We set this story in the 1970s and moved Rapunzel into a high-rise tower block. Our next venture into the world of fairy tales was in 2003 with Rapunzel. Back in 2001 I was still using a dip pen and ink, making a much scratchier line compared to how I draw now.Īfter Cinderella, we realised the enormous and exciting possibilities a retelling of a classic can offer. I was influenced by the movie stars and magazine covers of the 1920s and 30s, and the backgrounds – the wallpaper and furniture – are all based on real art deco designs. My background in fashion design made is especially fun to research the wardrobe for Cinderella. We were so thrilled to get this commission! Lynn wrote pretty much a straight retelling of the story although we had the pumpkin and mice turn into a beautiful car and I had fun giving the tread on the tyres a white mouse design as a modern interpretation of the coach and horses. Researching the different time periods was a great pleasure, taking me from the jazz age and art deco aesthetic of the 1920s and 30s through the 1950s mid-century modern style to the platform shoes and music of the 1970s.Ĭinderella: An Art Deco Fairy Tale was the first classic retelling my sister and I did, way, way back in 2001. The original stories influenced the setting, and in turn each of these settings influenced the retelling of the story. Lynn and I wanted to choose unexpected time periods for each tale. It’s wonderful to see the stories brought together in this new volume, and it’s been really interesting to look back at the series and see how my drawing style and techniques have evolved over time. We completed Cinderella, the first in the series, 19 years ago! Rapunzel followed two years later, and Sleeping Beauty was originally published in 2016. This new edition of the Delightfully Different Fairy Tales I illustrated, with the stories retold by my sister, Lynn, comprises Cinderella, Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty.

Rapunzel by Lynn Roberts-Maloney