When you think of fairy tales, what comes to mind? Most likely you’re thinking of princes and princesses, wicked stepmothers and magic.

Vermont author Jennifer McMahon has written a different kind of fairy tale—one in which fairies are less like Tinkerbell than something Stephen King would dream up.

The novel is called Don’t Breathe A Word and it focuses on a young girl named Lisa, who disappears into the woods in search of the fairies—and Phoebe, who stumbles upon the mystery of her disappearance fifteen years later when she begins dating Lisa’s brother.

Jennifer McMahon speaks with VPR's Peter Biello.

Learn more about Jennifer McMahon.