Happily ever after?

What happened after Cinderella tucked her foot into that glass slipper? Did she and the prince live happily ever after?

Sun City resident Cathy Kwon has the answers in her book “Cinderella the Next Chapter.”

Cathy and her husband, Mike, had three daughters, and when they were little, Cathy told them bedtime stories about princesses.

Kwon said, “But in my stories, the princesses were powerful, never waiting around for a prince to save the day. My princesses were strong, capable women. I wanted my daughters to know that they could be anything that they wanted to be.”

What made Kwon decide to write the stories?

“My roommate in college, Terri White, and I reconnected after 30 years. I studied business and worked in HR as a consultant for over 40 years. Terri studied journalism. I went down to Florida on a vacation trip and met with her. I told her about my fairytale princesses who take charge of their destinies. And how proud I was that my three daughters were confident and independent women,” she said.

Terri jumped at the chance to co-write the bedtime stories that Cathy told her daughters. Kwon’s husband, Mike knew a children’s book author who could help the co-authors get to the result of publishing their book.

Kwon said, “We had a conference call and we got a recommendation for an illustrator, Katie Williams. We contacted Katie and talked about the book. She agreed to illustrate our book. She is a very talented woman, and we were excited to have her bring our story to life with her drawings. What was a real surprise is that Katie did not live far from Sun City. She lived in Huntley. All the pieces seemed to be falling in place.”

The characters illustrated incorporate diversity and for those who enjoyed finding Waldo in books, you might try to find Cathy and Terri’s likeness in the book. The book begins after the wedding. The couple is in a financial crisis and they may lose the castle.

How long did it take to complete the book?

Kwon answered “It took us a year to publish the book. We decided to self-publish with a company named Lulu.”

What can Kwon tell us about the story?

Kwon said, “The couple is faced with the economics of their situation and might have to move in with the King and Queen, who have moved into a 55-plus community, similar to Sun City.”

Kwon said her family has been incredibly supportive.

“My two granddaughters got the book on Easter. They enjoyed it so much that they created a screenplay for the story and put on a play for us. In Sun City, one of my neighbors hosting a book signing at high tea in her home,” she said.

Cathy’s Husband, Mike said, “Cathy has always been a good communicator. She bonds with anyone; she can strike up a conversation with a stranger. She stressed to our daughters that they could do anything they wanted to do. One of our daughters, Carolyn, asked if she could be the president of the United States. We both assured her that she could become the president. I am blessed to have Cathy as my partner.”

Is Cathy planning to add more to her writing collection?

Kwon said, “Yes, we are. I had four stories that I told, and we are going to write the rest of them.”

Cathy’s book is available on Amazon, or you can give her a call to get an autographed copy at 847-372-5649.

The dedication sums it up:

“Dedicated to princesses everywhere, young and old, who learn that the forest, the kingdom, the schoolyard, and the world of commerce are their playground – their stage for whatever life invites them to be.”

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