Karina’s
Silver Shoes
Silver Shoes
Denise
Marques Leitao
Marques Leitao
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publisher: Sparkly Wave
Date of Publication: September
18th, 2017
18th, 2017
ISBN: 9781775063711
ASIN: B074T8RFWX
Number of pages: 250
Word Count: 70k
Tagline: She’s got the fate of a
kingdom in her hands—or rather, in her shoes.
kingdom in her hands—or rather, in her shoes.
Book Description:
When two princesses ask Karina to
go to Whyland, a kingdom in a parallel dimension, to destroy her fascinating
and potentially evil silver shoes, of course Karina accepts. Who would refuse a
free trip to an alternate world?
go to Whyland, a kingdom in a parallel dimension, to destroy her fascinating
and potentially evil silver shoes, of course Karina accepts. Who would refuse a
free trip to an alternate world?
Advised by a wise master and threatened
by a beautiful stepmother, Karina goes on a journey with a princess to defeat a
powerful witch. But Whyland is nothing like she expected. Karina finds herself
stuck in a kingdom she doesn’t understand, with no clue on who to trust. Before
saving anyone, she’d better save herself—if she figures out how.
by a beautiful stepmother, Karina goes on a journey with a princess to defeat a
powerful witch. But Whyland is nothing like she expected. Karina finds herself
stuck in a kingdom she doesn’t understand, with no clue on who to trust. Before
saving anyone, she’d better save herself—if she figures out how.
From
Brazilian / Canadian writer Denise Marques Leitao comes Karina’s Silver Shoes,
a teen parody of fantasy and fairy-tale tropes with many female characters,
friendships between girls and women, and some subtle romance.
Brazilian / Canadian writer Denise Marques Leitao comes Karina’s Silver Shoes,
a teen parody of fantasy and fairy-tale tropes with many female characters,
friendships between girls and women, and some subtle romance.
If
you like to read about strong girls and women, you’ve found your book.
you like to read about strong girls and women, you’ve found your book.
Excerpt
2
2
They seemed to
have forgotten Karina’s question, so she had to repeat it, “And… where are we
going?”
have forgotten Karina’s question, so she had to repeat it, “And… where are we
going?”
“Of course. You haven’t been told.” Odell
turned to Karina. “Those shoes were made by Lylah, and only her magic can destroy
them. You’ll have to go to her dwelling.”
turned to Karina. “Those shoes were made by Lylah, and only her magic can destroy
them. You’ll have to go to her dwelling.”
“You mean the
really scary witch who seems really nice? The one who can’t have the shoes?”
really scary witch who seems really nice? The one who can’t have the shoes?”
“Yes,” Odell replied, a weird smile on his
face. “But all you’ll have to do is throw the shoes in her fire, and that can
be done very quickly.”
face. “But all you’ll have to do is throw the shoes in her fire, and that can
be done very quickly.”
Karina thought
she had heard something like that somewhere. “Fire? You mean like the crater of
an active volcano in her land?”
she had heard something like that somewhere. “Fire? You mean like the crater of
an active volcano in her land?”
Odell looked
puzzled. “That would be very hot—and dangerous. But no, it’s nothing like that,
it’s her fireplace. That’s where her magic is.”
puzzled. “That would be very hot—and dangerous. But no, it’s nothing like that,
it’s her fireplace. That’s where her magic is.”
Karina almost
face palmed herself. Of course a volcano crater would be incredibly hot. Now
where was she getting those ideas? The real plan sounded simpler. So Karina
would have to walk for days, break into a house, then destroy her precious
shoes. Now, why was she doing this again? Oh, wait, she was in a free trip to
an alternate world. And she liked walking.
face palmed herself. Of course a volcano crater would be incredibly hot. Now
where was she getting those ideas? The real plan sounded simpler. So Karina
would have to walk for days, break into a house, then destroy her precious
shoes. Now, why was she doing this again? Oh, wait, she was in a free trip to
an alternate world. And she liked walking.
the Author:
Denise Marques Leitao was born
and raised in Brazil. When she’s not creating worlds and characters, she’s
discussing the meaning of the Universe with her son, writing unintellectual
poetry, podcasting about popular culture, or teaching. She lives in Montreal, Canada,
and has a Master’s in English Literature.
and raised in Brazil. When she’s not creating worlds and characters, she’s
discussing the meaning of the Universe with her son, writing unintellectual
poetry, podcasting about popular culture, or teaching. She lives in Montreal, Canada,
and has a Master’s in English Literature.
To learn more about Denise, get
news, bonus materials and preview chapters, visit http://denisemarquesleitao.com
news, bonus materials and preview chapters, visit http://denisemarquesleitao.com
https://www.facebook.com/Denise-Marques-Leitao-124915561476842/
a Rafflecopter giveawayBlog post 2 T’s Stuff
I would like to write about my inspiration for Karina’s Silver Shoes. Yes, it was an exercise in adaptation. I took the shoes from The Wizard of Oz and put them in a continuation, the way Lord of the Rings is to The Hobbit. But there’s something ridiculous about shoes as these evil magical objects, and I started to play with the idea.
Karina’s Silver Shoes ended up as a very playful novel, one that doesn’t take itself or its protagonist seriously. One other thing that happened, is that, as I wrote the story, I think it deviated from the adaptation. Of course nothing prevents the silver shoes from being the same ones as seen in The Wizard of Oz, but then, nothing says they are the same. And the story certainly doesn’t get serious like LOTR.
A lot of the idea was to question what can be understood and what can’t be understood, and since we see everything from Karina’s point of view, and she doesn’t know a lot, we don’t get to know certain details about Whyland. But that’s sort of the point. How much does Karina know? How much can she know? And can she make decisions without so much vital information? Those were points that I wanted to question with the novel.
Guest Post
Interview with Sian, male character present in one of the last chapters in Karina’s Silver Shoes:
Denise: Do you realize you were supposed to be a minor character?
Sian: Laughs. Well, I do make an impression everywhere I go, so, if my part got bigger, well, that’s expected.
Denise: What can you say about your role in Karina’s Silver Shoes?
Sian: I guess nothing, unless I’m going to spoil people. Do you want me to spoil people?
Denise: Are you a villain?
Sian: Uhm. Let me think while I twirl my moustache. Fine, I don’t have a moustache, and I don’t want one. I think I’m a nice guy. Why would you consider me a villain?
Denise: We’ll have to disagree on the definition of nice.
Sian: What about Karina. What’s her definition?
Denise: I think she’s sick of calling people nice. Now wait. Do you want to know her opinion about you?
Sian: Not necessarily. But she’s the protagonist, isn’t she?
Denise: Well, there’s Cayla who’s really important as well. One could argue it’s also her story.
Sian: That brat. Oh goodness.
Denise: Fair enough. Any last word to our readers?
Sian: Keep reading. The best part is when I come in.
Denise: I disagree.
Sian: Why are you interviewing me then?
Denise: I thought you had a nice personality, the interview would be fun, and there wouldn’t be any spoilers.
Sian: There you have it, then.
