Happily Ever Afters?

So I’m nearing the end of my WIP, Belle and the Beast. I was pretty sure I had the ending worked out where the Beast was transformed back into a man after being shot by an angry mob. He and Belle were going to move to Philadelphia to work as abolitionists while the Beast’s former slaves were set free.

Perhaps it had a little bit of a Disney-type happily ever after, but I was nonetheless pleased with it.  

Then I went on my walk. As I was listening to the soundtrack to Disney's Beauty and the Beast, I was thinking again about my own ending to this "tale as old as time." It hit me that my ending might just be too perfect. All of the good-guys get to live happily ever after. The Beast is transformed, Belle gets to go back up North, and some slaves get a shot at freedom. What's not to love, right?

I am beginning to think that my ending is too perfect. It's too much like a children's cartoon, and the thought is scaring me.

I don't want to kill anyone off.

I love a lot of my characters and don't want them to die. I have Walter, Phoebe, and Mariah, a slave family who was once owned by the Beast. I don't want to break the family apart by killing off Walter or Phoebe as I can't bring myself to kill off a little girl.

Then I thought about killing off another slave, but I just can't bring myself to do it.

Alot of Young Adult Fiction seems to have Happily Ever Afters. The books that I've read that aren't a part of a trilogy usually have everyone living and fulfilling their dreams.

So what do you think I should do and what do you think of Happily Ever Afters?

 

Love Interests in YA and Beyond.

So I've been hard at work on my retelling of the classic fairy-tale, Beauty and the Beast. So far so good and I'm REALLY REALLY hoping that this may be the one...to break the spell (okay sorry I just had to do that. I have to make at least one Disney reference)



Anyways, I like the way I've written Belle and the Beast...for the most part. I worry about everything so naturally I'm worried that I've made the Beast too whinny and Belle too stubborn and set in her ways. The story is about people--and Beasts--changing which creates an entirely different problem all together.

As most of you are aware, the Beast has to become kinder and gentler in order to win Belle's affections. He was a jerk before and struggles with maintaining his temper. Also, I know a lot of readers don't like the fact that he keeps Belle prisoner in his castle, and I'm also trying to remedy this problem as well. I've made where Belle was given a choice to go, and the Beast stresses that she must come on her own. However, I digress

Back to the problem at hand. I'm liking the Beast for the most part, but there are a few flaws as in every human and animal. I've decided to make a list of all of the YA love interests and main characters that I like and reasons why to help me better form his own character.

Who are your favorite heroes and heroines YA/or anything?


First and foremost, I love Laurie in Little Women. He was funny, sweet, and seemed like a real person. He had some temper problems and Jo chides him on his drinking and gambling, but all in all, I could see myself with that kind of guy. The fact that he is played by Christian Bale in the 1998 film doesn't hurt either. :D



I also like Jo and Meg from the same novel. I can relate to both. I write like Jo and have her temper, but I can also be shy and I care so much about what people think of me like Meg.

I was also a fan of Teddy Cutting in the captivating Luxe series. Again, another sweet and reliable guy who I instantly fell in love with. He was always there for his gal even when she got knocked up by the stable boy and ran off to California.

Another man I swoon over is Jane Austen's Henry Tilney from Northanger Abbey. He put up with Catherine's delusional nonesense--even though she was kind of right about his dad--and knew ever so much about muslin. ;) He wasn't over the top or Mr. Suave, but just a down-to-earth fellow who could be entrusted with the purchase of a gown.

 

 (Apparently he was played by Wishbone in an episode of Wishbone. I need to see it...NOW!)

I can't think of any more right now and I'm DYING to get outside and enjoy this beautiful day, but let me know who your favorites are and why.