Paul Miles Schneider: Silver Shoes
Book Club Discussion

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Paul Miles Schneider

What inspired you to take the fictional story of The Wizard of Oz and turn it into the basis for a fantasy of your own?

My motivation was less of an isolated incident and more of a lifelong progression of events. I moved with my family to Kansas when I was four years old. Back then, my mother would read the Oz books to me. They were the well-worn early editions that had once belonged to her father when he was a little boy at the turn of the twentieth century. Then, when I was seven years old, I met Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West in the MGM movie. A few months later, she agreed to be my pen pal for the entire second-grade school year. A month after graduating high school, I was riding in a friend's car when a tornado touched down. We bounced and lifted off the ground momentarily, and the funnel passed roughly thirty feet away from us. A year later, I played the Tin Man on stage with the Kansas Repertory Theatre. There have been other memorable instances, but if I had to pick a single event that inspired this story, it would be the time I visited Michael Shaw at his home in North Hollywood.

He was a renowned movie memorabilia collector who owned, among many incredible items, a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film. Michael was also the neighbor of a good friend of mine who knew all too well about my lasting love for this movie. So, after we had dinner together one evening, my friend Barbara persuaded him to give us a special viewing of his most valued possession. And as we gathered around, staring at these sequined pumps in awe, I kept thinking, "They aren't real, yet so many people are fascinated by them." Myself included. These are, without question, the most sought-after of all Hollywood collectibles. Instantly recognizable throughout the world. Mysterious. Iconic. Breathtaking. "But what if they were real?" I asked myself suddenly. "What if these shoes actually worked? What if any one of us could put them on and instantly acquire power beyond imagination?" Well, that would mean they had once belonged to a real witch and that Oz really existed. And if I backed up even further in time to the original novel by L. Frank Baum, and these shoes became silver again, it would mean that his fairy tale, written for children, really happened—that the entire story was true. That's how it began for me.

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Paul Miles Schneider

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Paul Miles Schneider

This is a strange question but something I wondered as I was reading – did you have to ask permission to use Frank Baum's name and characters in your own book? How does that work?

Thankfully, I didn't have to ask permission. But I certainly made sure of that initially. A bit of research showed me that The Wizard of Oz—in fact, all of the fourteen Oz books written by Baum—have passed into the public domain now. They have outlived their copyrights, in other words. The MGM movie, however, has not. And since my book cues off of the Baum novel rather than the film as its source, I was legally good to go. As far as having L. Frank Baum as a character in my book, I do have a nice disclaimer up front saying to the effect of, "All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue used in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously." I suppose if I had painted an unflattering portrait of Mr. Baum and was libelous in any way, I might have received some opposition and perhaps even worse from his surviving family members.

However, Frank Baum is actually a bit of a hero in my novel. I would like to think that he would admire his flattering likeness. This book is really my ultimate tribute to his brilliant imagination. I tried to be clever about having him in the story, too. I mixed some biographical truths about his life and career together with an intriguing fictional back-story, involving an undercover organization and an ongoing investigation into the existence of Oz. I explained my concept in person to Mr. Baum's great-grandson, Robert Baum. I met him during my first book-signing in Glendale, California, and he seemed delighted with the idea. He proceeded to buy two copies of the book on the spot and had me sign both of them. That was an unbelievable thrill for me. Bob and his wife Clare tour the country now, performing in character as his great-grandparents, L. Frank Baum and Maud Gage Baum. He tells his audiences how Frank would get some of his most inspired ideas from the elements and events around him growing up, such as a scarecrow on his farm, and he would turn them into these fantastic characters and situations in his books. So, you see, I was essentially using the same creative approach as the original inventor of Oz. I was blending my own imagination with my personal experiences and the real world around me. I could tell that this pleased Bob a lot. It was so gratifying to see his enthusiasm.

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Paul Miles Schneider

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Paul Miles Schneider

Who is the intended audience for this book? I felt like it could easily fit in the Young Adult section but can also see how older readers, fans of Oz, would really get into it as well.

I'm so glad you feel that way! This was my hope. I must tell you that I thought long and hard about it before I wrote a single word. I ultimately decided to take my cue from a handful of the all-time masters in the entertainment industry who have understood that storytelling could be presented for people of all ages. Specifically, I mean that I looked carefully at the MGM film of “Oz,” the great Walt Disney himself, the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling, and even the hilarious Looney Tunes shorts from Warner Bros. They each had the perfect philosophy for me: don't talk down to your audience. Don't simplify, pander, or aim your work at a preconceived and restricted level of intelligence or comprehension. Challenge them a bit. Hold their interest as best you can. Find out what universally appeals to them and layer your storytelling so it works on many levels. I worked hard to do this in my novel. At its core, Silver Shoes is a journey of discovery. An action-adventure thrill ride, as seen through the eyes of an eleven-year-old Midwesterner named Donald Gardner. I chose both his name and his age very carefully, too. Donald is entering that transitional phase in life when things like magic carpets, and white rabbits with pocket watches, and silver shoes are really just kids stuff. He is on the cusp between childhood and early adulthood, not unlike Wendy or Peter Pan. Donald is about to start the sixth grade now. He'll be turning twelve soon enough. He feels like his summer is almost over, and this may be his one last shot at a "cool adventure" before school begins. He has pretty much resigned himself to move on, when he comes across an antique silver shoe on the side of a road in Kansas while vacationing with his family. The shoe turns out to be one of Dorothy's magic shoes from Oz, and that's when the adventure begins.

As I started writing, I realized that I wanted my story to work as effectively for adults as it does for young adult readers. Perhaps even more so. I also decided that Silver Shoes would not be a conventional children's book. Frank Baum clearly had young children in mind when he wrote "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," and that was his intended audience for the entire book series. But my story takes place a hundred years after those books. I thought it was time to see Baum's Oz again through slightly more mature eyes. At the same time, I wanted to honor the original material. I'm not reworking his world into something that it never was. I'm seeing it from a different perspective, however. A "realistic" perspective, since my premise is that his early books were fact, not fiction. I'm also not trying to make Oz darker than it was. There is a modern misconception that the Oz books were all very dark, ugly, and terrifying in tone. On the contrary, they were largely whimsical, light, humorous, and highly engaging. He wrote them for children. But there were also witches, flying monkeys, sorcerers, and other bizarre creatures along the way that were a tad frightening, especially to younger readers. And since my story is about finding the coveted shoes that had once belonged to a wicked witch, there is naturally an element of fear and hopefully even one or two good scares in the telling of this story.

What I'm finding happily now is that the book is being discovered and read by people ranging from ten years of age to eighty. I actually underestimated how wide the appeal might be. Young boys as well as young girls. Grown women as well as men. And the readers are discovering a variety of things. For some who have never seen an Oz book before and only have a passing familiarity with the MGM movie, they are being drawn into the adventure right along with Donald Gardner. Donny has never read an Oz book, either. He is even embarrassed at school when a classmate tells him that his silver shoe looks like something out of "The Wizard of Oz." So, while the door to Oz is being opened for him, it is also being opened for these unfamiliar readers who just want to dive into a mysterious and interesting story. For younger readers, particularly those who have already read some of the Oz books by Baum, they are enthusiastic about seeing the world of Oz placed in a modern setting with a young kid who is roughly their age. For adult readers, they are surprised at how much the story grabs them. They are caught off guard by the plot twists. And some are asking terrific, thought-provoking questions about the symbolic religious and political overtones insinuated by the undercover organizations depicted in this story. These are the same questions and issues that have been raised for a century now, concerning the original Baum books, so I couldn't be happier. I think the biggest thrill for me, so far, has been when an unknown mother or father writes to me, saying that one of their kids just read my book, loved it, then gave it to them to read, and they loved it as much, if not more. I am excited that this story is being passed between the generations and shared that way. It's a great feeling as an author.

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Paul Miles Schneider

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Paul Miles Schneider

Is this experience going to help Donny's father become more involved with his son's life? I felt like he was a good man that just needed some redirection.

A wonderful question! Donald's father, Bill Gardner, is definitely a good man. I was careful not to make him into a villain in the story. I had other strong villains to wrestle with, and Bill isn't one of them. After working diligently to develop the plot with all its twists and turns, I began to realize that I needed to go back through and establish an equally compelling emotional journey to accompany the physical one. I had already laid the groundwork in a few areas. Bill and Donny just weren't connecting as father and son. So I started through the pages again, looking for places where I could expand this relationship further and create some additional tension.

Bill is a good guy. He works hard and does his best raising a son with his equally hardworking wife, Ellie. But he comes from a family that never communicated well when he was growing up. They had a "cheerful wall of silence" forged between them, and it was never breached. Bill is struggling to ensure this doesn't happen with his own family now, but unfortunately, it already has. He tends to be dismissive at times. Even unintentionally gruff or uncaring. And he doesn't pay enough attention to the boy. I don't think he is aware of how much it's affecting Donald either. When the plot accelerates into high gear, the two of them are thrown together in an extremely urgent situation. They must work as a team to help resolve it, but they can't really communicate. They don't know how. Yet they've got to learn, because they have no choice now. I really like that your question is leading into the future, too. You are seeing these characters move beyond this initial story, and so am I. And I would hope as much as you do that they have found a mutual respect after living through such an incredible ordeal together.

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Paul Miles Schneider

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Paul Miles Schneider

It was obvious to me that this story is set up for a sequel, or more! Can you tell us anything about your plans for Donny and the gang?

I should start by saying that it was not my initial intent to create a "franchise." I dislike that word, particularly when it pertains to anything artistic. It sounds like a chain store, which it is. But I was committed, above all else, to telling a good story. And when I was writing the last two chapters, I endeavored to tie all these loose ends into a neat and tidy bow. I wanted a solid, clear, and exact ending. I strove to answer each question that the readers and I myself might pose along the way. And the result? It was boring and disappointing. It felt very unnatural and forced, not unlike the ending of half-hour television sitcom, where all the problems and issues have been solved before the final commercial break. So I went back through those last two chapters and reworked them to create a more intriguing and exciting conclusion. I really wanted readers to put the book down at the end, take a deep breath, and think, "Wow!" as they closed the back cover. That was my ultimate goal.

So now, although the main conflict in Silver Shoes comes to an emotional and physical conclusion that I believe will satisfy everyone, I did leave a few mysteries hanging in the air. And that is definitely intentional. I also left the door wide open. In many ways, this is only the beginning for Donny and the others. I'm very happy about that. Most people who have finished Silver Shoes ask me right away, "What happens next? I can't wait to find out!" Ultimately, I couldn't wait to find out myself. So I will tell you that I'm about seventy pages into a second book already. The story picks up where this one leaves off. And there are twists and turns again, right from the beginning. I am answering some of the questions that were posed in the first story, raising new ones, and hopefully I will surprise readers with the outcome. I am also developing the realistic aspects of the continued story and characters. We will see more of Donny and his best friends, Jon and Chris. And the other kids in their sixth-grade class. We will find out, through Donny, what it feels like to have something so extraordinary happen and then attempt to go back to a normal life again, trying to fit in with the others. So in addition to the supernatural struggles, there will be very realistic ones as well. And I think this second book should please and entertain people as much as the first. I will certainly do my best to make that happen.

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Paul Miles Schneider

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Paul Miles Schneider

Your bio on the back of the book states that you "produce and design DVD menus and interactive content for Hollywood films and television shows." Can you tell us more about this part of your life? It sounds absolutely fascinating!

I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time. DVDs were fairly new to the world. They had just been released on the market two years earlier, and they were barely starting to catch on with the public when I was hired as a junior designer. I was working for a successful post-production company in Burbank that was trying to expand its departments to create both the navigational menus and special feature content with all the studios in Hollywood. We ended up being one of the leading companies in that field, and I went on an incredible ride for the next eight and a half years.

The format exploded into the marketplace, and the very first release I worked on was Fight Club. We didn't realize it, at the time, but Fox Home Video was really setting the bar for years to come with that DVD. Soon I was promoted from junior designer to supervisor and, ultimately, to senior producer. I oversaw a team of art directors, designers, production artists, editors, programmers, and sound designers on some of the biggest home entertainment releases you can think of. I worked on Star Wars, Harry Potter, Casino Royale, Citizen Kane, Lawrence of Arabia, and television shows ranging from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Friends to Gilligan's Island. Over two hundred titles in all. It was extremely challenging and stressful but also very rewarding. Then Sony Pictures Home Entertainment selected our team to be the graphics Beta-testers on the very first commercial Blu-ray Disc ever burned. We worked for months on various designs and interfaces—testing, revising, and reinventing. By the time the Blu-ray format was released, we had already completed the navigational designs and interactive content for over thirty discs. It was an incredible experience to be on the cutting edge like that, and I'm very proud of our work. I was also writing the first draft of Silver Shoes, during this time. I find that kind of astounding today. Both tasks demand such an enormous concentrated effort. But when I think about it now, I can actually see the similarities in the disciplines. Writing an action-adventure story and working on a DVD both require the creation of exciting scenarios, the mapping-out of clever paths, problem solving, unexpected and inventive solutions, and the selling of visceral and emotional ideas to an audience. I have no doubt that my experience producing and designing DVDs helped me greatly while writing this novel.

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Paul Miles Schneider

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Paul Miles Schneider

One final, off the wall, question. Were you scared of the winged monkeys as a little boy?

Ha! As a little boy? Oh, most definitely. But fear quickly turned into fascination. Almost instantly, in fact. I really liked to be scared as a child, as long as it wasn't something too terrifying. I think most kids do. The flying monkeys were highly unusual, too. Apes with wings? Soaring around in the air? The way they were depicted in the MGM movie is still pretty fantastic. All I have to do is close my eyes, and I can picture that dramatic sky through the gnarled tree branches, with all of them heading right for me.

Book Club Discussion: Interview with Paul Miles Schneider