Cinderella's Secret Diary 1659

By Sara Shai

Although the legendary Cinderella has given hope and inspiration to many girls throughout the ages and around the world, one cannot overlook the high price we pay when we attempt to fit ourselves into the fairy tale mold. The truth finally is revealed. Her diary tells all.
Cinderella, like so many women, is confronted with many difficulties, and even breakdowns. Her life with Prince Charming is no piece of cake.
Then, in one sleepless night, driven by her greatest pain, she has an epiphany—a burst of understanding that tells her perhaps the angst in her life exists due only to her perspective; it may well be her resistance which creates conflict and injury. Cinderella realizes she holds the power over her life, love, and peace—in her own hands.
She realizes triumph in her life will not be complete until she brings ‘Happily Ever After’ to reality, through her own efforts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sara Shai
• Release date: Sep 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452460345

Sara Shai

Sara Shai’s Curriculum VitaeContact InformationSara Shai(818) 430-8964 mobile[phone] office(818) 222-7527 [e-mail] the AuthorSara Shai is a writer, teacher, fashion designer, business owner and an artist. Her commitment is to communicate through creativity and to inspire people to see what is possible for themselves. Her journey to self-expression started at an early age.She has worked as a journalist and teacher in Israel and California, and continues to teach to this day. She creates fashion accessories available through her private line, Sara’s Fashions. She is the founder and producer of the annual Honoring Life Event. She is the author of Beautiful in Black, her autobiography, and The Little Girl on the Sand Hill, a novel based on her own life experience.Her sculpture and paintings offer a fresh look at the human figure. For her, the raw stone and the still pose are frozen moments of life. The themes and the images of her work emerge from the inner fabric of her experience as a “woman of the now.”Sara’s art is poetic and lyrical, and her engagement with the material is strong yet innocent. It is often rich with emotional metaphor.Artist’s Statement: My art comes from a silent inner space within me, where words and thought have no power. When I finish a piece of art, I feel as if I have participated in God’s work. It is the peak of fulfillment. To create is to feel, think, struggle and live until it becomes real. Every creation is always a new and fresh birth. For me it is the interaction with the medium that determines the final creation and I am only the instrument that brings it to life. Art is the language of the soul.Narrative ChronologySara graduated Bet Reveka teachers’ college in Tel Aviv, Israel in 1964. After teachers’ college, she also attended art school in Old Jafa, Israel. From 1965 through 1971 she taught Hebrew literature and writing at Shorashim Junior High School in Tel Aviv, a junior high in Ashkelon, and Habad School in Kirata Gat.Sara married Israeli author Moshe Shai in 1965. Moshe was an analyst of Israeli-Arab relationships and a commentator and journalist for the highly regarded Israeli Haretz Newspaper. In 1971, after Moshe’s untimely passing, Sara moved with their young son to Los Angeles, California.In 1967, she began working as a freelance writer for the popular Israeli woman’s magazine La’esha and the music magazine La’hiton. After moving to Los Angeles, she continued writing as a correspondent for those magazines until 1973. Her writing included interview of celebrities and people of interest and also a fashion column.At the same time, Sara was teaching Hebrew literature and Jewish history at private schools in Los Angeles: Emek Hebrew Academy, Golda Mier High School and Sinai Hebrew Academy. She served as the Director of Education for Sephardic Hebrew Academy in 1977.She earned a diploma from West Coast Teaching College at Yeshiva University in Los Angeles in 1976.In 1978, Los Angeles City College awarded her the Certificate of Appreciation. The award recognized her for assisting and supervising students/employees in the College’s Cooperative Education program, which served to prepare students for careers.The same year, Sara launched her fashion business. She expressed her love for fashion, creativity and business by opening her first boutique, Sara’s Fashion, in Beverly Hills. At the same time, she was pursuing painting and sculpture.In 1985, she closed her boutique and spent a year in Europe learning about multi-media and absorbing the influence of the great masters of fashion and art. During this year, her son was an exchange student in Israel.She returned to Los Angeles in 1986 and once again flexed her business muscles by purchasing her first piece of real estate and also by opening a new boutique, Sara’s Designers Outlet, located in the central San Fernando Valley. Over the next few years, she opened two more boutiques – Sara’s Designers – one in Toluca Lake and the other in Woodland Hills. The Los Angeles Times wrote, “The proprietor’s flare for fashion...emanates from her artistic talents.”Since the mid-80’s she has continued to fiercely pursue her art and fashion design. In the early 2000’s, she closed her stores and focused on her art and writing.In the early 1990s, Sara began her training with the multi-media artist Manny Kremaer. She also studied figure molding and shaping with Harriet Hochberg, and stone carving with art historian Bernice Schachter.She worked in Pietrasanta, Italy, in 1999, where she carved in marble and alabaster. Pietrasanta is recognized by sculptors around the world for its exquisite marble and artistic legacy.In 2002, she resumed teaching at Temple Beth Hillel, North Hollywood.Writing was always Sara’s tool to challenge life. When she moved to Los Angeles, she began privately journaling her experience of her own perseverance and view of life. Over the years, she watched that stack of paper grow. Naturally, she began converting her notes into a book she could offer as inspiration to others.Her autobiography, Beautiful in Black, explores the human longing for love, acceptance and freedom. At the same time, it is an important contribution to those who suffer loss.Sara was raised in Israel and grew up during the struggle for freedom and independence. Those events left a deep impression on the artist, molding her personality and shaping her dreams. Her biography reveals her challenge to persevere as a little girl growing up in a dysfunctional household and to become resilient and whole as a woman.The book was self-published in 2006 and became a contribution to her community. Out of this, she founded the annual Honoring Life Event to acknowledge those who persevere over tragedy and take action to empower people to dwell in possibility. (To learn more about the Honoring Life Event, visit www.honoringlife.org.)Through the success of her autobiography and the Honoring Life Event, Sara realized her story could be a powerful contribution to a wider market if it were offered as a fictional novel. Therefore, Beautiful in Black evolved into The Little Girl on the Sand Hill.Professional HistoryShorashim Junior High School, Tel Aviv, and Habad School, Kirata Gat, Teacher, 1965 through 1971.La’hiton music magazine, freelance writer in Israel, from 1967. Correspondent in Los Angeles, until 1973.Sephardic Hebrew Academy, Director of Education, 1977.Emek Hebrew Academy, Golda Mier High School and Sinai Hebrew Academy, Teacher, through 1978.Sara’s Fashion, Beverly Hills, proprietor, opened 1978. Sara’s Designers Outlet, central San Fernando Valley, proprietor, opened 1986. Sara’s Designers Boutique, Toluca Lake and Woodland Hills, opened late 1980s. Closed all stores in early 2000s to pursue art and writing.Private studio, Los Angeles, artist and fashion designer, from mid-1980s.Private studio, Pietrasanta, Italy, sculptor of marble and alabaster, 1999.Temple Beth Hillel, North Hollywood, teacher since 2002.Beautiful in Black, author, self-published 2006.Honoring Life Event, founder, first annual event in 2006.The Little Girl on the Sand Hill, author, completed manuscript 2010.EducationBet Reveka teachers’ college, Tel Aviv, Israel, graduated 1964Art school, Old Jafa, Israel, from 1969.West Coast Teaching College at Yeshiva University, Los Angeles, diploma, 1976.Trained in multi-media art by Manny Kremaer, early 1990s.Trained in figure molding and shaping by Harriet Hochberg, early 1990s.Trained in stone carving, by art historian Bernice Schachter, Pietrasanta, Italy, early 1990s.Exhibits and Awards1978Certificate of Appreciation for LACC Cooperative Education program, Los Angeles City College – Los Angeles, CA1993“Every Woman’s Village” – Van Nuys, CA1995Artist Exhibits – Jupiter, FASculptor Symposium – Seattle, WA1996Golden State Sculptors Association exhibit – Thousand Oaks, CA1998Golden State Sculptors’ Association award for “Merging Love” – Jocelyn Fine Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA1999Sephardim Art, A Search for Identity exhibit, Sproul Hall Library, UCLA – Los Angeles, CAIsraeli Independence Day Festival Art Exhibit – Los Angeles, CA2000Moments in Time Exhibit – Los Angeles, CA2002Benefit for the Susan G. Koman Foundation, Sebastian Corporate Head Quarter – Woodland Hills, CAPierce College Theater and Art Show – Woodland Hills, CA2003Soho Gallery exhibit – Studio City, CA“Figurative Expressions” exhibit, Topanga Canyon Gallery – Topanga, CA2004Art show, The California Market Center – Los Angeles, CA2006Art exhibit, Beverly Hilton Hotel – Beverly Hills, CAArt exhibit, USA Today Hollywood Hero award show – Beverly Hills, CAFirst annual “Honoring Life Event,” The Art House Gallery – Santa Monica, CA2012 Dreams on Canves - Four Four Seasons Hotel - West Lake , Ca

Book preview

Cinderella’s Secret Diary 1659

By

Sara Shai

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2011 by: Sara Shai

Edited by: Susan Ball

Cover Design by: Laura Shinn

Formatted by: Laura Shinn

License Notes:

All rights reserved. Cinderella’s Secret Diary 1659 is a work of fiction. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system without the express written permission of the author, Sara Shai. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy or copies. If you did not purchase this book or it was not purchased for your use, please go to Smashwords.com to purchase your personal copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my little granddaughter, Rachel.

Her innocent love and romance with life is my inspiration.

Story Description

Although the legendary Cinderella has given hope and inspiration to many girls throughout the ages and around the world, one cannot overlook the high price we pay when we attempt to fit ourselves into the fairy tale mold. The truth finally is revealed. Her diary tells all.

Cinderella, like so many women, is confronted with many difficulties, and even breakdowns. Her life with Prince Charming is no piece of cake.

Then, in one sleepless night, driven by her greatest pain, she has an epiphany—a burst of understanding that tells her perhaps the angst in her life exists due only to her perspective; it may well be her resistance which creates conflict and injury. Cinderella realizes she holds the power over her life, love, and peace—in her own hands.

She realizes triumph in her life will not be complete until she brings ‘Happily Ever After’ to reality, through her own efforts.

Look for more information on Sara Shai’s work at:

www.sarashai.com

Table of Contents

Forward

Chapter I: When the Shoe Fits

Chapter II: The Prince, Adela and I

Chapter III: The Prince’s Loud Laughter and Monsieur Philippe

Chapter IV: My Palace—My Prison

Chapter V: My True Message

About the Author

Forward

It was quite late at night and I could not fall asleep. There was a full moon out the window of the Blue Sky Chateau. I got out of bed to get a book to read and in my search for the right book, I soon found myself rearranging the book shelves on the west side of the room… I believe it was just before midnight when I got to the bottom shelf and noticed that a few wooden strips on the floor were loose. As I pulled the wooden strips away, I saw there was a dusty old metal box. Cautiously, I opened the lid and was totally taken back when my eyes fell upon my amazing discovery…

Incredible! I was holding in my hands Cinderella’s personal diary! Cautiously, I placed my palm on top of its old leather cover and smoothed my fingers on the royal symbol at the top… Its fragile pages were fastened together with a twisted leather string. A few strands hung loose. The title read: Princess Cinderella’s Personal Diary 1659.

"Princess Cinderella’s Diary?" I asked myself aloud in disbelief. Cinderella? The fairy tale Cinderella? How could she have written a diary? On the other hand, how can we be sure that she was unreal and imaginary? Who said so? After all, she is such an icon in the heart of every little girl.

I shook my head, sat in the nearest chair and closed my eyes. I placed the diary on my lap and put my palms firmly on its cover trying to make sense of it all. At that moment I heard the grandfather clock in the hallway counting to 12:00. Its echoes remained in the room for a long time… Gradually, I opened my eyes and undid the string that closed the diary’s cover. Opening its pages tenderly, I was quite moved to see the old legible hand writing on the brittle yellowish pages. I began reading, completely and fully taken by every word. I was touched by her authenticity, her intimate sharing, her journey to discover the true way to living happily ever after. The courage and perseverance it took to reveal herself so fully in order to pass on her true message. What was captured in those pages was intended to be the most profound message from the legendary Cinderella to every woman.

I feel obliged to share her diary and set the record straight because we cannot overlook the high price we pay when we attempt to fit ourselves into the fairy tale mold. There is a fairy tale in every woman’s heart. From an early age, every little girl wishes to be like Princess Cinderella. She wishes that one day she, too, will meet her very own prince and live happily ever after.

The new truths in Cinderella’s diary reveal a very human message about perseverance, inspiration and empowerment for our real life. Until now, no one knew what happened to Cinderella after midnight.

Cinderella’s Personal Diary reveals the truth!

Chapter I:

When the Shoe Fits

"It liberates the heart and puts the mind on hold."

DATE: Sunday, March 16, 1659

I shall begin writing my diary secretly and I hope that one day it will be discovered and other girls can learn from my journey. Today is a good day to begin. I shall speak in these pages as loud as I can for it is only here in my dairy that I am the master of my life. I can cry and cry but what good are my tears if I don’t tell my story... These pages shall be my witness forever.

It is late at night now and I can’t sleep. I am locked up in my room, cold and hungry.

This afternoon I was in the market place when an old woman approached me with great concern. You poor girl, the doctor is at your home.

Father! Oh Father, I cried in my heart and pushed my way through the crowd. I ran as fast as I could. People turned their heads, paused and wondered as I seemed frightened and in panic. I was out of breath and nearly collapsed when I reached home. My stepmother Lady Tremaine was waiting for me, her hands on her wide hips and her face red with anger. She pulled me inside and dragged me to my room. She was taller than any woman I knew and her hands were large and muscular. She threw me across the room. You stupid girl; this may be your father’s last day. Where did you go? You don’t get supper tonight, she yelled, slamming the door shut and turning the key. I hugged my rag doll, curling my body and burying my face between my knees.

My mother passed away a few years ago and now my father is gravely ill.

I am afraid…

DATE: Friday, March 21

I woke up to the sound of a key turning in my door. It was still dark outside but I could see Lady Tremaine’s image in the door way. I immediately jumped out of bed. She pointed her hand toward the kitchen and I knew it was time to prepare breakfast and clean up the house. I was thinking about my father throughout the day, praying for him and sending him a blessing. I tried to look into his room, but Lady Tremaine kept the door closed and only the doctor was allowed in and out. At one point Lady Tremaine followed the doctor out with a look of I know not what upon her face.

Later on in the day, I asked to see my father in his last moments but she shrugged her shoulders and pushed me away. He does not want to see you, she sneered. She pushed me with her finger pointed at my heart.

It isn’t true; it isn’t true, I cried. My father loves me. I fell at her knees and sobbed helplessly but she disengaged herself from me and said, Go back to your work, little orphan. I could hear her laughter fading as she walked away.

DATE: Two days later

It is a dark day for you, Lady Tremaine said when my father’s body was taken away from our home. I shivered like