Story

Frog's Princess is based on the fairy tale The Frog King and Iron Henry collected by brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm and first published in handwriting in 1810.

There really was an Iron Henry in the Frog Prince story. In this retelling, Iron Henry plays a major part, because he sacrifices himself trying to stop Prince Francis being turned into a frog, and Francis becomes desperate to turn back into a prince to rescue him.

Iron Henry and Prince Francis are waist deep in mud. Iron Henry holds up a branch which Francis clings to. The Witch has her hands raised sending lines of molten iron at Iron Henry.

In the meantime, Princess Emma tries to convince her father and sisters that the kingdom is in peril.

Believing she cannot save her kingdom herself, she dresses in her mother's clothes and takes the treasure of Kassel, the Golden Orb, to call for help.

At the bottom of spiral stone steps, a girl in a cloak and gloves too big for her faces closed curtain.

But not all princes are helpful...

A misty prince on a misty horse points at Princess Emma where she stands by the well holding the Golden Orb. The dialogue text says Girls should not dabble in strong magic.

A frog who thinks he's a prince wants Emma to kiss him, but that would mean she would have to marry him.

Even her sisters think that is going too far.

In a hall with stone walls and wooden rafters, two servants stand by a large table. On the table is Lady Lorelei leaning towards the King of Kassel and the three princesses talking together.

The eldest sister Ramona is clever and kind.

In a room lined with bookshelves, Frog stands on a desk next to parchment with writing on it talking to Princess Ramona who is putting her quill pen in an ink pot.

The second sister Hilda is brave and beautiful.

Princess Hilda stands with her hands on her hips talking to Frog who is sitting on the saddle of her horse. The text reads Then it won't work. Stop asking.

Neither of the elder sisters will kiss a frog.
The text on the following GIF reads, "I'm not talking to an unfit long-legged lily-livered person from a pond like you."

via GIPHY

But maybe, just maybe, the frog and the princess can help each other gain confidence to do what they have to do.

Princess Emma walks down a long golden windy path with her crown glowing. Frog is sitting on her shoulder. The text says Really? I'm not evil? I'm actually good?

After Frog's Princess was co-winner of the Buzzwords Magazine prize for best Middle Grade First Chapter in 2018, an excerpt from the novel was published on the Buzzwords Books website on 26 July 2018 http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com/2018/07/the-frogs-princess.html.