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The Cinderella Fairy-Cross Series
A fairytale series born from one sacred number and two worlds. The Cinderella Fairy-Cross is an emotional collection of four Cinderella retellings. Some are light. Some are dark. These are not cinematic stories. They are told stories, rooted in the oral tradition of sitting close to a fire and listening. Each book has its own themes, its own heart, its own world. Book I, Pepelina, The Slavic Cinderella, is out now.
A LETTER TO THE READER
What is a Fairy-Cross?
Dear reader! My debut novel, Pepelina, The Slavic Cinderella is the first book in a series I call a ‘fairy-cross’. I invented the concept of fairy cross to symbolically represent my books as a fairytale bridge connecting my two identities — Australian and Croatian. The image you see is a fruity and floral fairy-cross with a special meaning. Juicy and sweet fruit takes me back into my childhood frolicking in the orchards of Croatia. Colorful and fragrant wildflowers of the Australian bush ground me as I call Perth and Western Australia my (floral) fairytale home.
But fairytales are more than just magical happy places. As you might know, the earlier fairytales were darker versions. They contained suffering, violence and death. First fairytales were nothing like the sanitized, happily ever after Disney versions we know of today. My Cinderella fairy-cross will include both light and dark versions of Cinderella retellings.
THE SACRED NUMBER
Why four books?
Talking about number 4, I chose it deliberately. Number 4 became my sacred cross in my early childhood representing my family unity. I am very close with my family, and I used 4 as a symbol of togetherness and belonging. I designed it so that 4 represents my late father, my mother, my brother and me.
So, without any delay, the three other books I hope to share with you as part of Cinderella fairy-cross, and not exclusively in this order, are: Pepelina, The Slavic Cinderella written for young children, and two Cinderella retellings with Australian twist, one book for adults and one for young children.
READER’S COMPANION
Understand Pepelina Before You Begin
New to Slavic fairytale fantasy? Not sure what kind of story you are stepping into? Download this free one-page guide and discover the world of Pepelina before you turn the first page.
A BLESSING
May your fruit be forever sweet.
May your paths spring blossoms greet.
May wildflowers and trees bloom beside your every street.
May sometimes, you and I, meet.
LATEST FROM THE SERIES
Cinderella’s slipper was made of cabbage, and it healed her feet
A folk remedy, a fairytale ritual, and the secret behind Pepelina’s magical slipper — discover the cabbage wrap that inspired her story, plus a free how-to and a book excerpt.
ALSO FROM THE SERIES
A dark fairytale-fantasy novel with a creative and literary slipper
The inspiration, personal story and excerpt behind Pepelina, The Slavic Cinderella — a dark fairytale-fantasy rooted in Slavic myth, grief and the love between a father and daughter.