Sharon Blackie for Ripening

'Ripening show us how we can move through life with vision and sensitivity. A fascinating, thought-provoking and authoritative read' Katherine May

In this world, in which our old certainties are crumbling, many women feel lost. In Ripening, Sharon Blackie insists fairy tales are precisely the stories we need for such times. These old stories – passed through generations by our peasant ancestors – teach us to be savvy, inspire us to grow in confidence, show us how to be bold and claim the future we dream of.

Fairy tales 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 images of resonance and beauty, while showing us to recognise and make use of the possibilities that rise to the surface when broken systems are cracked open.

Sharon Blackie is an award-winning and internationally author, and a psychologist with a background in mythology and folklore. Her work is focused on reimagining women's stories, and on the relevance of myths and fairy tales to the personal, cultural and environmental issues we face today.