an·no·ta·tion - to furnish a literary work with critical commentary or explanatory notes.Parnassus Books and Cheekwood Botanical Gardens invites Nashville’s community of readers and book lovers to visit each month for a series of literary events in the garden. Join us as celebrated local authors share their stories, describe their process, and offer ‘behind-the-text’ accounts of their works. This month, we'll host Tracy Barrett, author of The Stepsister's Tale.
Everyone knows that Cinderella was horribly mistreated by her ugly and wicked stepsisters. But what if the storybooks got it wrong? Jane Montjoy is tired of pretending to live up to the standards of her mother’s noble family—especially now that the family’s wealth is gone and their stately mansion has fallen to ruin. It’s hard work tending to the animals and finding a way to feed her mother and her little sister each day. Jane’s burden only gets worse after her mother returns from a trip to town with a new stepfather and stepsister in tow. Despite the family’s struggle to prepare for the long winter ahead, Jane’s stepfather remains determined to give his beautiful but spoiled Isabella her every desire. When her stepfather suddenly dies, leaving nothing but debts and a bereaved daughter behind, it seems to Jane that her family is destined for eternal unhappiness. But a mysterious boy from the woods and an invitation to a royal ball are certain to change her fate . . . . Readers will be thoroughly captivated by award-winning author Tracy Barrett’s imaginative retelling of the Cinderella story from an unexpected perspective. They’ll never think about fairy tales the same way again!
Tracy Barrett is the award-winning author of twenty books for teen and tween readers; The Stepsister’s Tale is her tenth novel. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree with honors in Classics-Archaeology from Brown University and a M.A. and a Ph.D. in Medieval Italian Literature from the University of California, Berkeley. She taught Italian and other subjects at Vanderbilt University before retiring in 2012 to devote all her time to writing. Tracy Barrett lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee.
