After the Ball: A Woman's Tale of Reclaiming Happily Ever After (by Barb Greenberg)
THE BOOK IS BEING CALLED "BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL, POWERFUL, INSPIRATIONAL, UPLIFTING, ENCOURAGING, AWESOME, WISE, VALUABLE FOR ALL WOMEN, BRILLIANT, DESTINED TO BECOME A CLASSIC"
"Fabulous!” -- Leslie Doolittle
"I read your book several times and each time I gained more appreciation for how wonderful it is...the message is powerful...women need your message." -- Lavinia P.
“Full of hope and inspiration!” -- Jennifer Morris, Founder of Daisy Camp (for women in divorce transition - Daisy Camp has been featured on Good Morning America and other media)
"I found After the Ball both soft, because of the gentle, fairytale style and hard, because of its truthfulness."-- Judy Lear, Co-chair of the United Nations NGO Sub Committee on Older Women (SCOW) of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, New York.
"After the Ball is a real treasure and it touched my heart." -- Lisa Liveringhouse, Senior Category Manger, SC Johnson
"The book is fabulous - I love your vivid descriptions and the message of self-empowerment and the support of other women. Beautiful and perfect illustrations, too." -- Ann Gosack
After the Ball was a lovely parable and I enjoyed the read very much. -- Anne Marie Gillen, CEO, Gillen Group, LLC
“Simple, but powerful.” -- Lynn Vorvick
Encouraging, Comforting & Healing
“When I got married I thought all my Cinderella dreams would come true. Barb Greenberg’s book After the Ball gave me hope after having experienced a divorce. Her book is a joy to read. It is encouraging, hopeful, comforting, healing with humor and helpful for anyone who thinks they have lost their little girl dreams forever”. -- Peggy Sacco, Independent Executive Sales Director, Mary Kay Cosmetics
Required Reading for All Women
"This lovely book is so beautifully done, is a fast read, and should be "Required Reading" for all women. It is realistic, tho a fairy tale ; sweet, tho it has powerful advice. So many women can relate to this simple, meaningful lesson, including those unfortunate enought to be in a shelter. I can honestly and hightly recommend it !" -- Marilyn Merino, Senior Director for 30 years, Mary Kay, Inc.
"It took my breath away. It's beautiful and wise and we can all learn something from this story." -- Ethel Smith
"What a BEAUTIFUL book - so valuable to all of us women. You have accomplished something so important that must be shared with EVERY WOMAN." -- Nancy Smith
“The book is awesome.” -- Louis Weitzman, Ph.D.
"After the Ball is a great story for women of any age. It shows you that no matter what issues you have going on in your life, no one can take away who you are or the strength that comes from inside you, handsome prince…or not.” Samantha Skrove, age 13
“Most women of any age - single, married, divorced or remarried - will be able to relate to the loss of personal power. It is a common thread for so many women.” -- Julie Wall, hobby farm owner and horse rescue activist
Helping Me Through My Divorce
"I was lent a copy of your book After the Ball by a woman in my book club. She lent it to me because I am recently separated from my husband and making the decision to move forward with my life rather than wait for him to figure out his issues with our relationship. It's been a hard time for me and even harder to realize the high possibility that my marriage is actually over. It isn't the path I wanted my life to take, but I really don't have any other choice. Your book was wonderful to read and I have re-read it when I feel down and lost. It helps me to feel strong and confident and know that I will be just fine. I just wanted to let you know that your book is very inspirational and I am so glad that I have read it. Now I'm going to order a copy for myself so that I will always have it on hand to read when I need it. (BK)
“A rose-filled book that provides a nurturing path for women who are moving through relationship transitions. After the Ball paints a heart-warming picture of faith, hope and wisdom.” -- Shawna Todd, consultant, coach and creator, The Todd Group, LLC
“What an imaginative, heartfelt and hopeful book. It has a fresh and fearless message and gives us hope of changing, the courage to be resilient and the hope that 'freedom' actually brings joy and happiness.” -- Kathleen K.
"After the Ball is a book I plan to share with friends and family including my six year old daughter -- because you're never too young to learn how to live a rich, fulfilling life. I can't wait to talk with her about the princesses, their choices, their lives and their decisions. She's going to love the story and I'm going to love the lessons she'll learn in the process." -- Kris Finger, Founder, Nonprofit Solutions, Inc. and School Business Solutions, Inc.
"After the Ball really is a workbook for discovery and I will be studying it as the days unfold." -- Joan Waddington -- The Waddingtons: Accounting & Bookkeeping for Businesses, Individuals and Organizations
Review of After the Ball by Barb Greenberg
Reviewer: Tracy Morrow
Every part of this book is absolutely delightful. I received it during an especially busy time and it sat beckoning to me on my desk. Just looking at the beauty of the cover artwork left me longing to open the pages to see what other delights would be offered. I haven’t seen artwork on a novel like this for many years and I found myself admiring it, and still admiring it, time and again. It’s simply not a book that you buy and lose into a dusty bookshelf.
This book is the type of book that you will want to get multiple copies of to give to your older daughters, sisters, and friends. It’s about how our childhood fairytales ended at “Happily Ever After”. The story will assure you that “Happily Ever After” is not exactly what you thought it would be! It offers hope, strength, and encouragement to all women going through any of life’s twists and turns and reminds us that we can be our own Fairy Godmothers.
A comfy blanket and a cup of tea are the perfect accompaniment for this lovely book. It’s the comfort food for your spirit that you may not have had since you were lovingly tucked into bed with your favorite bedtime story as a child. But this time the story is for the grown up princess to read over and over again. The descriptive writing will soon take you away from your own reality and into the world of princesses and fantasy. I could almost smell the flowers and feel the sunshine! The story line is laid out as a symphony and Barb Greenberg now has a new fan as I can’t wait to find other books written by her.
After the Ball, A Woman’s Tale of Reclaiming Happily Ever After is sure to become a Classic. Every woman needs to hear the message that’s clearly demonstrated in this absolutely darling story. The gorgeous artwork throughout the book adds to the elegance of this little book making it an all around treasure."
Book Review of After the Ball by Elizabeth Bright
from Armchair Interviews Web Site
"Every once in a while a book comes along that has you telling everyone about it. This is After the Ball, a truly inspirational book for women–single, married, widowed, or re-singled.
Written like a fairytale, Greenberg uses Cinderella and Snow White to tell her story about women who thought they had married well (in this case, princes who were cousins)–and then as time went on, the shine went off the princes’ crown. The women meet for tea after a long journey across the countryside from their distant castles.
When they admit to each other (isn’t that always the first step of action) that they were SO unhappy, the story starts. We have a wise woman in the woods, we have trusty steads (horses) and beautiful carriages–all the elements of a fairytale, but this one isn’t.
What have these princesses put up with that hurt their deepest soul? Can they survive alone without the prince? What can these princesses do “after”? How do they support each other?
As stated on the back cover, "Many a princess lives ‘happily ever after’ with a prince who is strong and true. This is cause to celebrate. But not all royal couples are so fortunate. After the Ball offers hope and inspiration to the princess who finds her fairy tale is ending much differently than expected and is now, or will soon be, prince-less.”
Written as if every single word was most valuable to the story, Greenberg created poetry in her prose. When the wise woman told them a story about a prince taking his princess’s power, I was mesmerized how carefully elegantly the story was told. My favorite line is: One day her fairy godmother came to this princess and whispered, “Trust yourself, my sweet dear, trust yourself.”
With hundreds of self-help books for women in relationships, this lovely little book (from the amazing cover to the last word) is truly a gift to your friends, sisters, daughters–all woman in your life. In about 100 pages, the story of these two women’s lives starts sadly–and wonderfully moves them to a better place. Oh if it could be so simple, but After the Ball will inspire any woman to go forward, or to appreciate the struggles of other women.
Armchair Interviews says: Trust yourself, my sweet dear, trust yourself and get this 5-star book–and don’t stop at one copy. To see the wonderful cover or order the book—publisher’s web site: www.RosePathPress.com"
Thank You for Your Wonderful Tale
"I just had a quiet moment in the porch and read your book After the Ball. It was a pleasure to read and a book that can refresh me when I need it. Thank you for the quiet reminder about our own role in the happiness of our lives. It is so easy to expect others like our husbands, our children and even our friends to make happiness for us, when in truth the happiness must come from ourselves and within ourselves. Women become sucked of their own being from so many, and they allow it. This was a quiet, hugging book for me. I felt loved and listened to while I read it. For those of us who are not divorced, it is a way of peeking deep into the heart of the pain and the journey of that difficult life experience. Realizing, it is not such a different path that many women take, no matter if they are married or not. Thank you Barb, for your wonderful tale. It is a quiet, truthful reminder of the role one must play and believe in to bring true fulfillment and joy in ones life!" -- Bonnie M
We Are Not Alone
"As a princess whose power was also stolen, I found Barb Greenberg’s gentle message of encouragement gratefully uplifting. She shows us that recovery and growth comes not from clinging to anger, fear, and regret, but from the seed of quiet strength we all possess, whether we know it or not. She reassures us we are not alone." -- Cindy Novotny
This Book Is About Evolving & Growing As A Woman
Do we REALLY need a Prince Charming? After reading Barb Greenberg’s book, After the Ball , I was reminded in a truly delightful way that, of course, what makes us happy is found deep within ourselves. We all want that Prince Charming, but whether single or attached, it is still up to us to find our own happiness. It is dangerous territory to depend on another human for our joy. Barb Greenberg, the author, wrote this beautiful book after her divorce. But after reading it (I’ve been married 47 years) I find that it is not just about divorce. It is about evolving and growing as a woman, with or without a man. I love the dedication: “This book is dedicated to every princess finding her way and every wise woman guiding her”. Meaning, we all, as women, help each other get through difficulties in life, young or old. But the work is still up to us as individuals. This book is very sincere, kind and endearing. No “sour-grapes”. And best of all, it costs less than $20.00, (perfect stocking stuffer), and you can read it in about 20 minutes. Short but so BEAUTIFUL. What a great legacy for more mature, experienced women to pass on to the youth of today–grandma’s this is an amazing bit of wisdom–ready to share. Thanks, Barb for this gift!" -- Aging but Dangerous blog
The Concept Is Brilliant
"I read After the Ball and it is really comforting to be told you can do it on your own. I think it would be great for anyone…I feel more grateful that my marriage works after this book…but the concept of weaving your own life regardless of marital status does come through. It is nice because it is a message every single person will appreciate greatly for without this, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. And, for divorced women it is truly comforting. It is deep enough that it takes two reads to catch it all…I read it twice and caught more of the subtlties the second time. The concept is brilliant and my favorite line is 'they lived happily ever after.' " -- Karen Oman, Founder, Certes Financial Pros, Founder of www.timetobreathe.com, author of "Gifts of the Heart"
A Beautiful Book
"What a lovely book! Thank you for writing it and voicing so many of the thoughts that so many of us women have had after OUR balls were over and REAL LIFE settled in. The fact is we need to find our own power within, no matter if we have a life partner or not. We're taught to pin our hopes on someone else to 'save us,' but the truth is we need to have courage and recognize our own strength to save ourselves. You beautiful book will help many women do just that." -- Jane H.
Book Review from Musings of A Book Addict: Six Great Books
Women everywhere will be able to identify with this simple yet elegant book. We grow up believing that we will have a “happily ever after” ending to our lives only to be shocked when it doesn’t happen. This is a false illusion we create based on someone else’s story. We must create our own happy ending. We are shown through the change in direction both Cinderella and Snow White take that we can empower ourselves to make changes. We can give ourselves permission to grieve and get angry with wht we have lost as long as we remain strong and true to ourselves. I wish this book had been around when I went through my divorce eighteen yea rs ago. It took me awhile to gain this knowledge and only after I had empowered myself did my true prince come along. I realized like the princesses in the story that I didn’t need to be rescued.
A Message of Hope
"I thoroughly enjoyed your fairy tale. The writing was perfect for the genre you chose, and I love the cover. The message can apply to so many situations, and I can see people like me finding their own message of hope in this beautifully told story. You can be extremely proud of your efforts." -- Karen Hess, Information Age Communications
The Perfect Gift for Every Woman You Know
"True to its fairytale heritage After the Ball, carries a message of universal value for every woman. Imaginatively written, with a light heart and a deft hand, this beautiful book is a reminder whether we’re married, single, or divorced, we each need to claim our own life and take responsibility for its direction. It’s not enough to be part of someone else’s journey, even if he is a good man. The perfect gift for every woman you know, this small treasure is bound to become a classic." -- Diane Keyes, award-winning author of This Sold House & Spirit of the Snow People
Short and Easy to Read with Wonderful Artwork
"After the Ball: A Woman's Tale of Reclaiming Happily Ever After by Barb Greenberg is a dashingly good read. It is about Snow White and Cinderella. Long time friends since they were girls, the two are separated when they marry their princes. However, they still find time to talk with each other every now and then--usually over tea or while picking herbs. One day, each princess realizes the other is disheveled. They begin to prod each other and discover that they are both unhappy. Apparently, the princes have taken the power of the princesses. Later, the princesses travel to a sagacious woman for guidance. Many metaphors ensue and the princesses ultimately realize that they must first save themselves before they let a prince save them. This book is short and easy to read with wonderful artwork inside. It is quick, but the hidden meanings and undertones will keep readers pondering for quite some time." -- Teresa Knopka Book Reviews
A Vivid Writer
"The words were so compelling that it drew me quickly again to the end without even realizing it. You are a vivid writer and use the English language to paint every picture you see in your head. Yes I, too, married a prince who is still quite ‘charming’. We have journeyed together close to 50 years during which time he has given me power to come out of my shell and be the confident wise woman that I feel I am now. Not only does your book speak to the downtrodden women to give them encouragement to rise up to be all they can be, but it also reminds those of us blessed by God’s grace to have been given a true ‘prince’ we trust and respect, to share the joy we have within us." -- Jackie Radichel, poet
You Can Get Through Anything
"This is not typically a genre that I read a lot but I was lured in by the cover and I like to try something new. The book is a short read, 107 pages. The story is a simple one. Cinderella and Snow White, two popular fairy tale characters, are unhappy with their Happily Ever After. They both seek the friendship of one another to get through and the wisdom of other women.This book holds a simple message for all women. Find yourself, love yourself, and you can get through anything. This is what I took from it. The two characters married their princes and were promised and expected a happily ever after life. But that doesn't happen. Their princes were not available, controlling or unfaithful. They had to step away from their marriages that they had so much hope for and learn to stand on their own. This is a good gift for someone in your life going through a rough time, whether it's a divorce or an end of any relationship. For a genre I don't normally seek out, this was a nice pool to dip my toes in." -- Red Headed Book Child Blog, Full-Time Mom, Part-Time Bookseller, Passionate Reviewer, Real Red Head
The Gift of Peace and Wholeness
"After the Ball is an inspirational book for single, married, widowed, or divorced women. In a short story, fairy tale format, Cinderella and Snow White tell their stories--the stories of two women who thought they had married their own Prince Charming, but later are disappointed in their choice of men. The two friends decide to take their sadness to a woman of wisdom, Annetta, who lives in the woods. Before the two guests leave her enchanted house, Annetta gives them the gift of peace and wholeness. After the Ball is a beautiful book about loss, difficult choices, support systems, and discovery of self. Can a princess find true happiness?" -- from Book Review on "Everything Victorian and more" and The Serenity Room Blog
What a great message in a tiny book. It lets you know that you have the strength inside to get overcome any hardship. Sometimes your prince turns into a frog, but that it doesn't have to, and shouldn't, define how you think of yourself. This is a book that every woman should read, not just those going through a break-up. It took me only about 10 minutes to read this book but the message was heard loud and clear. -- Book Review from Reading at the Beach Book Blog
Which Princess Were You?
Review by: Darlene Oakley, Freelance writer/editor, www.darscorrections.com
"Every little girl dreams of being a princess. Some go so far as to decorate their rooms with princess-y stuff. Each princess fairy tale shows a beautiful girl overcoming adversity to find love and happiness in the arms of her Prince Charming.
Every little girl’s dream is to be swept off her feet, by a handsome, loving man and to live happily ever after.
Unfortunately, with 50 percent of all marriage ending in divorce, happily ever after seems to be harder to come by. That means there are princesses (and princes) out there whose worlds have been completely turned upside down.
Author Barb Greenberg is one of those princesses whose life did not follow the HEAE (happily ever after ending) that she had dreamed of when she and her husband were first married. Barb turns what she learned through this experience into a new fairy tale to teach others.
Well Worth the Read
"After the Ball follows Cinderella and Snow White as they trot into the forest together to find a legendary woman they believe could help them overcome the serious disappointment and anger and abandonment they feel at the end of what should have been happily ever after. Through the woman’s wisdom, they learn to look inward at themselves to pull their hearts out of despair back into living; they that needed to be true to themselves and, upon discovering that truth and them following that truth, they would recover and be able to move on.
It is a truly unique story idea. A quick read – easily done in an hour or two. Beautifully designed cover. It is a fairy tale that is truly uplifting and empowering. It is one that I’m considering buying for a friend whom I know is going through a tough time at the moment. Well worth the read. I look forward to reading more from Barb Greenberg and Rose Path Press." -- Darlene Oakley
A Truly Inspirational Book
"Barb Greenberg is this really neat lady from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, who I interviewed a few years. She had written an inspiring book called, 'Hope Grew Round Me.' It 'chronicles Barb's college-age daughter’s miraculous recovery after a life threatening accident halfway around the world, and how it became the impetus for Barb to courageously begin the process of her own personal healing.' Now Barb has a new book out, titled, 'After the Ball: A Woman's Tale of Reclaiming Happily Ever After.' She began writing this book as she was healing from her divorce and wondering 'what became of Cinderella and Snow White after they rode off to the palace, each with her handsome prince.' Elizabeth Bright, reviewing the book for Armchair Interviews, wrote: 'Every once in a while a book comes along that has you telling everyone about it. This is After the Ball, a truly inspirational book for women–single, married, widowed, or re-singled.This lovely little book (from the amazing cover to the last word) is truly a gift to your friends, sisters, daughters–all women in your life.' -- Melissa Gilman
A Perfect Fit for A “Chick Niche”
Review of After the Ball: A Woman’s Tale of Reclaiming Happily Ever After, by Barb Greenberg
Reviewed by Charles Ashbacher - AMAZON.COM TOP 50 REVIEWER
"Fairy tales are generally just that, a tale of things, times and places that are idealistic hopes and dreams. Reality is much harsher, rather than happily ever after it is more a case of struggle with ups and downs as measured on the happiness meter. Greenberg does an interesting thing, she uses the characters of Cinderella and Snow White, lovely girls that marry their princes and then move off to their respective castles.
Although they are busy being the wives of their spouses, the two manage to keep in touch over the years, meeting on a regular basis to share tea and tales of their lives and woes. They discover that marrying Prince Charming is a wonderful event but that life tends to be hard, even for the social and economic elite. When they were young, both of them had heard a story of a wise woman dwelling in the forest, so at one of their meetings, they agree to flee and seek her out.
After taking many false paths, the two women arrive at the dwelling of the wise woman, whose name is Annetta. They are welcomed to her home, which begins a process of talking and self-study. That study begins with a paragraph that is completely female in tone
'When Cinderella and Snow White snuggled down into the cozy blue sofa and covered themselves with a patchwork quilt, Annetta began her story.'
It is very easy to generate a mental picture of this scene, despite the elegant movie renditions of the two characters.
At this point, Annetta begins her story of a princess that marries her own Prince Charming, a man that turns out to be hungry for power over all things and his wife is but a tool to be used on his quest. When the reality of his true nature becomes painfully evident, the princess gathers a few things and then departs. After wandering for some time and struggling with her anguish, the princess is able to weave her life back together, developing an inner strength to rise above the painful past. This tale emboldens Cinderella and Snow White to do the same thing, so after a few simple gifts from Annetta, they depart and each finds a cottage of their own, constructs a simple life and lives happily ever after.
When life is good, such as at the start of a marriage, it appears to be a fairy tale, yet tarnish is inevitable. This story is about the fading of the happily ever after scenario and what to do when it all appears covered in rust. Written for females unhappy with their lot in life, this is a book that is a perfect fit for a 'chick niche.'"
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