An email arrives from Amazon, advertising shoes. I'm puzzled. I have bought books and games from amazon. But I wasn't expecting them to start sending me adverts for shoes.I look at the shoes. I don't like them that much. But are mens' shoes ever that nice, really? I never know what would make for a nice pair of mens' shoes.
Browsing some newspaper sites - possibly with shoes on my mind - I noticed this gallery of shoes in The Times, as pictured here. There are a lot of nice shoes here.
As I may have mentioned before, I am useless at describing things like shoes. If shoes appear in any of my books, there's generally very little description. I couldn't accurately describe any of the shoes shown here. I'd need pictures. But I understand it's generally frowned on to put pictures in your novels, for things you can't describe very well.
(Can anyone describe shoes? I'd be interested if anyone could write a good description of any of these shoes)
It must be quite difficult to walk in these high heels. I'd be hopeless at it. I'm clumsy at the best of times. In high heels, I'd break my ankle before I got out the front door.
I don't suppose as many women are as obsessed with shoes as people pretend. But I have met some who are. I sympathise. I generally sympathise with peoples' obsessions, whether it's high heels or model train sets. Go with your obsessions, I say.
In Lonely Werewolf Girl, Thrix and Malveria are obsessed with shoes and fashion. But they don't suffer for it. They're not made to pay any sort of price for their obsession.
The new edition of Lonely Werewolf Girl from Piatkus has now been published in Britain. Also, the publisher sent me cover art from Curse of the Wolf Girl, which I like. I thought that was due to be published in September or October, but I notice it's listed for August on Amazon, in Britain and the USA.
"Lonely werewolf girl" would make a fab film, it has all the ingredients for a blockbuster. hope a film director reads this :)
ReplyDeleteyes yes yes, it could be a cross between " The Devil Wears Prada", "Twilight"(werewolves instead of vampires) and "Tank Girl". Keep on dreaming...
ReplyDeleteAbout shoes, I agree that shoes are difficult to describe, those in the picture are just amazing.
It's true that men's shoes are dull. I wonder why men have to have dull shoes? I can easily describe the shoes whose pictures you posted. Painful. THere I've done it.
ReplyDeleteI dedicated a whole blog post a while ago to ladies and gents shoes, gents shoes are must have for all the fashionable ladies at the minute, and I have always thought boys trainers were cooler than girls. I don't think it's always necessary to go too far into the particulars of the clothes you dress your characters in though, it's a bit distracting sometimes. I'm going to try to describe a pair though....
ReplyDeleteMade for a modern day Marie Antoinette, the sky high stiletto takes the weight of dozens of ruched rosettes, delicately draped across the ankle and spilling down to the open toe. Not for the faint hearted, these shoes were made for the lady that craves all eyes on legs. Wear with a skimpy subtle dress and add a few more flowers to the hair.
Any good?
Would they be painful, Birdalini? Yes, I suppose it's quite likely. I also wonder why men's shoes are generally dull.
ReplyDeleteKiss on the lips, that's a good description! Much better than I could do. I've never heard the phrase 'ruched rosette' before, but it seems to be entirely correct. And they are made for a modern-day Marie Antoinette. (With whom I rather sympathise.)
Shoes are always agony. I hate them, and wish I was a hippy who could wander around barefoot all day, but unfortunately this fair city of mine, with its pavements of smashed glass bottles and the likes, doesn't really allow me to fulfil this dream.
ReplyDeleteBoots, however, I like, as they are less painful for me. And there are some beautiful boots around.
I'm looking forward to August, to read your sequel. It feels like it has been a long time since I read about Kalix! Congratulations also on your Piatkus edition of LWG!
x
Wandering around barefoot would definitely lead to tragedy, unfortunately. It's a shame none of these shoes are comfy. Well, at least you have nice boots to wear.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like a long time since the first book about Kalix!
I'm thinking the proper level description of a pair of shoes would depend on the character who was observing them—is he/she shoe-crazy or shoe-ignorant?—and the story. I've never noticed your inability to describe shoes before, so (as far as this reader is concerned) you're probably okay continuing on the way you have been.
ReplyDeleteAs for describing the fantastical shoes pictured here:
- I'd call Nos. 2, 3, 5 & 8 pumps ("court shoes" in the UK, I think) and the rest sandals.
- They all have stiletto heels, and Nos. 4 & 6 have low-to-moderate platform soles.
- I'd probably use the adjective "strappy" for Nos. 1, 4 & 7.
- Several of them are bedecked in ruched lace and rosettes.
- They all look positively dangerous.
That is about the limit of my ability to describe shoes.
Loved Lonely Werewolf girl. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Think Malveria might have just been my favourite character, both as a diva and as a bit of a ham. So perhaps surprised that you say you struggle to describe shoes.
ReplyDeleteLooking at those pictures I'd describe one as: puncturing sharp pink thorns blossoming ruffles of faux flowers.
Hope you are well.
Yes Martin - every single pair of the shoes pictured would be painful. But I think that's half the point. They're what I call 'Taxi Shoes': you put them on, step into a taxi, step out at the funtion/party, stand around looking sexy and then back in a taxi to go home and soak your feet. All about illusion. They say "I'm so fab that I never have to walk anywhere (epsecially on slippery pavements covered in discarded needles and broken glass)or stand up all day or run for the train/bus...". Marie Antoinette is an apt comparison.
ReplyDeleteHere's my shoe description, "Sharp pale pink stillettos, softened by a froth of delicate lace - both girly and fierce." How's that?
I was extremely excited to see multiple copies of Lonely Werewolf Girl in my bookshop the other day! It took me forever to hunt down a copy of Alby and am pleased to say between all the libraries in the city there is now a complete collection of Thraxes. I am admiring your stealth invasion of new zealand (and also very pleased about it:)
ReplyDeleteI like the stealth invasion of New Zealand too. It's been frustrating not to have books on sale there.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in these descriptions of shoes people have given. Good descriptions, I'd say, and better than I could do.
ReplyDeleteTaxi shoes - nice phrase, Anita.
"Well, I'm not exactly quaking in my stylish yet affordable boots, but there's definitely something unnatural going on here. And that doesn't usually lead to hugs and puppies."
ReplyDeleteI always liked that simple footwear description from the Bufster.
I have to ask what's happening with the Lonely Werewolf Girl movie?
ReplyDeleteI know you must be limited on how much you can say but according to IMDB its in development for 2011 but is it really going to happen?
If not can you let us know when the option expires so I can email Julia ASAP about it.
Thanks!
A fan and filmmaker.
PS - that is one of my favorite Buffy quotes. Way to go Nick aka Puppet Angel.
ReplyDeleteSean, I'm interested in your descriptions, as I personally wouldn't describe any of the shoes as court shoes or pumps, because in my mind court shoes have relatively low heels, and all of these are too tall & spiky.. (Of course, I don't have a clue whether fashion writers would agree with me!)
ReplyDeleteThe second pair I would describe as peep-toe stillettos.
The last ones I'd describe as very ugly, but that's perhaps not the kind of description you're looking for, Martin.
I quite like vague descriptions of things such as shoes in novels, because it leaves me scope to imagine shoes (or other clothes) which *I* would think are pretty/desirable (or unattractive, as the case may be) rather than thinking, following a detailed description "but that sounds so fugly" or "but that sooo wouldn't work with the dress you said she wearing"...
NIcky, I just noticed your comment about the film option for Lonely Werewolf Girl. It is still under option, but I don't think I can say any more than that here. You would have to email my agent Julia for more into.
ReplyDeleteMarjorie, I knew someone would call me out on that. It's true, they aren't really pumps—but that's still what I'd call them if I were describing them to someone, despite the stiletto heel.
ReplyDelete