When I was a little girl living in West Germany (my father was in the Air Force), my best friends were books. I went through a phase completely engrossed in fairy tales. There was a series of books called The Red Fairy Tale Book, The Blue Fairy Tale Book, etc. through all the colors of the rainbow and I read them all. It was great escapism as in my real life I was very lonely with few friends. This love of fairy tales was behind this first book, but with a new take of the tale. My heroine is not like any princess I ever read about because I grew tired of all of those beautiful princesses who always needed saving. I wanted someone to admire and emulate and that is how Olive was born from the little girl who loved fairy tales.