melissa bashardoust

Re-Announcing...GIRL, SERPENT, THORN

I should probably mention that the book formerly known as She Was and She Was Not has a lot of updates:

  • A new title - GIRL, SERPENT, THORN (which I’m quite fond of)

  • A release date - May 12, 2020 (which is perfect, since the book takes place in the spring)

  • A new plot summary:

There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story.

As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.

Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and what she is becoming…human or demon. Princess or monster.

Announcing...SHE WAS AND SHE WAS NOT

At long last, I have some info about my next book, including a title and a new release date:

SHE WAS AND SHE WAS NOT: A FAIRY TALE will be coming out in spring 2020 from Flatiron Books. The title takes inspiration from a traditional opening to Persian fairy tales: yeki bood, yeki nabood. This directly translates to “there was one, there wasn’t one,” but has been translated in different ways, including my particular favorite version, “there was and there was not.”

I’ve updated all the banners on my site as well, so if you click around and take a look, you’ll get some hints on some of the imagery and motifs you’ll find in the book!