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Lisa Cheek talks about her debut memoir Sit, Cinderella, Sit
August 2, 2025 @ 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Lisa Cheek talks about her debut memoir and (sort of) Cinderella story about a woman who’d been told she was “too old” to create magic.
About Lisa Cheek:
After twenty-five years editing and producing other people’s work, Lisa Cheek decided to take her friends’ and coworkers’ advice and tell her own stories. Her first memoir, “Sit, Cinderella, Sit” is an Amazon Bestseller, a Zibby’s Most Anticipated Books for 2025, and a People Magazine pick. She has written for both radio and television. You can find her musings “One Minute Thoughts From A Pink Head” on Substack. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Chris Johnson, two mutts, Josie and Elvis Bruce Wayne, and two kitties, Eartha Kitt and Trixie. She is currently working on her next two books and has several film and television scripts in various stages of development.
Sit, Cinderella, Sit
A unique memoir blending fairy tale elements with the author’s true-life experience – this is an unusual and charming memoir sure to find readership in women’s book clubs.
Lisa Cheek loved editing TV commercials—almost as much as she loved her dog, Ron Howard. Then, she “aged out” of advertising, at 45. After being let go, Lisa got a call—at 2:45 AM—from a director who, like everyone in Hollywood, had a film he wanted to make: the original Cinderella story. Now, his dream could come true—if Lisa granted his wish.
In Sit, Cinderella, Sit, Lisa Cheek shares her adventures in editing a film made on location in China—along the Tibetan border—where Mandarin was the only language spoken by everyone but her. Stuck in a house with fourteen men she couldn’t understand, literally, she yearned for conversation and coffee.
But there were moments of wonder and laughter. Lisa forged a bond with her translator and a woman named Sunny. She rescued one dog, and then another. “Everyone speaks Cinderella,” the director had assured her. Maybe he was right.
Told with humor and heart through a fairy tale lens, with flashbacks into the author’s not-always-happy childhood, Sit, Cinderella, Sit is a story about what can happen when you take a leap of faith, look and hear beyond people’s differences, and dare to believe in yourself.
Praise
“By turns funny and moving, this book about a lonely woman who came into her own will appeal to animal lovers and anyone who appreciates the satisfaction of a hard-earned happily-ever-after. A feel-good memoir about embracing risk and finding the courage to love.”
—Kirkus Reviews / read full review
“This memoir is a heartwarming exploration of self-discovery, perfect for those looking for a light yet reflective read.”
—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review
“In all seasons of life, there are times we feel unmoored. Sit, Cinderella, Sit, chronicles one such time with honesty, insight, and hope. It’s one of those stories that helps you remember that kindness and love are universal languages, best spoken by dogs.”
—Julie Barton, New York Times Bestselling author of Dog Medicine, How My Dog Saved Me From Myself
“With a quick-witted tone and the creative lens of a gifted filmmaker, Lisa Cheek takes us through the mid-life resurrection of a woman who isn’t afraid to make her own way. In the end, she reminds us that we aren’t meant to do life solo and that true surrender requires far more strength than weakness.”
—Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of Perennials
“With tenderness, wit and curiosity, Lisa Cheek takes you on an eye-popping adventure that proves it’s never too late to find your true place in the world.”
—Rona Maynard, Author of Starter Dog: My Path to Joy, Belonging and Loving This World
“Refreshingly candid and insightful, Sit, Cinderella, Sit, is an entertaining memoir of one woman’s international journey in search of authentic love — for herself, for humanity, and for those powerful teachers we call dogs.”
—Michael Konik, author of Ella in Europe: An American Dog’s International Adventure
“Here is a fresh voice, a wise old soul with a bouncy young attitude and the golden gift of capturing the bright shards of life. Her sketches of the precarious life of the people who make the wheels of Hollywood go round are totally convincing, and she flings her central character, a dreamy film editor, into an unimaginable adventure filled with all the pain and joy of a complete life, accompanied by charming animal helpers and strong doses of cappuccino.”
—Christopher Vogler, author of The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers
“Out of work in her forties, Lisa Cheek accepted a job offer that took her to China. Familiar work, but made seemingly impossible because Cheek spoke no Chinese. Nevertheless, she set out on what became an adventure into herself. It is a great story, a triumphant story well told, with the added bonus of two darling dogs that help along the way.”
—Abigail Thomas, New York Times best-selling author of A Three Dog Life: A Memoir
www.lisacheek.com