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April 4, 2013

Thirteen Cinderella Facts

Thursday Thirteen

Cinderella is my favorite fairy tale. I like the idea of Cindy getting ahead of her horrid stepfamily and snagging the prince to live happy ever after. Recently I’ve written a contemporary romance that’s a modern retelling of Cinderella, and I thought Cinderella facts would make a perfect topic today.

Thirteen Factoids about Cinderella.

1. Charles Perrault first published the story in 1697. The Brothers Grimm later included it in their collection of tales—Grimm’s Fairy Tales (source: Wikipedia)

2. Cinderella is also known as The Little Glass Slipper.

3. When Disney released Cinderella they hadn’t had a hit since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. If Cinderella hadn’t been a huge hit, it’s likely that the Disney franchise would have gone bankrupt.

4. Cinderella was released by Disney on Feb 15th in 1950.

5. In the original Cinderella story, the glass slippers were made from fur.

6. Cinderella’s original name was Ella. One night she fell asleep while cleaning near the fireplace and her face and clothes became smudged by the cinders. After that she was known as Cinderella.

7. Lots of countries have their own version of Cinderella. China has one of the earliest ones.

8. One of the original issued taglines was “Midnight never strikes when you’re in love.” ~ source: Yahoo

9. Julie Andrews and Whitney Houston have both played the role of Cinderella.

10. Walt Disney’s favorite scene is said to be when Cinderella’s torn dress transforms to the white ball gown.

11. Cinderella is a very popular choice with romance writers when it comes to retelling tales. I’m in good company.

12. Here’s my cover:

One Night of Misbehavior

13. Here’s my “Cinderella” blurb from my upcoming release, One Night of Misbehavior

He wears his scars on the outside. She keeps hers safe inside.

Charlotte Dixon ignores her stepmother’s edict and, in an act of disobedience, attends one of the social events of the year—a masked costume ball. Charlotte’s naughtiness escalates when she dances and smooches with a sexy masked man. The night of anonymous passion that follows makes her yearn for a different life, but the next day she’s back to her dull routine of household management.

Advertising tycoon, Ash Marlborough is about to set a private investigator on the trail of his mystery princess when she waltzes right into his place of work. Charlotte is shocked to meet her masked man in the flesh, and even more perturbed when he asks her out on a date. Despite craving another night of sexy loving, she doesn’t have time for a man, not when she wants to reinvent herself and grasp a new, improved life with both hands. But Ash knows what he wants, and he’s determined to win the heart of his princess. Let the dance of seduction commence.

Warning: Contains a conniving stepmother, selfish stepsisters, a grandmother with fairy godmother tendencies and a sexy masked man who is willing to face them all for the love of a good woman.

What is your favorite fairy tale?

20 Comments

  1. Brinda Berry

    I love that tag line in #8!

  2. CountryDew

    Sounds like an intriguing book you have penned! I enjoyed the Cinderalla facts!

  3. Ciara Knight

    My favorite Cinderella movie was Ever After with Drew Barrymore. Wow, that is one amazing cover, Shelley.

  4. Anthony North

    Great facts on Cinderella – an eternal archetype.

  5. Maria Zannini

    When other parts of the world have their own version of a story that proves the story truly has universal appeal.

    You’ve got a winner!

  6. Kimberly Menozzi

    I’m not normally keen on fairy tales as such, but I read a reworking of the Sleeping Beauty story written by Imogen Howson which I thought was fantastic. I shared it with my students and they loved it, too.

    Happy TT! :)

  7. Carol Kilgore

    Looking forward to reading this!
    I think I may have told you that already :)

  8. MissMeliss

    Does Atalanta count? It’s not really a fairy tale, so I suppose not. Sleeping Beauty is a favorite of mine – I once wrote an essay showing that it’s really a vampire tale. I should turn that into a story.

    Great T-13.

  9. Jennifer Leeland

    Now that is an awesome blurb!!!! I love fairy tale retelling.

  10. Angela Brown

    I never knew about a few of these historical facts related to Cinderella, particularly those related to Walt Disney. Just figured everything he touched was golden.

  11. Alice Audrey

    So which came first? Charles Perrault or China?

    At first in reading your blurb I thought it was an historical. Then when she walks in after their affair I think she’s going to turn out to be the cleaning lady. Sounds like a great update on the story.

  12. Ilona

    My favourite fairy tale is actually Beauty and The Beast but I like the sound of this Cinderella update :D

  13. Mary Kirkland

    Beautiful cover and am looking forward to reading it.

  14. Heather

    Cinderella is definitely universal. It even came up in a recent episode of “The Big Bang Theory.”

  15. Harriet

    Love the Cinderella theme this week!

  16. Jenny Schwartz

    I love reading Cinderella stories. I liked the movie Ever After too. For those who’ve seen it, her rescue of the prince, classic! No spoilers for those who haven’t :)

  17. Tania.F.Walsh

    Great facts… I really like your cover, no matter how many times I stare at it:)

  18. Stephanie Sullivan

    Awww…Cinderella is the first Disney cartoon I can remember watching as a child, and I still love it just as much today. :) Great list, Shelley!