In a world in which old certainties seem to be crumbling, many women feel insecure or lost. In Ripening, Sharon Blackie insists that fairy tales are precisely the stories we need for such times.
In this complimentary Author Spotlight conversation, Sharon Blackie joins Loralee M. Scott, MFA, Vice President of Institutional Advancement & Lifelong Learning at Pacifica Graduate Institute, for a depth-psychological dialogue on her forthcoming book.

Long before they became bywords for people-pleasing princesses, these old stories – passed down to us through generations by our peasant ancestors – told us everything that women need to learn about the world. They might be set in difficult and dangerous times, but they insist that their heroines face the unfaceable and dig deep for previously unimagined inner resources. They teach us to be savvy, inspire us to grow in confidence, show us how to be bold and claim the future we dream of.

More than anything, fairy tales are soul-food. They show us how to take hold of our own personal narratives and transform them into stories that might begin with trauma, but end with empowerment. They offer us images of startling resonance and beauty, while showing us how to recognize and make use of the possibilities that rise to the surface when broken systems are cracked open.

Critics’ Reviews:
‘Beautifully written and full of wit, Ripening makes a compelling case for the importance of fairy tales to modern life.’ – Marya Hornbacher, New York Times Bestselling author of Wasted and Madness

‘If you find yourself on a threshold and are looking for a larger context, or cauldron, in which to forge the meaning of your life, or maybe just a new direction, there’s no finer guide.’ – Elise Loehnen, New York Times bestselling author of On Our Best Behaviour

‘Ripening shows us how we can move through life with vision and sensitivity. A fascinating, thought-provoking and authoritative read.’ – Katharine May, Sunday Times Bestselling Author of Wintering and Enchantment

‘Sharon Blackie ventures further than most of us have courage for, and then comes back with a map.’ – Melissa Harrison, Award-winning Author of All Among the Barley and the Stubborn Light of Things

Ripening is published on May 14 by September (an imprint of Duckworth Books).

Pre-order Ripening. Click here for the Preorder link tree: https://linktr.ee/ripeningsharonblackie