My friend Karyn Good stops by with a look at GONE, book 3 in her Aspen Lake series, which just released yesterday. She's talking about how much a character's clothes, especially their shoes, say about them. I've read the first two books in the series and I can't wait to read GONE. Welcome Karyn!
Who could forget Scarlett o’Hara’s famous curtain dress in Gone With The Wind? Or Holly Golightly’s little black dress in Breakfast At Tiffany’s? Then there is the air from the subway grate lifting Marilyn Monroe’s white dress in the famous scene from The Seven Year Itch? How about Elle Wood’s non-tradition courtroom outfits in Legally Blonde? And of course there’s James Bond’s tuxedo.
But my favourite character clothing transformation has to be Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman. From her infamous cobalt blue cut-out dress and patent over-the-knee black patent boots to her post-Rodeo Drive shopping spree looks (the red velvet evening gown, the polka dotted derby dress) to the jeans and blazer she ultimately left the hotel for the last time in all reveal her character’s arc.
The clothes your characters wear are a tool used to help tell their story. Their clothing choices give us insight into their personality. In GONE, Grace Bighill’s clothing choices detail her character’s arc. At the beginning of the story, she’s feeling overwhelmed, she’s tired, and her wardrobe reflects her state of mind. But as the story progresses and she faces some hard truths, she begins to experiment and to take more time for herself. A clean t-shirt, a swipe of lip-gloss, the purchase of a new sweater are details that can say a lot without having to say anything at all.
In my Aspen Lake Series I had a lot of fun with shoes, from Lily’s summer breeze sandals, to Kate’s preference for stilettos, to Grace’s worn sneakers. If the heroes and heroines of my books are going to go toe-to-toe with each other, what’s on their feet matters, because details matter. And, okay, I admit it. I have a thing for shoes.
If you have a favourite best-dressed character from a book, movie, or TV show, I want to know who it is!
Blurb, GONE:
Ever since a devastating family tragedy seventeen years ago, Grace Bighill has struggled to keep her remaining family from falling apart. Then the discovery of her mother's body in the woods unearths a connection to a decades old murder case, and Grace is dragged into a politician's bitter bid for revenge.
Constable Mike Davenport's days in Aspen Lake are numbered. He's ready to take his next step up the career ladder somewhere a lot more cosmopolitan. He's avoided any emotional attachments, despite having fallen hard for a certain stubborn local. But when a body turns up, Mike's careful intentions collapse in the face of Grace's grief and her exhaustive efforts to care for her family.
A search for answers leads Grace and Mike down a twisted path proving no one can escape their roots. But someone might die trying.
Excerpt:
The music still played but no one listened. They were too busy trying to talk at once.
Mike settled in beside her and his disapproving green eyes scanned her face. He lifted the cloth covering her knee and winced. “You okay?”
Grace flinched as his fingers did a gentle probe. “Welcome to the party.”
“Seems we were a little late getting our invitation.” His expression turned serious. “This may need medical attention.”
“It’s just a scratch.” She tamped down the gooey need threatening to overtake her. Tried to remember it didn’t pay to get sentimental over this particular man.
Her reassurance didn’t stop him from carefully dabbing at her cut. Or from leaning in to get a closer look. “I don’t see any glass, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any in there.”
“I’m fine.” She braced her hands on the floor ready to lift herself up, having had enough attention and being at the center of it.
Mike put his hand on her shoulder and coaxed her back down. “There’s no rush. Take a moment.”
She warmed under his touch and the tender concern she’d secretly, and not so secretly, yearned for since he’d arrived in Aspen Lake two years ago.
Buy Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q3NHL5R
Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07Q3NHL5R
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Karyn_Good_Gone?id=9dOVDwAAQBAJ
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gone-karyn-good/1131190158?ean=2940161454060
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/gone-117
Author Bio:
Karyn Good grew up on the Canadian prairies and she's still there loving every minute. She writes romantic suspense featuring strong heroines and the men who love them. In the pages of her books you'll find danger, passion, and a winding path of twists and turns that lead to forever.
Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.karyngood.com/index.html
Blog: http://karyngood.com/blog/
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/KarynGoodAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karyngoodauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karyngood
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6152677.Karyn_Good
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/karyngoodauthor/
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q3NHL5R?pf_rd_p=1581d9f4-062f-453c-b69e-0f3e00ba2652&pf_rd_r=4QRS1R7NVMGTG039NYXN
Hi Jana! I happy to be here today and talking about wardrobes and characters and how one affects the other!
ReplyDeleteClothes are so important, aren't they? They really show what kind of person a character is. I'm so happy to have you on my blog today. Best of luck with GONE!
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