“We’ve been raised amongst the romance of “you complete me” (Thank you Jerry Maguire) and Disney’s fairytale princesses, but there is so much more to the story!”

This interview was made possible by our friends at Guidant Financial:

The leader in alternative startup, franchise and small business financing.

The Enchanted Truth is both a gift book and a company launching in the fall of 2012.

The company focuses on women’s empowerment through adventures, fully integrated workshops and speaking events.

The Enchanted Truth by Kym Petrie (published by Greenleaf Book Group) is modern day fairy tale for grown-up girls everywhere.

Filled with savvy one liners and quirky a-ha moments, the heroine in this fiery fable learns how to find her true hero, rather than waiting for happily ever after to meet her at the end of the aisle. Women everywhere will relate to this story no matter what stage of their life they are in age 16 or 62.

Warning: If you find great pleasure in being a damsel in distress…this book is not for you.

The Enchanted Truth is available for pre-order in hard cover at www.barnesandnoble.com, www.amazon.com,www.indiebound.org and book retailers nation wide starting September 18, 2012.

MO: Can you talk about the inspiration behind The Enchanted Truth?

Kym: I was welcomed into a really amazing tight knit group of women years ago. Surprisingly the women in our group were very reminiscent of the characters in Sex in the City… but our issues were real life. We were all very driven career women, with a great deal of pressure both on a professional and personal level. Each of us were dealing with failing relationships with spouses or boyfriends, hectic home lives -children, money, pressure to succeed- everyday stuff.

One of the women in the group was facing a nasty end to her marriage. Professionally she was incredibly independent, strong, well respected and forthright, but on a personal level the break up left her absolutely distraught at the thought of being on her own. I wrote children’s books at the time and so it was natural for me think in those simple terms. I decided to write her a fable, as a kind of silly sweet gift to ease her discomfort… but as I put pen to paper I realized that as women- our lives were chock full of relationship and lifestyle notions that were no longer valid; a clash of Gloria Steinem and Cinderella so to speak. We needed a new fairytale- so I wrote it…

MO: How have you been preparing for your book tour in October and the launch of a new company in September? Do you ever feel overwhelmed or is it mostly overshadowed by a sense of excitement?

Kym: I love the quote “one person with passion is equal to forty who are merely interested.” It seems to sum up how you get through all that has to be done and successfully push to the other side of a company and book launch. Truth is- the work is just starting. Once we have rolled around in the pride of the initial company and book launch the real work begins. Publicity tours, book tours, speaking engagements are the benefit to a goal of creating a new conversation with women about what our fairytale is. It’s all about empowerment-re-establishing ‘girl power’ – how we can help ourselves and each other on our quest for our true Prince Charming. There is so much to say on this subject, but there is also so much to hear. I can barely contain my excitement – I really need the mountain of work to keep me grounded through the next few months.

MO: In this day and age to do you think that women still believe in the concept of a ‘Prince Charming’ coming to rescue them?

Kym: Absolutely. There are 54 million single people in the US alone, 40 million of which have tried online dating… it’s a 1.049 billion dollar industry.  We’ve been raised amongst the romance of “you complete me” (Thank you Jerry Maguire) and Disney’s fairytale princesses, but there is so much more to the story!  Happily ever after doesn’t just meet us at the end of the aisle.  What happens if we don’t find a perfect partner?  Oh my god-what if we do?  A girl can’t count on Prince Charming waking her up after a hundred years of heavy sleep; and I think we as women hunger for more than the life of a princess.  Is that how we want to define ourselves these days?  I don’t think it’s enough.  We owe it to ourselves (and any potential partners) to change the fairytale landscape .  Aspire to be more, charge ahead with a new anthem…  A modern day fairytale for the grown up girl- The Enchanted Truth.

MO: What are some ways that individuals can learn to accept and embrace change instead of dread it?

Kym: Quite often we need a hand to work through the darkest times- or to push us further forward into opportunities. Never under estimate the power of a helping hand and an understanding comrade. Embracing change is a simple flip of the switch really, not just for relationships but for life- allowing ourselves to find opportunity in a closed door rather than viewing it as the end of the road. I used to get so mad as a child when my Dad would say “well Kymmie I guess its just not meant to be.” I used to be furious about the failure, but over the years I realized that the saying was the problem not the closed door. When I come upon a barrier now, I don’t say; “its not meant to be” I say; “There’s something better to be”…. I take it as a chance to make a hard right turn so to speak. Seeing life that way is a decision.

MO: Can you talk about how you plan on promoting women’s empowerment through adventures, fully integrated workshops and speaking events?

Kym: It’s all about taking action! I think we have all considered what our bucket list is, journaled about our dreams and thoughts- all good stuff- but what are we DOING? A very important element of the Enchanted Truth is about creating a network of empowerment. The Enchanted Truth brings women together- not to have dinner and just talk about reinvention, but to take action; accessible, affordable action. What does it feel like to drive a race car, go repelling, white water kayaking, dance the salsa or tango with a professional partner, go zip lining, sing back up on stage, hit the recording studio, be a model in a professional photo shoot, go parachuting, rock climbing? The Enchanted Truth team is the catalyst, and the groups of women are the key. We make it possible for women to live this modern day fairytale by gathering them together to take on these and many other adventures. Why the adventures? The accomplishment- its like a chemical reaction. In the little time we make for ourselves, we can change the way we VIEW ourselves in our every day lives … and then the magic begins.

MO: If I could grant you one business related wish right now, what would you ask for?

Kym:  Can I sum it up n one sentence? “The Enchanted truth” available in 51 languages and spoken all over the world by women who embrace their own happily ever after….