Princess Bubble
As a mother of a six-year-old girl, I find myself in a constant battle (already!) with the “idealized” female. In fact, I think the indoctrination of young girls begins at birth, but it hits hardest between the ages of 3-7 when they are literally immersed in the “princess culture”. So, when I saw the book Princess Bubble by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, it was as if the clouds parted and shaft of light broke through.
Princess Bubble, according to the author’s website is a character who is “a well-employed, globe-trotting, good-friend, good-date, helpful-neighbor princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale message that implies she must find her “prince” before she can live ‘happily ever after.’”
Can you say EUREKA?!
I had a chance to speak with Susan Johnston on the phone about her book and she told me her story. Recently engaged for the first time in her 40’s, Johnston has lived an exciting and fulfilling life as a single woman. She found herself becoming increasingly disappointed in the conversations she was having with young girls, who consistently told her that they wanted to be princesses–and that it was a requirement to find a prince to be happy.
Johnston talked to her friend Susan Webb (who has four young nieces) about the idea of creating a character that is both a princess and a multi-dimensional woman. The two developed the character of Princess Bubble who Johnston describes as “a better version of me.”
“She wants to help others and make a difference in the world. Being a princess is not just sitting on a throne and having a crown. Princess Diana is remembered more for helping than being waited on.”
Does this mean that Princess Bubble is a raging anti-man, anti-lipstick-wearing, cold-hearted bitch? Not at all. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be pretty and glamorous,” Johnston said. “And marriage is wonderful. But marriage can’t BE the dream. Marriage is a way to SHARE your dream with someone special.”
Young girls need to feel confident to explore new things; gain education and experience; travel and see the world. They need to be whole and complete themselves before they decide to commit to a lifelong relationship. Being a woman (and every woman is a princess) means asking questions like:
Do you feel like a victim? (Every other fairy tale princess is a victim of some sort.)
Are you waiting to be rescued?
Do you have to be rescued to have the fairy tale?
What makes you truly happy?
Retail therapy makes everyone happy for an instant. But what makes you happy long after
Princess Bubble also incorporates an element of faith, something overlooked in almost every princess story. While written from a Christian perspective, little girls from all religions can benefit from the example of this charming young woman who bases her choices on her beliefs, not on the desperate need to be loved and accepted.
Johnston and Webb financed the publishing of this book on their own because it contains a message that they really believe in. If you’d like to help a young girl discover more about womanhood than being rescued and looking pretty, buy her a copy of Princess Bubble and help support this wonderful creative endeavor.
Princess Bubble is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and local retailers around the country.
http://bunnyglitter.com/?p=471
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A Different Kind of Princess
Princess Bubble is a beautiful fairy tale princess AND an educated, hard-working, well-traveled woman with plenty of moxie. Authors Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb created the character of Princess Bubble to help combat stereotypes and fight the victim mentality that young girls are indoctrinated with almost from birth. The book is written from a Christian perspective, encouraging young girls to be princess with morals, ethics, and faith in addition to a pretty dress and lip gloss.
Johnston and Webb financed the book themselves because they believed the young girls in their lives needed a story that inspired them to go after their dreams, not just wait around for someone else to fulfill them.
You can buy Princess Bubble at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Share this wonderful story with a little girl in your life and help her become a different kind of princess.
http://www.graygaia.com/2009/02/a-different-kind-of-princess.html
Princess Bubble is a beautiful fairy tale princess AND an educated, hard-working, well-traveled woman with plenty of moxie. Authors Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb created the character of Princess Bubble to help combat stereotypes and fight the victim mentality that young girls are indoctrinated with almost from birth. The book is written from a Christian perspective, encouraging young girls to be princess with morals, ethics, and faith in addition to a pretty dress and lip gloss.
Johnston and Webb financed the book themselves because they believed the young girls in their lives needed a story that inspired them to go after their dreams, not just wait around for someone else to fulfill them.
You can buy Princess Bubble at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Share this wonderful story with a little girl in your life and help her become a different kind of princess.
http://www.graygaia.com/2009/02/a-different-kind-of-princess.html
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Happy Valentine’s Day without a Prince?
Featured on The Today Show and CNN
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/08/11/intv.susan.johnston.cnn?iref=videosearch
New Release, Princess Bubble, Strikes Chord with America’s 51% SINGLE WOMEN WHO, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S. HISTORY, OUTNUMBER MARRIED WOMEN
ATLANTA, February 11, 2009—This Valentine’s Day almost 90 million Americans will celebrate the romantic holiday single. Two successful prince-less princesses show the world that being a stuffy Old Maid does not have to be "in the cards" for single woman today! Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb offer girls of all ages updated version of the traditional fairy tale. No longer a "Damsel in Distress," this princess travels the world, helps others, and finds "happily ever after" even before she finds her Prince!
With wisdom gleaned from their careers as single, globe-trotting flight attendant, first-time author Susan Johnston has crafted a modern-day book that celebrates singleness. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that some single women face.
"Knowing how low self-esteem and depression plague many single females, we wanted to spread the message that ‘happily ever after’ can occur even before Prince Charming arrives. . . or even if he never does," said Johnston.
"We’re definitely not anti-Prince," said Johnston (whose college nickname was "Bubble"). "We’re not anti-family or anti-marriage, if anything we’re anti-‘Damsel in Distress.’ Our message—the single life can also be a fairy tale. The End!"
Princess Bubble stars a princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale messages that say she must find her "prince" before she can live "happily ever after." Princess Bubble dons her "thinking crown" to research traditional fairy tales, interviews married girlfriends, and even takes counsel from her mother, who advises her to sign up at FindYourPrince.com. With a little help from her fairy godmother (this is still a fairy tale after all), Ms. Bubble discovers that "living happily ever after" is not about finding a prince. "True happiness," the book reveals, "is found by loving God, being kind to others, and being comfortable with who you are already!"
Featured on The Today Show and CNN
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/08/11/intv.susan.johnston.cnn?iref=videosearch
New Release, Princess Bubble, Strikes Chord with America’s 51% SINGLE WOMEN WHO, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S. HISTORY, OUTNUMBER MARRIED WOMEN
ATLANTA, February 11, 2009—This Valentine’s Day almost 90 million Americans will celebrate the romantic holiday single. Two successful prince-less princesses show the world that being a stuffy Old Maid does not have to be "in the cards" for single woman today! Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb offer girls of all ages updated version of the traditional fairy tale. No longer a "Damsel in Distress," this princess travels the world, helps others, and finds "happily ever after" even before she finds her Prince!
With wisdom gleaned from their careers as single, globe-trotting flight attendant, first-time author Susan Johnston has crafted a modern-day book that celebrates singleness. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that some single women face.
"Knowing how low self-esteem and depression plague many single females, we wanted to spread the message that ‘happily ever after’ can occur even before Prince Charming arrives. . . or even if he never does," said Johnston.
"We’re definitely not anti-Prince," said Johnston (whose college nickname was "Bubble"). "We’re not anti-family or anti-marriage, if anything we’re anti-‘Damsel in Distress.’ Our message—the single life can also be a fairy tale. The End!"
Princess Bubble stars a princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale messages that say she must find her "prince" before she can live "happily ever after." Princess Bubble dons her "thinking crown" to research traditional fairy tales, interviews married girlfriends, and even takes counsel from her mother, who advises her to sign up at FindYourPrince.com. With a little help from her fairy godmother (this is still a fairy tale after all), Ms. Bubble discovers that "living happily ever after" is not about finding a prince. "True happiness," the book reveals, "is found by loving God, being kind to others, and being comfortable with who you are already!"
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