Western Cinderella

by

Happy Valentine’s Day!

On a day built for romance, I thought we could celebrate one of the most classic romance stories ever told – Cinderella.

Next month, my western Cinder-fella story will release, and I can’t wait to introduce you to Asher Ellis (ashes instead of cinders) and Samantha Dearing (endearing instead of charming) to you. Can you tell I love playing with character names? Reimagining this fairy tale in an 1800’s Texas setting has been so much fun.

What’s a girl to do when the most interesting man at her matrimonial ball isn’t one of the bachelors on her father’s guest list? Hunt him down, of course, using the only clue at her disposal—the boot he left behind.

As any self-respecting rancher will tell you, boots don’t just fall off like ladies slippers do, so coming up with a reason for my hero to take his boots off at a ball he wasn’t invited to, created a tricky plot point. But once we got that figured out, the rest fell into place with adventure, danger, romance . . . and a pair of imaginary sewing mice.

Did I mention I love playing with names? I worked hard to create names that would harken back to the original Disney tale while still carrying meaning of their own. Instead of Cinderella, we have Asher Ellis – Ash being a synonym of Cinder, and Ellis playing off of Ella. The three key older ladies of the story all have names inspired by royalty as befits a fairy tale – Regina, Elizabeth, and Victoria. Asher’s step brothers are named Jonathan and Fergus. However, Jonathan goes by Jack, giving a nod to the mice from Disney’s Cinderella, Jaq and Gus. Asher’s horse is named Bruno in honor of the dog who saved Cinderella from the tower room. And don’t forget the cattle king with a foreman named Duke. 

Bruno

While I used the classic Disney version of Cinderella that I grew up on as my main inspiration, there are other versions that I have fond memories of as well.

I adore musicals, and as a child of the 80’s, I adored seeing Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother in the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s version with Brandy and Broadway superstar Bernadette Peters.

And what romance lover doesn’t adore Ever After with Drew Barrymore? One of the best Cinderella movies ever!

As an extra bonus, I wanted to mention that there is a Goodreads Giveaway going on now for If the Boot Fits. You can enter here.

What is your favorite Cinderella adaptation?
Do you have any romantic plans for Valentine’s Day?

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For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Karen is a firm believer in the power of happy endings. . . and ice cream. She is an avid cross-stitcher, and makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at: www.karenwitemeyer.com.

53 thoughts on “Western Cinderella”

    • Thanks, Rhonda. This series has been so much fun to write. I loved turning the Cinderella protagonist into a struggling cowboy hero with a strong dedication to family. I wanted to redeem the stepmother character, too, so she is now a loving parental figure and not the coldhearted villain we’ve come to expect. Which gave me room to create a new villain that will hopefully keep readers guessing.

    • That one is probably my favorite too because it was such a part of my childhood. Probably paid a big role in developing my love of romance.

      Enjoy your Dairy Queen cake. That sounds wonderful!

  3. I liked Ever After, but it takes a really good remake for me, because I think the Cinderella trope has been overdone. However, yours sounds really good. I love the reversal of roles! My husband and I will go out for a special lunch when the restaurants aren’t so overcrowded since both our work schedules are flexible.

    • I agree with you, Janice, about the Cinderella trope. It’s been done A LOT. Especially with contemporary retellings. I tried to give this one enough twists to keep it fresh.

      Have a lovely Valentine’s lunch with your sweetheart!

  4. Growing up I loved the musical version with Leslie Anne Warren. Watched it every time it came on.
    Congratulations on your upcoming release and Happy Valentine’s Day!

  5. I grew up watching the Cinderella musical with Lesley Ann Warren and loved watching it every year starting from 1965. It was my favorite Cinderella story.
    My Valentine Day plans will be a quiet day with my husband.
    Congratulations on your new book!

  6. I love Ever After!!! It’s one of the best!! I do like the 1965 one with Stuart Damon and Leslie Ann Warren. It was the first one I remember seeing.

    • I don’t have any big plans, either. I did get to share a ride to work wiht my sweetheart, though, and we will spend the evening together at church and then probably in our matching recliners back at the house. 🙂

  9. Because my parents didn’t take us to the movies growing up, I never saw the Disney version till it was on VHS. I remember seeing the Leslie Ann Warren version on TV.

    I remember the Whitney Houston/Brandy version on TV. But Ever After is such a lovely version, I think it’s my favorite.

  11. The first Cinderella version I saw on TV was the one with Leslie Ann Warren and Stuart Dameon and Celeste Holmes as the Fairy godmother. I have seen other’s but this is still my fav.

  12. I love the animated Cinderella story. However, Beauty and the Beast come to mind as there is a dance scene in the animated tale. I truly loved the television show of Beauty and the Beast. I hated to see is come to an end.

    • Beauty and the Beast is probably my favorite fairy tale of all time. I hope to write a 4th book in my Texas Ever After Series to pay homage to that take as well. Such a good one!

  14. Ever After is my favorite!!
    No plans for Valentine’s Day….I actually hate it but give my girls candy and cards and decorate the mantle for them.

  16. Karen, I can’t wait to get my copy of “If the Boot Fits”! (I’ll totally be stalking my account on Baker Book House’s website…lol…I pre-order my copies in October! ?)

    And your names are “chef’s kiss” genius!!
    What I am absolutely loving about your fairytale retellings are how you pay tribute to them through subtle names/references or places (it’s like we your readers are looking for Easter eggs in your story of the original fairytale) while still having your own story within the fairytale! It’s just so well done & I’m sure was incredibly challenging.

    There are so many wonderful adaptations of Cinderella. Ever After holds a special place in my heart although I also love Disney’s animated version too! ????

    • Emilee – You desscribed my retellings perfectly! An original story that is filled with subtle (and not-so-subtle) nods to the classic fairy tales that lent their inspiration. I had so much fun “hiding” those Easter eggs for readers to find. 🙂

  17. I love the original Disney Cinderella the Best, besides the Cinderella book that our teacher had , she had the story book and a record that was telling the story, whenever it was time to turn the page a recorded Ding sound would let you know when it was time to turn the page. Your book sounds like a Great read and I love your book cover , it is Stunning! May you have a Very Happy Valentines Day. My husband usually fixes a nice dinner for us.

  18. Hands down, Ever After! We are going to test drive a car and then take our kids, not playing in pep band tonight, out to our favorite Fresh Mex. ?

  19. I liked the mice in Cinderella and how Gus was saved from Lucifer the cat. My husband took me to see the Chosen playing in the theater last weekend to celebrate Valentines Day, since I have a MRI scheduled for this afternoon.

  20. I’m really looking forward to my book coming in the mail soon!! ?

    My favorite adaptation of Cinderella is kinda different, but very special to me. It is the memory of my Daddie reading the story to me as a little girl. He liked to make it fun & make me laugh, so he’d read about “Rinder-cella” & her three “sisty uglers” & how she “slopped her dripper” after she danced with the “prandsome hince.” ???

    For Valentine’s Day, my hubby & I plan to order supper to go (since I’m not feeling the best) from On The Border, get dessert at Cold Stone Creamery (my FAV!), & then just spend a nice evening together at home. ????

    Happy Valentine’s Day to you & your Prandsome Hince! ?

  21. I’m a reader so i haven’t seen the movie versions, but i do like Cinderella’s dress by Shonna Slayton, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, and Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine to name a few (there are dozens)!
    For Valentine’s Day, we are planning on going out for ice cream after dinner.

  22. Karen,

    I’m sorry to be the baddie, but Disney isn’t the author or instigator of the fairy tale Cinderella. The French author Charles Perrault published it in 1697 in a collection of stories. In his version birds peck out the eyes of the wicked stepsisters at the end.

    The Leslie Ann Warren version is my favorite movie version, too. Does anyone else recall watching it annually on TV? The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan were also annual events, back in the day.

    The audio version of Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine follows the traditional story line but is more like a play as multiple actors voice the characters; our family enjoyed it on a long car trip.

    Your Western version sounds like it’ll be a fun book to read. It’s on the same tack as the Jerry Lewis movie, Cinderfella.

    • You are absolutely correct, Mary. Cinderella did not originate with Disney. However, it is probably the best known version of the story. I probably should not have used the term “original.” Thanks for pointing that out. 🙂

  23. We do not have any plans for Valentine’s Day. I am not sure I have a favorite Cinderella other than Disney’s. Thank you so much for sharing. Happy book birthday. God bless you.

    • We didn’t do anything special either, other than eat some valentines inspired cookies that a co-worker of mine brought to the office. I snitched a few extras to share with my hubby and son. 🙂

  26. I love the 1965 version with Lesley Ann Warren and Stuart Damon. It’s a Roger’s and Hammerstein version and it’s delightful!

  27. I like the story line. It makes me think of the movie Cinder fella with Jerry Lewis. I loved it and still looking for a dvd or blue ray of it.

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