Welcome Deva Fagan! Thanks to my own good fortune 🙂 I read an ARC of FORTUNE’S FOLLY a few months ago. My favorite thing about this book (other than Fortunata, the resourceful young heroine) is that it’s a fairy tale in the old sense of the word, with magic and princes and castles and secret forests, and I couldn’t put it down until I knew the fate of the characters I’d come to love in the first few chapters.

CONTEST ALERT! Deva is also doing an ARC giveaway! If you’re a blogger, bookseller, librarian, or teacher, head over to Deva’s blog and leave a comment to enter to win 1 of 4 FORTUNE’S FOLLY ARCs, now thrugh May 8!

About FORTUNE’S FOLLY

Ever since her mother died and her father lost his shoemaking skills, Fortunata has survived by telling fake fortunes. But when she’s tricked into telling a grand fortune for a prince, she is faced with the impossible task of fulfilling her wild prophecy-or her father will be put to death. Now Fortunata has to help Prince Leonato secure a magic sword, vanquish a wicked witch, discover a long-lost golden shoe, and rescue the princess who fits it. If only she hadn’t fallen in love with the prince herself. . .

Fortunata’s 2009 Debut Party

At first I was nervous about attending the party of a shoemaker’s daughter, considering that my spendy little addiction happens to be books rather than pumps. But once I read about some of Fortunata’s dad’s creations… well, you’ve got to see them to believe it! Bottom line is — fashionable footwear won’t be the focus of this debutante party!

The Guest List

I’d invite a bunch of my favorite clever, spunky girl characters who I think Fortunata would hit it off with: Betsy Ray from Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy books. Flora Fydraaca from Ysabeau Wilce’s FLORA SEGUNDA. Princess Cimorene from Patricia Wrede’s DEALING WITH DRAGONS. Nita from the YOUNG WIZARDS series by Diane Duane. Tiffany Aching from Terry Prachett’s THE WEE FREE MEN. Anne Shirley from L. M. Montgomery’s ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. And as their chaperone, I would invite Mrs Piggle-Wiggle, from Betty MacDonald’s series.

The Party

It’s a fortune-telling slumber party! Betsy will bring the ouiji board! Fortunata has been through a lot lately (harrowing escapes, lies and treachery, cabbage soup and horribly ugly shoes), so I figure she deserves some fun with the girls! Plus, it’s high time she got to try pizza and ice cream. Flora’s house is too unpredictable, and Cimorene’s has a dragon in it, so it’s probably best they party at Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s house. You can’t go wrong with a house that always smells like freshly-baked cookies and has buried treasure in the back yard! Party favors? Guests will each receive a miniature gazing ball.

Miniature gazing ball? If that’s anything like a magic 8 ball, I totally want one! Not to mention the ill-advised ouiji obsession of my youth… *shiver*

The Guest of Honor: Fortunata

She’ll definitely snag a pair of jeans as soon as she learns how comfy they are from Nita! Later on, flannel PJs printed with little golden slippers and crowns. Fortunata’s theme song? Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Deva Fagan’s Advice for Fortunata on Her Big Debut

Have fun!

You’ll have to check out the book to find out whether Fortunata will untangle her mess in time for the big party, but I wish her and Deva lots of good fortune on their debut!

FORTUNE’S FOLLY is available in book stores now, and also online through Indiebound.

Deva likes searching for patterns, which is how she explains both her degree in mathematics and the echoes of old fairy-tales in her stories. She also loves tea, gardening, and playing the fiddle. She lives in Maine with her husband and her dog. Visit her online.