I recently had a chance to review Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness. It's a book that aims to flip the old-fashioned fairy tale tropes upside-down, encouraging women to create their own happily ever afters.
The book is mostly memoir, part advice. It's open and honest, funny at times, and very relatable. It also traces the history of Disney princesses from helpless girls in need of rescuing to strong women taking charge of their own destinies.
You can learn more in this Q&A.
Your memoir is structured around Disney princess narratives. What inspired that creative choice?
My personal transformation story seemed to mirror the cultural shift affecting the lives of women everywhere. The ’70s and ’80s feminist movement cracked the glass slipper ceiling, reshaping societal expectations around gender equality, sexual freedom, and career ambitions. These were complex themes, and I needed a framework to make them both relatable and engaging. I recalled Peggy Orenstein’s provocative New York Times article, “What’s Wrong with Cinderella?” and had an epiphany: What could be more universal than Disney?
If readers take away just one thing from your book, what do you hope it is?
The title says it all. If you can Forget the Fairy Tale then, you can Find Your Happiness. As one author said about the book, “It’s a modern-day fairy tale that will empower little girls for generations to come.”
As a kid, did you have a favorite Disney princess? Which one resonates with you most now?
I loved the live action Cinderella on tv by Rodgers & Hammerstein, but I thought the early Disney princesses were boring. Then, I watched Disney’s revival of the franchise with my daughters as the characters became more adventurous with Ariel, Belle and Jasmine. The other day, my 5- year-old granddaughter, who already knows every Disney movie and song by heart, asked me about my favorite princess. My response to her was I like the three whose names begin with M: Mulan, Merida, and Moana – because they are warrior princesses.
You say that happiness isn’t a destination, it’s a practice. How do you actively cultivate joy in your own life today?
I do what brings me joy, plain and simple. A good night’s sleep. Beautiful sunsets. Listening to birdsong. Instead of rushing through life, I sip tea at my kitchen table in the morning, not gulp it down in the car during a stressful commute. After visiting nearly 50 countries as a corporate executive, I’ve shifted gears and set my sights on exploring every national park. I’ve had the time to earn a doctorate, write a book, and truly enjoy the process. Living in an enchanted forest, you’ll find me outside on my John Deere tractor or chasing after my energetic Auggie. Best of all, I have more time to spend with my kids and hugging my grandkids. This, to me, is happiness.
DEB MILLER’S life is a tapestry of adventure and achievement, weaving together experiences from her small-town Indiana roots to business opportunities across the globe. Her job as a hardworking Fortune 500 executive led to rappelling the Great Wall and riding elephants in India, all while remaining a devoted mom. Now a part-time marketing professor, Dr. Miller cherishes the opportunity to learn from her global students as well as her beloved children and grandchildren. Deb resides in an enchanted forest outside of Seattle, where the landscaping projects are endless and enjoyable. Find out more about Deb and the book at https://forgetthefairytale.net/
Follow Deb Miller on social media:
Facebook: @Forget-the-Fairy-Tale-and-Find-Your-Happiness
Instagram: @forget_the_fairy_tale
Goodreads: @Deb_Miller
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