Amanda Lovelace - break your glass slippers (You Are Your Own Fairy Tale)

books by amanda lovelace the series: the princess saves herself in this one (#1) the witch doesnt burn in this one (#2) the mermaids voice returns in this one (#3) slay those dragons: a journal for writing your own story *** the
things that h(a)unt
duology: to make monsters out of girls (#1) to drink coffee with a ghost (#2) *** the
you are your own fairy tale
series: break your glass slippers (#1) for those who break glass slippers as well as glass ceilings. trigger warning this book contains sensitive material relating to: child abuse, toxic friendships, toxic romantic relationships, sexual harassment, eating disorders, fatphobia, suicide, trauma, & possibly more. remember to practice self-care before, during, & after reading. contents foreword When I was a child, I learned fairy tales are dangerous. If you believe in them too much as they are, you may find yourself under a darker spell of your own devisingwishing for princes and hoping someone saves you from the troubles in your life. It was only a few years ago, when I stumbled onto amanda lovelaces luminous work on a cold, foggy English evening in a bookstore, that I realized how empowering fairy tales can be.

In break your glass slippers , amanda brings to life a story that many of us have loved as children and questioned as we got older. Her words exquisitely bind the contemporary with the traditional, creating a lyrical tale of hope, inner power, and fearlessness. The Cinderella in this book is a survivor in every way. She rises from the depths of an abyss created by despair and becomes a force to be reckoned withall while showing us how there is strength in vulnerability and true courage in accepting who you are. The message in this captivating book of poetry is clear: take this modern fairy tale, treasure it, and share it with someone you love. Let it teach you that the magic you are looking for already rests inside you, waiting for a spark.

Let it remind you of your spirit through mystical words that awaken the flames inside you. Here, we all get to be Cinderella, our own Fairy Godmother, and best of all, our own Prince. May the magic help you build your own happily ever after. May your soul feel full and bright when it does. Nikita xxx a note from the author at the heart of this poetry collection is a retelling of one of the worlds most recognizable & beloved fairy tales, cinderella . however, this story is also very much based on a number of my own lived experiences, as well as experiences i know to be true for many. she is cinderella. i am cinderella. you may even be cinderella, too, if you find that any part of this story happens to speak to you. laced with love, amanda

let me tell you a sad story there is a girl who sings only when every window is shut. like most girls, shes been learning the trait of silence since birth. everyone underestimates how important her voice is, & the greatest tragedy of all is that she does, too. let me tell you an even sadder story there is a girl who dances only when every curtain is closed. like most girls, shes been learning the trait of invisibility since birth. no one ever bothers to see how special she is, so she decides to dance with her own shadow. i once there lived a man who gifted his daughter a pair of glass slippers. she clutched them to her chest, tears welling up in her eyes. it was then that he spoke, these were made with my two hands, some sweat, & a sprinkle of fairy dust. theyll always fit you, even if you grow taller than a beanstalk. theyll never slip, even if youre forced to walk over ice all night long. best of all, theyll never, ever break, except in the case of an emergency. whenever she walks past, the boys whisper to each other, be on the lookout for ugly ducklings like her. treat her badly now & you risk her forgetting all about you once she transforms into a beautiful swan. none of them ever considered the fact that she could hear what they were saying. she heard everything. fairy godmother says it has never been within your duty to be pretty. no one could ever want a fat girl like you. stepmother. fairy godmother says you dont need to look a certain way to deserve someones heart. no matter your shape no matter your size be proud of all the space your body dares to take up. there are sisters who see each other as lifelong rivals when they should be seeing each other as lifelong allies, which is to say: some sisters are no sisters at all. she had to learn this the hard way. fairy godmother says some people are simply committed to being unkind, & it is not your job to convince them to change. all you can do is give them all the kindness you have, & if they dont return it, then they arent worth your sugar. isnt the love of a family supposed to be unconditional? unbreakable? if they dont love me, then who ever could? she thinks to herself. the first heartbreak. fairy godmother says i dont know if anyone has ever told you this, but: their lack of love for you does not make you any less loveable. inside the cramped fitting room, she slips into dress after dress as if shes trying to slip into someone elses life. much to her dismay, her reflection stays the same. fairy godmother says when you spend all your time imagining yourself in other peoples shoes, your own story goes unwritten, & there is nothing more painful than that. every night when shes finally alone, she takes a red marker & circles the parts of herself she would most like to see disappear her thighs, her stomach, her upper arms until theres no part of her left untouched. nothing will ever be enough, she whispers. fairy godmother says some days, your body will feel like a cage. on those days, lace flowers through the bars. whenever somebody asks her how shes been holding up, she can never bring herself to tell them how shes truly feeling inside. its always fine or great or amazing , but how are you? the last thing she would ever want to do is inconvenience themor worse, seem self-involved. she just wants one person to catch her in the lie. fairy godmother says speak your truth no matter what. afterward, take careful note of who not only listens but steps up to applaud your bravery. there are times when she sees another girl on the train or in a magazine & she cant be sure what she wants to do: i.become her. ii.be her best friend. iii.kiss her. kaleidoscope. fairy godmother says who you want to kiss is not a problem as long as you get permission first. if you want to wear the crop top, then wear the crop top. if anyone dares to point out your stretch marks or the size of your belly, just remind them that our bodies were all crafted from the same handful of stardust, & isnt that just wonderful? isnt that so special? her best friend. fairy godmother says there is something almost unearthly about the friendship between two girls, isnt there? all they ever want to do is protect, protect, protect. fiercely now. fiercely now. my advice for you: dont take her for granted. ever. he has the best laugh, forever-untied shoes, & a heart bigger than a blue whales. she only wishes she could love him the way he loves her, but she cant. when she tells him, he explains to her that she owes it to him to love him back. the boy with all the wrong intentions.