Tag Archive for: ruby red slippers

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Dancing for You – the Magic of Red Shoes by
Debra H. Goldstein

Red
shoes have always had a magical place in literature and film. Whether dancing,
as in The Red Shoes fairytale by
Hans Christian Anderson and the classic movie, The Red Shoes, or being how Dorothy gets home in the Wizard of Oz (the ruby red slippers), red
shoes were accorded magical powers. In each story, the protagonist must change
and grow before the curse associated with the shoes is lifted and the shoes can
finally be removed.

Mysteries
traditionally use red blood to signal the occurrence of criminal acts.  Whether pools of blood, blood spatter
patterns, or ooze from a wound, readers immediately conjure up images of
violence.

When I
joined the Stiletto Gang, the logo was a red stiletto heel fashioned with a
dagger. It immediately charmed me. I’d found a group of like-minded writers of
mystery and romance.

Keeping
up with fashion, a few years ago, we updated our heel to a more golden tone
with a wider toe box. It was an elegant logo that reflected the composition of
the Stiletto Gang, but I missed the internal excited sensation stimulated by the
red coloring.

Styles
change every season. Authors come and go, but one thing is constant – our
relationship with you.

Like
fashion, the members of the Stiletto Gang also have evolved.  Our writing is more diverse, sharper, and
whether comical, romantic, or pure mystery, more defined. Together, we agreed
to modify our shoe to be more reflective of the times and us. 

I was
thrilled when our resident graphic guru, Bethany Maines, proposed a red
stiletto logo. To me, our new logo is magical. 
I hope it will keep you looking for it every day. You see, without you
supporting and enjoying our writing, our efforts are for naught. For you, we
will gladly dance in the wind indefinitely. Do you like our new red shoes?

This Old House

By Evelyn David

My house is almost a hundred years old. We bought it from the estate of the woman who, with her husband, had it built. Just walking in the door, I could feel the good karma. The parents had raised seven children here. As we wandered through, the realtor described the festive family parties with children and grandchildren.

I was originally hesitant because one daughter had remained in the home, caring for her mother, who died at 90+. I worried that we were displacing this poor elderly woman who had never lived anywhere else since her mother was pregnant with her when the family moved in. But as we were inspecting the house, my husband discovered a sporty, two-seater Jaguar in the garage and we realized that this wasn’t any shy, reclusive old lady with cats. Turns out that this house was just home-base. The daughter worked for an airline and traveled all over the world.

When it came down to a decision, it seemed easy. I could feel the good karma, there were enough bedrooms that each kid could have his or her own, and we could almost afford it. The fact that the kitchen only had one electrical outlet (on the other hand how many did a 90+ year old woman need?), or that the only bathtub in the house was in the attic and I had a little baby, didn’t stop us from plunking down our money and moving in. Changes to the house came slowly. A few electrical outlets were added to the kitchen in the first year. A bathtub was added to the main bathroom later. It was years before we renovated the kitchen.

But like all of us who are growing older, this house needs maintenance. The bones, as my friend the realtor tells me, are fantastic. But let’s just say that the old body is showing its age. The windows are original, the furnace is probably close to 50 (it had originally been coal-fired), and even the changes we made when we first moved in aren’t shiny new anymore.

Which brings me to the perennial question of empty nesters? Do we stay or go? If we stay, how much should we invest in maintenance? Minimal as long as it’s safe and comfortable for us? Or more with the hopes that we recoup it when we sell?

My basic rule of thumb has been that anyone who moves in will want to re-do the kitchen eventually (it’s now 16 years old), but will be satisfied that there is no urgency to the project. Same thought applies to re-doing the bathrooms. The master bath is small, but again, I envision new owners would break through to the small room on the other side and make one of those master suite spas I see in the magazines (heck, I want one of those). But do we recarpet the threadbare steps and if so, how much do we invest – cheap neutral carpet or something a little snazzier, with extra bucks for every bit of snaz? If we’re here for another five years, what’s a worthwhile investment and what’s not?

No answers yet. Just lots of questions as we begin to figure things out.

I was right the first time I walked in this house. It was more than just a building. For a wonderful family before us; and for my wonderful family now. I know that you can’t measure good karma in dollars and cents. I don’t need any ruby red slippers, nor do I need to click my heels. Every time I walk through the door, I know that I’m home.

Marian, the Northern half of Evelyn David

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries- KindleNookSmashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah- KindleNookSmashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah- KindleNookSmashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- KindleNookSmashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – KindleNookSmashwords
Lottawatah Twister – KindleNookSmashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – KindleNookSmashwords

Sullivan Investigations Mystery – e-book series
Murder Off the Books KindleNookSmashwords
Murder Takes the Cake KindleNookSmashwords
Riley Come Home (short story)- KindleNookSmashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – KindleNookSmashwords

Romances
Love Lessons – KindleNookSmashwords