Saturday, October 31, 2009

When Beauty *IS* the Beast by Inez Kelley












I love the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. Cartoon, live action, stage make up or ink drawn, I don’t care. It enchanted me as a child and drew me as an adult. The idea of seeing deeper than skin, deeper than face value to the true heart of a person, I find a wonderful value lesson. It doesn’t matter if the female is the beauty and the hero the beast or the reverse, the lesson is the same.

But what happens when Beauty *is* the Beast?


That was something I discovered after finishing the first draft of MYLA BY MOONLIGHT. Myla is not human. She is a magical being of immense powers. Her solid forms are feline and feminine. Both are beautiful. She is exotic and mesmerizing with a tranquil gaze that scrutinizes and notes every action. Slender as a water lily with the grace of a ballerina, she is not a threatening figure.


Until you piss her off. Then the beast appears. Not so much in ugly form as in ugly actions. She is a killer. That is her design and she has no mercy. You see her beast, her fanged jaguar as it kills a wolf and enemies of Prince Taric. As a woman, she snaps a guard’s neck with her bare hands. She excels in war, beheading and killing while wearing chain mail and swinging a sword.

Taric’s best friend meets Myla and makes an astute observation:


Eyes narrowed, she fixed the young man with a predatory stare. The smile slid from his lips and a gulp worked his throat. “I spare no mercy for any man, woman or beast who threatens the prince. Heed that, Sir Bryton, and you shall never need fear my claws.”

A low snort sounded from her right but she didn’t move her gaze from the wide-eyed man seated before her. Slowly he nodded and a little curl lifted the side of his mouth. “Formidable bodyguard you have, Tar—beautiful and fierce, such a lovely but deadly combination.”

She puts herself between danger and Taric and is prepared to give everything to keep him safe, including her death. But Taric sees her beauty even while her ugliness is front and center. The beast in Myla is still a beauty to him because he loves her. He doesn’t love her DESPITE this flaw but in totality, accepting her as she is. She is both Beauty *AND* Beast and he would have her no other way.

Here are Taric’s thoughts:

Seeing her clad head to toe in mail, he would never have guessed she possessed the curves he’d caressed the night before. She was a fighter, a soldier and a killer. Myla as a lover was incredible. Myla as a jaguar was mesmerizing. Myla as a warrior was breathtaking. If war could be called music, she would be its dancer for her grace and speed were choreographed to a deadly melody. Each twirl and vault of her stance seemed more ballet than fight but her blade drew blood time and time again. In the midst of death and bloodshed, she captivated him.

Beauty and the Beast or Beauty as the Beast, the story basis is the same. Love knows the true heart.



Tell me your favorite Beauty and the Beast story. Do you prefer the hero or heroine to be the beast and why?


Inez Kelley writes a little of this, a little of that and a whole slew of the other but they all come with romance. Currently, she is working a sequel to MYLA BY MOONLIGHT. You can visit her website at http://inezkelley.com/.

One random commenter will recieve a download of Myla by Moonlight. Don't forget to leave us a way to contact you. 

21 comments:

Sandra Sookoo said...

Awesome post! Beauty and the Beast is my all time favorite fairy tale. Hands down.

As for me, I have no preference which is the beast. It works out both ways and in different ways. Acceptance and love are always the themes and I love any variations.

I'll have to pick up a copy of your book :-)

Virginia C said...

OH, you made my day with the beautiful picture of Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman from Beauty and the Beast. Incomparable, mesmerizing Ron!

I prefer the man to be the "Beast" so that he will learn humility and what true love means. However, your story sounds very intriguing. I think it would be a great read!

gcwhiskas at aol dot com

Jeannie Lin said...

Myla is a wonderful character! If she's a beast, she's a wicked sexy one. Overall, I'd prefer the hero be the beast, but an awesome heroine can always change my mind.

P.S. I have a Beauty as the beast plot in my hope chest right now. She's about four books away if all goes well. Crossing fingers.

JulieDestry said...

Traditionally, it's always the man portrayed as the beast. Myla's a refreshing change from that norm!

Beasts come in many shapes and sizes though, and things can be very interesting when both parties have that animal waiting to claw it's way out - Buffy and Angel for example.

I believe the heart can see past the ferocity. Some may never be tamed, but there's always someone for everyone.

Sela Carsen said...

I love all different versions of Beauty and the Beast, though I'm especially partial to the way Robin McKinley tells it in her stories.

As to whether it's the H or h as the Beast, I used to prefer the hero as the Beast, but I have a story on a backburner that features the heroine as the Beast. It's not an easy tale to tell!

Ooooh, and if I win, snag me at selacarsen at gmail dot com

Nancy G said...

I kind of enjoy the female a the beast, because we are the more cunning and dangerous of the lot anyway. Men are more open, we are more covert. Don't enter me, a already have the book.

Unknown said...

I love Beauty and the Beast. It doesn't matter to me which is the beast.

Rhonda
rwolf(at)evansville(dot)net

Ella Drake said...

Beauty and Beast stories are awesome and I like both versions, with hero or heroine as beast. I've read several Gothics or re-tellings of Jane Eyre with hero as beast & I adore those.

I love Myla by Moonlight. It's a truly magical story.

s7anna said...

wow...you brought back some great memories! Beauty & the Beast has got to be my absolute favourite fairy tale of all time. I'm curious to see the beast role being played by a female b/c for the most part it's portrayed by male characters...Myla sounds like a great chick. I can't wait to get to know her some more and read her story.

Happy Halloween!!!
Anna Shah Hoque
s7anna@yahoo.ca

Anonymous said...

I love the Beauty and the Beasts story. I don't think I've ever read a story with the heroine as the beast but I'd sure love to win Myla! :)

iokijo said...

I don't have a preference for who is the beast. I like all versions of the story. You have my favorite pictured. Loved Ron Pearlman as Vincent. He fit that character so well. Although I haven't finished reading Mayla.. good chance it will move Vincent to second place from what I've read so far...

Annie Nicholas said...

I remember watching that tv show.

Annie Nicholas said...

I remember watching that tv show.

Judy said...

I loved the Beauty and the Beast Tv show. I believe that got the ball rolling for that kind of series. I like the man as the beast!!

Hope everyone had a successful Halloween!!

magnolias_1@msn.com

Unknown said...

I totally love Beauty and the Beast and think that Linda Hamilton is absolutely beautiful in that movie. It doesn't matter to me who is the beast as long as the romantic message gets across. I think your version where the heroine is the beast is an awesome turn. I look forward to reading it.

Val Pearson
lastnerve2000@gmail.com

Mitz said...

Wow Inez you really brought back some old memories. I loved Beauty and the Beat movie also watch the series they had years ago it was pretty good to. I prefer the beast, they always seem to be the protectors that everyone looks over. As for Myla she sounds excellent. I love that you have wrote a book based on such a great movie/show. This book sounds really good to me. I will be checking it out soon. Thanks for sharing with us here tonight.
Happy Holloween!!!!
misty_labean@yahoo.com

Fedora said...

I can't recall a story I've read where the heroine is the beast, but I'd love to read one. I do enjoy this premise! I'll be looking for this one, too!
--Fedora
f dot chen at comcast dot net

Jaxxy said...

My favorite Beauty and the Beast story is Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward. Zsadist can be described as nothing but a beast, but Bella loves him all the same.

In spite of this, I prefer the woman to be the beast, LOL.

ArcadiaWearsPrada@Twilighters.org

J Hali Steele said...

Anybody who knows me knows how I feel about the Beauty and the Beast tv show. Now if Vincent had had a woman like Myla, my whole life would be different right now. LOL

This sounds like a book I have to have.

Unknown said...

Hi Inez :)
Thank you for sharing.
I don't know if I have a favorite Beauty/Beast story. The Disney movie was excellent & the songs were terrific. I love Kelly Armstrong's Clayton & Elena.
:)
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo

Debby said...

Great post. I loved Beauty and the Beast.

debby236 @ att.net