K.A. Ramstad

A Beauty and the Beast Collection

To all you fairy tale lovers out there…

There’s another fairy tale anthology from Beyond the Bookery’s Fairy Tale Frenzy. It’s a collection of Beauty and the Beast retellings by Tabitha Bouldin, Megan Charlie, and Heather Flynn.

What’s the title? Evermore. Very appropriate, right?

Here are the blurbs from Amazon:

Falling for the Beast by Tabitha Bouldin
Belle never asked to inherit a curse that stripped her of magic. Mordred never expected to be cast from his realm, trapped in a body of gears and wood. Bound by fate and desperate bargains, the two must risk trust—and their hearts—to survive Castle Graymoore’s secrets. But when betrayal and sacrifice collide, will love be enough to shatter the curse before it consumes them both?

Dust Clothes and Dumbbells by Megan Charlie
Bernie has been a maid in a cursed household for nearly 20 years. If the Beast/prince can’t find love soon, everyone on the estate will die.
Nothing is working out as it should and Bernie’s growing feelings threaten to jeopardize everything. How can one maid save a cursed prince?

Beauty in the Shadows by Heather Flynn
A shepherd, who is more than he appears to be, is injured in an accident. In desperation he finds himself at the mysterious Langley Manor, a subject of many rumors in the village of Enulmoor. There he meets a woman who hides herself in shadows, loaded down with guilt of the past. Together they must take on the challenges that bring her face to face with her past, while he must face his destiny.

To order your own Kindle or paperback copy, here’s the link:

Evermore on Amazon

Two Fairy Tale Books Have Been Released!

Have you heard? Two anthologies from Fairy Tale Frenzy have been released. They’re both collections of historical retellings of classic tales. Think The Ugly Duckling, Beauty and the Beast, The Snow Queen, Cinderella, and Snow White.

Below are the links to the books on Amazon. And they’ve added blurbs, too.

This I Know Amazon Link

Worthy Love Amazon Link

A Book Review of The Blue Bird of Happiness

Hi, all.

I have another book review published on Jennifer Hallmark’s blog. It’s on The Blue Bird of Happiness by S.M. Shigemitsu, a retelling of Maurice Maeterlinck’s play “The Blue Bird.” I share the differences and similarities between the play and Shigemitsu’s version.

Fun fact: Shigemitsu is part of the Fairy Tale Frenzy series, just as I am. Only she’s in a different book from me, i.e. Of Beauty and Bravery. It will be released September 23 for Kindle.

The Blue Bird of Happiness Book Review

Of Beauty and Bravery Pre-order

More Fairy Tales Coming!

As you may know already, I’m writing a Little Red Riding Hood retelling that’s fit for middle grade and teens. It’s going to be featured in an anthology that’ll be published by Beyond the Bookery. In fact, the anthology is part of a series of anthologies called Fairy Tale Frenzy.

Speaking of Fairy Tale Frenzy, the first four anthologies will be published soon. Some are fantasy retellings, and others are historical retellings.

If you want to whet your appetite while waiting for my story, check out these books. Here’s the link if you want to preorder them.

Fairy Tale Frenzy Preorders

A Book Theme . . . And a Movie

Hi, everyone.

As I continue sharing with you my Red Riding Hood retelling, I’ll ask a question: What is the theme of my story? Or a theme, anyway?

Let me stall in answering by talking about a movie I’ve just seen.

I watched the movie version of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s Shiloh. I’ve read the book, though I like the movie version better as it has a lot less language. Also, I think it better addresses the importance of keeping a promise and telling the truth. When Shiloh’s abusive owner, Judd, goes back on his word by not giving Marty the dog, Marty tells him, “Shouldn’t your word be enough?” That is huge. Talk about teaching an important lesson without being on-the-nose about it.

That’s what I strive for when writing my stories: illustrating a virtue without spelling it out. It’s something that readers appreciate, because instead of being preached at, they’re so immersed in the emotions of the story, they can’t help but think and ponder.

Kindness is a theme in Shiloh, and it’s one of the themes in my book, too. My main character, thirteen-year-old Nan, has compassion on an injured dire wolf, just like Marty cares for an injured Shiloh. She wants to be the wolf’s friend (even giving her the name Silvera). Yes, my wolf character is a girl, and Nan and the wolf develop a sisterly friendship.

My story is different from Marty and Shiloh’s, though. Even though the wolf is open to human contact, she can be aggressive when threatened, which can cause her to be more dangerous. However, Nan goes on a camping adventure with the wolf, and her kindness plays a key role in taming the beast.

I know, it sounds a little like Beauty and the Beast, but my story still has elements of Little Red Riding Hood (i.e. befriending a wolf, the dilemma of trusting a stranger, an older woman in a nightgown, a villain disguised as a grandmotherly figure).

Isn’t the above picture gorgeous? I found it on Pexels’ website of downloadable photos. This wolf’s eyes are closed, but if Silvera had her eyes open, they would be part purple and part blue. Why? You’d have to keep reading to find out. 🙂

An Update on Writing, Plus a YA Author

Hi, friends.

Today, I edited two hours’ worth of my Little Red Riding Hood story, and I’m happy with my progress so far. I had editing “sprints,” where I edited for an ex-amount of minutes, took a break, and then edited again. In a way, it’s like a HIIT workout.

My plan is to write the best draft possible; then I’ll share this with others for input. I strive to write this story so that it’s for both middle grade and YA. In other words, I want to be low-key in violence, but I also want to address the teen’s inner desire to fit in. And romance? I’m keeping it at the level of the main character having a crush, which is something both middle-graders and teens can relate to.

In light of young adult stories, check out M Liz Boyle interviewing YA author Christina Shaw. Christina shares her past experience as a high school teacher, as well as what she thinks good, God-glorifying YA should look like. Thanks for sharing, M Liz.

Note: Christina has published the middle grade book she mentioned in the interview. It’s called Flibbertigibbet, and it’s Book One of Big Family Adventures.

Author Christina Shaw Joins Me Today

What I Have Been Doing . . . And a Fairy Tale Retelling

Okay, everyone. It’s time to let you know how I’ve been progressing in my writing.

I pitched my Galdur Snow Dog book to a publisher, but sadly, my book and the publisher didn’t mash. So, I’ll keep my eyes open for another publishing opportunity.

In the meantime, something definite is happening. Another story? Yep, and it’s a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood!

I’m going to be featured in an anthology from Beyond the Bookery, and my novella-sized story will be friendly for teens and tweens. I think the following picture gives a cool ambience to my retelling, and I complement it with a list of things to expect. I’ll be adding more to the list as I edit and refine the story further.

Little Red Riding Hood Retelling
Dire Wolf Character
Young Teens
A Crush on a Prince (Who Can Fly!)
Talking Animals
Found Family

The anthology will be released March 2026. Keep following this blog as I share updates on my progress as well as behind-the-scenes glimpses of my tale.

Homeschooling Kindergarteners?

I know, summer isn’t over yet. But it’s good to be prepared, right?

One of the most vital things to learn in life is reading, and a big highlight of kindergarten is developing that skill.

Reading Head Start has tips on how to teach your kindergarteners how to read, and the following link is one of the articles they have.

Teach a Child to Read – 7 Easy Steps You Can Use

Do you use other methods of teaching children to appreciate words and stories? Feel free to share in the comments. *smile*

A Picture Game With Liu Bolin

Have you heard of Liu Bolin?

He’s a Chinese artist who’s the innovator behind a series of pictures where he’s the “hidden Mickey Mouse” in each one. He’s actually blended into the background, so you can see his shape only if you look closely. In a way, it’s like I Spy or Where’s Waldo?

Thank you, Rick Mallery, for sharing this on your blog. Now we all can have fun playing this picture game.

Okay, so the above Liu is easy to find, but the following link shows more challenging images.

Invisible Art – Liu Bolin

A Historic Dog Story (Thanks, Jeff Maxim)

Did you know there was a canine mascot at the Hoover Dam? It happened while the historic structure was being built.

I came across this story shared by fellow writer Jeff Maxim. The dog was a friendly companion to the construction crew at the dam. His life ended tragically, but he was loved by the construction crew so much, they took time to make a grave for him.

Thank you for sharing the story with us, Jeff.

A Dog’s Life