A New Kind of Femme Fatale

Hank says:   When you say the words femme fatale--who do you think of? Besides all of us here, of course. And, possibly, yourself from time to time. We're "fatales" because we write mysteries, and also because there's a certain mystery to each of us. Even when we're not fluttering eyelashes or hiding microfilm in our...wherever.  There was Mata Hari, of course. And Rita Hayworth. Ann Southern was certainly one..  and Ann Savage.  

 

 

But there's a new face on the mystery horizon--what she looks like, you'll have to imagine. But today, award-winning author and all around cool person Kelli Stanley introduces us to Miranda Corbie.

 

 A new kind of Femme Fatale. 

 

 

Kelli Stanley:  First, let me just say this: I am so excited and thrilled to be here! Big, big hugs and thank yous to Hank for inviting me to guest on Femmes Fatales—I am honored to be in the company of you all!

 

 

So who exactly is Miranda Corbie? Well, she’s thirty-three, five six, weighs about 130 pounds, has auburn-brown hair and brown eyes that sometimes go to hazel. She’s got the kind of looks that make you take a breath, and look again … and in 1940 San Francisco, she uses them to make a living.

 

 

She’s a private detective, helping wives find wayward husbands. And during San Francisco’s World’s Fair season, she works the Gayway (what they called the midway) on Treasure Island, protecting the cowgirls at Sally Rand’s Nude Ranch.

 

 

 

She’s a native San Franciscan. An unwanted child. A former Spanish Civil War nurse, in a conflict that cost her her lover. And afterward, an escort.

 

She’s also the protagonist of City of Dragons.

 

Miranda began in part as a response to the demonization of women in traditional noir. The sexualized female, beautiful and alluring, seducing men and leading them to their doom. Brigid O’Shaughnessy. Delilah. Eve.

 

 

 

However far you go back, there’s a woman’s to blame.

 

 

And I thought to myself: what would a real femme fatale be like? Someone beautiful, yes—someone who is (to use an anachronistic word) continually objectified and decides to use that plight to her own advantage? A woman who is manipulative, smart, sexual … and uses every weapon she has to fight for the “invisible” people in her world?

 

 

 

One of those people is Eddie Takahashi. Nineteen year-old Chinese-American numbers runner, gunned down on Sacramento Street during a Rice Bowl Party, a three-day and night Chinatown fundraiser for China’s war relief. The cops and the businessmen chalk it up to boiling racial tensions between Chinese and Japanese Americans in the wake of Nanking, and want the murder hushed up. But Miranda pursues justice for Eddie, risking her license and her life.

 

 

Is she a femme fatale? She’s got all the attributes. Is she an extraordinarily tough, hardboiled woman? She’s learned to be. She’s had to be.

 

 

Miranda is a response to both noir stereotypes and the knowledge of what women from every era and in every age endure … the feeling of being watched, of being appraised, of being desired without reciprocity. Dangers and fears and the constant sense of awareness. And all this Miranda tries to turn to her benefit.

 

 

I’m privileged to know her. I’m privileged to live in San Francisco, her city, and I try my best to recapture the one of seventy years ago …  breathtaking and sordid, beautiful and ugly in equal measures  …  San Francisco in February, 1940 … a city of dragons.

 

 

Thanks for reading—and thanks again to Hank and all the Femmes Fatales for having me over!

***

About Kelli:

Kelli Stanley’s second novel, City of Dragons, introduces Miranda Corbie—PI and ex-escort in 1940 San Francisco.

City of Dragons (releasing February 2, 2010) is the first of a series, has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and Booklist, is an RT Book Reviews Top Pick, and an Indie Next Book for February. “Children’s Day”, a short story prequel to City of Dragons, will be published in First Thrills: High Octane Stories by the Hottest Thriller Writers, coming June 22^nd from Tor/Forge.

Kelli’s debut novel, Nox Dormienda, won the Bruce Alexander Award and was nominated for a Macavity. She lives in San Francisco, and frequents old movie palaces, speakeasies and bookstores. You can find out more about her and her books at her website:  http://www.kellistanley.com.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Sue Ann Jaffarian]

Miranda is my kind of gal! Congrats on all your success, Kelli, and may you enjoy much more! XOXOXO

[Kelli Stanley]

Thanks a million, Sue Ann! :) And congrats back at you for your stellar Odelia--a heroine for the ages! :)

xoxo

[sophie littlefield]

I am loving the idea of Miranda, Odelia and Stella at the bar in Smitty's in Oakland. Miranda would have to time-travel but it would be worth it. :)

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

Oh, hey, could Charlie come too? Maybe she could report on the time travel.

Sophie! Congratulations!! You're quite the FF yourself...xo

[Kelli Stanley]

I'm guessing that foursome would NOT be playing bridge ... :)

BTW, girls--Martha Stewart's mag just declared this the year of bourbon. Finally!! So maybe that time-travel thing IS working ... ! ;)

And Soph, huge and well-deserved congratulations, sweetheart!!! ;)

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

The year of bourbon? Hmm. She might just as well call it the year of headaches, if that's what I'm going to have to drink to we cool...

[Kelli Stanley]

I promise to introduce you to some smooth and headache-free bourbon at SF Bouchercon, Hank! :)

Small-batch, properly aged--much better than rye. And you can always drink it in a Manhattan--yum! :)

Besides ... you could drink tepid tap water and still be coolest chick around!! ;)

[Dana]

Kelli, thanks for bringing your femmes fatales to the blog! They sound like dames I'd want to hang with!

And...did you say 'bourbon?' ::purrs:: Count me in!

[Kelli Stanley]

Thanks, Dana!! It's an honor to be here! And wonderful to meet another bourbon fan ... a woman after my own heart. :)

I highly recommend Eagle Rare ... smooth as silk, and nearly as seductive.

Miranda drinks Old Taylor, and Four Roses figures into the plot ... ah, yes, the things we do for research! ;)

[Mike Dennis]

Nice post, Kelli. But when assembling your rogues gallery of femmes fatales, don't forget Jane Greer.

[Kelli Stanley]

Ah, Jane. She was something, wasn't she? Out of the Past ... and another team-up with Mitchum in The Big Steal.

Thanks for the reminder, Mike! Who can forget her turn on the sand with Mitchum, when he draws a breath and says, "Baby--I don't care"? What a noir--what a femme fatale! :)

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

Kelli, who are your favorite femmes fatales? (Besides us, of course...)

[Kelli Stanley]

Well ... present company excluded ;) ... I guess I'd have to say:

Rita Hayworth (all time fave)
Barbara Stanwyck
Gloria Grahame (in anything, even The Greatest Show on Earth)
Evelyn Keyes
Joan Crawford
and Mary Astor (she played a great Brigid in The Maltese Falcon).

Thanks for asking, Hank! Noir City, the film festival, starts this Friday--wish you could come! :)

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

Oh, yes, me, too, Rita Hayworth.

And how cool--Rita and I have the same birthday. (Fine, fine, not the same year!)

Kelli, you're the best! Many congratulations...you are the genuine article.

[Kelli Stanley]

Thanks so much, dear Hank--it's an honor to be here with you. And how special to share Rita's birthday! My favorite film noir is a tough call, but I think I'd have to go with Gilda. And that Put the Blame on Mame dress!! Jean Louis, you were a genius. ;)

And, dear one, to quote another wonderful period song ...

You're the top! ... ;)

Thanks for having me on Femmes Fatales!!

[Mary]

Kelli, this sounds like such an exciting book. Thanks for coming over and sharing at the Femmes!

[Diana James]

Kelli - I'm looking forward to City of Dragons, Miranda sounds like my kind of gal.

Seeing San Francisco thru her eyes will be a joy, the 20's was such an exciting period in our history. I'm a total buff for the fashion of that period, hope you've captured Miranda's wardrobe!!!

[Kelli Stanley]

Thank you, Mary! It's been an honor to hang out with some of my favorite writers! :)

[Kelli Stanley]

Thanks, Diana! :) I hope you won't be disappointed, though--City of Dragons is set in February of 1940 ... though I think the fashions then were just as awesome as the Roaring '20s!! :)

[coach suitcase]

Wonderful article, thanks for putting this together! I'm very happy to leave my comment here, and hope that your blog will become more and more color!