Size Zero (Visage Book 1)
Description
<p style="margin:0px 0px 14px;padding:0px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;"><strong>"A somber, disturbing mystery fused with a scathing look at the fashion industry. </strong><strong>Mangin writes in a confident, razor-edged style."</strong><strong> - Kirkus Reviews</strong></p><p style="margin:-4px 0px 14px;padding:0px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;"><strong>Condom dresses and space helmets have debuted on fashion runways.</strong></p><p style="margin:-4px 0px 14px;padding:0px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;">A dead body becomes the trend when a coat made of human skin saunters down fashion's biggest stage. The body is identified as Annabelle Leigh, the teenager who famously disappeared over a decade ago from her boyfriend's New York City mansion.</p><p style="margin:-4px 0px 14px;padding:0px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;">This new evidence casts suspicion back on the former boyfriend, Cecil LeClaire. Now a monk, he is forced to return to his dark and absurd childhood home to clear his name. He teams up with Ava Germaine, a renegade ex-model. And together, they investigate the depraved and lawless modeling industry behind Cecil's family fortune.</p><p style="margin:-4px 0px 14px;padding:0px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;">They find erotic canes, pet rats living in crystal castles, and dresses made of crushed butterfly wings. But Cecil finds more truth in the luxury goods than in the people themselves. Everyone he meets seems to be wearing a person-suit. Terrified of showing their true selves, the glitterati put on flamboyant public personas to make money and friends. Can Cecil find truth in a world built on lies?</p><p style="margin:-4px 0px 0px;padding:0px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;"><strong>In high fashion modeling, selling bodies is organized crime.</strong></p>
Story Behind The Book
The story is aimed mainly at children but adults and cat lovers should also enjoy the tale. Bernie is a young cat and the story is about his adventures as he attempts return home to Scotland from Bergen, Norway.
Bernie does exist. You might want to look at our website to see this stunning cat. Anyway,as cat breeders (it's a hobby),we sold him as a kitten to a breeder and shower in Bergen, Norway. Anyone who loves cats knows that every now and then you encounter a cat of character and charm who captures your heart. From the beginning Bernie was one of those cats. He was and still is an amazing character and has a coat with the feel of a teddybear and the most beautiful of eyes. We were upset when he left for Bergen and we even flew across to Bergen to visit him some months later.
We wondered what would happen if he missed us as much as we missed him and whether he would ever want to return home to Scotland. So that idea became the basis of the story. As owners and breeders of a number of cats, (we currently own 10)I felt that I could create an authentic and exciting story for the reader.
The book and the stories within it are grounded in experience or real life events again giving an authentic feel. The opening chapter at the cat show in Bergen is an example and, yes, I did drop a cat, a Persian if I remember correctly as he was about to be judged. The TV advert referred to does exist as does the setting for each of Bernie's encounters. The three clouds sequence is also based on my experience but you will have ask me about that one.
The stories themselves are fun, engaging and exciting. Bernie's journey allowed me to weave together various little stories I have told to my children and grandchildren. The ending provides a cliffhanger and is as unexpected as it is dramatic.
Finally, two of our cats died recently so the book is also in memory to both of them. I hope you enjoy the sample and I hope to publish soon. I'll leave you with one of the comments received by a reader. The coment is edited otherwise it spoils the ending.
'Just finished your book and I'm crying my eyes out. It's wonderful I started howlin' when Bernie...... and I'm still sobbing. Don't know what else to say'
Reviews
This is a fast paced, wonderfully written adventure story of one little show cat and his travels. It has everything one could want from villains, vampires, and stormy seas to little girls and purrs galore. I just loved it, and I will would read it out loud to my grandchildren, if only I had some.I finished the book last night. Charles G Campbell OHIO<br /> <br />The ending took me by surprise and I sobbed and sobbed. It's absolutely wonderful. L Mcewan