Four Dead Queens might not have the happiest title, but the author reveals she was inspired to write the book by some of our favorite Disney Princesses.

‘How I was inspired by Disney Princesses to write my own version of royalty’ by Astrid Scholte

I first visited Disneyland when I was only one year old, and thus began my obsession with all things Disney. It was my parents’ fault, you see. I saw the castle, the Princesses, the magic and knew I had to surround myself with all things fantastical.

My favorite Disney movies as a kid were the “Princess” movies: The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast. Why did I love them? Well, it wasn’t simply because the girls wore pretty dresses or had shiny tiaras, but because they were the hero of their own story. The overarching Disney ideal that you could be whoever you wanted to be, and that wishes would come true, was something that was deeply ingrained in my psyche. As a kid, I thought, I can achieve anything I want. And, my goals are valid. These stories were not only important during my childhood but shaped the woman I am today, and the soon-to-be published author.

I’ve always written stories with teenage female protagonists, who learn and want and dream and wish. If the tales of the Disney Princesses were to be remade into live-action films (some which have already) the parallels to Young Adult fiction would be easy to draw. The young women are at the center of their own story and it is their plight, their desires and their dreams that drive the plot. Some people may argue that the solutions often revolve around men saving the day — especially the older films — but if you take the Princess out of the story, or swap another character into her position, then the entire plot would change. They aren’t just the pretty love interest whose only role is to allow the man to save her.

Over the years, my love for Disney Princesses evolved into a love for Young Adult fantasy, where many tales involve royalty of some kind. As an author, I wanted to write my own spin on royalty, creating a world driven by four very different queens. I believe what makes Disney Princesses enduring across the years is that there’s a Princess for everyone. Whether you’re quiet, sporty, bold, brave, artistic, playful, or bookish, there is a Disney Princess you can see yourself in — although there is still much room for increased diversity. Similarly, I wanted to create four unique queens that each reader could connect with. The queens have their own dreams, desires, and distinct culture. Yet, they all hold equal power across their shared nation. They are supportive of one another, rather than tearing each other down.

One aspect that’s not explored in the Disney Princess films is how the Princesses cope with the responsibilities of the crown. What do they do once they’ve moved into the castle and married their Prince? What are their hopes and dreams then? In the movies, it’s often the crown, or becoming a part of the royal family that is the end goal — the saving grace.

In Four Dead Queens, I wanted to explore the idea that becoming a royal is not always the best outcome. At the beginning of the book, the queens — of varying ages from 16 through to 40 — have already been crowned and they’ve each dealt with their own trials and tribulations to get to that point. But not everything is idyllic after coronation, and sometimes the life of a royal can include further hardship.

There will always be something appealing about the idea of being a Princess — of having everything you want at your fingertips: wealth, power, and love. But not every Princess will live happily ever after when they become queen. And for some, their crown will be their undoing.

More about ‘Four Dead Queens’ and Astrid Scholte

The official synopsis for Four Dead Queens reads:

Seventeen-year-old Keralie Corrington may seem harmless, but she’s, in fact, one of Quadara’s most skilled thieves and a liar. Varin, on the other hand, is an honest, upstanding citizen of Quadara’s most enlightened region, Eonia. He runs afoul of Keralie when she steals a package from him, putting his life in danger. When Varin attempts to retrieve the package, he and Keralie both find themselves entangled in a conspiracy that leaves all four of Quadara’s queens dead.

With no other choices and on the run from Keralie’s former employer, the two decide to join forces, endeavoring to discover who has killed the queens and save their own lives in the process. When their reluctant partnership blooms into a tenuous romance, they must overcome their own dark secrets in hopes of a future together that seemed impossible just days before. But first they have to stay alive and untangle the secrets behind the nation’s four dead queens.

An enthralling fast-paced murder mystery where competing agendas collide with deadly consequences, Four Dead Queens heralds the arrival of an exciting new YA talent.

Raised on a diet of Spielberg, Lucas and Disney, Astrid knew she wanted to be surrounded by all things fantastical from a young age. She’s spent the last 10 years working in film, animation and television as both an artist and manager. Career highlights include working on James Cameron’s Avatar, Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tin Tin and Happy Feet 2 by George Miller. She’s a visual writer and aims to capture the vivid stories that play like movies in her head. Her debut YA fantasy/murder mystery, FOUR DEAD QUEENS, is out with Putnam/Penguin Random House on the 26th of February 2019.

Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte will be available on February 26, 2019. Until then, you can pre-order it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, and Book Depository, or add it to your Goodreads list.