Once upon a time, in an office not so far away, a girl dreamed of being a published author.  While this Cinder Girl sat at her computer for long hours, carving out perfect words and building stories with her bare hands–and perhaps a sprinkle of pixie dust–she watched while others went to the Ball. She was happy for the others, and seeing them achieve their happily ever after gave her hope that someday her heart’s desire to be published could come true.

As time stretched on and more of her carefully crafted words were rejected, villains encouraged her to move on, to wish upon a different star. But there was only one ending this Cinder girl would settle for, so no matter how her heart would grieve with each lonely year that passed she never lost faith that she would one day be invited to the publishing Ball.

Then an idea sparked, a magical tale that had entwined with her heart, yet left her wanting more. And visions danced in her head…Far away places, heroic swordfights, magic spells, a prince in disguise … With her best friend by her side, they delved into their grandest story yet, and recreated the enchanting legend of Brigadoon, infusing their own humor and longing for adventure.

One fateful day a Fairy Godmother named…er…Zondervan read the girls’ captivating tale, and with a wave of their magic wand, granted the story of DOON life. And the Cinder Girl received an invitation to the largest, most glamorous Ball of them all—the Bookexpo America in the glittering metropolis of The Big Apple. So the girl left her poor provincial town for the city where there’s hardly no day and hardly no night. Ohh, what a sight!

The girls received the royal treatment, whisked through the rain in a shiny black carriage, to be guests at The Sheraton Times Square where they slept on fluffy beds fit for a princess, minus the pea, and served dinners that were never second best.

At the BEA ball, the Cinder girl worried her story would be lost among the thousands of other beautiful books in the massive room. Tomes of all shapes and sizes, clothed in brilliant colors competed for the reader’s attention. But because the girls’ Fairy Godmother had created a new imprint tailor made for DOON, along with a strikingly gorgeous cover, in the Blink of an eye the girls’ dance card was full. Librarians, bloggers, booksellers and readers flocked to receive a copy of the epic fairytale of DOON, signed by the girl who had once sat alone in her office dreaming of the day someone would gush, “I can’t wait to read your book!”

As the girl signed book after book, smiling until her cheeks ached, she knew she couldn’t have been happier if Prince Charming had placed the glass slipper on her foot.  And in that moment, she realized she was a Cinder girl no more, but a real life published author, and going to the BEA Ball was just the beginning.

“Open your arms as wide as you can to receive all the miracles with your name on them.”

–          Suzanna Thompson

[View our “What a day (week) this has been!” storyboard from our NYC trip]