Stranded

This lost sole made it 1/2 way across the street to the median before “running out of gas.” Luckily for him, there was a place to refuel.

One Antler Short of a Pair

I’m deviating from my usual lost sole find to bring you a lost item of a different kind. During the month of December, cars and trucks are decked out with wreathes, bows, elf ears, and the popular reindeer antlers to celebrate the holiday season. And if you take a closer look, you'll notice lone antlers peppering the streets. Maybe the driver forgets and rolls down a window and an antler goes flying, or perhaps the antlers are too flimsy to hang on at higher speeds. Whatever the case, the set becomes one antler short of a pair, so be on the lookout for a lone antler near you. 

Let's Stay Together

Every now and then I find not one lost sole, but a pair of lost soles. I am happy to report that Flip and Flop managed to

 “stay together” on their journey, making Al Green smile, I’m sure.  

Flimsy Flop

How does one walk out of the nail salon after a pedicure in a pair of temporary flimsy flops and not make it to the car wearing both? I wish I could “nail down” what happened here?

Hole in None

All teed up and nowhere to go! 

FAITH

With my book launch only a few days away, I was nervous to reveal my work to others. What would everyone think? Was my story about lost soles just a silly, quirky idea? What if no one showed up? I questioned why I was even doing a book launch when a friend called and reminded me to have faith in my story and to believe in who I was a writer. The pep talk cheered me up, but I still had my doubts. Not more than a few minutes after hanging up, I pulled out from the bank and sat waiting for traffic to clear so I could make my turn. I looked up and there in front of me sat a lone sneaker in the median. I couldn’t help but see this as my confirmation to have faith. And on the night of the launch, attendance was high and people gave positive reviews, so all was a success. Turns out, I simply needed a bit of faith—okay, and perhaps a second reminder in the form of a lost sole. 
Thanks, Sneaker! 

Can You "Sandal" the Truth?

I bet there's a sad little girl somewhere who’s missing this cute sole. 

Meet Virginia

 I recently found this lone sneaker when passing through Virginia. I’m on mission to capture a lost sole in each of the fifty states. I have sole representation from Texas, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Maine, Nevada, California, Massachusetts, and Tennessee.

 I’m off to a good start, but  if you have a sole to share, I’d love the help. :)

Orthopedic Sole

 

Just when I thought I’d found them all, what’d ya know, I spot some sort of orthopedic shoe/boot. I bet someone’s “aching” to have this returned.  

In the Spotlight-Dolores Andral

Meet Dolores Andral! 

With the new release of her 1st picture book; Prissy on the Moon, book signings, and appearances, Dolores is quite busy these days. Oh, and did I mention she's mom to four children: twin sons who are 12, an 11 year old daughter, and a 7 year old daughter. I am super excited she took the time to talk with me about her writing, and even more excited that I get to feature a fellow Charlottean. 

Check out my interview below and find out even more about her by visiting her website at prissyworld.com or like her on Facebook at facebook.com/PrissyWorld

 How would you describe your writing style?

Probably rhythmic, I've been told that I do dialogue well. Whenever I am writing, it's like a movie's playing and I'm watching the characters interact. I'm always editing and trying to perfect it, trying to get the cadence down, the wording right, and the response appropriate.

 What books influenced you as a writer?

Hands down, the classics. I think it's why my writing tends to start off verbose, and winding, and longwinded. We live in world now where we need to cut to the chase, but when you've just read stories like Anna Karenina, Les Miserables, Jane Eyre etc. where they meander all over the place, give us backstory, give us finite details, it's hard to write tightly.  

 Where do you do most of your writing and why? 

At my iMac in the kitchen area, because that's the center of the house. While I have a laptop and workroom, I find that I'm always looking for the laptop, and the workroom is on the second floor. So with iMac being center stage, there's easy access day and night. I get to write and cook, write and do laundry, write and clean up. And while I can't write when the kids get home, it's easy enough to just jot down an inspiration or thought.

 What advice do you have for beginning writers?

Edit, edit, edit; also do not fall in love with your words or sentences. I think every writer at some point has thought so highly of a sentence or a concept that they felt that it absolutely must remain in the book. I remember the first full-length story I wrote. I refused to change the opening sentences even after over 100 revisions to the story. I thought the story hinged on it. But then you start to grow into your writing, and the story starts to flow, and you rearrange the plot, and add and subtract characters. Then as the story morphs from simple to complex, you naturally become less in love and more willing to "kill your babies."  

 What are you currently working on? 

I don't say this facetiously, but I think if I was a child in this day and age, I would be diagnosed as ADHD. In addition to having 10 children's stories (the 10th being written while marketing the current Prissy On The Moon), I have two completed novels and am now working on a 3rd. All my work revolves around family conflict and dynamics.

University Shoe

This lost sole sits alone on the side of University Blvd. near UNC Charlotte. Could it be he seeks acceptance? 

Some Boots

These boots somehow lost their other half- 

Guess they were "given the boot" 

A Long Journey

and “Feeling Drained”

Crushed

I love finding lost soles that look as though they are speaking, as was the case for this poor fellow. He was in need of some assistance. 

Between a Plant and a Hard Place

A friend of mine came across this flip flop  while out and about. She shared her lost sole find with me while I was at the SCBWI conference.

LOST IN BOSTON

I came across this lost sole while walking through Boston Gardens. Someone placed him on top of the recycling bin in plain sight, no doubt hoping his human companion would return for him once his absence was noticed.

Pink Flop

I always wonder about a lost sole's journey, as is the case with this poor pink flip flop. What was her journey before washing up in a creek bed amidst debris and trash? Whatever it was, it doesn’t look pretty, but I'm glad my brother shared his find from his walk on the greenway. 

Loafer

Just "Loafing" Around

Andy and the Ant Hill

In a popular parking area near a public beach access on Isle of Palms, I noticed a child's Croc. The beach-goers had long since left for the day, and the poor lone sole was next to an ant hill. Sadly, the little insects had made themselves at home. 

Wedge

A friend texted me pictures of a cork wedge she found in a mulch bed on the side of the road. What a cute shoe! Where’s the mate? Will we ever be able to “uncork” what really happened here? 

Yet Another Sneaker

While on a walk recently, I noticed a lone sneaker in a ditch. He was surrounded by leaves and debris. Apparently, he'd been "ditched."

Flip Flop

These lost soles have lost the "flip in their flop" since losing their other half.

Shocking News

When I found a second electrician’s slip-on boot within 6 months of the first one, I was “shocked," to say the least. 

Snapped

It's summer and beach vacations are in full swing for many. 

As my family and I make the drive to Isle of Palms, I notice cars strapped down with luggage racks, bicycles, and coolers. Many of these extra belongings hang precariously on the back of vehicles with bungee cords, no less. How many of these rigged apparatuses snap and send luggage flying through the air, littering the highway with personal items, shoes, and such? Probably more often than one expects considering the fact that when I cross the bridge onto the island, low and behold, there is a bungee cord and a lone sneaker within feet of one another. Is that what happened here? 

Slipper

Could someone please tell me how a slipper makes its way to the median of a busy 4-lane street? 
Someone definitely “slipped up” losing this one.

Sneaky

On the curvy roads of Maine, this lone shoe“sneaked” up on me. Fortunately, I spotted it and captured the shots.

One "Tall" Order

Washed Ashore

I came across this lone shoe while walking on a somewhat desolate part of the beach in Hilton Head, SC. Clearly, this lost sole had been swept up by the ocean, tossed around, and rewashed ashore. One has to wonder just how many pairs of walking/running shoes and flip flops get kicked off and forgotten each summer only to be carried out to sea and then returned to the beach flying solo.

Black Boot Beauty

We’ve all read the children’s classic tale of Black Beauty or at least seen the movie version of the book. But after my Atlanta friends spotted this lone black boot on the highway, they renamed her “Black Boot Beauty” and shared their find with me. What a fun play on words.

Thanks, Markus and Danny! 

Mountain Cleat

What do you get when you visit the mountains of Cherokee, NC and find a lone cleat?

A Cherokleat! 

:) 

Cleatis the Soccer Cleat

Here's Cleatis! He's lacing up for the big game today; unfortunately, he's missing his other half, so it looks like he's not going to be making any of the winning goals. He'll be sitting this one out!

Missing in Miami

I do love when friends and family share with me their lost soles discoveries. This one came to me via a dear friend who spotted the lone sneaker while she was vacationing in Miami.  Somewhere someone is missing a mate!

Hall of Famers

 Wilma, Howard, Stiletto, and Larry are among my favorite lost soles to be inducted in to the

 HALL OF FAMERS!

Skech and his Ironic Resting Place

 I can't help but take notice of Skech's final resting place: across the street from a billboard advertising shopping with none other than a lone shoe as the promotor. Ironic? I do believe so!

Rubbery Yellow Fellow

Let me introduce Slick! What an interesting find! I'm not quite sure whether or not it's a man's rain boot or an electrician's slip-on to prevent electrocution while on the job. Regardless, it's a cool discovery. I came upon this rubbery yellow fellow while headed to pick up my mom from the airport one afternoon. My eyes are always peeled.  I never know when a lost sole might decide to show itself and this one couldn't be missed.