01 Jul A New Anniversary Edition of ONCE UPON a TWISTED TALE by Gayle Krause and Caroline O’Neal plus a GIVEAWAY!

I am so excited to share this special blog post today because it will be double the fun! I’m chatting with Gayle Krause, the author of the very clever Once Upon a Twisted Tale, along with the talented Caroline O’Neal, who whimsically and beautifully illustrated the book. If you feel like the title sounds familiar, you’re right. This is a Special Anniversary Edition, and it will be released on Aug. 1, which is, not coincidentally, “Fractured Fairytale Day.” But wait…there’s more! 🙂  The release is in conjunction with “A Fractured Fairytale Writing Contest” for Kidlit writers, and/or students who would like to participate. Some of the prizes will be a critique from a former kidlit editor and a signed copy of Penny Parker Klosterman’s “fractured fairytale” picture book, A Cooked Up Fairy-Tale. Both Once Upon a Twisted Tale and A Cooked Up Fairy Tale are fabulous books.

EL: OK, Let’s get going. Who wants to go first and tell us a little about themselves?

CO: I’ll go. I have lived in southern Germany (Neu Ulm) since 2012, but before that I lived in Denmark (Copenhagen) for 13 years, and before that in Spain (Santiago de Compostella) for 2 years, and before that in Switzerland (Geneva) where I grew up. I claim myself as a citizen of the world, since my father was Australian (with Irish roots) and my mother is Greek.

When I’m not drawing and painting, I do a lot of other things, such as mosaics, sawing & beading, travel, wandering around flea-markets (love antiques), snorkeling (love the sea & oceans wildlife), going to gigs and festivals, cycling, and dancing. I’m a semi-pro ATS & Tribal fusion dancer and fire-show performer. With my dance group mates, we perform at medieval markets and other events… And many other little things in life.

EL: How interesting, Caroline! You do so many amazing things, and your art is gorgeous.  Readers, take a look at some of these interior shots sprinkled throughout this post.

EL: Let’s talk about you and the book, Gayle. Please tell us a little about yourself and how you got the idea for Once Upon a Twisted Tale.

GK: As the Team Leader for an Early Childhood Education program at the Career and Technical Center in Goshen, NY, I trained prospective teachers for Day Care Centers, Head Start Programs, and Elementary schools. To prepare them for their chosen field, I taught a full unit on Children’s Literature, which was my favorite class when I took Kid Lit in college.

My favorite part of that unit to teach was “The History of Fairytales.” I have always loved fairy tales, as is evidenced in this book, as well as my other published works. I have a YA novel and a picture book that are “fairytale” reimaginings.

When I set out to write picture books, I think in rhyme. I belonged to The Poets’ Garage for six years and was on the Rhyme Revolution committee for three, choosing the “BEST” rhyming picture book in the USA. So, Once Upon A Twisted Tale combines both of my literary loves.

EL:  Did you ever consider writing it in prose?

GK I never considered writing this book in prose, although I have tried writing a “fractured fairytale” for YA.

EL: Can you share a bit about your process?

GK: First, I get an idea. Then I think of a clever title. Next comes a few characters, and the story evolves from there. And many revisions later, a book is born.

EL: Caroline, when you saw the text, did you immediately picture what you wanted your illustrations to look like? Can you describe your process?

CO: Well, I must say that I really loved Gayle’s text; therefore inspiration came immediately. I usually start with a pencil sketch, which I send for approval. Then, when it’s ok, I go on with colourings…It’s as simple as this.

EL: Please talk a little about your road to publication.

CO: Well, it’s around 25 years now that I’m in that field. My road to publication was/is browsing around publishers, submitting tons of mail, portfolios, etc. I do this in both fields: Children’s books and in Dark-fantasy. I have also attended several book fairs such as: the famous international Bologna children’s book fair, the Frankfurt international book fair, and the Children’s book fair in Montreuil (Paris). I’m always running from one appointment to another, hoping for some art director to look at my portfolio. It’s a never-ending story. One needs to throw a lot of bottles in the sea once in a while. 

EL: I get it. This is for both of you. Do you have a writing/illustrating routine? If so, will you share it?

CO: No, not really. There are periods where I draw/paint more than others, whether it’s for a commission or for personal projects. But I’m happy when I manage to draw 1 to 4 hours per day.

GK: My writing routine varies, but it goes something like this:

1. Write in the afternoon.
2. Review what I wrote before I go to bed, so I can think about it as I sleep.
3. Wake up with a few new ideas or ways to make the manuscript stronger.
4. Write and repeat.

They say, write what you know. Having taught 16-17-18-year-olds, as well as 4-year-olds in my education program, that’s exactly what I do. You can find many of my students in my novels or picture books.

EL: Gayle, what do you do when the words won’t come?

GK: When I can’t think of anything else on the manuscript I’m working on, I let the story rest, until I do. In the meantime, I switch genres to change up the thinking in my brain. Picture books to YA. YA to picture books.

EL: What do you feel are the best parts and the most difficult parts of what you do?

CO: Difficult part: Finding new commissions, making a “living” out of it. Best parts: Free to work any time in the day or night, if you respect the deadlines. Fulfilling my dream since I was a little girl, to be an illustrator.

EL: Do you have any words of advice for aspiring kidlit writers or illustrators?

CO: I’m afraid that there’s not a specific recipe. It’s a lot of work, talent (I guess), and a little/a lot of luck.

EL:  Thank you both for being with us today. To learn more about Gayle and Caroline, please visit their websites. 

Gayle’s website:  www.gayleckrause.com     

Caroline’s website:https://www.carolineoneal.com/

And now for a…

Gayle and Caroline are happy to send one lucky winner a copy of Once Upon a Twisted Tale. To get in the running, comment on this post and let me know if you are a subscriber or if you’ve shared the post to get an extra chance to win. Good luck!

Until next time,

Ellen

On a personal note, I’m currently scheduling school author visits for the 2025-2026 school year. I’d love to visit YOU or a school near you! Please check out  https://EllenLeventhal.com.