The end of this month, February 25th, to be exact, marks the 10-year anniversary of my first novel “Silver Shoes. It went “live” through iUniverse on Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, and Target websites simultaneously in 2009, in both hardcover and trade paperback. As a self-published author it did pretty well, and steady sales continue to this day. The first edition is out of print now. I opted to publish directly through Amazon at a significantly reduced expense, allowing me to tinker and fix a bit of the prose (nothing major, I assure you) without paying a king’s ransom to do so. The trade paperback, Kindle, and Nook versions (the latter two weren’t available initially) are still in print today and keep me busy at events, festivals, and conventions around the country. Less than a year after it was published, my “Silver Shoes” brought me back to Kansas, where the novel was honored just weeks after I arrived with a Kansas Notable Book Award by the Center for the Book and the State Library of Kansas. It’s been a wonderful ride ever since. I thank the Oz fan community who embraced the story and have supported my continued efforts in the genre. Who knows where this adventure will take me next? I do know that after writing this book, anything is possible.
Category Archives: Silver Shoes (general)
Lessons My Father Taught Me: Use the World Around You in New, Creative Ways
When I was a kid growing up, my father Leonard Schneider was an educational filmmaker. He worked for a local company called Centron Educational Films in Lawrence, Kansas. It was an enchanted life from my youthful perspective, because I got to appear in many of his films. After he left Centron a couple of years later, he launched his own company, Phoenix Productions, which still utilized Centron for its film distribution. His first project as an independent writer/director was “A Rain Day Story,” all about the creative-writing process and how people can take the things around them that they see on a daily basis and imagine new stories, new ideas, and create new adventures from the events, people, and places in their lives.
This is the same approach I used when writing “Silver Shoes,” and it’s the same approach used by L. Frank Baum as well when he wrote “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” according to his great-grandson Robert.
Recently I found an “ancient” VHS copy of this short film, which runs a mere 13 minutes. “A Rainy Day Story,” stars a nine-year-old me as “Paul” (it was a stretch playing myself). We made it back in 1972. The quality isn’t good. Not only is it digitized from a low-grade VHS “master,” it was achieved back in the late ’70s by projecting a 16mm print in a screening room and then filming that with a (state-of-the-art for the late 1970s) video camera while it ran. Ugh. A copy of a copy of a copy.
Still I want to share it with you. It was a huge part of my journey as a writer of adventure stories. It’s how Donald Gardner, an average kid from the Midwest, was born. How he discovered a silver shoe on the side of a road in Kansas one day. How his adventure into the “real” world of Oz began.
It started with the two magic words, “What if …” and went from there.
Enjoy!
But what if they were real?
I”m always fascinated whenever I see a pair of silver shoes like these from the eighteenth century. Genuine silver, too. They evoke a sense of realness with their expert craftsmanship and artistry, their detailed carvings, and the unusual, exotic shape. I love the buckles—almost a nod to the bows on Judy Garland’s ruby slippers. Beautiful design.
I thought I would share them, because I find inspiration everywhere in reality. Glimpses into an alternate universe where fairy-tale sensibilities reign supreme.
It was intentional that I didn’t include a depiction of the Shoes on my book cover, because I wanted readers to imagine them. Several characters in the story become obsessed with the shoes. They can’t shake the images out of their minds. I first describe them from Donald Gardner’s perspective as a cross between a Dutch wooden clog and something out of The Arabian Nights. I go into further detail about the strange carvings on their surface, which turn out to be more significant than mere artistic embellishments. Still, I wanted you, dear reader, to complete the circle by deciding for yourself what they look like.
Are these the way you picture them?
I can tell you they made me grin and nod when I saw the photo … so I had to share.
Hope you enjoy.
The Oz-Stravaganza! 2014 schedule is here!
I must admit I’m getting very excited as this special event approaches. Great people, great things to see and do, and great fun! It’s going to be a big one this year. In addition to the yearly Oz festival held in the beautiful town where L. Frank Baum was born, the International Wizard of Oz Club’s annual convention is convening at the same time in the same place. It’s also a combined celebration of the 100th anniversary of Baum’s book “Tik-Tok of Oz” and the 75th anniversary of the beloved MGM film.
This should make for even more reasons to visit Chittenango, NY, from June 5-8, 2014!
You can access a copy of the full Oz-Stravaganza! 2014 schedule by clicking here or on the image below. A printable PDF is also available. Hope to see you there!
SILVER SHOES and THE POWDER OF LIFE now available in a combined, revised edition on Amazon!
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Telling the tale. That’s what is most important to me. And that is why I decided to offer these two serialized novels in a combined edition at an “attractive price,” as they used to say in vintage advertisements. I’ve also gussied them up a bit—smoothing out language, correcting minor errors, and even embellishing the prose here and there in my never-ending quest to make them as good as I possibly can, given my abilities as a mere mortal and self-published author.
These are the definitive editions of “Silver Shoes” and its sequel “The Powder of Life.” Call this the “director’s cut” of a double feature, if you will. And if you already own the first editions of each book, I am by no means advocating that you buy this new and improved printing. But if you haven’t yet taken the journey with Donald Gardner, or if you prefer things “new and improved,” this is the ideal mode.
I actually took my cue from Lewis Carroll, who elected to have his two Wonderland novels published in a combined edition shortly after they were written. I’m proud of these stories, and that’s why I am compelled to share them with as many people as possible. “Silver Shoes” was first published in 2009 and was recognized as a Kansas Notable Book in 2010 by the Kansas Center for the Book and the State Library of Kansas. Its sequel, “The Powder of Life” was published last year in 2012.
I offer them both to you now and hope you enjoy the ride!
Best always,
Paul Miles Schneider
The Complete, Incomplete Adventures … on KINDLE (CLICK HERE).
The Complete, Incomplete Adventures … in PAPERBACK (CLICK HERE).
But they ARE real!
This is pretty cool. Flavorwire posted their list of the “10 Artifacts from Literature That We Wish Were Real.”
Glad to see a certain pair of famous silver footwear made the cut! CLICK HERE or the photo below to read the article!
What is the Powder of Life?
The first question readers may have about my new book is a fairly obvious one: What is the Powder of Life? … aside from a sequel to “Silver Shoes,” that is.
Rest assured, it’s not a drug or a new beauty product—although that might appeal to some.
I will also put your mind at ease right away by telling you it isn’t important or essential that you’ve heard of it prior to reading this novel. Donald Gardner and his family and friends haven’t heard of it either. Still, if you know the history behind it—or histories, I should say, since L. Frank Baum would reinvent background stories in his Oz books from time to time—it will enhance your experience reading the book.
The Oz Wiki entry online for it says:
The Powder of Life was created by Dr. Pipt and was first tested on the Glass Cat. Dr. Pipt foolishly gave all the Powder (contained in a pepperbox with a false bottom, which also contained Dr. Nikidik’s Celebrated Wishing Pills) to the witch Mombi in exchange for a fake “Powder of Youth”. Mombi used the Powder of Life to bring Jack Pumpkinhead to life. Tip stole the Powder from her and later used it to animate the Sawhorse and the Gump. (The Marvelous Land of Oz, The Patchwork Girl of Oz)
The Wikipedia entry for it says:
The Powder of Life is a magic substance from the book series, which first appears in The Marvelous Land of Oz .
It is a magical powder that brings inanimate objects to life. The witch Mombi first obtained it from a “crooked magician.” Later in the series it is revealed that the substance is made by a Dr. Pipt. In order to make the substance, Dr. Pipt had to stir four large cauldrons for six years. Only a few grains of the powder could be made at a time. It is always described as being carried in a pepper box.
Mombi’s shaker also contained three “wishing pills” fabricated by Dr. Nikidik.
Stories begin to blur along with the details surrounding them. There are questions raised about its origins, its creator(s), how it came to exist in the Land of Oz, and exactly what it does and how it’s used.
All of this is explored in the new novel.
It also goes without saying that if you know me or follow this blog, my creative journey was deeply effected when I lost both of my parents within six months to separate illnesses while working on the book. It changed me, my writing, and this story.
What would it be like to possess an ingredient in this world that generates and stimulates life?
What exactly is life?
Where does it come from?
How long can it last?
Could we be given the power to control it?
While the novel “The Powder of Life” is most definitely an action-adventure story at its core with many exciting twists and turns in keeping with “Silver Shoes,” the themes of life, death, birth, and rebirth are examined and pondered.
The hyperlinks are already “live” for the hardcopies of my book on both Barnes & Noble and Amazon sites, and I have placed them into this blog and on my website in anticipation. Barnes & Noble has both the hardcover and trade paperback listed with a discount, which is always helpful. The ebooks, with the exception of a standard PDF version, still aren’t up (Nook and Kindle), but I’m told they’re on their way, pending publisher approval. My “author copies” (hardcover and soft) are already in the mail for my final sign-off, and then I will “officially” announce, wherever anyone will listen, that “The Powder of Life” is open for business!
SILVER SHOES sequel artwork revealed!
At last! I am very pleased and proud to unveil the artwork for the long-awaited (at least by me!) sequel to “Silver Shoes,” entitled “The Powder of Life.”
For those of you unfamiliar with the Powder of Life, it was originally introduced in L. Frank Baum’s own sequel to “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” entitled “The Marvelous Land of Oz.” It’s a magic substance that can bring inanimate objects … anything at all … to life.
As with the first cover, this image depicts a specific scene from the story, which picks up just two weeks after the events in “Silver Shoes.” Donald Gardner and his friends Jon and Chris are involved. So are his parents Ellie and Bill, George Clarke, Owen Zeller, the mysterious “sorcerer” in the woods, and many other characters—some very familiar and some new. There are more twists and turns, more adventures, more surprises, more Oz, more Baum, and more pages to turn to find out what happens next!
The image below is the 12×18 version of the poster which will also be used for the cover (hard cover dust jacket, trade paperback, and ebook).
Publishing is forthcoming with an estimated release in all formats of “Summer 2012!”
Leonardo DiCaprio buys Ruby Slippers and donates them to Motion Picture Academy
February 22, 2012. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has spearheaded a small group of “angel donors” that also includes Steven Spielberg and Terry Semel and has purchased the most pristine pair of Ruby Slippers worn by actress Judy Garland in the movie “The Wizard of Oz.” They donated the famous pumps to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for their Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
These slippers, known as the “Witch’s Shoes,” are in the most pristine condition of the four pairs of ruby slippers known to exist. It is widely believed that these are the slippers Judy Garland wore in close-ups and insert shots, most famously when Dorothy clicks her heels three times to return to Kansas. They are called the “Witch’s Shoes” because they are likely the pair seen on the feet of the Wicked Witch of the East after Dorothy’s house falls on the witch.
Another reason they are called the “close-up pair” is because they lack the orange felt adhered to the soles of other existing authentic pairs. The felt was used to muffle their sounds during filming. The “close-up” pair has its soles painted red, exactly as seen sticking out from under Dorothy’s house in the Munchkinland sequence. They have minimal wear, since it is believed they were only used for specific close-up shots in the movie.
These are the same pair that went up for auction on December 16, 2011, and failed to sell when they didn’t meet a reserve bid of $2 million. Leonardo approached the seller with a private offer and a deal has now been made.
For more information and the rest of the article, please CLICK HERE.
This year, decorate the holidays in SILVER!
The perfect gift for friends and loved-ones this holiday season. Now available in hardcover, trade paperback, and popular ebook formats: Kindle and Nook!