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2 ways to write a Cinderella Assassin – Part 1: An Interview with K.M. Robinson, author of Cindrill

Posted March 27, 2019 by Jennifer Ellision in blog, Uncategorized / 0 Comments

I’ve been thrilled with the reception Striking Midnight is getting now that it’s out in the world. But did you know there’s another Cinderella assassin story out there?

I’m excited to feature a special treat for you all today. After reading and enjoying Cindrill by K.M. Robinson, I reached out to the author herself and interviewed her about her version of a Cinderella assassin.

Blog image with headline: 2 ways to write a Cinderella Assassin - Part 1: An Interview with K.M. Robinson, author of Cindrill. Includes Cindrill cover and medieval woman holding knife

2 ways to write a Cinderella Assassin – Part 1: An Interview with K.M. Robinson, author of Cindrill

Besides the fun twist of an assassin Cinderella, what makes Cindrill a unique Cinderella retelling?

Cindrill involves technology. To make sure the prince doesn’t recognize her after the assassination attempt at his engagement party, she wears a nano bot mask that changes her physical appearance so she looks like a totally different woman. When she flees after the botched murder attempt, she’s in trouble with her master for messing up the plan, so when she runs into the prince on his search for the would-be assassin and he forces her to help him, she uses it as an opportunity to redeem herself. She and the prince go on a mission together, and at one point, she actually kidnaps the prince, removing him from his guards before he turns the tables and brings her into the palace, unknowingly allowing her to complete her assignment.

We get to start at the ball—which is the pivotal scene in any Cinderella story where they first meet—but then we get to travel with them, seeing both Cindrill and Davian’s point of views, as they hunt down the murderess that is actually standing right next to the prince the entire time. Unlike the original, it doesn’t end when they discover who Cindrill is, but rather launch into what happens in the aftermath of that realization and deception as the assassination attempt moves forward, returning to the palace for the chaos Cindrill has left in her wake.

Which hallmarks of the original Cinderella tale are present in Cindrill?

I wanted to make sure my Cinderella was recognizable and had most of the main staples of the original story but with a twist on them, so while a shoe is still involved, the prince isn’t just looking for a girl that the shoe fits—he’s searching for the would-be assassin woman with a cut on her foot that matches the outline of the shoe from where he slashed her open the previous night as she was escaping the assassination attempt.

Likewise, there’s a ball, but it’s not for the prince to find a bride. It’s an engagement party for him and foreign princess that Cindrill and her master interrupt to murder the king and prince. I kept the presence of the ever-important midnight time frame, but it plays into the story differently. Cinderella’s fancy dress also comes into play.

I also wanted to make sure the prince didn’t recognize her, but I wanted a plausible reason. I kept the mask that ends up in so many versions of Cinderella, but this one is made out of nano bots that can change the structure of her physical appearance, giving him a believable reason to have no clue who she is when he literally runs into her the next day.

Many of the characters are similar, but with twists as well. Cindrill’s version of an evil step mother is the master assassin that she apprentices under, and her fairy godmother is actually a tech genius named Claude who makes all of her assassin gadgets and wardrobe.

What’s the relationship like between your Prince Charming and your Cinderella character?

My prince and Cinderella don’t actually like each other. Cindrill is sent to assassinate Prince Davian and his father, but when the attempt goes sideways, she barely escapes Davian while fleeing the palace. When they run into each other the next morning, Davian is on a mission to find the woman who nearly killed him and his father, and locked his fiancée in a closet. His ONLY thought is about how to catch the assassin, and when he sees Cindrill can not only take care of herself and subdue potentially dangerous situation, but also has other skills that might be valuable to him, he forces her to work for him in his search for the assassin, setting off a rather antagonistic partnership. Cindrill doesn’t like it, but she sees an opportunity to complete her mission and she takes it, playing a dangerous game that nearly gets everyone involved killed, including herself. There’s definitely no insta-love in this one, and when everything is uncovered, it might not necessarily end so nicely, wink wink.

Where did your inspiration come from for an assassin Cinderella?

I write a lot of retellings in my author life, but I don’t touch the super well-known ones unless I have a really good twist on it, so Cinderella hadn’t been on my list until a Cinderella anthology popped up on my radar. The anthology didn’t end up happening, but I still wanted to write a twisted Cinderella tale, so I started exploring other reasons for Cinderella to run away from the prince. More than that, I really wanted a strong explanation as to why he wouldn’t recognize her, and why, in an entire kingdom of people, did this special shoe only fit one woman.

My first thought was to create a mask out of nano bots that allowed her to literally look like a different person. Then I concluded that it was a fancy shoe with a unique edge to it, so when she was injured, the cut marks would fit perfectly around the unique shoe line. If she was injured, there needed to be a reason, and what better than to have the prince himself cause the injury and as he fell to the ground and watched her skin literally peel off her face as she ran, not having seen nano bots before? The image of a horrified prince crashing to the ground, knife in hand, watching a woman’s face rip off as a shoe bounced on the ground in her wake inspired the entire thing and gave me permission to take a rather helpless and passive character, and turn her into one to be feared and wary of—we never really know where her true motives lie during the story. I love that she holds the power and strength in this retelling and she has to decide for herself what to do with the upperhand.

2 Ways
K.M. Robinson is a best selling storyteller who creates new worlds both in her writing and in her fine arts conceptual photography. She is a marketing, branding and social media strategy educator who is recognized at first sight by her very long hair. She is a creative who focuses on photography, videography, couture dress making, and writing to express the stories she needs to tell. She almost always has a camera within reach.

Get free books at excerpt.kmrobinsonbooks.com and check out her website www.kmrobinsonbooks.com

Through Fathoms Dark and Deep Audiobook

Posted February 21, 2019 by Jennifer Ellision in Uncategorized / 0 Comments

Erm… Author marketing fail. I suppose I should have mentioned that the Through Fathoms Dark and Deep audiobook is out now?

And that… it has been out for a while?

Oops!

Current Audible users: Listen to the Through Fathoms Dark and Deep audiobook on Audible

New Audible Users: Listen to the Through Fathoms Dark and Deep audiobook for FREE

Through Fathoms Dark and Deep audiobook promotional graphic

It was actually released only a week or two after the Through Fathoms Dark and Deep ebook and paperback, but in all the hullabaloo surrounding a release week, I completely forgot to tell anyone but the folks I talk to regularly over on my newsletter.

But I’m telling you now.

And I hope that you’re excited about this news because I certainly was when my fantastic audiobook narrator wrapped production on the project slightly before the ebook release. After Audible reviewed it, it was up for sale!

Of course, I’m somewhat biased, but I loved listening to the Through Fathoms Dark and Deep audiobook. As the author, of course, I know all the twists and the turns that the story takes, but I still found myself gripping the steering wheel as I listened to the book in my car.

Victoria Boulton and her gorgeous British accent returned once again to narrate the adventures of (spoilers) marooned lady pirate, Grace Porter. Listening to Victoria read one of my stories once again was a a great pleasure. Aside from her lovely accent, she brings a great depth and presence to the story and characters.

I could listen to her voice for hours! And in fact… I have in the process of reviewing the audiobooks she has done for me! ^_~

New Audible Users: Listen to the Through Fathoms Dark and Deep audiobook for FREE

Current Audible users: Listen to the Through Fathoms Dark and Deep audiobook on Audible

February 2018 Writing and Self-publishing in Review

Posted March 2, 2018 by Jennifer Ellision in Self-Publishing, Uncategorized / 0 Comments

February 2018 Writing and Self-publishing in Review

In the February 2018 Writing and Self-publishing in review report, there is not much writing to report! This month, with the release of Over Raging Tides about a month away, I focused on release prep and some marketing:

Over Raging Tides:

  • Early review copies sent to blog tour hosts
  • Received edits from editor
  • Made changes based on editor feedback
  • Book sent to formatter
  • Worked on interviews and guest posts for blog tour
  • Reached out to Netgalley co-op to inquire about availability

My other books:

I’ve also made it a goal to get Threats of Sky and Sea to 100 Amazon reviews by the year’s end! So I contacted Xpresso Book Tours to set up a review query to reach out to her network of potential reviewers. And reached out also to the Netgalley co-op to inquire about their availability as well.

One, Two, Three by Elodie Nowodazkij:

After many difficulties getting the audio approved, I reached out to a company to master the files and this narration project went on sale!

Profitability:

I was in the red this month… but only slightly. I think this is likely due to the fact that I haven’t published in a while and the fact that I am more than guilty of not putting in enough leg work on the marketing side. I’m not at a point in my career where I can forget to hustle. I don’t think that point ever really comes!

I’m thinking about starting to do detailed break-downs of my self-publishing costs and profits each month. I figure it may help myself and other indie authors figure out how this all works!

It’s here! The Threats of Sky and Sea Boxset

Posted December 21, 2017 by Jennifer Ellision in Uncategorized / 0 Comments
It’s here! The Threats of Sky and Sea Boxset

Hello, my loves! I’m thrilled to announce that for the first time on Amazon, you can buy the Threats of Sky and Sea trilogy as a single e-book collection. The Threats of Sky and Sea boxset includes all of the novels: Threats of Sky and Sea, Riot of Storm and Smoke, and Fall of Thrones and Thorns for the bargain price of $9.99– about $2 less than it would cost for you to buy each ebook individually. So, if you need a gift for the Kindle e-book reader in your life–or even a gift for yourself!– I humbly suggest this as an option. ^_~ Find it here Happy holidays to all who celebrate! And happy days to all. <3, Jen

Remember Me?

Posted June 5, 2017 by Jennifer Ellision in Uncategorized / 0 Comments
Remember Me?

Hey there, reader friends! It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? I’ve had to step away from the internet a bit in the past few months. Anxiety and depression are A Thing that I deal with sometimes and, unfortunately, it was exacerbated a bit in the past several months by things like the Twitters and– well, keeping an authorly social media presence in general. Not fun and in ways I missed it, but stepping away for a while was what I needed. I’m feeling pretty okay these days though, so I’ve got a bunch to update you all on! Book Things: -Thanks to all of you, Fall of Thrones and Thorns was voted one of the 50 Best Indie Books of 2016! Not only that, but it was in the Top 20 of those books! Thank you! -The audio edition of Fall of Thrones and […]

Finals of 50 Best Indies of 2016 – Last Day!

Posted December 16, 2016 by Jennifer Ellision in Uncategorized / 0 Comments
Finals of 50 Best Indies of 2016 – Last Day!

Hi all! If you didn’t already know, Fall of Thrones and Thorns made it to the FINALS of the 50 Best Indie Books of 2016! Today’s the last day to cast your vote– you can vote twice in each category and I would so appreciate the help in getting a little extra exposure for my work! You can vote on readfree.ly (If you’re redirected to the main site, here are are some step-by-step instructions to get you to where you can vote!) Hover over “The 50 Best Indie Books of the Year” on the top menu Select “Nominate the Best of 2016” from the drop-down Choose “Fantasy” from the genre choices Scroll below the book covers to find “Fall of Thrones and Thorns,” choose the box next to it, and and hit “submit!” You can vote twice, as well as vote […]

Christmas in July seems early…

Posted July 15, 2016 by Jennifer Ellision in Uncategorized / 0 Comments
Christmas in July seems early…

…But lucky us, am I right? Hello, friends! I’m approximately nose-deep in Fall of Thrones and Thorns revisions right now, but I just wanted to pop in today to share the news that Breathe In, the most recent short story in the Threats of Sky and Sea series, is free for the first time ever. But that’s not all. Breathe In is one of over 80 e-books available for $0.99 or free in this Christmas in July promo. Ready to stock up your Kindle? I know I am– Goodness knows I need a bit of holiday cheer these days; I may even save a few of them to read for December. It’s one of my favorite ways to settle into the season. You can check out the full list of books available at Stacyclaflin.com/promo. Stacy Claflin’s even helped you out by […]

Before the After: the (very) short story that inspired Now and Again

Posted June 20, 2016 by Jennifer Ellision in Uncategorized / 0 Comments
Before the After: the (very) short story that inspired Now and Again

When I was in college, I wrote a short story for one of my fiction writing workshop classes. If you’ve read my acknowledgements for Now and Again, you may know this already. The story was about a young woman, who had doubts about her upcoming marriage.  I believed it was the best thing I’d ever written up to that point in my life. Well, except for maybe this one chapter of a Sailor Moon fanfic… I digress. Eventually, I discovered the main character of that short had a best friend named Em, and I wrote Em’s story in Now and Again. Now, this story doesn’t fit precisely with the Now and Again canon as it was published, and it’s unedited, but I thought I would share where the characters grew from. When I have the time to devote to it, I plan to […]

Friday Five #4

Posted November 21, 2014 by Jennifer Ellision in blog, Uncategorized / 1 Comment
Friday Five #4

Heeeeello and happy Friday! Here’s the five: 1) Two weeks ago was the wedding of a college friend, so that definitely makes the top of the list of happy-making occasions! You could really feel the love in the room. ^_^ I failed to get a picture with the lovely couple at the wedding itself, but below is a photo at the after “party.” Left to right: me, the groom, the bride, BFF, BFF’s fiance. 2) Said wedding meant a slew of other good things, liiiiike reuniting with my BFF! 3) Visiting one of my favorite places in Florida: St. Augustine   4) Taking a ghost tour with EMF detectors (expect a whole blog post on this topic soonish) 5) And getting to dress up. I really, really love getting all dolled up and don’t get to do it too often. My […]

New York, New York! A.K.A. Book Expo America

New York, New York! A.K.A. Book Expo America

Today, I’m on my way to New York City, for my third time attending Book Expo America. It’s sure to be a B-E-A-utiful time! I’m going more with my blogger hat on (for The Bevy Bibliotheque) than my author hat, but if you see me wandering around the Javits Center (or, hey, the city) please say hi! This is my face: And these are the places I’m planning to be: Events outside the conference: -The Teen Author Carnival -Macmillan Happy Hour -Book Blogger Picnic In the Javits:  -Adult Book & Author Breakfast (with Neil Patrick Harris as emcee) -Children’s Book & Author Breakfast -Sarah J. Maas signing -Morgan Matson signing -Heather Demetrios signing Attempting to obtain ARCs of:  Mortal Heart Salt & Storm The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet I really hope to see you there! And I’ll even have a […]