The Mask and Rose

Over twenty years ago, I wrote this tale in a book that never got published. It was supposed to take place during Mardi Gras, and it was a short story for adults. But when I found the story while cleaning one day, it stuck in my head again. And it seemed too sweet of a tale to assign to oblivion. My plan was to make the characters and photograph them myself. I learned the hard way that needle felting beautiful people is almost impossible. There's a reason that most needle felted ballerinas and fairies do not have faces. So one of my boys suggested I use AI. I balked at first, because it felt like cheating. But after house and hours of taking Canva pictures and changing them in Photoshop to exactly what I needed, I didn't feel quite as guilty. Besides, without it, I wouldn't have the beautiful watercolor pictures that give this book such a once-upon-a-time feel. 

Rereading this book, I often think that it's not as much for children as it is for women like me. It's a poignant reminder of love, true love, sacrificial love, the only love capable of giving us a happily-ever-after one day.