From Jackie Sonnenberg, the local author who brought you The Little Dog Laughed (a vampire story with a twist) and The Lamb Was Sure To Go (a horror adaptation of Mary Has a Little Lamb), comes a brand new fairytale mash-up: MICE! The newest addition to Sonnenberg’s twisted Semyhr Yresrun (nursery rhymes spelled backwards) series, MICE combines two familiar stories: the classic Three Blind Mice nursery rhyme and the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella.
We were so thrilled to sit down with Jackie Sonnenberg and discuss this new book and the resulting evolution of her Semyhr Yresrun series. Thank you, Jackie, for chatting with us!
More About MICE by Jackie Sonnenberg
From the back cover blurb:
The mice Magnus, Ignatius, and Pestilence are blind, but they can see things no one else can. They knew when the servant girl came into the curio shop, and they knew they had so much to show her. Especially because she was already exposed to the terrors of the night, and she was about to experience more. The scarecrows stalk the fields at night, enchanted with a powerful magic to guard something even more powerful: A mystical being with the ability to grant wishes.
Through visions of the past, present, and future, the three soothsayer mice tell the story of how a poor servant girl finds her way into a vast labyrinth and makes a wish to change her life…a wish that results in a grand transformation she never asked for: The very monster she herself used to fear. She is forced to learn to adjust in a new game of survival as outside forces to hunt her down are on the rise. There is so much more that happened before she got there, and much more that is to come. She learns to prepare, to act, and to strategize, especially with the foes that first presented themselves as friends.
© Jackie Sonnenberg
Part retelling of the favorite stories and part original invention, MICE tells the tale of Aschenputtel (the German name for Cinderella – literally meaning “Ash Cleaner”). Presented from the perspective of three enchanted rodents, MICE turns the traditional legend of hapless princess on its head. Instead of a glass slipper, Aschenputtel’s old boot will be used for evidence of murder. And instead of two bullying step sisters, you’ll find a pair of bone chillingly evil twins. Fairytale girls don’t always turn into princesses. Sometimes they turn into monsters – even when they can talk to animals.
Originally written as a short anthology fable before being expanded into a full-length novel, MICE marks a few firsts in Jackie’s Semyhr Yresrun series. It’s the first fairytale mash-up with inspiration from two separate and dramatically different stories. And it’s the first time a gender neutral character appears in one of Jackies’ books. With themes of dark magic, transfiguration, and complicated heroes, MICE promises to be a terrifying journey into the cornfield and beyond.
How to Read MICE
You can buy your own copy of MICE on Amazon! Available as a physical paperback or Kindle ebook, MICE is recommended for adults 18 years or older.
About Jackie Sonnenberg
Jackie Sonnenberg is an experienced and accomplished writer. As the 2020 and 2021 Best Local Author Nominee for Orlando Weekly, Jackie’s portfolio includes a variety of fiction and well as non-fiction work. Visit her website for more information about her books and other projects.
But as a well-rounded artist, Jackie isn’t only a talented writer. She’s also a seasoned scaractor with a resume including haunted attractions like Scream n’ Stream, Shallow Grave, and Dark Horizon. Using her performance experience and artistic talents, Jackie creates beautifully intricate cosplay characters to promote her books at various local conventions and events. You can next catch her as Aschenputtel at Spooky Empire from June 17-19.
© Jackie Sonnenberg
Keep In Touch With Jackie
Keep in touch with Jackie! You can learn more about MICE and stay updated on her future projects by following her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. And of course, read more about her previous works on her website!
