The Playfriends love shoes. We all are drawn by different styles, but the shoe adoration is universal. Just in case you need an excuse to buy more shoes, I ran across an article from Glamour Magazine that lists the 10 pairs of shoes every woman needs! Take note!
1. Nude, Peep-toe Pumps. They're supposed to go with everything and make your legs look longer. I have to admit I just added a pair of these to my collection a few weeks ago. Nude/camel/beige is not my go-to neutral, but I like them.
2. Black City Boots. I've never heard them called this, but basically the black leather boots that go from mid-calf to over the knee depending on your preference. They say if you go with a low to medium heel, they're comfortable, wear anytime shoes. My black boots just go above the ankle. I tend not to buy many much higher because of my large calves (and they're hot!).
3. Ballet Flats. Casual, comfy and cute. I'm a recent convert. I bought a pair of black suede and a pewter leather the other day. I had a hard time finding ones that fit, but I do like them. A nice alternative to the heels.
4. Wooden Platform Sandals. Recommended as the sassy in between of too casual sneakers and too fancy heels - daytime with attitude. I do not have a pair of these. Unfortunately when you get to feet as big as mine, wooden platforms and wedges get darn heavy.
5. Canvas Sneakers. They're talking Keds and Converse here for the comfy, chic ensemble. I don't have many of these anymore, but the Converse I do have are sparkly as the Playfriends can attest.
6. Black Pumps. The basic of basics for daytime, nightime, anytime. I actually don't have plain black, patent leather pumps. Shoes are always so done up anymore that they're hard to find. My closest pair is actually black glitter, but they work.
7. Metallic Sandals. Perfect summer shine to glam up a frumpy bridesmaid dress or go out on the town. Just make sure your pedi is up to date! I have lots of sandals but none are metallic. And lots of strappy dress shoes that are sparkly or metallic, but I can never tell if they're considered sandals or not.
8. Suede Booties. Perfect for fall with jeans or a sassy dress with tights or leggings. My booties are gray leather, but I'm going to take credit for this.
9. Flat, Leather Sandals. Designed for those lazy days. I'll admit I fail in this category. I have no flat sandals, they all have a bit of a heel. If I'm that lazy, I'm wearing flip flops (which, sadly, did not make the list.) Flat sandals make me feel oddly barefoot, short and like a Roman Solider marching to battle.
10. Gorgeous, Work of Art Shoes. These, I have! A totally frivolous, sparkly, make you smile pair of shoes. I think every girl needs these. They make you feel pretty.
Looks like I've got some gaps to fill, although DB would adamantly disagree. How did you do on the list? Do you have the basics covered? Anything they missed? I'm still lobbying for some nice Teva or Yellowbox flip flops. Are you currently lusting for a pair of shoes you can't have?
The writing world really is a small one. I first met Vicky through a mutual friend, author Kristi Gold. Then I discovered she also knew one of my RWA chaptermates, Lynn Raye Harris. So when Vicky got The Call, I had lots of folks to celebrate with! Please welcome debut author, Vicky Dreiling.
Like most authors, I started out as a reader. One day, I decided to write a historical romance for grins. When a friend called, I admitted my secret hobby. She just happened to have seen a notice for a class on how to write a romance and encouraged me to call for more information. I signed up for the class and joined Romance Writers of America. At one meeting, an author spoke about the benefits of entering contests. As soon as I heard published authors judged the contests, I figured this would be a great way to get critiques on my work.
Incredibly, my fledgling manuscript made the finals in all but one of the contests I entered. After learning I’d made the finals in the Maggie Awards, I decided to attend the Moonlight & Magnolia conference. I signed up for an appointment with an editor. There was just one big problem: I didn’t have a clue how to pitch a manuscript. This was a group appointment with twelve authors. When the first author finished her perfectly short pitch, I knew I was in trouble. I looked down at my legal pad (you’re allowed to guffaw now) and started rattling non-stop. My face heated. I knew I was botching the pitch. I came within inches of standing up, announcing I was a fraud, and telling the editor I wouldn’t waste her time.
Then the editor said, “Wait a minute. I know this book.”
Here is the improbable part. The editor had read three chapters and a synopsis in The Orange Rose contest. Keep in mind this contest did not announce the editor judges in advance, so I had no way of knowing who judged it. I’d been writing for six months and got my first full request with the worst pitch on the planet. I went on to win four contests and finaled in the Golden Heart. I ended up doing massive revisions for that editor I’d met without promise of contract. But the revised manuscript wasn’t strong enough for publication and got rejected.
Life got in the way shortly thereafter. After a divorce, I returned to college to finish my degree and started a new career in marketing. Writing fell by the wayside for several years. But as my personal life became more secure, the urge to write bit me again. One night while watching TV, I happened upon a crazy reality show with a hunky bachelor and twenty-five single bachelorettes. When that episode of The Bachelor ended, I knew I had to write a Regency-era version.
In early 2008, I finished the book. I was jubilant that I’d met my goal to finish my novel before a two-week business trip to London and Paris. As I waited for my flight, I checked my personal email. A published author who had read my first three chapters had told her agent about my book. The agent wanted me to query immediately. So I wrote my query letter in the airport and emailed it. Ten jet-lagged hours later, I arrived in London to find a request for the full. That particular opportunity didn’t pan out because the agent and I couldn’t agree on the premise for my book. I reluctantly turned down her offer to revise and resubmit, but shortly thereafter, I got requests from contests.
The most incredible happenstance occurred a few short weeks later when friends asked me to tag along to a conference. I pitched my book, but I was disappointed that I’d not been able to get an appointment with Lucienne Diver. That night, I arrived late to the conference dinner. There was only one available chair – next to Lucienne. I’m an extrovert, but even I was a bit nervous when I approached her. She welcomed me and asked what I wrote. I said historical romance and shut my mouth. She was sitting with her authors, and I knew better than to pitch in a social setting. But she asked me what my book was about. I looked at her sheepishly and said, “Um, it’s the bachelor in Regency England, minus the hot tub and camera crew.” She whipped out her card and requested the manuscript on the spot! But the accidents weren’t over. At yet another conference, I heard someone call out my name. Cue eerie music. It was Lucienne Diver. I started thinking this was some kind of sign. :-)
Shortly after that conference, I revised the manuscript and sent it off to requesting agents. Then something unexpected happened. Three agents offered to represent me. But I couldn’t ignore the hand of fate. I signed with Lucienne, and we sold HOW TO MARRY A DUKE in a three-book deal to Grand Central.
While I could never have predicted these fortunate events, there is a take-away I think might help unpublished authors make a big leap. Oftentimes, writers hesitate to take risks, mostly out of fear of rejection. I always ask myself this question: What do you have to lose?
Have you ever happened upon a lucky break in your writing career? Do you take advantage of opportunities?
My heartfelt thanks to the members of The Writing Playground for inviting me to share my journey. May the Magic Romance Fairies be with all of you.
I’m giving away one copy of HOW TO MARRY A DUKE in a random drawing, so be sure to leave a comment.
HOW TO MARRY A DUKE is available now. HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL is set for publication in early July 2011.
Vicky Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the UK allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her “Trouble.”
When she’s not writing, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and most of all, long lunches with friends. She holds degrees in English literature and marketing. A native Texan, she shares her home with her daughter and a spoiled mini-lop rabbit that lives in a slightly gnawed cardboard cottage.
Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne is a man with a mission: find a wife he can tolerate as long as they both shall live. No love is necessary—nor desired. But how to choose amid a dizzying array of wealthy-yet-witless candidates? Hire London’s infamously prim and proper matchmaker. Then pretend she’s not the most captivating woman he’s ever met . . .
Helping a devilish Duke create a contest to pick his perfect mate is the kind of challenge Tessa Mansfield relishes. Her methods may be scandalous, but she’s determined to find the notorious bachelor more than a wife—she’ll bring him true love. Yet when Tessa watches the women vie for the Duke’s affections, she longs to win his heart herself. And after a stolen kiss confirms Tristan’s desire, Tessa knows she has broken a matchmaker’s number one rule: never fall in love with the groom.
P.S. If you've ever visited the Writing Playground website, you may be familiar with our Hall of Feet. To rekindle interest in our cute shoe fetish, we've asked our guest bloggers to send in photos of their cute shoes. Here are Vicky's!
First we have her glam shoes.
And then we have her Nick and Nora slippers. "The latter of course is the real me," she said.
It’s a toss-up as to which month makes me more optimistic…September or January. There’s that whole new-school-year thing going for September, a feeling I still can’t get away from even though I’m out of school. But I have two kids and my husband is a teacher, so we live life to the rhythms of that world.
However…January! It’s the official beginning. Even if your New Year’s Eve was a dud, the first day of January is the clean slate, the swathe of shining snow, the fresh air that blows away the cobwebs and the last of the dribbled pine needles from your dried-up Christmas tree.
I have energy in January. Plans! A couple of girlfriends and I walk early in the mornings and while we missed a few due to weather and colds over the holidays, we met up enough to renew our weight loss and exercise goals. I’m also excited about getting back to my desk and working on my next project(s). Way too easy to get distracted by cookie-baking or gift-wrapping over the holidays. The heroine in my most recent book, Then He Kissed Me (it came out yesterday!), is eager to have a new start in the new year too. She owns a limousine service in the Napa Valley wine country, and on New Year’s Eve is contracted to take a couple of clients on a winery crawl…her ex-boyfriend and his new fiancée. Argh! But Stephania (Stevie) certainly can’t let on that she’s affected in any way…the guy did not even dent her heart, she swears, and so will do her duty and then be done with the couple forever!
Except then she learns that she has to play wedding planner for her ex and his princess bride (yes, she’s also a princess) as they’re marrying at her family’s winery. And the wedding party includes the bride’s very, very, very attractive older brother, who isn’t the least bit worried about starting something new—starting something up—with Stevie. Oh, this year looks like it’s going to be as much trouble as the last one…
I hope you’ll put Then He Kissed Me on your 2011 To Read list. It’s the second in my Three Kisses trilogy and I love the dynamic between my tomboy Stevie and sophisticated guy who will steal her heart.
Do you have a new plan for the new year? Share! I’ll send a free book to a lucky commenter!
P.S. If you've ever visited the Writing Playground website, you may be familiar with our Hall of Feet. To rekindle interest in our cute shoe fetish, we've asked our guest bloggers to send in photos of their cute shoes. Here are Christie's! I love the floral design and how they dress up a pair of jeans.
The Playfriends love shoes. We all are drawn by different styles, but the shoe adoration is universal. Just in case you need an excuse to buy more shoes, I ran across an article from Glamour Magazine that lists the 10 pairs of shoes every woman needs! Take note!
