by Bach, Shelby
Even when your Tale starts, you react to what the world throws at you—finding whatever magical object your Tale names, fighting off whatever villains show up. There’s no problem with that. Sticking to the guidelines might even help you get a happily-ever-after. But that’s your Tale, not your life. With life, you have no guidelines. Your life starts when you stop just reacting to what happens, and you start making decisions about what you can do.
Your life starts when you start taking matters into your own hands—no matter how scared you might be.
At least, that’s how it was for me. Don’t just take my word for it.
Go and find your own.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing a book is a lot like going on a quest, except you search for the right words instead of golden harps, and you slay plot snarls instead of dragons. But you also get a lot more than two Companions to help you out. Without these people, this book would definitely be a Failed Tale:
Courtney Bongiolatti, editor extraordinaire, whose savvy and vision made this book become all that it could be. I’m so extremely grateful for everything you’ve done. To the people of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, thank you for giving Rory a home and an enthusiastic welcome! Special thanks to Chloë Foglia, who made the cover so pretty.
Joanna Volpe, my rock star agent, who loved and believed in this story from day one. Rory and I would be lost in the cyber slush pile without you and your hard work, and words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation. Sara, Nancy, Kathleen, and Suzie of Nancy Coffey Lit, you guys have been supportive and sweet from Suite 500 to Suite 410. To the extended NCLit crew, your awesomeness knows no bounds. I’m so glad to be part of the club!
Arielle DiGiacomo, old friend, you read it twice (and it’s not short!), and I only paid you in ginger chocolate chip cookies. Amanda S., Jennifer A., Nikki R., and Trisha L. all read early chapters and gave me encouragement, just when I needed it the most.
Professor Beth Darlington of Vassar College, this book would not exist without your Fairy Tale course. (I also want you to know that I read every page of this book aloud to catch typos, just like you taught me.) Dr. Waples, writing wise, you pushed me more than anyone: I once gave you a story, and you read it, declared it fine, and then said that it didn’t have enough of me in it. That ticked me off at the time, but it was probably the best advice of all—for writing and for life. Angela, I was teetering at the brink of a big change, and when I told you I wanted to leave the city and go write novels, you didn’t even blink. “You will, Shelby,” you immediately replied, with such confidence that I started to feel confident too. Maria, Jena, Laura, Barbara, and Rosemary, I’ll never forget your kindness back when I left to chase a tiny little idea about a fairy tale world.
My family, who supported me and my dream my whole life. You never questioned whether or not it was a good idea to be a writer when I grew up, and I’m old enough now to know how rare that is. (Mom, I know what you’re going to ask, and don’t worry—Rory’s parents aren’t based on mine. You and Dad are awesome.) I love you guys.
SHELBY BACH grew up reading every book she could find and writing stories in battered notebooks. She also rarely came home with a clean shirt and had lots of accidents that ended with a hunt for Band-Aids. Nowadays she writes on her laptop rather than in a notebook, but not much else has changed. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. This is her first book.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Simon & Schuster
New York
Meet the author, watch videos, and get extras at
KIDS.SimonandSchuster.com
SIMON & SCHUSTER BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
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www.SimonandSchuster.com
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2012 by Shelby Randol Trenkelbach
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
SIMON & SCHUSTER BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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Book design by Chloë Foglia
Jacket design by Chloë Foglia
Jacket illustration copyright © 2012 by Cory Loftis
The text for this book is set in Usherwood.
Bach, Shelby.
Of giants and ice / Shelby Bach.—1st ed.
p. cm.— (The ever afters)
Summary: Eleven-year-old Rory, daughter of a famous actress and a famous movie director, finds herself becoming a celebrity in her own right as she helps create a new fairy tale as a participant in the after school program, Ever After School.
ISBN 978-1-4424-3146-1 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4424-3148-5 (eBook)
[1. Characters in literature—Fiction. 2. Magic—Fiction. 3. Fairy tales—Fiction.
4. Adventure and adventurers—Fiction. 5. Dreams—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.B1319Of 2012
[Fic]—dc23
2011029781
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Acknowledgments
