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“You raised me to be brave, and to make smart choices. I'll make you proud. You'll see."
"I am always proud of you.”
― Elizabeth Lim, A Twisted Tale Anthology

“Belle had learned to love the idea of having a small special corner of the world to return to, of having relationships to maintain.
Through her parents, her books, and her neighbors, she found her path onward, the most rewarding journey of all--- the journey home.”
― Elizabeth Lim, A Twisted Tale Anthology

“Tiana balanced a stack of flapjacks, two bowls of grits, and five orders of pillowy-soft beignets on a serving tray. She squeezed through the narrow paths between the tables, carefully dodging pointy elbows and protruding feet. The café was packed to the gills with hungry, bleary-eyed customers who'd spent the night either kicking up their heels in the taverns or working the overnight shift in one of the factories in the French Quarter.”
― Elizabeth Lim, A Twisted Tale Anthology

“Tiana thought about the money stored in coffee cans in her chifforobe. Years of tips she'd collected while waiting tables at Duke's Cafe and working the night shift at Cal's Restaurant. As of now, she had enough for a down payment, but she would need more than that to buy kitchen equipment, tableware, provisions, etc., not to mention start making rent.”
― Elizabeth Lim, A Twisted Tale Anthology

“That's the Southern Railway line. It goes right through Mobile, and directly to the port... if I'm not mistaken."
"How can we be sure?" Naveen asked.
"Well, I guess you'll just have to trust me. Unless you have a better idea."
"I think it's safe to say you have all the good ideas," Naveen said.
Tiana smiled despite herself.
"But, Tia, I don't think that's a passenger train," Charlotte said, peering over.
"It isn't," Tiana said. She grabbed the handle with both hands and pulled. The door opened to reveal tightly wound bales of hay. "But at least it'll be a comfortable ride. Who's up for an adventure?"
"Me! Definitely me," Naveen said. Tiana marveled. She had never seen someone so in the moment, despite whatever outside stress he must have been wrestling with. It was kind of refreshing.”
― Elizabeth Lim, A Twisted Tale Anthology

“After years of yearning to see beyond the borders of her provincial little town, the thought of journeying someplace new, even if it was only to show her father's invention at a neighboring village's fair, made her heart race.
Maybe she would encounter a merry theater troupe on their way to perform the latest play. Or maybe merchants traveling with their wares to trade on the Silk Road. Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful to meet a newly married couple heading to Paris or Verona to celebrate their honeymoon? Who knew what types of adventures awaited her!”
― Elizabeth Lim, A Twisted Tale Anthology

“Her most difficult choice had been which book to bring. She couldn't decide between something she'd never read before and one of her favorites.
So, of course, she'd packed two: a pirate adventure story she'd borrowed from the bookseller just the day before and the beloved book of short stories her mother used to read to her when she was a child.
A warm smile stretched across Belle's lips at the thought of her mother and the love of reading she'd instilled in her only daughter. She'd also nurtured Belle's sense of adventure.
"I'm finally going on one of my own, Mama," Belle whispered. "A true adventure.”
― Elizabeth Lim, A Twisted Tale Anthology

“The same people who'd mocked her for her love of reading, and gossiped about her father, now cozied up with a good book while enjoying a fire fueled by wood cut with her father's wood-chopping machine. Many minds had been changed those past few years.
Particularly when word of her father's prize-winning invention had spread and Monsieur René le Prince, an entrepreneur (a new profession, funnily enough, born out of the word adventurer,) proposed a partnership. With Monsieur le Prince's resources, Maurice's knack for machinery, and Belle's cleverness, they had formed a formidable team. They traveled to other fairs and looked for new innovations to support, Belle often finding successes in the inventors no one else would take a chance on.”
― Elizabeth Lim, A Twisted Tale Anthology