The Story Behind the Story... The Prince Charming List by Kathryn Springer

THE TOP FIVE LISTS. . .to-do lists, grocery lists, movies to watch, books to read (always!) and places to go. . .some of us faithfully make them, some of us make them and promptly lose them (raising my hand and blushing here) and some of us don't even bother. . .
But a Prince Charming List? What's that? And do we women REALLY make them. . .

Well, listen in on a conversation between Heather Lowell, the twenty-something heroine of my July Steeple Hill Cafe release, and her best friend, Bree Penny. . .

"It's kind of confusing, don't you think? There's one theory that says we should go out with a lot of guys and eventually we'll pick the right one, and then there's another theory that says it's better to look for friendship and hope at some point it develops into something more."

"But you have an idea what you're looking for, right?" Did Bree have a list, too? Probably not. She was way too practical and independent. . .

"You have a list, don't you?"

"A list?" I decided to play dumb.

"You know, the Prince Charming list. The Mr. Right list." Bree wasn't fooled for a second.

"Do you have a list?"

Bree cleared her throat. "A believer. Helps my dad. Likes horses and isn't afraid of them. Good personal hygiene. Employed."

Those were her Top Five? Bree was practical. Employed wasn't even on my list. In my defense, though, I'd written the list when I was sixteen and only updated it once since graduation. It wasn't too late to add an amendment.

"Okay, your turn. Spill it."

I took a deep breath. "Intelligent. Sense of humor. Loves to read. Adventurous. Not afraid to show affection." I decided I might as well keep going. When Bree's eyes began to glaze over, it clued me into the fact that maybe my list was a wee bit longer than hers.. .

"Your list is really. . .detailed."

Wait a second. Did she mean detailed as in you've-put-a-lot-thought-into-this or detailed as in picky? Unrealistic? It's never going to happen. . .

I confess that I, too, made up a Prince Charming List. I can't remember everything that I wrote down, but I believe it took up an entire notebook page--front and back.
"Loves to Read" was there. . .and so was "Likes Cats." My husband does not like to read but loves it when I read to him. . .and he says he doesn't like cats but sneaks pieces of his hamburger to Harley, a stray that showed up during a thunderstorm and knew a good thing when he saw it (he's been tolerated by my hubby now for three years!).
So, all things considered, because he also buys me chocolate when I'm sad, watches the occasional chick flick with me and DOESN'T fall asleep and he doesn't mind my quirks (and there are many). . .I'm counting the others!

I knew friends in college who'd made up a list, too. But these were my friends, after all, and maybe a little eccentric, like me, so before I wrote the book, I took a poll (a very unofficial, totally just for fun pol!) to see if any of the women I talked to had ever written down a list of the traits they wanted their perfect guy to have. . .

Come to find out, most of them had! So I have to admit, I'm curious about YOU. What's a deal breaker? What would you be willing to cross out? If you were to make a list (or have made a list) what's your Top Five?

Blessings,

Kathryn Springer

PS: And if you want to know if Heather finds a man who matches up with her "Prince Charming List', you'll have to check out my new book : )

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