Fairy-Tale Success: A Guide to Entrepreneurial Magic: Create Your Own Cinderella Story

Readers who've had their fill of business books for women featuring pink covers decorated with stilettos and lipsticks may not have much time for this offering from PR professional Arieff and journalist West, which combines Business 101 with sparkles, fairy godmothers, and magic wands. Their unusual choice for a role model is none other than Cinderella, that "self-determined and innovative entrepreneur... an icon for today's entrepreneurial age." Bringing your idea to market doesn't require business acumen, they suggest. Instead, "all you need is your %E2%80%98magic wand - your belief in yourself.'" Concerns familiar from business guides are couched in fairy-tale terms: embracing your own value is rephrased as "reveal[ing] your noble roots"; turning challenges into advantages is "turning cinders into silk"; writing your business plan is "wish[ing] out loud", getting funding is "mak[ing] practical magic", and networking is "summoning your fairy godmother." Though the authors cite an "advisory board" of female entrepreneurs, their condescending tone-taking a firm stance in negotiations is described as "making a mean face"-seems unlikely to appeal to tomorrow's Sheryl Sandbergs. The conceit of Lean In by way of Disney might hold some appeal for parents looking to encourage enterprising middle-schoolers in age-appropriate language. Agent: Stephany Evans, FinePrint Literary. (Oct.)