Local author to release twist on Beauty & the Beast novel
MADISON – Author and Madison resident Savannah J. Foley is set to release a new novel, Awakened: A Curse Of Rose And Snow, a modern twist on a timeless classic, next week.
Awakened is inspired by the classic Grimm brother’s fairytale Beauty & the Beast but with a twist that appeals to modern audiences. It asks, ‘What if Sleeping Beauty woke up and didn’t remember the Prince?’
Awakened follows main character Rose after she awakes from an enchantment as she seeks to recover her memory, save her country, and avenge her family. Along the way, Rose makes a journey of self-discovery, learning more about herself, her powers, and the difference between truth and lies.
The novel will take readers on a ride filled with emotion, fast plots, and character development.
“My goal as a writer is to write an entertaining and unforgettable book, so my first priority is ensuring the reader has a good time. For me that means fast-moving plots, engaging character arcs, and my signature style: moments that make your heart ache. If you come away feeling like I punched you in the heart, I did my job,” said Foley.
The book is inspired by lyrics from Florence + The Machine’s song “Blinding”: No more dreaming of the dead, as if death itself was undone / No more calling like a crow for a boy, for a body in the garden / No more dreaming like a girl so in love, so in love / No more dreaming like a girl, so in love with the wrong world.
“I listened to this song countless times on my daily commute, reliving the angst and agony over and over again. All my book ideas derive from glimpses of these extreme emotional moments, and the desire to form a plot that justifies and explains their existence,” said Foley.
Foley first moved to Madison with her family in 2007 and has since called the area home. She got her start in the literary world at just 15 years old when she wrote her first book, “Nameless”.
Awakened shows off Foley’s development as a writer since “Nameless”. When writing her first draft of Awakened fifteen years ago, she described herself as a ‘pantser’, a writer who flies by the seat of their pants and improvises plots as they go. Now, she’s a planner.
“These days I’m very focused on planning my plots in ways that complement the characters’ arcs, and using the plot to stress my characters’ weaknesses and psychic wounds. This “Plotting” method requires tons of up front planning and mental work, but can save a lot of time when actually writing because you’ve worked out a lot of the kinks in advance. As I practiced these skills in writing subsequent books I would go back to Awakened to identify plot and character weaknesses, and rewrite the story to improve it in those areas. This is my favorite book I’ve written so far, and I just couldn’t leave Rose’s story alone,” explained Foley.
Awakened will be released on June 9. Preorders for ebook and paperback are available online from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Paperback and hardcover pre-orders are available from local, brick-and-mortar bookstore, Blue Apple Books in downtown Madison, where Foley will host a book signing on Saturday, June 27 at 3pm.
Learn more about Awakened and its author, Savannah Foley, at savannahjfoley. com.
