Discovering Magic in Everyday Creativity with Lara d'Entremont

Lara d'Entremont Shares the Inspiration and Artistic Challenge Woven into Her YA Portal Fantasy, The Painted Fairytale

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This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity but reflects the full conversation from the BookWorthy Podcast. Grab a cup of coffee, listen, and read along. This post does contain affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

Valerie - Welcome to Bookworthy, where we talk about the heart behind the books your kids are reading. Today, we're chatting with our author, Lara d’Entremont, about her YA novel, The Painted Fairytale. This YA fantasy novel follows 17-year-old Wren as she navigates grief and discovers that her paintings can open portals to other worlds. It leads her on an adventure that will stretch her heart and her newfound abilities. Welcome to Bookworthy, Lara.

Lara - Thanks so much for having me. I'm really excited to be here.

Valerie - It’s a pleasure to have you. Let's start with the random question of the week: What is a unique thing on your bucket list?

Lara – I don’t know how unique it is, but as a fantasy author, I really want to visit Ireland and walk in an actual castle. Every castle I've created in my mind comes from my imagination and research. It would be nice to have a grasp on something like that.

Valerie - That would be fun! Every castle is different, and it’s amazing to see those differences in person. I took a few trips to Europe in high school, and there was always a cannon pointed at a window in almost every castle I visited. I have a series of photos of me next to the cannon in several locations across Europe. I hope you get to do that one day!

Lara - Ha, I love that. Yes!

Valerie - Too fun! Now, tell us a little bit about your book, *The Painted Fairytale.*

Lara - This is my first novel. I had written a nonfiction book before this, but my heart has always been in fiction, especially fantasy. As you said, this novel follows Wren, an 18-year-old girl. I call her a closet artist. She loves to paint and is good at it, but she won't let anyone see her work. She hates to talk about it. Her mother, without telling her, sends her on a mentorship to develop her art and build confidence. On this trip, Wren learns that her art is more than just something she creates; it has a magical element. She can step through to other worlds through it.

Valerie - And she seems to step into a bit of trouble, doesn’t she?

Lara - Yes, there's a bit of trouble! I won't give too much away, but there are pirates and a sea dragon. Things get messy real quick.

Valerie - It does get messy fast! I’ve only read the first third, but I found the dual POV a bit jarring at first. I was wondering how Stefan fits into Wren's story. It took a while for those threads to connect, but you kept me guessing, which was very engaging.

Lara - Yes, that was a concern of mine. I worked through several drafts, gathering feedback to ensure it wasn't too jarring. It was fun to braid their stories together. Originally, it was just Wren's story, but in later drafts, it became Stefan's story too.

Valerie - They definitely go on a whirlwind adventure! What inspired this story?

Lara - I like to say I have a graveyard of manuscripts and book proposals on my computer. This was my third novel. When I set out to write something, I give myself challenges. For this manuscript, I wanted it to take place in modern times, be contemporary, be a portal fantasy, and include pirates. I thought about different ideas I had in the past and how I could incorporate them into these challenges. This is what came out.

Valerie - That's a fun way to challenge yourself! I don't think I've ever heard an author say, "I want to try this." Usually, the idea just comes, and you feel compelled to write it. I love how you're pushing boundaries. You definitely do that in the book with what both characters are dealing with in their hearts and minds. I love the journey you take them on! Are you a bit of an artist yourself, Lara?

Lara - No, I am a terrible artist! My art is my writing. I know people who paint, and I decided to try it to get into my character's head. The only reason I have any terminology is from talking to other artists and experimenting in my own terrible way.

Valerie - What medium does Wren use in the book?

Lara - Typically, she works with acrylic paint, but she has also dabbled in watercolor. She really doesn't like sketching, which will come up later in the book as she faces that challenge.

Valerie - I can see the acrylic part. Watercolors can be unforgiving! What do you hope kids walk away with from this book?

Lara - I want them to believe their art matters. When you're at that age, especially nearing graduation, there's a lot of pressure from parents and teachers to pursue practical careers. Many students feel like their art is meaningless and won't lead to anything. I don't want to mislead them; art can be hard to break into. But I want them to know that their art serves a purpose. Wren feels she must be practical and live up to her sister's legacy, who was going into the medical field. Wren has zero interest in that, but she thinks her art is meaningless. Throughout the book, she turns back to her art during difficult times. It gives her hope and inspiration. I want kids to see that art has a powerful place in our lives.

Valerie - I love that message! We often push kids to be practical and successful, but there's a deep need to create. We're made in the image of a creator, and that drive to create is essential. Whether it's art, math, or anything else, creativity fills a part of our soul. I've seen people in practical jobs find ways to be creative, and I think that's a unique lesson we can share with kids today.

Lara - Exactly! I want them to see that they can be creative in any pursuit and not view their art as less than.

Valerie - Yes, definitely! Now, when did your writing journey begin?

Lara - I’ve been writing since early elementary school, probably grade one or two. My teacher reached out to my mother, saying I was a terrible writer and needed to practice at home. That challenge sparked my passion for writing. At school, I felt constrained by standards and deadlines. But at home, without pressure, I fell in love with writing.

Valerie - That's such an interesting story! Usually, I hear, "I started writing in second grade and never stopped." I love how you turned that challenge into motivation. It shows in Wren's story, too—accepting oneself and stepping into challenges.

Lara - Yes, exactly! There's a lot of me in her, even though our forms of art are different.

Valerie - It definitely shows! Did you ever think writing would lead to being an author, or was that something that developed over time?

Lara - It was definitely something that developed over time. Like Wren, I felt I needed to pursue something practical. I considered various jobs in the medical field and counseling. Eventually, while at Bible College, I started a blog to write about what I was learning. From there, I just kept going. I returned to writing the fiction I loved as a child. When I had kids, reading stories to them reminded me of the importance of storytelling. It became a creative outlet amidst the chaos of motherhood.

Valerie – I love how fiction can do that! We often think we're too old for it, but having kids shows us the power of stories. Fiction can take us to deeper levels of understanding, beyond just facts.

Lara - Yes, fiction helped me sort through the challenges of motherhood. Even though my characters aren't parents, their struggles resonate with my own.

Valerie – Writing can be therapeutic, revealing insights about ourselves and our characters in the process, right?

Lara - Right, exactly!

Valerie - What is your favorite book?

Lara - This question is hard! What genre are we talking about? Honestly, The Lord of the Rings holds a special place in my heart. It prompted me to return to writing fiction as a mother. It was the first novel I read in years, and I became immersed in that magical world. I realized there’s so much wisdom packed into the story, and I wanted to share what I learned through beautiful storytelling, not just nonfiction.

Valerie - That's amazing! I love the story behind The Lord of the Rings and J.R.R. Tolkien's dedication. It took him 17 years to write the series! It inspires me to be persistent in my writing.

Lara - Exactly! His dedication to building a realistic world is inspiring. He wanted others to experience it as he did.

Valerie - That’s why the book has stood the test of time. Tolkien wove his faith into those pages, offering truths that resonate with everyone.

Lara - I completely agree.

Valerie - What are your kids enjoying reading right now?

Lara - They love nature stories like Brambly Hedge and Beatrix Potter. They also love truck books and learning about bugs and animals. We have a bit of variety!

Valerie - I can relate! I have three boys, so my knowledge of construction vehicles is high. I never thought I’d need to know so much about them! But bugs and animals are fascinating for everyone.

Lara - Yes, exactly!

Valerie - Wonderful! What can we expect next from you?

Lara - I'm currently working on another fantasy novel aimed at the upper middle grade age range. It won’t be portal fantasy but will have a medieval vibe. Still a work in progress!

Valerie - Medieval themes are making a comeback in both adult and YA literature. We all love to revisit knights and princesses! Where can people find out more about you and your books?

Lara - You can find me on Substack at www.laradontremont.substack.com. My author website, www.laradontremont.com, lists all my books. Those are the two main places to learn more about me and my work.

Valerie - You also have links to your other articles, which is fun to explore. Thank you so much for joining me today, Lara!

Lara - Thanks for having me! This has been a lot of fun.

Valerie - It’s been a joy! Thank you for joining Lara and me on this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast. Let us know in the comments what's something unique on your bucket list. Be sure to join in the middle grade madness over on Instagram as we get closer to choosing the number one middle grade novel. You can help decide and possibly win a whole host of prizes. Find out more in the show notes or on Instagram at Bookworthy underscore podcast.

Happy reading!