The Shattering the Glass Slipper competition finalists

Tweet

This is it, the final stage of the Shattering the Glass Slipper writing competition. After much deliberation, Stephanie and I have selected the ten finalists and now it's time to vote for the best retelling of the Cinderella story.

I have to tell you, all the entries we have received are really fantastic. We really hadn't expected that so many of the entires would be of such high quality, both in the writing and the creativity of the stories. If you haven't yet read through them than you must go over to the contest site and do so at once. I'm sure you will find at least several stories that will delight you.

But we did have to choose just ten stories to be voted on, and these are our selections:


Masque by Amy Allison:

Something glittered deep inside the trunk. I reached for it, and shivering, drew it up from the bottom. “It’s a diamond necklace,” my mother said as she fastened it around my neck. I screamed. Its freezing grip terrified me.

Perspective by Chris Longhurst:

He decides he will name himself ‘Clarence’. It is a serviceable human name to go with his serviceable human shape, and he likes the sibilance at the end. Before tonight he did not have a name; did not even understand the concept of names, did not think of anything but warm sun on his back and the crunch of small bones between his teeth, inasmuch as he thought at all.


Just Outside the Closet by Mandy Manning:

“Again with the damn shoes?” Cinderella stood just outside the closet. “I can see you, you know?”

Prince Charming sat on the floor with Cinderella’s glass slipper in his hand. He licked the toe of the shoe. When she burst in, he almost dropped it.


Cinder Elvis by Becky Kyle:

Why is it they always tell the girl’s stories: Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and oh yes, Cinderella?

Palace PR will always have the final word. If they ever released the real story, the Charming family might not appeal to the mainstream.

To Be Queen by Hollan Lane:

“A scullery maid? No! Absolutely not!” the King said.
Cindy was lucky the Prince left the door open a crack or she might not be able to hear their conversation at all.

“But father, she’s so beautiful. I’m sure she’ll-“

Full Circle by P. L. Blair:

She ran. Faster, faster, fleeing down the stairs into the night, tripping over the gown as it fell away in tatters leaving her in her scullery maid's garb – relief when the glass slipper came off her foot.

She kicked free of the other slipper as well. Almost threw it away. Then hugged it to her.

The crowd in pursuit, the Prince chief among them. “Girl!” he cried. “Girl!”

Dark and Fair by Brian Gray:

Once there was a great Sea Captain who had sailed the seven seas and had visited many exotic lands. But as with many great seafarers that pace their heaving decks the squally winds blew salt and brine through his ears and addled his brains, so much so that he decided it was time to take himself a wife and settle down.

Toe to Toe by Yaddi Shaw:

He thinks I am lily. Or orchid or daisy. Or some other such sweetly affected, delicate flower, here for his pleasure. He thinks I am here for him to pluck from the weeds, sniff a few times then place in a plain crystal vase, plain less it outshine my radiance, then place high on a dais overlooking the royal throne where all who enter can see and admire and think him so lucky and duly blessed. He has never once asked me my real name.

Best Foot Forward by T. L. Sherwood:

As the boot flew across the room, Manford wondered if the job market was truly as horrendous as his employer had informed him that it was. Personally, he didn’t know of anyone without a job that wished to have one. In fact, Mr. Charles had asked Manford if he knew of anyone else who would be suitable for the footwear position.

Diamond Tear by Jane Buffham:

There was once a lady who had a daughter so beautiful and sweet-tempered the best of creatures could not hold a candle to her. The knowledge that she had brought this wonder into the world filled the lady with such exquisite happiness, she died.

The little girl grew lovelier with every passing day. Her flaxen hair sparkled as sunlight, her ruby lips grew wanton and plump, and in the corner of her eye a frozen tear sparkled with the brilliance of a diamond.


The voting for the stories begins today, over at shatteringtheglasslipper.blogspot.com, and will end on February 28th. I would really appreciate it if you would take a few minutes to vote for your favorite story by simply leaving a comment with the title and author, at the Shattering the Glass Slipper blog.