Nadia Bloom is Little Red Riding Hood?

As I watched the drama of Nadia Bloom's rescue this weekend on CNN. Nadia Bloom story- CNN
It got me wondering about Little Red Riding Hood. The Grimms Fairy Tale about a little girl who gets lost in the woods, on her way to her grandmother's house only to find a wolf instead. Nadia Like Little Red, also went off into the woods by her Florida home in search of adventure, she was reportedly inspired by a book about explorers. Instead of a wolf, Nadia did not encounter anyone, instead becomming confused and lost in the Florida Everglades. For five days alone in a forest full of aligators and deadly snakes.  Thankfully Nadia's story is a happy one, as she came away with only misquito bites.


It got me thinking, what if these stories the Grimms Brothers wrote were not "fairy tales" but in fact news stories of the day? Back in the 15th century the world was very different. It was a world when science was considered a form of witchcraft and the world outside your village or farmstead was one of mystery and danger? 


We all know there are three sides to every story, ( his side, her side, and the truth usually),  but as writers we must look for the fourth side. In how the story is told from one person who is not related to the events to the next person. When does the truth become fiction? 


In fact there is a whole genere in liturature dedicated to this slight of hand with historical facts. It is Historical Fiction.  Phillipa Gregory is the Queen of this genere with books about the British Royals. Like " The Other Boelyn Girl", and "The Virgin's Lover".  But Fairy Tales are different from historical fiction you say? I disagree. Look at it this way -When does a news story CNN would have run, (if they were around in the 15th century) become what the Grimms Brothers wrote for children? How about the other way around?


Gregory Maguire  is great at taking fairy tales and rewriting them to be "actual accounts of real-life events." When you next see a news story think about what fairy tale it might closly resemble.  In fact there is a whole genere in liturature dedicated to this slight of hand with historical facts. It is Historical Fiction. 


Are there any events in your life that might be considered a fariy tale?  When I was doing research into my own family tree, I found I was a direct decendant of King John of England 1167-1216 , much to my surprise he is the King John of The fairy tale Robin Hood. 



Thank God, and all of those who searched tirelessly for Nadia.