Tuesday, May 27, 2014

"Finding Yourself in the Fairytale" (Guestpost by Serena Chase)

 
Today I have a special guest- post (plus some giveaway swag) from THE Serena Chase! She's going to be talking about a topic I dearly love....Fairytales! Don't forget to check out her awesome blog, and her even more awesome books! Review to come soon for The Seahorse Legacy!

Serena Chase lives in Iowa with her husband, two teen daughters, and one very spoiled (but really adorable) dog, Albus. A frequent contributor to USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog, she also writes for Edgy Inspirational Romance. Serena has served as a youth leader for high school students at her church, coaches her local high school’s Color Guard, and drinks entirely too much coffee between these and her daughters’ activities. You can find Serena on Facebook, Twitter @Serena_Chase, and Pinterest.  Visit her website www.serenachase.com
 

Finding Yourself in the Fairytale

by Serena Chase
 
When I was about five years old, I saw the cartoon version of C.S. Lewis’s, The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe on television for the first time. That viewing spawned a series of dreams in which I, like Lucy Pevensie, discovered a portal to another magical land—a land I was somehow responsible for saving. Unfortunately, I always woke up before being able to complete my heroic task.  
Imagine my enthusiasm, then, when my antique-loving mother happened upon a walnut wardrobe in an antique store one day, bought it, and brought it home! Of course I climbed in that old wardrobe right away—and many times after that first, unsuccessful attempt; but even though I never found my way to Narnia, or even to that land from my dreams, my love of fairy tales only grew. And when I was old enough to digest the complete Chronicles of Narnia in book form, I more than crawled inside that fictional wardrobe: I found myself, mirrored in the characters who entered Narnia just ahead of me.
I saw myself in Lucy, the true believer who still had to be taught a lesson from time to time. I was also Edmund, the betrayer who received mercy and become an advocate for justice. From time to time I even saw a bit of myself in Trumpkin the dwarf, wanting definitive proof before committing myself to a cause.
As an adult, I have made a point of regularly rereading the Chronicles of Narnia. Each time, I discover more of myself—and more truth—within each lovely story. More than any other character in Narnia, however, I’ve found myself, my story, mirrored in that of Eustace Scrubb, the Pevensie children’s pathetic whiner of a cousin. And that is not a very flattering comparison, is it?
But wait.
Eustace came on scene with a sneer. He was a spoiled, arrogant bully who found his worth in
belittling others and demanding he have his own way. He coveted others’ belongings, status, and even their character and bravery so much that, once in Narnia, he was literally transformed into the most covetous of creatures, a dragon. But as Eustace discovered—as all of us must discover—he was his own worst enemy. And when he repented of his selfish ways and admitted his need and loneliness, he was befriended and redeemed. Even now, I am brought to tears when I reflect on the beautiful scene in which Eustace’s dragon scales are painstakingly removed by the claws of a frightening, merciful Lion, because I have realized my own raw need for the same patient, resilient, persistent, and cleansing love.


I won’t pretend to be a fraction of the writer C.S. Lewis was, but it is my prayer that even the most jaded of readers will discover a new sense of hope while traveling through E’veria by way of my books; that by identifying with a character’s struggle and triumph, they would realize a fresh awe for the Creator King who longs to fully immerse them in the wonder of his love, even when it hurts to receive it. It is my hope that, within these novels, these re-imagined fairy tales I call the Eyes of E’veria series, readers will not only be so fully immersed in the tale that they are living the adventures along with the characters, but that when they have finished reading they have discovered something new and true and beautiful about themselves that can be applied beyond the fairy tale and breathed into their own story as they journey forth to become the person they were meant to be in this world. Our world.
 
My mom still has that old wardrobe, and both of my daughters—as well as my six nieces and nephews—have, at one point or another, crawled inside. As far as I know, none of them have yet found a lamp post or have dined with talking animals at Cair Paravel, but even though they are bound to be disappointed by my mother’s wardrobe, they can still find Narnia within those books. And if they listen very closely, I’ve no doubt they will hear their own names being whispered in the pages of a fairy tale.
Do you enjoy fairy tales? With which fairy tale characters do you most identify?
 

Grandprize:

 
 

 

Pirate Booty:

6 comments:

  1. Killian 'Hook' Jones is definitely my favorite fictional pirate nowadays.. Cazien is probably a close second tho!

    LOVE these books.. ♥

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  2. Oh, after every blog post I stop at I think "I LOVE this post!" Once again, I LOVE this post! Thanks so much for sharing Serena and thanks Paige for hosting today, cute blog!

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  3. I found your blog through Serene Chase on Facebook. Glad I did. Love the new design and I haven't read the third book and can't wait to read it!! Plus I have being dying to buy them but haven't been able to. My favorite fairytale twists are by Serene Chase and the Twisted Tales by Maureen McGowan (http://clutterboxread.blogspot.ca/2011/01/twisted-tales-series.html)

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  5. Thanks so much for hosting me here, Paige! :) Your new blog design is adorable -- I especially LOVE your signature!

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  6. Julie-Thank you! I'm really enjoying Serena's blog tour! :)

    Angela-YAYY! Welcome! ;) I adore Serena's books!!!! You will love the third one!

    Serena- Thank you! So glad to be able to hang out with the mastermind behind my favorite pirate! :) Please come hangout with us again!

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