Finding Fantasy in Fiction

Never Talk to Dragons, a 35,000 word fairytale fantasy for children, and its companion 5,000 word exegesis, Finding Fantasy in Fiction, are duel components of a Masters of Creative Writing thesis. When a dragon lands on thirteen-year-old Princess Annamaria's balcony, all she wants to do is say hello. Being kidnapped and whisked away to fantastical lands with carnivorous unicorns and talking trees is not on her agenda. But when Annamaria's prince is transformed into a mouse while trying to save her from a fiery death, she must find a way to break the spell, rescue her prince, and find her very own happily ever after. Finding Fantasy in Fiction frames the novel within the fantasy genre by considering what makes up the genre. It reflects on a novel’s ability to be a unique text while still sitting firmly within the genre, using multiple fantasy novels, and Never Talk to Dragons, as examples