Have You Ever Found a Lost Shoe? Book Giveaway!
Posted by lindamartinandersen on November 8, 2014
“Have You Ever Found a Lost Shoe? Book Giveaway!”
Have you ever found a shoe when walking to the playground, riding down the road, walking on the beach, or somewhere else? Not a pair of shoes, but one shoe? One lone lost sole? I have and I’m pretty sure you have too. I know someone who is on the lookout for lost shoes every day. She takes pictures of them, and guess what…she has even written a book about them. Today, I’m honored to introduce this special lady to you. Please help me welcome Jennifer Larson, author of Lost Soles. Let’s give her a shoe-tongue flapping, double-knot tieing “Writer’s Playground” welcome. And here’s Jennifer…
Thanks for having me here today. My inspiration for Lost Soles began when I started noticing lone shoes in random places. There’d be a sandal in the median, a flip flop on the sidewalk, or a sneaker on the side of the road.
I began photographing these lone shoes ten years ago, creating a portfolio of boots, heels, cleats, and more.
I’ve even found a slipper. Then I started to wonder how these shoes had come to rest alone in such odd places. Where was their mate? How did they get separated from their other half?And that’s when I decided to tell the children’s story of a pair of flip flops, Flip and Flop, that get separated from each other after a day at the beach. Flip flies off the beach cart and gets left behind. He then embarks on a journey to find his way home in hopes of reuniting with his “sole mate.”
I decided to self-publish, and after two years and a lot of hard work, my first children’s picture book, Lost Soles, is coming out and will be available on amazon.com.
Over the years, I’ve photographed more than 100 lone shoes. I’m always on the lookout for the next one. If you have a lost sole find and want to share, please visit my website www.authorjenniferlarson.com. I love receiving photographs of lost soles from everywhere. And to keep up with my latest find, follow my blog at www.authorjenniferlarson.blogspot.com.
Jennifer, thanks for joining us today. Love the book cover and story idea.
Readers: Jennifer is offering a free copy of Lost Soles to some lucky person who leaves a comment here by November 15. The winner will be announced at “A Writer’s Playground” shortly afterwards.
Don’t you love Jennifer’s way of taking cast off items and making them something special? Show your admiration by visiting her photos and blog and by commenting here. Thanks for visiting. Come again and bring a friend.
Children 13 years old or older may leave a comment. Read more about the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA) See: http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm
This entry was posted on November 8, 2014 at 9:03 am and is filed under Uncategorized. Tagged: A Writer's Playground, book giveaway, children's author, flip flops, Jennifer Larson, Linda Martin Andersen, lost shoes, Lost Soles, photographs of shoes, picture book about lost shoes, reuniting, self-publishing journey, sole mates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Joan Y. Edwards said
Dear Linda,
Thank you for interviewing Jennifer Larson. She is one of my favorite people. I love her capturing the soul of the missing soles of shoes. I hope that many people will upload pictures of shoes they find along life’s paths. Congratulations on your wonderful idea, Jennifer. I’d be honored to win a copy of your book.
Linda and Jennifer, I look forward to seeing you at the next SCBWI-Carolinas conference.
Celebrate you now.
Never Give Up
Joan
lindamartinandersen said
Joan,
Jennifer is a definitely a special lady who has turned this topic into a passion. A fun one! Hopefully, people will send her lost shoe photos. Thanks for commenting. Always a pleasure to have you visit “A Writer’s Playground.”
Jennifer Larson said
So Sweet! Thank you, Joan!
Jennifer Larson said
Joan,
I enjoyed meeting you at the fall conference. You were one of the first to comment on my lost sole blog months back, and I remember how it made my day! Thank you for your continued support!
Much love,
Jen
Susan Hornbach said
This was a fun post Linda. Jennifer, I wish you much success with your new book. I’m sure children will love your new,and unusual subject matter. It looks like you touch on tender emotion also. If you need a review, contact me for discussion.
lindamartinandersen said
Susan,
Thanks so much for stopping by and for leaving a comment to wish Jennifer much success. Good luck with your writing too.
Jennifer Larson said
Susan,
Finding and photographing lost soles is definitely a bit quirky, but I just love it! 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to wish me success!
Jen
Janis Silverman said
It is so fascinating, Jennifer, to think about each cast off shoe and who it belonged to. The picture book sounds like a fun book.
I wonder if you have considered a photo book of lost soles/souls?
Best wishes and congratulations on the publication of the new book!
lindamartinandersen said
Janis,
Thanks for sharing a great idea with Jennifer. Yes, this topic does make us wonder about who, what, when, and why. Maybe more. Great to hear from you Janis. Thanks for congratulating Jennifer. She deserves it.
Jennifer Larson said
Janis,
Funny you should mention a photo book. I made a personal one through shutterfly, but you mention an interesting twist–wondering about how to “pair” the lost souls to the lost soles. 🙂
Jen
Tracy Campbell said
Hi Linda…what a super post! Jennifer, I often see a slew of shoes hanging over hydro lines and I often wondered how and why they were thrown up there. What a cool idea to turn your idea into a book. I love the cover as well. I’ll be sure to check out your site. And you know me Linda, I’d love to win a copy of Jennifer’s book. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. 🙂
lindamartinandersen said
Tracy,
Thanks for the compliment about this post. Jennifer made it fun with such a cool topic, book cover, and a contest too! Please check out Jennifer’s site. You’ll enjoy it. Always great to hear from you, dear friend. Thanks for entering the contest too.
Tracy Campbell said
My pleasure. 🙂
Jennifer Larson said
Tracy,
I really do wonder just how many shoes go missing each year. There’s a story behind each sole, sometimes a rather bizarre one, I bet. 🙂
Jen
Jennifer Larson said
Linda,
I love the post! Thank you so much for taking the time to highlight me.
Much appreciated!
Jen
Tracy Campbell said
Yes, Jennifer I am sure of that.
Carol Federlin Baldwin said
I would love to win this book–my grandkids would love it! What a fun idea for a book!
lindamartinandersen said
Carol,
You are right. This is a fun idea for a book. Glad you got your name in the drawing.
Jennifer Larson said
Thanks, Carol! 🙂
Kathleen said
Linda, so great that you highlighted Jennifer’s lost soles. I have been followng her blog/pictures and it always makes me smile. Jennifer best of luck on LOST SOLES!
lindamartinandersen said
Kathy,
I am glad Jennifer’s project makes you smile. I was happy to spotlight her. She’s taken “nothing” and made “something.” Thanks for visiting and commenting. Best of luck to you too and all the other writers and illustrators we know.
Jennifer Larson said
Kathleen,
I’m glad to hear my blog makes you smile. 🙂 Thanks for your sweet message!
Susan Williams said
Jennifer
This is a great idea for a book. I love the cover, too. I always wondered how people lost these shoes and why they didn’t bother to stop and pick them up. I will check out your blog. Good luck with your book.
Linda,
Hope you and Scott and still getting along well.
lindamartinandersen said
Susan,
Thanks so much for stopping in and leaving a comment. Jennifer definitely picked a topic that interests readers. Thanks for your good wishes for her and for Scotty and me. We are still doing very well and are thankful for all our blessings.
Jennifer Larson said
Susan,
Me, too. How can so many people lose just one shoe? Baffling! Thanks for the compliment about my cover. 🙂
Jennifer