When I think about the books that shaped me as a writer, two always come to mind: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen.

The Little Prince taught me that children’s stories could be wise, bittersweet, and deeply moving—a fairy tale that wasn’t afraid of sadness. I still remember reading it in 5th grade, realizing for the first time that a story could be both whimsical and heartbreaking.

The Snow Queen, on the other hand, showed me the beauty of cold imagery, haunting villains, and the kind of atmosphere that lingers with you long after the last page. It was less about “happily ever after” and more about what we lose and find in the process of growing up.

Those two stories planted seeds that eventually grew into Fabled, Book 1: Icebound, the first book of my Fabled series. My world is darker, my characters more flawed, but the spark that drives me still comes from those timeless tales.

What about you? Which childhood story still lingers with you today?