Ever wondered what Cinderella would do in Bella's place and vice versa? Then check out "The Princess Swap" by Kim Bussing.
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
Is “a love of fairy tales” too obvious of an answer? I learned to write by writing fan fiction (I spent most of 2nd grade working on a Halo x Chronicles of Narnia x Totally Spies crossover masterpiece). I wanted to imagine a version of myself in the worlds I adored, and I was an only child, so I had a lot of time to wonder, “what if?” "The Princess Swap" books were inspired by the stories I grew up on — and continuing to ask "what if" as I wrote. As it happens, fairy tales are kind of like fan fiction, told and retold and reimagined throughout history, so I feel like I'm in good company.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
It means feeling proud of who we are after we finish reading something. Proud of our identity, how we think, how we look, our sexual orientation, our fears, our triumphs, the people we love, the life we want to build, etc. I think Reading Rainbow can look different for everyone, but it hinges on stories that encourage curiosity, compassion, and discovery. Ultimately, when people read one of my books, I hope they feel empowered to explore and make the most of their own story, whatever that might be.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Especially for middle grade readers, books are where we learn about ourselves and others. Representation is crucial for readers to see characters that they connect to — whether that’s through experiences, feelings, or background — and to see those characters overcome difficulties, conquer their fears, and find their voice.
Encountering characters different from us builds empathy and understanding (especially for kids), which we can take into real life. Of course, every writer is limited, so it’s important to read as widely as possible.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
"The Princess Swap" series is essentially Freaky Friday meets the Brothers (Sisters?) Grimm as fairy tale princesses are swapped into each other’s stories. In the first book, Cinderella finds herself trapped in the castle of an evil beast, while Belle wakes up in the cellar of a wicked stepmother and has to find a way to escape, win a magical competition, and save her family.
When I was in grad school, I TA’d a fairy tale class and was absolutely enchanted by the history and scholarship surrounding the stories. They're rich, weird, and persistent in our collective imagination. I was pretty quickly hooked and shifted away from writing realistic fiction to making up middle grade and YA fairy tale retellings.
What can fans expect from your book?
They can expect to see familiar characters and settings from classic fairy tales reimagined in the world of Reverie, along with Easter eggs from different versions of the stories. Readers will join the princesses in journeys that look very different from what we’re familiar with.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
There are some exciting updates about "The Princess Swap" series (I'll post about it on my Instagram!) coming soon! I’m also working on another MG series and a YA series, both of which are retellings of fairy tales.
