Behind the Story: Apples

Snow White has to have an apple, right? That's the way we've all known the story as we grew up. And yet, as I started writing my version of the tale, I wanted something different. Since my books don't have magic, I couldn't really have a poisoned apple as the way my character gets tricked by the evil queen and has to be rescued. So, I worked out a different twist, still with an apple recipe, but maybe not what you're expecting. And I won't tell more for fear of ruining the surprise.
That being said, there are still a lot of apple elements in my retelling.

1. The uncles all have the last name Apple. And all of their first names are a flavor of apple, MacIntosh, Everard, Pendragon, Spencer, Jazz, Crispin, and Braeburn. Their sister's name was Opal, another type of apple.
2. They run the Apple Inn. Obviously, it's named after them, but Kari incorporates the name into the theme as she redecorates. Apple wallpaper, apple colors on the wall, apple decorations.
3. And apple pastries. When Kari and Jake start using Rosie to make the pastries and goodies they serve for breakfast, she willingly comes up with some new apple recipes to go with their inn. It's a win-win.
So, while there may not be any apples in the classic sense in my story, there are still plenty to pick from. What do you think? Is it enough to still give of Snow White vibes? What other ways could you think of to incorporate apples into a non-magical fairy tale retelling?

---

Fairest Inn All (Real-life Fairy Tales #2)

A queen, seven uncles, and an apple tart … real life is no fairy tale.

Kari White never planned to rescue a historic inn—or risk her carefully guarded heart.

Summoned to coastal Georgia by seven uncles she barely knows, Kari arrives with one goal: fix the failing Apple Inn and leave. Upon arrival, Kari faces challenges including an aggressive developer closing in, deadlines looming, and the inn’s future hanging in the balance.

Royal Barrett believes some things are worth fighting for, especially the soul of his hometown. As the creator of the Fairest Inn All contest, he’s determined to protect Brunswick’s history from being erased. But when Kari and the Apple Inn land squarely in his path, Royal discovers that saving the past may require risking his own future.

Forced together by storms, impossible repair projects, and undeniable chemistry, Kari and Royal must confront the fears shaping their choices. Kari gave up on happily-ever-afters long ago, and trusting Royal could unravel everything she’s built. Yet leaving might mean losing the hope she never believed she deserved.

Fairest Inn All is a sweet small-town romance filled with heart, faith, and charm—a contemporary fairy tale retelling about legacy, belonging, and discovering that love can grow in the most unexpected places.

---