Framing the action before introducing the dialogue

Dialogue has always been one of my strengths as a writer - sometimes to my detriment.

The last book I started about a high school girl that goes from least to most popular was virtually all dialogue before I dropped the story. It was nothing but talking heads moving from one contrived location to another.

I’m pretty happy with the dialogue in “Backstreet Disneyland” because I set out to frame the action before I ever thought about what the characters would say - trusting that my dialogue strengths would shine through when I needed them later.

That approach allowed me to figure out a voice for each character before grafting dialogue onto their nascent personality. It also forced me to focus on the action - one of my storytelling weaknesses.

With the dialogue introduced later in the writing process I was able to have my characters express themselves in concise yet conversational ways. I constantly found myself editing down the dialogue to the bare minimum - cutting away exposition that was better handled by the narrator and letting my characters speak in shorter bursts like real people do.

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star
Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

Getting to know the real Darth Vader

It always seemed to me that after a long day of destroying the universe that Darth Vader would want to kick back and chill with his friends over a drink (although he obviously can’t imbibe).

I always envisioned a “Backstage Disneyland” version of Darth as laid back, mellow and overly apologetic when his temper flared. I took my cue for Backstage Darth from the Star Wars Dance Party at Florida’s Disney Hollywood Studios - where the sith lord gets his groove on and lets his hair down.

Of course, Darth can’t be all good backstage. Like the rest of us, he can be petty and selfish about seemingly inconsequential issues - like the Star Wars Festival at the center of “Backstage Disneyland.” Just like in real life, the smallest of decisions can have larger unintended consequences.

I had a fun throughout the book with a running gag about Darth’s ever-changing facial expressions - inspired by the Expressions of Vader t-shirt.

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star
Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

The hidden side of characters you’ve known all your life

I’ve had to balance my familiarity with the Disney and Pixar characters with the presumption that most readers know them as well or better than I do. At the same time, I have to keep in mind that a non-Disney fan might pick up “Backstage Disneyland” and expect to be just as grounded in the characters.

I tried to add just enough description of the characters to make them instantly recognizable without getting into great detail about their personality. In describing the characters, I tried to emphasize the differences (and sometimes similarities) of their backstage personalities to their on-stage personas.

I purposely divided the characters into high school-like cliques - animals, villains, heroes, sidekicks - so that they would be forced to mingle and stray from their familiar stories.

Although it’s never explicitly stated in “Backstage Disneyland,” I imagined that each of the characters lived at their attractions in Disneyland in a behind-the-scenes apartment themed to their story.

My favorite characters in “Backstage Disneyland” are the playing card guards from “Alice in Wonderland.” Much like the Green Army Men, I loved having to figure out how the card guards would walk, talk, navigate stairs and even get on elevators.

Leota the spirit medium was probably the most crucial character to work into the Club 33 scene - as will become evident later. It was hard to come up with something for a floating head to do. I finally decided she could play poker with the villains - and take all their money.

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star
Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

Taking readers inside the secret Club 33

It made sense to me that the Disney characters would hang out in Club 33 after the park closed for the day. It’s beautiful, hidden and exclusive. And serves alcohol. Why not party at the most coveted address in Disneyland? Especially if there’s an open bar.

I took some liberties with the interior design, essentially setting the action of “Backstage Disneyland” in an enlarged version of the famed Trophy Room. The real Trophy Room would never have enough space for all the Disney characters I crammed in there. But with a little Hollywood magic, I made the Club 33 Trophy Room about four times as big as it really is.

I’ve been fortunate to visit Club 33 twice in my life. The first time it was during a formal sit-down dinner with white linens, china, silverware and a full menu. The second visit was during a large event, so the food was served buffet style.

I love that devotees are so fanatical about Club 33 that they post photos of the bathroom toilets online. That’s a serious obsession.

I still haven’t been to Club 33 since the most recent remodel. Unless somebody wants to invite me for a visit. I’d be happy to buy lunch.

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star
Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

Chapter 2 of Backstage Disneyland, a new novella by Brady MacDonald

Chapter 2: A Whole New World

Skipping the antique glass-enclosed elevator, Indiana Jones bounds up the stairs two at a time into the private Club 33 dining room typically reserved for Disneyland's most well-heeled guests. Walt Disney built the exclusive second-story restaurant above New Orleans Square as a place to woo captains of industry he hoped would invest in Disneyland. The fine dining restaurant famously remains the only place that serves alcohol in the family-friendly park.

At the top of the stairs, Indy pauses to peruse the wood-paneled room lit by crystal chandeliers. The place is brimming with Disney characters from every story in the company’s extensive portfolio. To Indy, it’s like a high school reunion that never ends.

By day, Club 33 caters to the elite class of Disneyland. The moneyed, cultured and pampered who consider a $20,000 initiation fee and $7,500 annual membership the equivalent of tip money. The waiting list for the exclusive club reportedly stretches for more than a decade. 

But by night, the Disney characters turn the elegant bistro into a cross between a raucous frat house and a rowdy German beer hall. At the closest table, Donald Duck, Goofy and the animals play flip cup to thunderous cheers. Nearby, Olaf, the Seven Dwarfs and other sidekicks build a towering pyramid of drinking cups. Over in the corner, Cruella de Vil, Jafar and a host of villains play poker with a pile of chips at the center of the table.

Cruella surreptitiously pulls a card from the draped sleeve of her dalmatian-spotted fur coat. Jafar marks the back of a card with the laser eyes of his cobra snake staff. The Big Bad Wolf and Emperor Zurg pass cards to one another under the table.

“Leota is the only one not cheating,” says Mickey Mouse.

The playing cards levitating in front of the Haunted Mansion crystal ball containing the spirit medium's floating head reveal an impossible hand containing five aces.

“That’s what they think,” Madam Leota says in a stage whisper.

After a jam-packed day, the undisputed king of Disneyland has stripped down to his high-waisted red shorts. With the strength of Atlas, the Mouse carries the weight of an entire entertainment empire on his slender black shoulders. Mickey takes a long drag on his cigar and exhales acrid-sweet smoke over Indy’s fedora.

“Where have you been?” Mickey asks. “Darth’s been looking for you.” 

"Where is he?" Indy asks, scanning the room. 

"Over there with Buzz," says Mickey, pointing with his cigar. 

The ornamented dining room is filled with animatronic tigers, bears and vultures that move with repetitive robotic motions. Framed animation cels depicting scenes from classic Disney films line the walls. 

Gaston raises his pewter mug, climbs atop a table and breaks into song as Indy winds his way across the room. 

"I use antlers in all of my decorating," bellows Gaston. 

The heroes and alpha males drinking with Gaston join him in a rousing chorus of the pub song from "Beauty and the Beast." The animatronic deer, antelope and moose mounted on the walls sway in unison and sing along. 

"How are we going to stop this dirty, rotten, filthy, no-good Star Wars land?" says Darth Vader, pounding his black gloved fist on the table. 

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star

Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

Up Next: Chapter 2 of Backstage Disneyland, a new novella

Last week, I published a sample from the first chapter to my new novella, Backstage Disneyland. The story poses the question: What if Disney characters are real and they live behind the scenes at Disneyland?

On Monday, I will publish a portion of the second chapter called A Whole New World. In this chapter, readers enter the backstage world of Disney characters in Disneyland’s secret Club 33. Darth Vader employs our hero, Indiana Jones, in a dastardly plan to stop Star Wars Land - a new themed area planned for the Happiest Place on Earth.

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star
Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

Why am I doing this?

One of the challenges of self-publishing a novel is coming up with ways to promote it.

In the short term, I’m hoping these blog posts create some awareness of “Backstage Disneyland” and of me as a fiction writer.

In the longer term, it would be great if I could find an audience, a literary agent and a publisher.

You can help spread the word by sharing these blog posts with your friends and followers.

So far, I’ve written about why and how I wrote the book and whether it’s even legal for me to do so.

In the coming weeks, I’ll discuss more about the characters, setting and writing process.

If you’re interested in the book, you can read samples from the prologue and first chapter as well as my first book review.

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star
Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

Stepping behind the scenes at Walt’s wonderland

It’s really hard to imagine Disneyland without any visitors. It’s like an empty Time Square or a vacant Vegas Strip.

Walt Disney often said when he was building Disneyland that there was one thing missing: People. He knew the crowds would bring the place to life unlike any amount of architectural detail or period-perfect costumes.

I drew on many behind-the-scenes trips to Walt’s wonderland while writing “Backstage Disneyland.” Over the years, I’ve toured backstage by golf cart, watched parade rehearsals after hours, toured Walt’s private apartment, traversed the submarine tunnels and slipped in the back doors of rides.

Disney always had one strict rule whenever I was backstage: No photos. The unwritten rule was that I would focus my reporting and writing on what happened “on stage” - Disney’s theatrical way of referring to the public area of the park. With “Backstage Disneyland,” I break through that fourth wall for the first time.

My favorite backstage moment happened more than 20 years ago when I was a young reporter covering the city of Anaheim - and by extension, Disneyland. I spent a whole night after the park closed working on a story about Disneyland after dark. The highlight: Climbing under the Mad Tea Party tea cups while the ride was undergoing routine maintenance.

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star
Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

Truth, myth and legend at the Happiest Place on Earth

I basically accepted all the myths surrounding Disneyland as true while writing “Backstage Disneyland” - and then created a few more of my own in keeping with the park’s mythology.

Main Street USA is modeled after Walt Disney’s home town of Marceline, Missouri? Sure. A warren of tunnels weave underneath the entire park? Why not. Walt’s cryogenically-frozen head lays buried under the castle? It could be true.

My favorite myth - that turns out to be fact - didn’t make it into the book: A regulation-size basketball hoop inside the peak of the Matterhorn. I’ll have to save that setting for a follow-up to “Backstage Disneyland.”

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star

Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

Setting the stage for a familiar fantasy world

After visiting Disneyland for 25 years, the challenge for me was deciding what to keep in and what to leave out of “Backstage Disneyland” when describing the park.

My presumption is that many readers will be as familiar with Disneyland as I am - or even more so. But I had to balance my own familiarity with the fact that some readers will have never visited Disneyland. I needed to show just enough detail to satisfy the lifetime fans while not leaving the neophytes in the dark.

I often find myself doing the same balancing act as a theme park blogger - finding the perfect medium between general interest reader and roller coaster enthusiast.

I’d be interested to hear if any Good Reads readers found themselves physically lost at any point in “Backstage Disneyland” - wondering exactly where the story was taking place in the park.

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star

Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

When your central character isn’t central to the story

One of the things I was looking for feedback from the Great Reads community on is my central character: Indiana Jones. Like many of my central characters, Indy is often not very central to the action or the outcome of any situation.

I think my problem starts with the initial way I frame a story. I come up with the plot and then look for a protagonist. More often than not I end up with a character who is in every chapter but not necessarily making things happen. He’s more of an omniscient observer than an active participant. I know I’m in trouble when I have to find an excuse to squeeze my narrator into a scene.

My problem with Indy starts literally on the first page of “Backstage Disneyland” - which Indy is noticeably absent from. I tell myself that I’m doing a flyover scene on page one that I imagine opening movie credits rolling over. But the reality is the star of my story doesn’t show up until the second page. For me, Indy should be in the first sentence or at least the first paragraph.

At times during upcoming chapters Indy will almost drop out of the picture completely. But I don’t know what to do. I seem to like the third-person limited points of view. I could use some suggestions from you guys.

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star

Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

Chapter 1 of Backstage Disneyland, a new novella by Brady MacDonald

1

Wonderful World of Disney

High above Disneyland, the rivers, railroads, mountains and castles twinkle in the twilight as the fantasy world of fairy tales and make believe prepares to shut down for the night.

A solitary cast member closes a wrought iron gate at the park’s entrance as the very last guest leaves the Happiest Place on Earth for the evening.

Wearing a checked vest and a wide-brimmed hat, the lone cast member walks past the floral Mickey Mouse display under the train station and disappears through the darkened tunnel leading to the closed park.

With its towering gabled roof, the Victorian-era train station sitting high atop the berm ringing the park effectively serves as a stage curtain hiding the wonders that lay beyond. The sign above the train station entrance welcomes visitors to Disneyland, population 750 million. A glowing clock near the peak of a cupola marks the time at one minute past midnight.

Beyond the berm, the graveyard shift stirs to life as an orchestrated procession of gardeners, electricians and painters tackle a punch list of overnight assignments. Utility vehicles brimming with flowers, tools and supplies make intermittent stops. Cherry-picker cranes roll into position while bleating out a beep-beep-beep warning. Golf carts carrying supervisors zip to and fro. 

Turn-of-the-century storefronts inspired by Walt Disney's childhood home of Marceline, Missouri stretch for two blocks down Main Street USA. The mix of architectural styles evoke small town Middle America of the early 1900s. Forced perspective hides the true scale of the buildings, turning the streetscape into a stage set where characters and visitors alike become players in a never-ending production. For 60 years, the short street has served as an entryway to a world of magic, dreams and imagination.

Thousands of lights rimming the decorative gingerbread trim of the buildings reflect in the thin layer of water sprayed on the pavement by a hose-wielding custodian. The smell of wet asphalt, fresh paint and potting soil slowly replace the day’s odiferous confections of popcorn, cotton candy and churros.

Up ahead at the central hub, a massive banner hanging over the entrance of Tomorrowland reads: Star Wars Festival Coming Soon. Just inside the futuristic land, the brass and bronze Astro Orbitor rocket ride sits idle after a day of nearly non-stop flights to outer space and back.

Sleeping Beauty Castle stands at the center of the park, a towering symbol of one man’s steadfast determination in the face of long odds and his unwavering belief in the power of imagination. Crowned turrets jut into the ink-black sky as the squared teeth of the parapet wrap the midsection of the Disney icon inspired by Germany’s Neuschwanstein castle.

A solitary figure in a fedora and weathered leather jacket emerges from the castle drawbridge entrance, backlit by the Fantasyland carousel in the distance. A coiled whip bounces on one hip, balanced by a holstered revolver on the other. Slowly, the distinctive silhouette of Indiana Jones comes into focus before making a sharp right turn and striding purposely into Adventureland. 

Tonight, like many others, Indy is lost in deep, existential thought. He asks himself: Who is Indiana Jones?

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star
Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

Up Next: Chapter 1 of Backstage Disneyland, a new novella

Last week, I published the prologue to my new novella, "Backstage Disneyland." The story poses the question: What if Disney characters are real and they live behind the scenes at Disneyland?

On Monday, I will publish a portion of the first chapter called Wonderful World of Disney. In this chapter, readers step through the gates of Disneyland and meet the main character, Indiana Jones. After a long day of work, Indy’s on his way to Club 33 for a nightcap - and a host of trouble.

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star
Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

First book review by The Disney Blog

I was thrilled to see “Backstage Disneyland” reviewed this week by John Frost of The Disney Blog, one of the longest-running independent Disney fan websites.

It was a first for me. I’m usually the one doing the reviewing and have never had anything I’ve ever written professionally reviewed. I was surprised to find the review online and appreciative of John’s kind words about the book.

I would be happy to provide review copies of “Backstage Disneyland to any other publications that would like to review the book.

I’ve known John for a long time as a trusted colleague in the theme park blogosphere and had reached out to him as one of my first readers.

John gave me some valuable feedback. Contrary to my instincts, John encouraged me to make the plot points even more over the top and the story even more fantastical.

I’m grateful to John for his feedback and thankful for the wonderful review.

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star
Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

How I wrote an entire novel on my iPhone

I wrote most of “Backstage Disneyland” on my iPhone while traveling to and from work on a commuter train. I’ve become pretty adept at writing on the phone and was surprised at how quickly the book came together. 

In total, it took me about a month to write the book and a long three-day weekend to edit it. It helped that I knew the characters and the locations intimately. The writing seemed to flow out of me and I frequently found myself in such a groove that I’d write while I walked to or from the office or home after getting off the train.

The writing experience on “Backstage Disneyland” was far different than any of my past work. My novel took nearly two years to write and the screenplay four months. I’ve dropped a number of writing projects midway through the process just because I lost interest in the story or turned my attention to other things.

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star
Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

Building a world as a multiverse sandbox

“Backstage Disneyland” started with me wondering what life would be like for the Disney characters - their challenges, relationships and squabbles - if they all lived together in one community.

The multiverse sandbox approach to storytelling has been tried in books, movies, TV shows and video games. Disney and Pixar have done it with everything from “Once Upon a Time” and “Disney Infinity” to “Toy Story” and “Wreck-It Ralph.”

I found myself constantly referring to “Toy Story” while working on my book - wondering what the characters would do when nobody was looking.

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star
Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

Staying faithful to the Disney Way

After nearly a decade of blogging about theme parks and a quarter century of writing about Disneyland I’ve become something I’d never thought possible: An expert.

I try not to ever use the term “theme park expert” because it sounds pretentious and arrogant (and ridiculous too). But there’s no denying my experience covering the parks made writing “Backstage Disneyland” the easiest thing I’ve ever done. I didn’t have to do a bit of research. It was all in my head just waiting to come out.

It was also helpful that I was intimately familiar with the Disneyland culture and the customs associated with the Happiest Place on Earth. I did my best to stay true and faithful to the Disney Way while taking that belief system to it’s logical and illogical conclusion.

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star

Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After

What were you thinking?

So I guess the first question some readers will have is: How can you publish this book?

Don’t you have to get permission from Disney et al to use their characters? That’s what I thought at first too when I started dreaming up “Backstage Disneyland,” but then I decided to plunge ahead anyway to see what developed.

I ultimately passed on the utterly unsatisfying notion of slightly changing the names and locations. Instead I transformed the characters and reimagined their world. I quickly found that my work of fan fiction was evolving into a mix of parody, satire, critique and commentary.

My goal was only ever to write an entertaining story, not lay claim to the characters or their associated trademarks or copyrights. I’d be happy to adapt my work to make it publishable on a mass market and thrilled at the opportunity to collaborate with Disney if the opportunity arose.

Buy the book: Kindle | Paperback (coming soon)

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Sample chapters
Prologue: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 1: Wonderful World of Disney
Chapter 2: A Whole New World
Chapter 3: Exile on Main Street USA
Chapter 4: Evil Plans
Chapter 5: Real Princesses of Disneyland
Chapter 6: Action Figure
Chapter 7: Code R
Chapter 8: Common Foes
Chapter 9: Peace, Love & Mickey
Chapter 10: Operation Death Star

Chapter 11: Frozen Ever After