This Twist Stuff. What’s it all about?
Once Upon A Time….There lived a mother with two daughters who loved princess stories. Those girls loved princess stories so much that every night, when the mother sat on their bed to read to them, they chose the same stories over and over again… and again… and again… and again.
Now Amelia, the mother, was an intelligent woman with a kind heart. Indulging her daughters wishes for princess stories was fun, and at first, seemed harmless. However, night after night, happy ending after happy ending, Amelia became concerned. She felt the stories were imprinting powerful imagery and messages on her daughter’s brains. She sensed the stories were missing something. Not to mention that if she read the same princess story one more time, she thought she might just go half crazy. If only the stories offered...well...more.
Princesses With A Twist was born.
I am Amelia. I am the mom who nearly went nuts:
(1) trying to keep princesses out of our home
(2) trying to force our daughters to like books other than princess books
(3) failing at #1 and #2, and, who, eventually nearly lost it
(4) reading princess books in bed, night after night.
I am also the one who joyfully embraced the if-you-can't-beat-'em-join-'em theory and started
(5) WRITING PRINCESS BOOKS.
(Talk about a twist!)
Princesses With A Twist is all about what happens to our storybook characters after the classic story ends.
The same wonderful, magical princess stories still take place. But there is more. And it's good. In fact, it's great.
Princesses have taken a bad rap from critics who claim they are everything from hollow and only pretty faces to terrible examples for our girls.
I was once one of those critics.
Until I realized I had left out the especially interesting princess thinking.
For example...
If I were Cinderella, I'd think,
Hey, every gal in this kingdom tried on my slipper.
I bet they'd all like one. I'd like to make glass slippers for everyone!
I have the resources. Hey, why not?
If I were Sleeping Beauty, I'd think,
Hey, I don't want to work. I've been sleeping for so long, I've really missed out.
I want to get back out there and have fun!
And, I want to be around people. I've been alone, sleeping, long enough.
If I were The Little Mermaid, I'd think,
Hey, I have legs now. I don't ever want to wear a long dress...ever!
And, I bet these girls want to know all the swimming tricks I know!
.
I were Snow White, I'd think,
Hey, I'm terrified of apples.
I have to stay away from them; it could happen again!
But, wait, that was apple sauce? That's good stuff.... Heck, what have I been afraid of? One bad apple doesn't have to spoil the whole bunch.
If I were Little Red Riding Hood, I'd think,
Hey, I love the woods and the animals that live here.
I want to live here and take care of all of them.
And, no, I don't want to live in the kingdom. Thank you.
If I were Rapunzel, I'd think:
Hey, I know how to do everything with hair.
I wonder if any of these other girls want to learn what I've learned?
I've even used my hair as rope!
If I were Beauty, I'd think:
Hey, I just love to read and learn.
I bet I could learn how to make anything.
...as long as I have a book and a teacher...well, the sky is the limit.
I'm going to learn to create and invent whatever I want.
If I were Goldilocks, I'd think:
Hey, this world needs a little more reflection on what they all really want.
I'm going to teach them to not be afraid to try.
All they need to do is be honest with themselves.
Suddenly princesses got a whole lot more interesting.
So, that's where the stories took on a life of their own.
Within a few years, my daughters, Isabella and Sophia, and I, had created and written more than a dozen stories.
- We knew what colors the princesses liked.
- We knew how they got along.
- We knew what they each were afraid of and how they overcame their fears.
- We knew how they helped each other.
- and more...
When we finally decided to hire an illustrator to see if we could put our ideas into form, the stories got even better.
The truth is, the stories came to life in a way that made me proud to tell my daughters princess stories. That's when I decided to share our stories with others.
I don't care what anyone says! I love these princesses!
And these are stories I love to tell my daughters (and anyone else who will listen).
I hope you love them, too!