Fairytale retellings and creating new narratives with Kalynn Bayron

Kalynn Bayron is an author and classically trained vocalist. She grew up in Alaska, which apparently means skiing and ice-skating in PE class. She studied opera in college, trained in ballet and can play the clarinet. As if all of that isn’t talent enough, she’s recently published her debut novel, Cinderella Is Dead.

Interview starts at 20 minutes

Mini book club: Read with Pride (Paper and Hearts Society Book 2)

We enjoyed this YA novel about the importance of diverse and inclusive books (even if it did give us flashbacks to high school stress)

In this interview, we chat about:

• The inspiration for Cinderella is Dead (ft Disney Princesses, an old book of fairytales, Once Upon a Time and Wicked)
• Why fairytales have endured for centuries
• Exploring violence in YA and choosing how to represent that on the page
• Using genre to explore contemporary issues and making the discussion more accessible for people who wouldn’t usually read issues-heavy contemporary novels
• Kalynn’s journey to a book deal and publication
• Knowing when to give up on a story idea and writing the story you’re truly passionate about, not just what you think people want
• Why reader reactions keep Kalynn grounded and some of the amazing responses to Cinderella is Dead
• The musicals Kalynn is obsessed with

Books and other things mentioned:

• Books Are My Bag Awards
• Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Follow Kalynn @kalynnbayron and get your copy of Cinderella is Dead at all good bookshops. 

Follow us on Instagram @betterwordspod

*Note: Michelle and Caitlin received PR copies of Cinderella is Dead from Bloomsbury Publishing.