Meredith Katz's Blog
March 26, 2021
The Fae and Lies, my personal bugbear
I'm making this its own blog post because I both read and write a lot of fairy stories, and this way I can just link it to reviews or when discussing it with people, haha.
So I have this one pet peeve about fae stories, and in general I try not to let it impact my rating, because, like, pet peeves are just pet peeves, not writing flaws. I cannot emphasize enough that this is just a pet peeve, not an actual problem.
But: I personally get super distracted by the trope that crops up in a lot of fairy fiction that 'fairies can't lie'. From what I've seen, pretty much every time, the authors treat it as a part of historical folklore, like iron or st. john's wort or elfshot stones. But it's not. It was made up in modern fairy fiction as recently as the 1990s, and because it was super popular in these books, it spread.
As far as I can tell, the reason it's treated as a common fairy belief is that plenty of other authors were like well, this person must have done their research, and there are just SO many small and random fairy traits (which plants they're drawn to, which they're repulsed by, what invites them in, what wards them out) that they might as well rely on other people's research. So without getting a source, they'd put it in their own books as well.
So with a whole bunch of authors suddenly putting this in their fiction, it's now become super popular as a known 'fairy fact' despite not showing up in fairy folklore at all, and not really in fiction from before the '90s. If it came into the fictional sphere when I was in high school, it's just a hard sell for me to treat it as a given, you know?
And it kind of IS treated as a given, as an actual fact. I've seen authors who choose not to include it being told they got some fairy folklore wrong by letting their fairies lie to the protagonist. And like, it's fine if you want to include it in your own work, of course, that's always a personal call. It can even make sense if you have fairies who are bound by social expectations and rules. If people in the current day believe it, maybe the fairies are bound to it! But I personally am not a fan of that choice because it continues to spread it not as a literary choice but as part of traditional folklore. It's fine to have anachronisms and new takes on media, but people don't realize it's anachronistic, and then as every person includes it another person goes, well, I've seen it 100 times, so it MUST be traditional. And then it's 101. Etc.
On the other hand -- it's sort of fascinating too, how ideas spread and become part of common belief, especially when dealing with the field of folklore, which has always been a matter of folk belief. It might not be traditional but it's certainly part of modern fairy folklore, at this point!
Anyway, this article is a fantastic folkloric analysis of this trope! Please do read that for more details, Sarah digs deep into all kinds of sources to try to figure out when and how "fairies can't lie" came into popular belief.
So I have this one pet peeve about fae stories, and in general I try not to let it impact my rating, because, like, pet peeves are just pet peeves, not writing flaws. I cannot emphasize enough that this is just a pet peeve, not an actual problem.
But: I personally get super distracted by the trope that crops up in a lot of fairy fiction that 'fairies can't lie'. From what I've seen, pretty much every time, the authors treat it as a part of historical folklore, like iron or st. john's wort or elfshot stones. But it's not. It was made up in modern fairy fiction as recently as the 1990s, and because it was super popular in these books, it spread.
As far as I can tell, the reason it's treated as a common fairy belief is that plenty of other authors were like well, this person must have done their research, and there are just SO many small and random fairy traits (which plants they're drawn to, which they're repulsed by, what invites them in, what wards them out) that they might as well rely on other people's research. So without getting a source, they'd put it in their own books as well.
So with a whole bunch of authors suddenly putting this in their fiction, it's now become super popular as a known 'fairy fact' despite not showing up in fairy folklore at all, and not really in fiction from before the '90s. If it came into the fictional sphere when I was in high school, it's just a hard sell for me to treat it as a given, you know?
And it kind of IS treated as a given, as an actual fact. I've seen authors who choose not to include it being told they got some fairy folklore wrong by letting their fairies lie to the protagonist. And like, it's fine if you want to include it in your own work, of course, that's always a personal call. It can even make sense if you have fairies who are bound by social expectations and rules. If people in the current day believe it, maybe the fairies are bound to it! But I personally am not a fan of that choice because it continues to spread it not as a literary choice but as part of traditional folklore. It's fine to have anachronisms and new takes on media, but people don't realize it's anachronistic, and then as every person includes it another person goes, well, I've seen it 100 times, so it MUST be traditional. And then it's 101. Etc.
On the other hand -- it's sort of fascinating too, how ideas spread and become part of common belief, especially when dealing with the field of folklore, which has always been a matter of folk belief. It might not be traditional but it's certainly part of modern fairy folklore, at this point!
Anyway, this article is a fantastic folkloric analysis of this trope! Please do read that for more details, Sarah digs deep into all kinds of sources to try to figure out when and how "fairies can't lie" came into popular belief.
April 14, 2020
"If Wishes Were Fishes" Now available for Preorder - Empty Vessels 25% off!
A big announcement today...
Cover by RubyDianArts
We're happy to announce the preorder for If Wishes Were Fishes! Release date: May 15, 2020.
The boys from Empty Vessels are back in a new story about family, communication, and learning to let go of the past... and about trying to get along with your immortal boyfriend’s persnickety grown-ass kid whose lover has gotten himself trapped in the form of a fish. (A M/M/M polyamorous paranormal romance featuring a soft psychic, a sweet ghost, and many cute cryptids). Learn more about it over here!
If Wishes Were Fishes is a standalone sequel—reading Empty Vessels is recommended, but not required. But to make it a bit easier to do so, we've put Empty Vessels on sale for 25% off its usual price of $4.99!
Despite everything happening at the moment (whew), we want to continue releasing creative things into the world. We're indie authors, so we're especially grateful for any support (retweets of our tweets, reviews, recs, etc)! Please add the book to your "Want To Read" shelf, and if you're a reviewer or book blogger interested in acquiring a review copy, feel free to contact us.
Stay safe out there!
Cover by RubyDianArts
We're happy to announce the preorder for If Wishes Were Fishes! Release date: May 15, 2020.
❤ PREORDER HERE ❤
The boys from Empty Vessels are back in a new story about family, communication, and learning to let go of the past... and about trying to get along with your immortal boyfriend’s persnickety grown-ass kid whose lover has gotten himself trapped in the form of a fish. (A M/M/M polyamorous paranormal romance featuring a soft psychic, a sweet ghost, and many cute cryptids). Learn more about it over here!
If Wishes Were Fishes is a standalone sequel—reading Empty Vessels is recommended, but not required. But to make it a bit easier to do so, we've put Empty Vessels on sale for 25% off its usual price of $4.99!
Despite everything happening at the moment (whew), we want to continue releasing creative things into the world. We're indie authors, so we're especially grateful for any support (retweets of our tweets, reviews, recs, etc)! Please add the book to your "Want To Read" shelf, and if you're a reviewer or book blogger interested in acquiring a review copy, feel free to contact us.
Stay safe out there!
March 22, 2020
Free ebook until the end of March
I’m so sorry about the recent lack of updates. 2020 has been... well, you all know how 2020 has been. :( I want to do what I can to help bring a bit of joy to people in an isolating time where funds may be tight and spirits a little low, so:
I’m making How Saeter Robbed the Underworld free until the end of March! How Saeter Robbed the Underworld is a novella-length M/M story and the Rainbow Awards 2019 winner of Best Bisexual Fantasy-Romance. Featuring found family, shape-shifting tricksters & a happy ending. Click here for content warnings, an excerpt, and additional information.
You should be able to get it free at this link at all major retailers , but it might take some time to trickle down from Amazon.com to other regional Amazon sites. If so, or if you would rather download it directly, I’ve also posted it in epub, mobi, and pdf formats over on Itch.io .
Learn more about it and my other books on our website! Please follow me and my beloved wife on our book twitter, @softcryptidbook, and if you're interested, here are some other ways to support us.
Watch out for each other (from a good distance, of course) and stay safe out there!
I’m making How Saeter Robbed the Underworld free until the end of March! How Saeter Robbed the Underworld is a novella-length M/M story and the Rainbow Awards 2019 winner of Best Bisexual Fantasy-Romance. Featuring found family, shape-shifting tricksters & a happy ending. Click here for content warnings, an excerpt, and additional information.
You should be able to get it free at this link at all major retailers , but it might take some time to trickle down from Amazon.com to other regional Amazon sites. If so, or if you would rather download it directly, I’ve also posted it in epub, mobi, and pdf formats over on Itch.io .
Learn more about it and my other books on our website! Please follow me and my beloved wife on our book twitter, @softcryptidbook, and if you're interested, here are some other ways to support us.
Watch out for each other (from a good distance, of course) and stay safe out there!
October 19, 2019
All books now available again!
Hi all! Just wanted to give you all a quick update:
1) All of my books are now available for purchase again after the closure of my publisher! You can learn more or purchase them over here. They are now independently published, so I appreciate your support even more than ever (if that's possible!) ♥
2) Since it's October, I especially recommend my two more Halloweeny stories: Only Human, a M/M zombie romance with coffee shop dates and good communication, and Empty Vessels, a M/M paranormal romance about a psychic young man who decides to protect the local monsters with the help of his ghost friend and a mysterious deer-man who owns an antique store.
3) As well as my regular Twitter, my wife and I now have a joint Twitter specifically for talking about our writing, Softcryptidbook! Follow it for book news and updates -- we update it regularly!
4) I am running a Halloween-themed serial interactive fiction game throughout the month of October! It's an urban fantasy starring a bisexual lady lead. Essentially, I write a part, wait for people to make suggestions to the protagonist in the comments, then write the next part on the next day based on what was suggested. Everyone is welcome to join in -- read the story so far , then hop in on the latest part!
Happy Halloween all, and enjoy your reading!
1) All of my books are now available for purchase again after the closure of my publisher! You can learn more or purchase them over here. They are now independently published, so I appreciate your support even more than ever (if that's possible!) ♥
2) Since it's October, I especially recommend my two more Halloweeny stories: Only Human, a M/M zombie romance with coffee shop dates and good communication, and Empty Vessels, a M/M paranormal romance about a psychic young man who decides to protect the local monsters with the help of his ghost friend and a mysterious deer-man who owns an antique store.
3) As well as my regular Twitter, my wife and I now have a joint Twitter specifically for talking about our writing, Softcryptidbook! Follow it for book news and updates -- we update it regularly!
4) I am running a Halloween-themed serial interactive fiction game throughout the month of October! It's an urban fantasy starring a bisexual lady lead. Essentially, I write a part, wait for people to make suggestions to the protagonist in the comments, then write the next part on the next day based on what was suggested. Everyone is welcome to join in -- read the story so far , then hop in on the latest part!
Happy Halloween all, and enjoy your reading!
July 19, 2019
My publisher is closing
By now, you may have heard that, sadly, Less Than Three Press is closing. They've done amazing work in LGBT+ romance and will be sorely missed.
As my books are currently published by Less Than Three Press, this obviously has potential impact on the availability of my books.
Please go here to read more about my plans going forward, and how you can help!
As my books are currently published by Less Than Three Press, this obviously has potential impact on the availability of my books.
Please go here to read more about my plans going forward, and how you can help!
February 5, 2019
Happiness in Numbers releases today!
Happiness in Numbers, a LGBT+ polyamorous anthology focusing on family feels, releases today, at 7 pm EST!! I have a paranormal story in it, and my lovely wife Aveline Reynard has her debut fantasy novella in there as well. You can read more about our stories (including excerpts) over at our website.
Preorder before the release hour to get it at its special preorder price of 15% off!
Preorder before the release hour to get it at its special preorder price of 15% off!
January 27, 2019
Happiness in Numbers
Hey all! I've got a story in Happiness in Numbers, an upcoming LGBT+ polyamorous anthology focusing on family feels. And so does my wife, Aveline Reynard!! (Our stories are even back to back and, believe me, I'm overcome every time I see that).
You can learn more about our stories and read excerpts over our website, but mine's a stand-alone sequel to Empty Vessels introducing a tree deer, his boyfriend who is cursed to be a fish, and his boyfriend's snake girlfriend, and Aveline's is a cute story about a frazzled witch dating a princess, her put-upon demonic familiar, and the princess's cool nonbinary bodyguard.
Happiness in Numbers releases Feb 5. Please consider preordering and/or adding it to your to-read shelf!
You can learn more about our stories and read excerpts over our website, but mine's a stand-alone sequel to Empty Vessels introducing a tree deer, his boyfriend who is cursed to be a fish, and his boyfriend's snake girlfriend, and Aveline's is a cute story about a frazzled witch dating a princess, her put-upon demonic familiar, and the princess's cool nonbinary bodyguard.
Happiness in Numbers releases Feb 5. Please consider preordering and/or adding it to your to-read shelf!
April 23, 2018
How Saeter Robbed the Underworld - Releases Tomorrow
I can't believe it's already almost time: How Saeter Robbed the Underworld releases tomorrow, April 24, at 7 pm EST.
I put a lot of my favorite things (and hopefully yours too!) into this M/M novella:
* A fantasy-mythological setting loosely based on Norse mythology
* Cute demigods with feelings firmly in It's Complicated territory
* A shape-shifting trickster
* A daring rescue
* Found family feels
Explore:
Enter the Twitter giveaway (will close 24 hours after initial release - So, April 25, 7 pm EST)!
Read an excerpt
Preorder:
Less Than Three Press - It's on sale for 40% off if you preorder it directly from the publisher before its release time! (And if you get in a bit late, it's still 29% off until the end of April.)
Amazon.com * Barnes & Noble * Bookstrand * Smashwords * Kobo
(If you're not American, it should also be available from your local version of the online retailers!)
I put a lot of my favorite things (and hopefully yours too!) into this M/M novella:
* A fantasy-mythological setting loosely based on Norse mythology* Cute demigods with feelings firmly in It's Complicated territory
* A shape-shifting trickster
* A daring rescue
* Found family feels
Explore:
Enter the Twitter giveaway (will close 24 hours after initial release - So, April 25, 7 pm EST)!
Read an excerpt
Preorder:
Less Than Three Press - It's on sale for 40% off if you preorder it directly from the publisher before its release time! (And if you get in a bit late, it's still 29% off until the end of April.)
Amazon.com * Barnes & Noble * Bookstrand * Smashwords * Kobo
(If you're not American, it should also be available from your local version of the online retailers!)
February 27, 2018
Smoke Signals - Now available!
Happy book birthday to Smoke Signals, which is now available for purchase! This story is a light-hearted m/m urban fantasy involving a dragon who hoards games, and the put-upon millennial Customer Service Rep who finds himself in charge of taking care of the dragon's digital collection.I put a lot of my favorite things in this one:
* A fluffy kitty cat
* Cooking show marathons
* Knitting
* Video Games
* More video games...
*... that feeling like you definitely bought more video games during the most recent sale than you'll ever get around to playing but the prices were just so good...
* And dragons, obviously!
Where to purchase:
Less Than Three Press ❤ Amazon ❤ Barnes & Noble ❤ Bookstrand ❤ Smashwords ❤ Kobo ❤ iTunes (TBA)
For sites with non-US versions (Amazon, Kobo, iTunes) it should also be available on your local version.
If you enjoy it, it would be rad if you would leave a nice rating and/or review! It seriously makes a huge difference in helping other readers find it.
Thanks for all your support! Happy reading!
February 7, 2018
Smoke Signals Coming Soon, Giveaway, Preorders, Sale!
Lots going on lately, you guys…
First of all, there’s only three weeks left before my upcoming story Smoke Signals comes out! It's a cute, light-hearted M/M urban fantasy story in which an arrogant dragon has a CSR come over to install games in his hoard of video games (and is really bad at feelings).
Interested in trying to win a free copy? Join the Less Than Three Press Goodreads group, then comment here to be entered to win!
Or, of course, you can always just hedge your bets and preorder. And now’s an especially great time to preorder, because…
Less Than Three Press is having a sale through Valentine’s Day where all ebooks are 20% off when bought through their site! With preorders on extra sale. At that price, Smoke Signals will get you a TWO DOLLAR LIZARD. You can find my works right over here , but make sure to check the sale out in general and pick up some sweet reads to keep you (and your loved one(s)) company on Valentine’s Day!
First of all, there’s only three weeks left before my upcoming story Smoke Signals comes out! It's a cute, light-hearted M/M urban fantasy story in which an arrogant dragon has a CSR come over to install games in his hoard of video games (and is really bad at feelings).
Interested in trying to win a free copy? Join the Less Than Three Press Goodreads group, then comment here to be entered to win!
Or, of course, you can always just hedge your bets and preorder. And now’s an especially great time to preorder, because…
Less Than Three Press is having a sale through Valentine’s Day where all ebooks are 20% off when bought through their site! With preorders on extra sale. At that price, Smoke Signals will get you a TWO DOLLAR LIZARD. You can find my works right over here , but make sure to check the sale out in general and pick up some sweet reads to keep you (and your loved one(s)) company on Valentine’s Day!
