“A glint of otherworldly here and there give the reader pause. A changeling? A ghost? A granted wish? All rooted and so naturally integrated into the journey of each main character that you, the reader, get that shiver of recognition. Exceptional read.” ~ V. Webster author of Driven: A Rita Mars Thriller
Once upon a time in a land not so far away, in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, a jealous girl stole a magical artifact from a fairy tale museum, unlocking a curse that might cost her life.
Right now, in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains, a man obsessively studies a wild girl living with and raised by a wolf pack, but soon watching won’t be enough.
Tonight, in a city a storm will rage, waking a boy from a deadly dream and propelling him toward the insidious darkness of his ancestry.
Fairy tales are taking place all around us in modern times. Look closely and you will see fear, fate, and magic intertwine or perhaps discover you are in the midst of a tale of your own.
1st Place in Anthologies/Collections
1st Place in Cover Design
“While any writer might casually take a story like "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp" or "Sleeping Beauty" and just modernize the setting, Berve reaches much deeper. She finely reduces the story down to the core of the moral conflict or the human struggle, and rebuilds it from the ground up in a fresh, original tale. In one of my favorites in this anthology, a classic tale is retold over and over with progressively greater twists, following the author's train of thought through each wild retelling.” ~ Todd Mika author of Tales from Grimmgard
“. . . new takes on fairy tales and magic . . . the stories dealt with real-life issues while still showing how our world can be magical!” ~ Clay Pennington
A record? A vow? A bone? A dream?
In this collection of short stories, broken means a fractured wizard’s staff, betrayed trust, and shattered glass. It means fixing and reusing instead of buying new and the place where the ordinary meets mystery and fantasy.
If you love fiction and seeing the different ways “broken” leads to story, you’ll enjoy these tales.
To Flee? To Fly? A set of stairs?
In this collection of short stories, flight means rockets, space ships, and thrills. It means refusing to settle for abusive relationships and finding the courage to change.
If you love fiction, reading different genres, and seeing the different ways “flight” can be used in stories, you’ll enjoy these tales.
A lie? A Secret? A demon? A past life?
Each story in this collection has been crafted to strike joy, heartbreak, terror, relief, or maybe even a gag reflex in readers as we dredge up stories from deep within the earth and the unconscious mind.
If you enjoy uncovering what’s “buried” in fantasy, science fiction, mainstream, and speculative fiction, you’ll enjoy this collection
Evidence? Alcohol content? A product sample?
In this short story collection, proof means ghosts, zombies, and aliens are real. It means long kept secrets finally see the light of day and the characters aren’t insane.
If you love fiction, reading different genres, and seeing the different ways “proof” can appear in stories, you’ll enjoy these tales.
How do you take a break from screens and relax? Have you tried coloring?
A few years ago, adult coloring books were the hot new item. Coloring is both a fun hobby and proven way to relax your mind, improve your sleep, and release your creativity.
In Magic’s Brewing, you will find:
20+ original illustrations of potions, spell-casters, fairies, dragons, and other magical beings and objects by Beth Berve
Illustrations with lots of detail for days you feel coloring something more intricate
Illustrations with less detail for the days you don’t want to color a complex image
Negative, mirrored versions of the images on the back of each page to prevent markers from bleeding through and add a little something extra to the book
Tips for leveling up your coloring
A poem by Caitlin Berve
I did not kiss a dead girl! I mean, she was barely dead. And I wasn’t kissing her.
Here I am minding my own business out on a hunt when I come across these seven short guys, dwarf men I guess, putting some dame, who looked asleep and alive, into a glass box. What was I supposed to do? Just look the other way?
No, I rush over before they close the lid and find she’s still warm. No one ever questions the dwarves about what they were doing, why they didn’t try to save her, and why they had a glass coffin just waiting for her. It’s always “They took her in,” “They gave her a new family,” or “They saved her from the evil queen.”
But did they save her? You’re telling me these seven dwarves knew to untie a corset that was laced too tight and pull out a poison comb that no one has ever heard of, but they didn’t know how to remove a bit of apple Snow was choking on? And they were going to display her in a glass case like they do those precious gems they mine, yet I’m the creepy one.
Again, I did not kiss a dead girl. I pulled the bit of apple out of Snow’s throat. She still wasn’t breathing, so I breathed for her a few times. Maybe it looked like a magic kiss, but it wasn’t.
You’ll get the point of view of these princes in an email and a monthly excerpt/update on Caitlin Berve’s writing.
Your the next installments of "In Defense of a Prince" and other goodies will arrive in your inbox soon!
“By a Child’s Hand” published in Ghost Parachute. A flash fiction story about a little boy and his grandmother told from the point of view of a deadly weapon.
“I (Don’t) Remember” published in Enchanted Conversation: Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, and Myths. A story-poem about change, magic, and what we actually remember.
“Drink” published in Fudoki Magazine. A microfiction story about a lost little girl and the desert sand people she encounters.
