Lifestyle

Get To Know The Mastermind Author Behind The Fantasy World of Twisted Fairy Tells: The Untold Truths

Published

5 years ago

May 24, 2021

“The Three Little Pigs”, “Goldilocks And The Three Bears”, and “Little Red Riding Hood” make up some of the dozens of fairy tale classics we were told when we were children. But if we were to take a closer look at some of these magical tales, we’d realize that their original versions are far more twisted than the ones we recognize in the movies and children’s books today. We sat down with William Moore, the author of the fiction novel Twisted Fairy Tells: The Untold Truths, to discuss the centuries-old history of these tales and how he’s incorporated them into a new fantasy world with a dark & twisted reality that’s ideal for an adult reader.

Q: Tell us a little bit about Twisted Fairy Tells: The Untold Truths.

Moore: [The book] is narrated by Charles Wellington; also known as the Keeper of Tales. He is handed down an old, mystical scroll that appears to have nothing on it, until he realizes it works off of magic. Eventually, he figures out the scroll contains secret stories of some of the classic fairy tales we know from our childhoods, like Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel. But in this world, they consist of a twisted alternate reality.

Q: Do the stories in the book match up to the original tales from the 1600-1800s?

Moore: Yes and no. I did incorporate specific names, dates, and places that are in line with the originals, some of which are far older than the 1600s. I encourage the reader to fact-check them because they took me forever to research. But the series of “twisted tales”, along with the origins and backgrounds of each character, are my creation.

Q; Speaking of research, how long did it take you to find all the information necessary to write the novel?

Moore: It took about seven months of deep research for the entirety of the book. I knew most of the classic fairy tale stories everyone else knew, but researching the originals served as inspiration for me to create the perfect twist. I read thousands and thousands of articles that mostly contained speculated information. It’s impossible to know the exact accuracies of the original stories because they were created so long ago, but for the most part, you begin to understand the specific elements of the events that took place.

Q: So, all of these tales are based on true stories?

Moore: Some of them are said to be based off of historic events, but there are obviously some elements that are exaggerated. No one knows for sure. All I know is that the real stories are really, really, really dark, and they are very far from the stories Disney and the Grimm brothers have put out.

Q: Where’d you get the idea to write Twisted Fairy Tells: The Untold Truths?

Moore: One of my good friends, Carlos Lopez, is an artist and a painter. He was working on some contemporary pieces that incorporated twisted versions of classic fairy tales, and he invited me over to look at some of the ones he had finished. When I saw them, I was floored. They were incredible. They inspired me to start thinking of the story behind each painting, and I thought, ‘how cool would it be to write a creepy version of all the fairy tales from my childhood?’ I told him about my idea and he told me it was worth a shot. So I went home and wrote my first remixed story about Santa Claus. The book started from there.

Q: How long did it take you to write the whole thing?

Moore: It took me about a month and a half to finish writing, not including the research portion.

Q: How did you finish it so quickly?

Moore: The book pretty much wrote itself. The scenes played out in my head and I would write what I saw as it was happening. The characters did whatever they wanted in my head. I was just a spectator.

Q: Is your process usually like that when you’re writing?

Moore: Yes, most of the time. I don’t have to do too much for it to start pouring out. I just blast music– not to listen to but to help me zone out– and I start writing.

Q: Did you go through a long editing process?

Moore: Not at all, actually. No edits were made to the storyline after I completed the book. I trusted the process wholeheartedly and it ended up making perfect sense in the end. The only edits were for grammatical and stylistic purposes.

Q: Who is considered the ideal reader for this novel?

Moore: Well, I didn’t have anyone in particular in mind. I wrote it so that a reader of any age could enjoy it. But I guess it’s mostly intended for ages 14-25. Essentially, older audiences.

Q: What was the hardest part about the writing process?

Moore: The research was, by far. It took up a lot of time and a lot of reading. There were so many details that went into the novel. It was fun, but there were a lot of sleepless nights.

Q: What would your ideal success entail regarding the launch of the series?

Moore: I’m a big cosplay fan, so my long-term goal is for the series to take part in a big cosplay conference. You know, like the Comic Cons events. I want the readers to want to get familiar with the characters and the fantasy world even after they’re done reading.

Q: When does the book come out?

Moore: The first part is available now, and Part Two will be releasing in October.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with your future readers?

Moore: My writing is my ability to share the experiences in my head and some of the things I’ve lived through with some of my readers. It is my escape. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to do that. And I just hope other people will enjoy it as much as I did writing it for them. There is so much yet to come.

You can find Twisted Fairy Tells: The Untold Truths on Amazon.com and other online retailers.

Lifestyle

When Seasons Shift: Dr. Leeshe Grimes on Grief, Loneliness, and Finding Light Again

Published

7 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Michelle Langton

Some emotional storms arrive without warning. A sudden change in weather, a holiday approaching, or even a bright sunny day can stir feelings that don’t match the world outside. For many people, the hardest seasons are not defined by temperature; they are defined by what’s happening inside, where grief and loneliness often move quietly.

This is the emotional terrain where Dr. Leeshe Grimes has spent her career doing some of her most meaningful work. As a psychotherapist, registered play therapist, retired U.S. Army combat veteran, and founder of Elevated Minds in the DMV area, she understands how deeply seasonal shifts and unresolved grief can affect people. Her upcoming books explore this very space, guiding readers through the emotional weight that can appear during different times of the year.

What sets Dr. Grimes apart is her ability to see clearly what many people overlook. Seasonal depression, for example, is usually tied to winter months. But she often sees it appear during warm, bright seasons, the times when the world seems happiest. For someone already grieving or feeling disconnected, watching others travel, celebrate, or gather can create its own kind of heaviness. Sunshine doesn’t always lift the mood; sometimes it highlights what feels missing.

The same misunderstanding surrounds grief. Society often treats it as a short-term experience with predictable phases and a clean ending. But in her practice, Dr. Grimes sees how grief keeps evolving. It doesn’t disappear on a timeline. It weaves itself into routines, memories, and milestones. People learn to carry it differently, but they rarely leave it behind completely. And that’s not failure, it’s human.

Her approach to mental health centers on truth rather than pressure. She encourages clients to acknowledge the emotions they try to hide: sadness that lingers longer than expected, moments of joy that feel out of place, and the waves of loneliness that return even when life seems stable. Instead of pushing for quick recovery, she focuses on helping people understand how emotions shift and how to care for themselves through those changes.

Much of her insight comes from her military years, where she witnessed the emotional toll of loss, transition, and constant survival. She saw how people continued functioning while carrying pain that had nowhere to go. That experience shaped her belief that healing requires space, space to feel, to speak, and to move through emotions without judgment.

In her clinical work today at Elevated Minds, she encourages people to build small, steady habits that anchor them during difficult seasons. Journaling helps them recognize patterns and name what feels heavy. Community support breaks the cycle of isolation. Therapy creates a place where emotions don’t have to be minimized or explained away. And intentional routines, daily sunlight, mindful breaks, and calm evenings help rebuild emotional balance.

Her upcoming books expand on these ideas, offering practical guidance for navigating both grief and seasonal depression. She focuses on helping readers understand that healing is not about escaping pain. It’s about learning how to live with it in a healthier way, honoring memories, acknowledging loneliness, and still allowing room for moments of light.

What makes Dr. Leeshe Grimes a compelling voice in mental health is her ability to bring language to experiences that many struggle to explain. She reminds people that emotional seasons don’t always match the weather and that there is no single path through grief. But within those shifts, she believes there is always a way forward.

The seasons will continue to change. And with the right tools, compassion, and support, people can change with them, finding steadiness, softness, and light again, one step at a time.