Inspired by the Stan Rogers song "Lies" with a nod to "Snow-White," "Mirror, Mirror" is the tale of a winter-weary farmer and mother of seven who feels her beauty slipping away. When she finds a magical mirror that will restore her youth, Marie-Helene realizes a fundamental truth about the real nature of beauty, and the restorative nature of love.
A tale of the restorative nature of love.
* Winner 1st Prize 2003 Science Fiction Writers of Earth (SFWoE) Short Story Contest
I enjoyed Genevieve's story, because as a woman I can relate to her story. I know it is a fantasy story, but I am sure most women over 35 can see themselves in this story.
I am recommending this story to all my female friends. I am sure they will enjoy reading the story as much as I have. Genevieve, keep up the good work. -- Audrey Glascock - Lawton, OK USA
When I was a young man I use to camp out in the beautiful lake country north of Toronto, Canada. One cold winter night, on the back road to my camp site with three of my close friends, my car skidded off the road into a deep ditch. We could not get the car out of the ditch and we were miles from any town where we could get help. All we could do was to wait until daylight and hope someone would drive by and take one of us to the nearest town where we could hire a tow truck.
Just before midnight an Indian appeared in front of the car. We asked him if he knew how and where we could get help. He spoke French and we did not. He soon turned and disappeared into the woods. We figured he was no help for us.
In the morning, we were awakened by a tow truck driver. He told us that he found a note on the door of his shop written in French, which explained that we needed help and where we were located. He also mentioned that his shop was 20 miles away by road and a good 12 miles through the woods, which with the deep snow would be a near impossible trek.
Ms. Kierans, I truly enjoyed your story, but I think you will understand when I tell you I am not sure it is a fictional fantasy. -- Bill Reed - Buffalo, NY USA
I always enjoy a good short story, but it was all the more delightful because you painted such beautiful word pictures for me. Maybe a thousand words is worth a picture.
I relived many a harrowing drive in Northern Ontario in the winter. As a wife and mother, I relived the joy and sorrow of family life with a husband often out of town working during the winter.
A truly good read. -- Charlotte Daly - Port Rowan, Ontario Canada
A very powerful story, it gave me shivers. Her words are beautifully image provoking.
Thank you, Genevieve. -- Darren Moore - Toronto, Ontario Canada
The ordinary, non-metrical form of language - plain speaking - often hinges on the ability of the reader to interpret body language in order for the brain to ferment the information into appropriate mind images. In "Mirror, Mirror," the need for fermentation is replaced by intimate detail which is thrust rudely into our consciousness highlighting human frailty.
The accurate portrayal of the old truism, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," is given new life amid the cold Canadian snow through the subliminal image of old-time Indian magic. It bridges the chasm between what we think we ought to be and what we are. In reality, the story itself is the mirror and the image is self-esteem.
Modern life often has the capacity to stifle our self-esteem, drowning it in a pool of self-doubt and hiding the body in our past. Genevieve Kierans has thrown back the shroud of secrecy and exposed the fragile nature of our ego confirming that for Marie-Helene Carter at least, beauty is more than skin deep. -- Graham Parks - Taperoo, SA Australia
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