Disney movies are a hallmark of childhood, adding a sense of magic and wonder to the world that never really fades away. The classic Disney fairy tales and stories we know and love shape our childhood and stay with us forever. We sing along to the songs and watch the classic movies enough that we think we know the characters by heart, but what if their stories were different? This is exactly the question that our special guest, author Farrah Rochon, aims to answer when writing her Disney-inspired young adult books.
For Farrah, the magic of the Disney universe is never set in stone; there is always a new story to be told or a new twist to be given to the characters we adore. We had the pleasure of talking to Farrah about her experience writing stories for Disney’s beloved characters, and her newest release, Bemused, the untold origin story of the 5 Muses from Disney’s Hercules. Read on for a glimpse at how even the oldest Disney stories can be made anew.
About Farrah Rochon
Farrah Rochon is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of 40-plus adult romance and young adult novels, novellas, and short stories. When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading, traveling the world, visiting Walt Disney World, and catching her favorite Broadway shows.
Thank you so much for joining us, Farrah. Let’s get started.
For any readers unfamiliar with your novels, can you tell us a little bit about the Disney books you have published so far?
I’ve been lucky enough to publish five titles with Disney so far. In their Twisted Tales series, I’ve written twists on The Princess and the Frog (Almost There), Brave (Fate Be Changed), and The Lion King (Be Prepared). I also contributed to The Twisted Tale Anthology, which is a collection of short stories that twist both old and new Disney classics.
My latest title with Disney is my first outside of the Twisted Tales universe. Bemused is an origin story of the Muses from Disney’s Hercules. These five sisters have long been some of my favorite Disney characters, so having the chance to write their origin story was huge for me. It’s also tons of fun to play around with the Greek gods.
You were originally a romance author. What led you to explore Disney and the young adult genre?
I actually approached Disney with the hope of writing an adult romance novel based on the Disney princesses. I knew of the Twisted Tales series at the time, but because I wrote romcoms, I never saw myself writing one. However, when Disney asked if I would be willing to write Almost There, I couldn’t say no. Tiana is such a special character, and it was an honor to bring her story to life. I don’t necessarily collaborate with the other authors when writing my Twisted Tales, but I am friends with them all.
The Twisted Tales series is one that has captivated audiences since it first emerged in 2015. Could you share the inspiration behind your stories? How did you decide on the unique angle for each tale?
I approach each Twisted Tale I write with the same goal in mind: to make the twist as different from the original movie as possible while also staying true to the characters. For Almost There, making a deal with the Shadowman is something the movie version of Tiana would never consider, no matter what. I thought it would be intriguing to test Tiana’s moral compass by dangling the most enticing prize in front of her, the chance to be with her father again.
In the same way, in Fate Be Changed, my goal was to show a less bratty Merida. I wanted to give her more depth and a deeper understanding of her mother. The time travel angle was a fun way to test my creativity as a writer. I enjoyed it immensely.
Are there any other Disney stories you are eager to explore? Can you tease us with any future projects?
I’m not allowed to share any Twisted Tales that are under contract, but there are so many fabulous Disney movies that deserve to be twisted, in my opinion. Finding Nemo would be a fun tale to twist. I also think some of the stories that already have Twisted Tales can be twisted again.
What is your personal connection to Disney, Pixar, and fairy tales that inspired you to reimagine these beloved stories?
I am an unapologetic Disney adult. It’s basically my personality, with my life revolving around visiting the parks, sailing on Disney Cruise Line, and watching my favorite Disney movies whenever I get the chance. There’s something about being immersed in the Disney bubble that inspires me. Seeing the joy on people’s faces, especially the kids who see the characters as real, harkens back to when I was a kid and everything was magical. I love everything about it.
What is your creative process for writing in the Twisted Tales series? Do you start with a “what if” question or a specific idea, and how do you develop the story from there?
The “what if” question is at the heart of every Twisted Tale. I’m a huge plotter, and whenever I start plotting my stories, I always keep that “what if” question at the front of my mind. The fun thing about writing Twisted Tales is that I can let my imagination go to far-off places, and I love throwing out wild scenarios. Sometimes those scenarios even make it into the book (spoiler alert: the “disappearing characters” in Almost There).
Disney has been under a lot of heat lately for being one of many production companies constantly churning out sequels and live-action adaptations rather than creating new stories. Have you faced any issues internally or externally while rewriting these classic Disney stories?
Quite the opposite. I get messages all the time from people who wish the Twisted Tales would be made into movies. While the live-action adaptations tend to follow the animated versions to the letter, many of the Twisted Tales have only one element that is pulled from the movies. From there, the stories veer off, resulting in an entirely new and fresh tale.
Is there a Twisted Tale you’d love to revisit with a new twist or perspective?
There are so many stories I would love to tell. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie, so if given the chance, I’d love to write another twist to it. I already mentioned Finding Nemo, which I think would be such fun! I also think A Bug’s Life and A Goofy Movie deserve a twist. The options are endless.
As fans of Disney and fairy tale stories, our team is always looking for new reimaginings to delve into. Which books or authors are your go-to stories?
I’m a huge fan of the Disney Villains, so you can’t go wrong with Serena Valentino’s Villains series. I love any story that delves into the backstory of the characters we’re supposed to hate and shows us the reason behind why they are the way they are.
Thank you to Farrah Rochon for letting us in on her magical part in the Disney universe! Be sure to follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Add Bemused to your TBR and don’t forget to check out her Twisted Tales stories, Almost There, Fate Be Changed, and Be Prepared!
To check out more of our exclusive talks with authors on our One-on-One Interview series, click here!
For our fantasy and sci-fi recommendations for young readers, check out our Bookshop bookshelf.
