who are looking for a romantic adventure with a heroine who doesn’t just sit back waiting to be rescued, but who goes out and uses her mind to overcome the obstacles before her.
- Young readers who are fans of fairy-tale retellings. FORTUNE’S FOLLY is not a strict retelling, but it includes a number of elements taken from fairy-tale and myth.
- Young readers who are fans of fantasy with a dash of humor.
List a few statistically improbable phrases or sentences one might find in your book. These are phrases or sentences you might never find anywhere else.
- I knew quite well I looked like I had two large bumblebees on my feet.
- Yes, it is a bunch of tricks. And you are going to learn every one.
- This was no time to indulge in baseless fears about being turned into a toad or stewed up for dinner.
How can your book be used in the classroom?
FORTUNE’S FOLLY could be used in the classroom in the context of books that are inspired by elements from fairy-tale and mythology. For example, readers could be challenged to identify the different mythic and fairy-tale elements and explore how they are used in the plot.
Outside of the classroom, FORTUNE’S FOLLY could be chosen for a Mother-Daughter book club, where discussion topics might include a consideration of the decisions Fortunata makes and whether they are “right”, as well as the question of how we can make our own “magic” and “destiny”.
Now tell us about other already-published books that readers of your book might enjoy.
- GOOSE GIRL by Shannon Hale.
- DEALING WITH DRAGONS by Patricia Wrede.
- ELLA ENCHANTED by Gail Carson Levine.
Now whet our appetites with a teaser.
Life would have been much easier if I believed in fairy tales. I could have set my shoes out on Candlemas Eve, and expected the sprites to fill them with candy. I could have dreamed that the Saints would return my poor mother to life. I could have fantasized that some handsome young prince would fall in love with me and carry me off to a life of luxury. Or perhaps I could simply have believed, as my father did, that one day the fairies would return to his workshop, and his shoes would no longer be the ugliest in all the lands.
Are you offering authors visits to schools, libraries, or other organizations?
Not at this time.
Are you willing to speak nationally?
Not at this time.
This concludes our interview with our latest author, DEVA FAGAN. We wish her much success with her debut novel FORTUNE’S FOLLY. To see what Deva is up to these days, visit her website at www.devafagan.com.
*GIVEAWAY ALERT* Deva is giving away a signed copy of FORTUNE’S FOLLY. Tell your friends and leave a comment for the author! Enter by April 23th, 2009 11:59 PM CST.
Your email address will not be displayed publicly and will only be used to contact you if you win! And don’t forget to participate in our other AuthorsNow! giveaways.
Comments
1 shannon Baas // Apr 16, 2009 at 5:46 pm
This looks like a book I would like to read.
2 Mandy // Apr 16, 2009 at 5:59 pm
I enjoyed Ella Enchanted. FORTUNE’S FOLLY sounds cool!
3 mindy // Apr 16, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Sounds wonderful. Thanks for the giveaway.
4 kim v // Apr 16, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Sounds great!
Thanks for the giveaway!
5 Jess // Apr 16, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Yay! I’m excited to read this. I’d love to win a copy!
6 Kathy D // Apr 16, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Like to find clean reads….
7 Lexie C. // Apr 16, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Aside from myself, I know several of my charges want to read this book so I hope I win and can share (though I get to read first of course!)
Lexie.Cenni(@) gmail.com
8 Lesley // Apr 16, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Shannon Hale and Gail Carson Levine are two of my favorite authors!! This book sounds like something up my alley!
Lesley
9 christopher h // Apr 16, 2009 at 10:53 pm
looks great, we’d love this
10 Steph Burgis // Apr 17, 2009 at 2:11 am
I love those 3 quotes from the book, especially the last one!
11 Robert A. Piacquad // Apr 17, 2009 at 5:37 am
I hope I win the Book.
12 Amber G // Apr 17, 2009 at 6:04 am
I am a huge Ella Enchanted fan and I think I would enjoy this book too!
13 Vicky Boackle // Apr 17, 2009 at 7:36 am
my grandkids read,read and read so this would be great.
14 desiree kelley // Apr 17, 2009 at 8:24 am
looks good
15 david basile // Apr 17, 2009 at 9:05 am
sounds like a lot of fun
16 Jason // Apr 17, 2009 at 9:28 am
This looks like a great book. Thanks for the chance
17 FredTownWard // Apr 17, 2009 at 10:47 am
This sounds like a book I would like to read and review on Amazon.
18 Paula H // Apr 17, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I have 3 daughters who would enjoy reading this.
19 Pam S // Apr 17, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I look forward to reading about a young person choosing to be proactive in her life and taking personal responsibility for the fantastical fortune she told.
20 Linda // Apr 17, 2009 at 2:50 pm
My kids would love this book.
21 beth shepherd // Apr 17, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Thank you for a great giveaway! I would love to win. Thank you.
22 Dawn D // Apr 17, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I’m very much looking forward to receiving your book; I just ordered it online. Wishing you much success! (Hello Bob & Charley…….)
23 Pamela S // Apr 17, 2009 at 6:06 pm
This sounds like a great book for kids. Thanks.
pamelashockley at netscape dot net
24 Coll // Apr 17, 2009 at 6:07 pm
I’m so excited that someone is writing fiction with female main characters who aren’t just pining away for their loves, waiting to be rescued, or being used as pawns! I can’t wait to read Fortune’s Folly. I have a bunch of students who will be borrowing my copy when I finish it
25 Nicole C. // Apr 17, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I’d love to read this!
26 Anne // Apr 17, 2009 at 8:27 pm
this book sounds wonderful…….I would love to win and read it and then pass it on to someone else to enjoy
Thanks
27 Michael Capp // Apr 17, 2009 at 9:05 pm
I’d love to win!
28 Djp // Apr 17, 2009 at 9:42 pm
sign me up
29 David // Apr 18, 2009 at 12:12 am
Please count me in, thanks.
30 Christina Brunetti // Apr 18, 2009 at 11:11 am
I would love to read this.
Thanks
31 Marie // Apr 18, 2009 at 5:43 pm
This looks like a great book! Thanks for the wonderful interview!
32 Renee C. // Apr 18, 2009 at 6:19 pm
My daughter is starting to enjoy romance, glad this heroine is strong.
33 Toni // Apr 18, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Your book sounds great!
34 wanda flanagan // Apr 18, 2009 at 8:43 pm
looks like a great book
35 Janelle // Apr 20, 2009 at 10:41 am
Always like a good fairy tale/fantasy read.
36 Christina // Apr 20, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Talking about fortunes – and fate – is very interesting! Are our lives pre-destined or is it a matter of free will or a mixture of both, and how much can we believe what others say?
37 Constance // Apr 21, 2009 at 11:52 am
This sounds like great fun, both for me, and for my niece who is turning 10 in early May. I am in New England so perhaps we will get to meet you in person at some future point.
38 Gabriel J. // Apr 21, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Great read, great contest!
39 Matt S // Apr 21, 2009 at 7:10 pm
I have a very young daughter who will someday (I think) love this book. Thanks!
40 Cheryl F. (The Lucky Ladybug) // Apr 22, 2009 at 12:42 am
I’d love to read this
*Thanks* for the giveaway!
41 Jessica // Apr 22, 2009 at 2:16 am
Your book sounds wonderfully funny. ^_^
42 Ann // Apr 22, 2009 at 4:21 am
Thank you. It sounds so nice!
43 Deedles // Apr 22, 2009 at 8:57 am
Sounds like a great book.
44 Jason // Apr 22, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Sounds like a extremely entertaining book. Thanks for the chance
45 Ed Nemmers // Apr 22, 2009 at 5:00 pm
And, I like the book cover drawing too!
46 Phillip Fry // Apr 22, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Looks like a fantastic read!
47 Candie L // Apr 22, 2009 at 7:52 pm
I like the creative idea for the book. Definately not a plot I would have thought of. Thanks
48 Melanie // Apr 22, 2009 at 8:27 pm
I would love to read this and then pass it on to my niece!
49 P N // Apr 22, 2009 at 9:34 pm
I would love to get this for my daughters.
(Okay, I would love to read it, too.)
50 Chrysa // Apr 22, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!
51 Brenda Park // Apr 23, 2009 at 12:33 am
Wow, looks like something my daughter and I can read…generally I read a book first, then let her read it if it’s age-appropriate. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
52 jayne // Apr 23, 2009 at 6:15 am
I would love to add this to my littleones collection! thanks so much!
53 Becky // Apr 23, 2009 at 6:53 am
I think my daughter would love to read this.
54 dorothy l // Apr 23, 2009 at 9:55 am
your story sounds like it would be something I would enjoy reading with my daughter
55 john ferris // Apr 23, 2009 at 10:18 am
YOU HAVE A VERY UNIQUE AND TALENTED WAY OF WRITING. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
56 Terri L // Apr 23, 2009 at 11:00 am
I think my daughter will enjoy this book!
57 Daniel M // Apr 23, 2009 at 11:08 am
my niece would like this!
58 Mya Brooks // Apr 23, 2009 at 2:52 pm
This would make a great gift!!!
59 Michelle Lumsden // Apr 23, 2009 at 7:35 pm
This book looks sooo good!
60 Janet // Apr 23, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Looks great! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
61 Veronica Garrett // Apr 23, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Your book sounds llike a great read.
62 Rachel Newman // Apr 23, 2009 at 10:28 pm
I love fairy tale retellings with tough girls. Thanks for such a worthy offering!
63 Lily Kwan // Apr 24, 2009 at 3:53 am
This book sounds very interesting! Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
64 Deva Fagan // Apr 24, 2009 at 7:13 am
Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments, everyone!
I am pleased to announce that Paula H is the randomly selected winner of the giveaway, and has been contacted via email to claim her copy of FORTUNE’S FOLLY.
I hope you all enjoy the book, if you get a chance to read it! Please feel free to stop by my website and/or blog in the future to say hello!
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