Picture an American storyteller who spun fairy tales into witty, whimsical adventures—meet Betsy Schow! Known for her enchanting young adult fantasy series, The Storymakers, Schow blends humor, heart, and a touch of rebellion to reimagine classic tales. From her quirky debut to her role inspiring young minds, her journey is as captivating as her stories.
The Making of Betsy Schow
Betsy Schow grew up with a vivid imagination, blaming mechanical gremlins for her rundown truck and dust bunnies for her messy house. Living in Utah with her husband and two daughters, she found inspiration in the chaos of family life. Before diving into fiction, Schow penned a memoir, Finished Being Fat, chronicling her 75-pound weight loss, which landed her features on The Today Show and in The Wall Street Journal. This candid, motivational voice paved the way for her leap into young adult fantasy, where her playful storytelling truly shines.
Betsy Schow’s Unforgettable Stories
Schow’s breakout hit, Spelled (2015), kicks off The Storymakers trilogy, a clever Wizard of Oz retelling. Princess Dorthea, trapped by a curse and a dreaded betrothal, makes a wish that unleashes chaos, sending her on a quest to save her kingdom. With snarky humor and fairy-tale mashups, the book earned praise for its fresh take on familiar tropes. The sequel, Wanted (2017), shifts to Rexi, Robin Hood’s daughter, as she battles a wicked witch for Excalibur. Banished (2018) wraps the series with Dorthea’s fight to restore her story, blending reality and fantasy in a poignant finale. Schow’s style—packed with puns, pop culture nods, and diverse characters reflecting her LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse experiences—makes her work both accessible and empowering.
Beyond novels, Schow’s Quitter’s Guide to Finishing offers practical advice for achieving goals, rooted in her own transformative journey. Her ability to weave humor and heart into both fiction and nonfiction sets her apart, creating stories that resonate with teens and adults alike.
Why Betsy Schow Matters
Betsy Schow’s impact lies in her ability to craft inclusive, empowering narratives that challenge fairy-tale norms. Her stories celebrate self-discovery and resilience, encouraging readers to shape their own endings. As a tournament director for Odyssey of the Mind, she fosters creativity in kids, teaching them to turn “toasters into robots.” Her work, featured on NPR and The Jenny McCarthy Show, has sold over 100,000 copies, proving her knack for connecting with readers. Schow’s blend of wit and wisdom continues to inspire a new generation of dreamers.
- Lives in: Utah, with her husband and two daughters
- Key Works: The Storymakers trilogy (Spelled, Wanted, Banished), Finished Being Fat
- Fun Fact: Wrote most of Spelled in just three weeks!
- Passion: Directing Odyssey of the Mind to spark kids’ creativity
About Betsy Schow
Ready to tumble down a rabbit hole of fairy-tale fun? Grab Spelled and dive into Betsy Schow’s magical world of adventure and sass!