How do you decide which elements from the original Grimm tales to keep versus which to reimagine?
Well, the first thing that attracts me to a Grimm tale is how weird it is. I’ve read a lot of fairy tales at this point, so if there’s an element that surprises me, I really want to make sure it gets into my version of the story. Once I know there are some weird or surprising elements, then I need to make sure there’s a character we care about. Some fairy tales have this, but many do not—so if the story I found doesn’t, I can change the main character so we get emotionally invested—that way, when the weird (and probably scary) stuff starts to happen, we get worried and nervous and excited! Finally, most of the fairy tales I look at do have happy endings, and I always want my stories to end happily—even if really terrifying stuff happens in the middle—so I make sure to keep, and even enhance, those Grimm happily ever afters.
What's the most surprising reaction you've gotten from a young listener about the podcast?
We had a family drive from Ohio to Brooklyn just to hear a fairy tale told live. Then, a year later, a family flew from Colorado to hear a story. The commitment and devotion Grimm fans are showing to these tales makes me so incredibly happy.
Which Grimm tale was the most challenging to adapt, and why?
Recently, for Season 5, I adapted "Darling Roland". I have wanted to retell that story for years, but I never did for two reasons: first, the end of the story was very similar to another tale I’ve already told, "Little Chick". I didn’t want to repeat any elements, so I needed to find a creative way to change that ending, or emphasize different elements of it, so kids wouldn’t start screaming “WE ALREADY HEARD THIS ONE!” in the middle of recording. Second, there’s a very scary, bloody part in the middle, that I wasn’t sure how to handle. I think I figured it out, though. You’ll have to listen and judge for yourself.
Which Grimm tale(s) are you most eager to tackle next?
I’m very excited about a Grimm fairy tale called "The Queen Bee"—which I have renamed "The King of the Woods". It was another one that had elements that were similar to another story I’d told. I spent a while wrestling with how to make it feel new—and then, I took a nap, and woke up and said “King of the Woods”, and as soon as I said those words, I thought, “I know how to retell that story!” I’m looking forward to sharing it!
If you could give one piece of advice to young storytellers, what would it be?
Have as much fun as you can telling your stories. One day, when you grow up, maybe you want to get paid to write or tell stories. At that point, you’ve got to revise your stories, and think about whether the people who are reading or listening to your tales like them. Being brutally honest with yourself about whether your audience is actually having fun is absolutely vital. But that’s advice for grownups. For kids—have fun. The more fun you have telling your stories, the more creative the stories will be, and the more you’ll do it, which will make you better and better at them. So, young storytellers? Just have as much fun as you possibly can.