The Ballad of Cinderella Jones

By Victoria Hanan Iglesias

Discover the life-changing little book that Writer's Digest* calls "masterful", a "a beautifully written memoir that reads like a novel", and "a gem”...

A scapegoat leaves home to embark on a whirlwind romantic journey that takes her from the Cleveland slums to an ancient Spanish pilgrimage route. Includes a FREE bonus section!

*WD Self-Publishing Contest (2014)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Victoria Hanan Iglesias
• Release date: Jun 17, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301811243

Victoria Hanan Iglesias

Victoria Hanan Iglesias is a professional writer, adventurer, and proud auntie of six amazing nephews and nieces—and counting! A recipient of the Msgr. John A. Shocklee Interfaith Social Justice Award (2000), she is a member of Who's Who and active in humanitarian outreach organizations around the world.

Book preview

THE BALLAD OF CINDERELLA JONES

Victoria Hanan Iglesias

Copyright © 2013 by Victoria Iglesias

Smashwords Edition.

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States of America

ISBN 9781301811243

Library of Congress http://www.cinderellajones.org

This document may not be cited, reproduced or distributed without express written permission of the

author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Acknowledgments

The existence of any book is due to a collective of great minds working together. This work is no exception.

Many thanks to Sandra Cisneros, my first writing mentor and a woman whose generosity, brilliance and gorgeous Latin sensibility transcends generations and culture. You helped set me on this road, and your support has meant the world. Bendita tu luz.

Dr. Don Wold, you believed in this manuscript and took a gamble with an unknown writer. For that, I'm forever grateful. You remain my all-time favorite word nerd.

Terry Rossio, your impromptu benediction meant more than you'll ever know. Here's to

Hollywood!

To Key Payton, a most insightful and brilliant writer, and one of L.A.’s most in-demand script doctors -it was a privilege being mentored by you. The muses were certainly smiling on me the day our paths crossed! Thanks for your kind encouragement and utter respect for the written word; it means the world.

Victorya Rogers, it's not every day you learn from a former Hollywood super-agent. Thank you for taking this manuscript to the next level.

To the Oliva Girls: You make life worth living, inspire art worth creating and are simply loved more than words can tell.

Elliott Davis & Dr. Mike Solomon: Your constant encouragement, wisdom and spirit of excellence give us mere mortals hope. It's an honor to be called your friend.

To Walter Iglesias Paredes, a remarkable artist and human being. You are a true visual poet, and Mario Testino better watch his back (or, even better, take you under his wing!)

Oratzio Funez, entrepreneur, father and family man, you and your beautiful family helped bring this corpse back to life. Without you, my Year of Yes wouldn't have happened. Mil gracias y viva Cancun!

To the fellow artists: Gerald Marquez, Keva Bartnick, Jim McDevitt, Kathy Sifuentes, Kate Partridge, Jacinto Guevara, Natalie Franzen, Alice Warshaw, Nadia Sahari, Carisa Silvesan, Scott Biggs, Scott Bate, Letty Martinez, Lisa Reyes, Berlinda Pinedo, Dr. George Troxler and my grandma, Maria Benita Gonzales Roybal de Perez: Your creativity, passion and talent never cease to amaze and inspire!

To the incredibly gifted and funny Gary Heffernan, Jr. and Joseph Linders Bailey, and other myriad nieces and nephews -- you are each amazing, wonderful and special in your own right. So glad to be sharing life together.

To my Peruvian family, thank you for accepting this orphan with open arms and making her part of your family. I’ll never forget you.

To my American family: I love you. May this book bring reconciliation.

To Mr. John Harold Heffernan: You’ll never age; you’ll never wear out. Thank you for your wit, wisdom and heart – and for the introduction to the stock market! You are a true visionary, and I admire you more than words can tell. Thank you for believing in me.

To Wayne Linders, my hippie uncle, and one of the smartest and most generous individuals I've ever had the privilege of knowing. In a world that demands cookie-cutter conformity, you've remained true to yourself and your principles. Your passion for social justice, color-blindness, care for the environment and insatiable curiosity about the world has had a major impact on those around you. Bravo, dear man!

To Kent Wolf Spirit Leffelman, you’ll be forever missed. I love you.

To Mr. Lee Carter, my great-grandfather: Dear man, it’s not everyday you encounter a 15-year-old stowaway to Europe who later becomes a scholar and a gentleman – and a damn good lawyer! Your insatiable love for life, heart of service and adventure addiction skipped a few generations and landed square on this child. Your legacy continues to inspire.

To my Celtic forefathers and mothers: thanks for kissing the Blarney stone and passing on the gift of gab (and writing!) Please help me use it wisely. Go raibh maith agat.

And, finally, to my Lord and Messiah, Jesus Christ. This is for you. Use it as you will.

SPECIAL DEDICATION

to

Chucho Iglesias

Canine, Friend, Comedian and Great Lover of the Pen (& Other Chew Toys)

May we all aspire to bring as much light, love and faithful companionship as you do!

About The Ballad of Cinderella Jones

In 2007, after a lifetime of no’s, (No, you can’t, No, you won’t, No, you didn’t!) I experienced the ultimate year of yes. Among other dreams come true, I moved to the Caribbean, studied stained glass-making with three amazing artists dubbed Los Tres Picassos, danced flamenco, trekked 300 miles across the north of Spain and otherwise indulged many an artistic whimsy. It was, in short, brutal, magical and utterly transformative.

The narrative device I chose to tell the story of this remarkable year is creative nonfiction. Although it reads like fiction, the events, places and characters are all true to life.

This book is really Eat, Pray, Love…for the rest of us! And who might that be? For those who lack trust funds, connections, good jobs or even rent money. For those who are in rich in family funk, workplace dysfunction, Negative Nellies and crippling self-doubt.

It is my sincere hope this journey embolden you to embark on your own heart’s desire. Everyone deserves their year of yes, and I truly believe it is God’s desire to grant it. Please see CinderellaJones.org for free resources and special gifts to help make this journey happen for you.

Love and cheers!

VHI

A Short History of the Camino de Santiago

The majority of this book takes place along Spain’s famous Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James. An ancient pilgrimage route originating in the French Pyrennes and ending just shy of Portugal, the Camino is the stuff of legend – literally. The story begins with a stone boat miraculously carrying the bones of the Apostle James from the Holy Land to Spain's Santiago de Compostela, a compact little city perched just north of the Portuguese border.

Why the apostle's remains would take such an exotic route is grounded in tradition. According to Church lore, James or as he's known in Spanish, Santiago, was responsible for evangelizing Spain. The idea of his body being returned to his adopted homeland wasn’t a stretch for ancient imaginations, hence the thousand-year stream of Catholic faithful making the trip for special indulgences and papal blessings. These days the road is shared by those with decidedly more secular interests: sports enthusiasts, nature lovers and adventurers of all stripes. Nevertheless, nearly all would agree this is, above all, a spiritual journey.

Walked in stages, the traditional Camino involves a 500-mile/804 kilometer trek across mountains, valleys, plains and the infamous meseta, a dry, treeless expanse testing even the hardiest athletes. Hand-painted yellow arrows are often the only guide for those making their way to the next lodging, or albergue, and fellow pilgrims will often save your hide, especially during the meseta phase.

The journey is extreme and shouldn't be undertaken lightly. While today's pilgrims won't face the wolves and bandits of yesteryear, they may deal modern-day enemies like tendonitis, heat exhaustion and lack of drinking water along the more isolated parts of the Camino.

Any hardship, however, is more than made up for by the amazing sense of community the Camino offers. Attracting trekkers of every age and stage, travelers will meet everyone from French nobility to Iowa housewives, each with a fascinating story to share.

The final reward consists of a compostela, or certificate awarded after proving you've completed at least 100 kilometers (62 miles) on foot, a pilgrim mass and the potential sighting of the legendary botifumeria, an enormous incense burner used to bless the hardy souls who've completed the journey. Any of the above ensure lifelong bragging rights.

Traditionally done by foot, the Camino de Santiago is a grueling but unforgettable test of

mind, body, soul and spirit. I highly recommend it!

For more information about the Camino de Santiago, check out: http://www.spanishsteps.eu/ or the wonderful movieThe Way, starring Martin Sheen.

In the small town of Carrion de los Condes, Castilla y Leon, Spain. This is during a rare breather –

notice the lack of a backpack, walking stick and hiking boots!

Galicia, Spain – a view from the Camino. This lush, rainy province is known as Irish Spain and is a pilgrim's dream!

The coveted compostela, or certificate, documenting you've walked at least 100 km (62 miles) of the Camino. The author completed 482 km (300 miles.)

TRADITIONAL CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

Starting point: Roncesvalles, Spain.

Destination: Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Note: Camino highlighted in red. Thick red line indicates starting point of author.

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE TRADITIONAL CAMINO

TALIE'S NOT-SO-TRADITIONAL CAMINO

Starting point: Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Midpoint: Cancun, Mexico.

Destination: Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

…..

….

PROLOGUE

(A Note from Miz Deborah)

Oh Talie. I always known that girl, though she ain’t always known me. I knew her Mama back in

the war, in Korea, and I just done fell in love with that little baby. Her name alone was music to me: Natalia Esquivel Jones. Umm-hmm. I don’t think even Quincy can improve on that! Now I didn’t think much of her daddy, I gotta say. A big strappin’ White man forever walkin’ around with the bottle. Folks said war got to him. Ain’t no tellin’ what went down behind closed doors, and when I saw her mama all bloodied and the baby bawlin’, I just done gave up and accepted that child in my heart. Wrote her a letter even, tellin’ her I, Mrs. Deborah Robinson, was her REAL mama and someday I’d be back to claim her. Meant it, too.

Well, God had different plans. I passed on soon after Taliebaby’s Mama and Daddy left Seoul. Cancer of the heart or liver or some such, they said, and I died right there on the army base. I bet Talie thought that was the end of me, but I done asked the Good Lord to let me be guardian for that child and he said alright. So here I am, and I’m gonna help tell her story.

Now you gotta understand after I went on to glory, Talie's folks done gone stone cold crazy. Talie ended up one sad and confused child, but I knew there was more than that mess in store for her! This here was a buddin' Cinderella Jones and it was just about fairy godmother time! That’s right, her year of yes is just about arrived.

Now don't go tellin', but the Good Lord and I got to orchestratin'. She's about to experience things she ain't never seen and it's gonna be SOME journey. That child will never know what hit her, but believe me, it's gonna be realgood. Talie's just convinced this Camino business is all her plan, and we'll just go ahead and let her think that, but I'll be back to give y'all the real skinny. You just wait and see.

1

Fromista, Castilla y Leon, Spain

Day 8/Kilometer 215 along the Camino de Santiago

Month 5 in the Year of Yes

Although it was a perfectly beautiful spring day in May, it may as well have been Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of Atonement, only with a Catholic spin, demanding blood sacrifice, confession, repentance and absolution.

Ergo, her feet.

They'd been chewed up badly for the past 75 miles of the Camino and all for Javier. And for what?

Liar, Talie whispered in rhythm to her fancy walking sticks that pounded the ground. "Ladron. Thief. Sociopath." Spanish poplars whipped and snapped in the distance while the wind bore down, suiting her mood perfectly. 

She remembered that snake whispering her name over and over again, his thick, throaty accent made still thicker with unconcealed emotion.

Natalia, Javier would breathe, delicately kissing her wrists and fingers and not hesitating even when he came across a wart she'd spent weeks trying to remove. While she cringed, he remained oblivious, treating even her blemish like

Reviews for The Ballad of Cinderella Jones

[hjvanderklis_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Ballad of Cinderella Jones is a mixture of a love story, travelogue and confessional. According to the author, Victoria Hanan Iglesia a true-life story chronicling a scapegoat’s journey by Tallie from the Cleveland slums to the Caribbean shore and finally to Spain’s legendary Camino de Santiago. Chapters and episodes alternating will eventually bring all memory’s pieces together. The camino brings physical challenges, astonishing landscapes, meetings with men and women from all over the world. Walking also helps reflecting on the past, overcoming broken relationships and concentrating on real treasures. During this trek of 300 miles, Tallie found her inner strength, an unexpected faith and signs that brought her peace with God.Though only partly an actual account of the route through northern Spain itself, each chapter is hooked on a particular mile marker. Forget the churches, history lessons or deeper insights you may expect from a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela recount. This book’s extras lay in the interwoven passages from the Americas, illustrations and maps plus a set of recipes of meals offered and enjoyed during the camino.