Anne Greene's Blog, page 2

INTENSIFIERS

ANNE GREENE HERE.       

Two weeks ago I wrote how to make your characters unforgettable. This week I’m discussing how to rack up the intensityin your novel. 
USE INTENSIFIERS TO ITENSIFY THE EMOTIONS.  
ADD SOMETHING UNEXPECTED TO EVERY SCENE. 
SHOW the POV character through his perceptions (what he sees), emotions (what he feels), flashbacks (what he remembers and relives). 
Show three objects the POV character notices.  
For instance, in my book Murder In Istanbulthe hero notices, a broken vase, an overturned table, and a high heeled shoe. So he deduces that she attacked the massive thug with the vase to try to help him. The thug overturned the table going after her. Her shoe is missing. She can’t run without her shoe. She must be in shock because she doesn’t know her shoe is missing. (perceptions) 
The three objects are intensifiers. 
Show three unexpected emotions in every scene.  
For instance, in my book Cupid Goes Barnstorming, Rand meets Gloria for the first time. She’s stunning. She has backbone and spirit even if she is one of those new-fangled flappers, and she’s a moocher. Those are his perceptions. His emotions range from she’d complicate his life, he had no money for the gold-digger, but he’d give her the most dangerous job on the planet. (not so much emotions as decisions) - emotions take more time than I have here. But one is definitely unexpected.
 

Now, if you use flashbacks, throw in the unexpected!  
What SCENE do you remember from a book you read (not from a movie)! Does it contain intensifiers?
Leave a comment for a chance to win an autographed copy of Anne’s latest release, Marriage By Arrangement.    
On March 1st, Anne will write about how to add an exciting new twist to your book. Come back and visit. Join her followers or add the date to your computer calendar. 
ANNE GREENE delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. Her second novel, a Scottish historical, Masquerade Marriage , won numerous awards. The sequel Marriage By Arrangement released November, 2013.   A Texas Christmas Mystery also won awards. Anne makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy Anne’s books at http://www.Amazon.com. Talk with Anne on twitter at @TheAnneGreene. Visit Anne’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/AnneWGreeneAuthor.
                                              

ONE EASY WAY TO MAKE UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS

Anne Greene here: 

What will your characters fight to the core for? 
What does your heroine fight for? What does she stand for?
What will she not give up, no matter what happens? 
         Is she showing this?
         What is her motivation for the above? Have you told the reader?  
  What does your hero fight for? What does he stand for?
What will he never give up, no matter what happens?
         Is he showing this?
         What is his motivation for the above? Have you told the reader?    
     And the villain should be real as well. He should believable. He should have a good side.  

What does the Villain fight for? What does he stand for? Why does he not think he is evil?
What will he never give up, no matter what happens?
          Is the villain showing this?
          What is his motivation for the above? Have you told the reader?

Each character must change over the course of the story. They need to discover something about themselves.  
Do all of the above and readers will not be able to forget your real-life-like characters. 
What characters do you remember from the novels you’ve read in the past year? Leave a comment for a chance to win an autographed copy of Anne’s latest release, Marriage By Arrangement.    
ANNE GREENE delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. Her second novel, a Scottish historical, Masquerade Marriage , won numerous awards. The sequel Marriage By Arrangement released November, 2013.   A Texas Christmas Mystery also won awards. Anne makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy Anne’s books at http://www.Amazon.com. Talk with Anne on twitter at @TheAnneGreene. Visit Anne’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/AnneWGreeneAuthor.  
On February 15th, Anne will write about how to intensify each scene in your manuscript. Come back and visit. Join her followers or add the date to your computer calendar.
 

End of Blog Tour Anne Greene here. You’ve enjoyed s...

End of Blog Tour     

 

Anne Greene here. You’ve enjoyed six interviews about me, so I think you know me pretty well.

 

So, to end the Blog Tour, I want to tell you more about MARRIAGE BY ARRANGEMENT. I love this book.

 

                    A MARRIAGE COVENANT                    Why does a handsome, powerful noble of the highest rank in England stoop to marry a mere Lady of Lowland Scotland?

 

                     A GREAT SECRET                    Are the whispered stories about him true? With his shadowy past and strange behavior what awful secret does he hide? Each change of clothes transforms him into a different man.

                                                           

                     AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE
                    Can Lady Cailin keep her vow to make her marriage happy and successful, unlike that of her parents, or to save her unborn child, must she arrange for the Duke’s accidental death?                   

Here is an excerpt:

CHAPTER ONE

Castle Drummond, home of Lord and Lady MacMurry, near the Village of Kirkmichael in Lowland Scotland -– April 19, 1746

 

          “I won’t run.” A shudder skipped down Lady Cailin MacMurry’s spine, and she stared at her younger sister. “I’m committed.”

“It’s not too late. I heard another scandalous rumor about Duke Avondale.” Lady Megan MacMurry grasped Cailin’s arm.

          “I won’t listen to gossip.” Cailin pulled away from her sister and lifted her wedding bouquet to inhale the white rose fragrance. If only the sweet scent could overcome Megan’s words, and her own misgivings. Though most arranged marriages turned out badly, surely God would give her a loving one. After all, since her earliest years, she’d prayed for a happily-ever-after love.

          “Ask yourself why such a grand noble would stoop to marry a Scottish lass with but the title Lady? Why did he not choose an English Duchess or Marchioness or even a Countess?” Megan tilted her head and lifted elegant brows.

          Why indeed? Cailin clutched her enormous diamond engagement necklace. The thing felt heavy with responsibility. 

“The man’s an English duke. He owns palaces all over England.” Megan planted her hands on her slender, mossy-green silk covered hips. “Every noble lass in the land should be offering to give her right arm to be in your shoes. And yet they are not.”

New knots formed in the nape of Cailin’s neck. She held her finger to her lips. “Too late to turn back now. The wedding chorus has begun.” She forced her feet to take the first step and then began the slow glide from the stone castle’s rear archway through the garden toward the rose arbor.

With a jerk, Megan lifted and straightened Cailin’s cumbersome satin train. “In truth, beyond his wealth and titles, our family knows little about the English Duke.” She gathered up her own long skirts and ran ahead to lead Cailin down the flower-strewn path.

Seven bridesmaids stopped giggling and chatting and moved to their places in front of Megan to head the procession.

          Beneath her veil, Cailin smoothed her frown.

Papa had chosen to take this path in light of the violent upheaval following England’s latest battle with the Highlanders. Her marriage to the Duke would shelter her family with his great cloak of protection. Neither the English nor the Scots would dare invade a castle guarded by the powerful Duke’s Coat of Arms.

          More goosebump fingers shivered her spine. Surely jealousy fueled the flagrant tittle-tattle. She pulled in a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and took measured steps in time to the music toward the loch gleaming in the late afternoon sunlight. She would not let whispers spoil her wedding. She laid her hand lightly on her father’s offered arm.

          Their procession passed the scores of guests assembled on both sides of the flowered path. Ahead her groom stood beneath the rose bower, sunlight from the loch gleaming on him, the pastor, and his groomsman.

          Her heart fluttered.

The Duke looked the perfect picture of manhood. He towered above his shorter groomsman and the pastor. Sun glinting off his iceberg blue satin coat, heavily laced with gold, almost blinded her. His chocolate eyes gazed past the dazzling crowd of guests and focused on her. Beneath those beckoning eyes, the straight bridge of his nose above softly smiling lips formed the most handsome face she’d ever seen. Her pulse quickened. Butterflies flitted from her stomach to her heart and back. 

As she reached her groom and the chamber music died, her high-heeled slippers sunk into the grassy moor, but her foreboding dissolved like fog before the sunshine.   

The rose bower in the garden where she and the Duke stood together and promised their fidelity was pure romance with its lush greenery, heavy scent of roses, and panorama of softly rolling, newly green glen. Though she didn’t know the man she wed, she repeated with all her heart to love, honor, and obey him as long as she should live.

Marrying a man one had barely met happened more often than not to daughters of Lords. So why were her knees shaking? Her attractive groom, with his mahogany hair, wide shoulders, and square jaw, held her hand gently in his warm, strong grasp. Rumors were just rumors, and, truth be told, if he were not perfect, neither was she.

A breeze loosened strands of brown hair from the gold band that tied the thick mass neatly behind his muscular neck to dance around his face.

She was glad he had not powdered his hair. Her throat tightened. Loving him would be easy.

Oh God, please let him love me.

She would love him so greatly, with everything inside her heart. Surely he would love her in return. She would work hard to make certain her marriage turned out differently from Mums. There would be no coldness, nor violent arguments between her and her grand Duke. No sleeping in separate parts of the castle. No making their daughters’ lives miserable with the dislike they bore one another.

As the magnificent sunset painted him gold, the Duke’s chestnut eyes stared into hers with promise, his inviting lips tipped upwards at the corners, and his demeanor was affectionate and approving.

Joy burst through her chest, and she gave him a brilliant smile. Yes, her marriage would be happy. A storybook marriage like Cinderella’s.

The English parson the Duke had brought with him raised a hand in blessing. “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

She handed her heavy bouquet of roses and lilies to Megan and tipped her chin up.

The tall, lithe, young Duke stepped forward and lifted her expensive Brussels veil. She was so very fortunate he was not old.

She closed her eyes.

He touched his lips to hers.

Oh! Her eyes flew open. The bridal kiss had been so short…and disappointing. The pledge in his gaze had led her to expect so much more. She frowned. Their first kiss was like melding lips with someone on stage, acting a part. 

He dropped his arms and moved back.

She’d scarcely been around men, and the Duke was a stranger. She frowned. And his kiss had held so little promise.

A terrifying thought swirled through her brain like a ghost. Since Papa had betrothed Megan to a cruel man, what type of man had he selected for her? Were safety and titles and lands more important to Papa than both his daughters’ happiness?

She shivered.

                                                                                                    

 

I’m giving away three autographed copies of Marriage By Arrangement. For your chance to win, simply join my following. Three of you will win. Also leave a comment with your email address so I can contract you for your snail mail address when you win a book.

ANNE GREENE delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. Her second novel, a Scottish historical, Masquerade Marriage , won the New England Reader Choice award, the Laurel Wreath Award, and the Heart of Excellence Award. The sequel Marriage By Arrangement released November, 2013.   A Texas Christmas Mystery also won awards. She makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor. View Anne’s travel pictures and art work at http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy Anne’s books at http://www.PelicanBookGroup.com. Or at http://www.Amazon.com. Talk with Anne on twitter at @TheAnneGreene. Visit Anne’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/AnneWGreeneAuthor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

End of Blog Tour Anne...

End of Blog Tour       
Anne Greene here. You’ve enjoyed six interviews about me, so I think you know me pretty well. 
So, to end the Blog Tour, I want to tell you more about MARRIAGE BY ARRANGEMENT. I love this book.
                     A MARRIAGE COVENANT                    Why does a handsome, powerful noble of the highest rank in England stoop to marry a mere Lady of Lowland Scotland? 

                     A GREAT SECRET                    Are the whispered stories about him true? With his shadowy past and strange behavior what awful secret does he hide? Each change of clothes transforms him into a different man.
                                                                                 AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE
                    Can Lady Cailin keep her vow to make her marriage happy and successful, unlike that of her parents, or to save her unborn child, must she arrange for the Duke’s accidental death?                   
Here is an excerpt:

CHAPTER ONE

Castle Drummond, home of Lord and Lady MacMurry, near the Village of Kirkmichael in Lowland Scotland -– April 19, 1746
           “I won’t run.” A shudder skipped down Lady Cailin MacMurry’s spine, and she stared at her younger sister. “I’m committed.”
“It’s not too late. I heard another scandalous rumor about Duke Avondale.” Lady Megan MacMurry grasped Cailin’s arm.
          “I won’t listen to gossip.” Cailin pulled away from her sister and lifted her wedding bouquet to inhale the white rose fragrance. If only the sweet scent could overcome Megan’s words, and her own misgivings. Though most arranged marriages turned out badly, surely God would give her a loving one. After all, since her earliest years, she’d prayed for a happily-ever-after love.
          “Ask yourself why such a grand noble would stoop to marry a Scottish lass with but the title Lady? Why did he not choose an English Duchess or Marchioness or even a Countess?” Megan tilted her head and lifted elegant brows.
          Why indeed? Cailin clutched her enormous diamond engagement necklace. The thing felt heavy with responsibility. 
“The man’s an English duke. He owns palaces all over England.” Megan planted her hands on her slender, mossy-green silk covered hips. “Every noble lass in the land should be offering to give her right arm to be in your shoes. And yet they are not.”
New knots formed in the nape of Cailin’s neck. She held her finger to her lips. “Too late to turn back now. The wedding chorus has begun.” She forced her feet to take the first step and then began the slow glide from the stone castle’s rear archway through the garden toward the rose arbor.
With a jerk, Megan lifted and straightened Cailin’s cumbersome satin train. “In truth, beyond his wealth and titles, our family knows little about the English Duke.” She gathered up her own long skirts and ran ahead to lead Cailin down the flower-strewn path.
Seven bridesmaids stopped giggling and chatting and moved to their places in front of Megan to head the procession.
          Beneath her veil, Cailin smoothed her frown.
Papa had chosen to take this path in light of the violent upheaval following England’s latest battle with the Highlanders. Her marriage to the Duke would shelter her family with his great cloak of protection. Neither the English nor the Scots would dare invade a castle guarded by the powerful Duke’s Coat of Arms.
          More goosebump fingers shivered her spine. Surely jealousy fueled the flagrant tittle-tattle. She pulled in a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and took measured steps in time to the music toward the loch gleaming in the late afternoon sunlight. She would not let whispers spoil her wedding. She laid her hand lightly on her father’s offered arm.
          Their procession passed the scores of guests assembled on both sides of the flowered path. Ahead her groom stood beneath the rose bower, sunlight from the loch gleaming on him, the pastor, and his groomsman.
          Her heart fluttered.
The Duke looked the perfect picture of manhood. He towered above his shorter groomsman and the pastor. Sun glinting off his iceberg blue satin coat, heavily laced with gold, almost blinded her. His chocolate eyes gazed past the dazzling crowd of guests and focused on her. Beneath those beckoning eyes, the straight bridge of his nose above softly smiling lips formed the most handsome face she’d ever seen. Her pulse quickened. Butterflies flitted from her stomach to her heart and back. 
As she reached her groom and the chamber music died, her high-heeled slippers sunk into the grassy moor, but her foreboding dissolved like fog before the sunshine.   
The rose bower in the garden where she and the Duke stood together and promised their fidelity was pure romance with its lush greenery, heavy scent of roses, and panorama of softly rolling, newly green glen. Though she didn’t know the man she wed, she repeated with all her heart to love, honor, and obey him as long as she should live.
Marrying a man one had barely met happened more often than not to daughters of Lords. So why were her knees shaking? Her attractive groom, with his mahogany hair, wide shoulders, and square jaw, held her hand gently in his warm, strong grasp. Rumors were just rumors, and, truth be told, if he were not perfect, neither was she.
A breeze loosened strands of brown hair from the gold band that tied the thick mass neatly behind his muscular neck to dance around his face.
She was glad he had not powdered his hair. Her throat tightened. Loving him would be easy.
Oh God, please let him love me.
She would love him so greatly, with everything inside her heart. Surely he would love her in return. She would work hard to make certain her marriage turned out differently from Mums. There would be no coldness, nor violent arguments between her and her grand Duke. No sleeping in separate parts of the castle. No making their daughters’ lives miserable with the dislike they bore one another.
As the magnificent sunset painted him gold, the Duke’s chestnut eyes stared into hers with promise, his inviting lips tipped upwards at the corners, and his demeanor was affectionate and approving.
Joy burst through her chest, and she gave him a brilliant smile. Yes, her marriage would be happy. A storybook marriage like Cinderella’s.
The English parson the Duke had brought with him raised a hand in blessing. “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
She handed her heavy bouquet of roses and lilies to Megan and tipped her chin up.
The tall, lithe, young Duke stepped forward and lifted her expensive Brussels veil. She was so very fortunate he was not old.
She closed her eyes.
He touched his lips to hers.
Oh! Her eyes flew open. The bridal kiss had been so short…and disappointing. The pledge in his gaze had led her to expect so much more. She frowned. Their first kiss was like melding lips with someone on stage, acting a part. 
He dropped his arms and moved back.
She’d scarcely been around men, and the Duke was a stranger. She frowned. And his kiss had held so little promise.
A terrifying thought swirled through her brain like a ghost. Since Papa had betrothed Megan to a cruel man, what type of man had he selected for her? Were safety and titles and lands more important to Papa than both his daughters’ happiness?
She shivered.                                                                                                     
 
I’m giving away three autographed copies of Marriage By Arrangement. For your chance to win, simply join my following. Three of you will win. Also leave a comment with your email address so I can contract you for your snail mail address when you win a book.
ANNE GREENE delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. Her second novel, a Scottish historical, Masquerade Marriage , won the New England Reader Choice award, the Laurel Wreath Award, and the Heart of Excellence Award. The sequel Marriage By Arrangement released November, 2013.   A Texas Christmas Mystery also won awards. She makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor. View Anne’s travel pictures and art work at http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy Anne’s books at http://www.PelicanBookGroup.com. Or at http://www.Amazon.com. Talk with Anne on twitter at @TheAnneGreene. Visit Anne’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/AnneWGreeneAuthor.
 
 
 
 
 
 

MARRIAGE BY ARRANGEMENT

Anne Greene here:You've read excerpts of Marriage By Arrangement and you've met and talked with me. So, in today's blog, which will be short and hopefully sweet to you, I want to introduce you to my writing blog. Many of you readers are writers and my writing blog gives excellent short lessons on how to convert your manuscript into an award-winning book. Please notice the achieve list to read any lesson that appeals to you. I post a new lesson every two weeks.If you join my community and leave your email in a comment, I will pick one name out of a hat and the winner will receive an autographed copy of three of my books.    Thank very much for taking the blog tour with me. Its been my pleasure to talk with each of you. I hope you enjoy reading Marriage By Arrangement and that my books will become favorites in your library.            

SHOWING EMOTION - FALLING IN LOVE

Anne Greene here. A romance must show romantic feelings. Desire is a heavy emotion and extremely important. You want the reader to feel the desire as much as the heroine and hero.
 Falling in love is a passion. It is far more than wanting or wishing. It’s a craving. There is great power in desire. How do we show falling in love on the page? 

I think going deep within yourself to understand what falling in love feels like can help you express the emotion on the pages of your manuscript. Desire brings to mind something romantic, and I think it’s best not to use images of sexual desire. That’s the fast, easy way to go. 
If only she were his. He would protect her and keep her from the neighborhood poverty. He would see that no one touched her. That no one took away the shiny innocence in her wide, blue eyes. He would see that the world did not scar her open, friendly heart or scar the unstained beauty of her face. He would keep her exactly as she was. If she were his. 
Your object is to create a real, sympathetic character. One your readers fall in love with. To show falling in love, your characters must become as real to you as your family. If they are real to you, you will see the world through their eyes. And feel their emotions. Let the characters take over your writing. Let them show you how to express the desire they feel. Then the falling in love emotion becomes real.  
All people dream of loving and being loved. They have a desire for wholeness and a wish to join two people into one. There is an initial surge of hope. One sees the loved one through rose-colored glasses. One sees the one loved as kind and successful and filled with excellent virtues. Attraction occurs. The characters experience the growth of trust and attachment. Each makes a commitment. Each feels like a huge step has been taken on the road out of distress and into enrichment. Each feels less lonely and isolated. Those steps do not necessarily happen in order.  
People are attracted to somebody who can help solve their problems. Physical attraction becomes less important as the relationship progresses, and other traits gain greater importance. 
All these are important steps in falling in love. Show these steps and others you find within yourself, and your characters will become real and not easily forgotten.  What do you think is the most important part of falling in love to SHOW with your characters? Leave a comment for a chance to win an autographed copy of Anne's new book, MARRIAGE BY ARRANGEMENT.
Next blog I write will introduce you to a Virtual Blog Tour. I hope you’ll take the tour with me.
   JAMIE ADAMS you won a copy of A Texas Christmas Mystery from last week's blog!

ANNE GREENE delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. Her second novel, a Scottish historical, Masquerade Marriage , won the New England Reader Choice award, the Laurel Wreath Award, and the Heart of Excellence Award. The sequel Marriage By Arrangement released November, 2013.   A Texas Christmas Mystery also won awards. She makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor. View Anne’s travel pictures and art work at http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy Anne’s books at http://www.PelicanBookGroup.com. Or at http://www.Amazon.com. Visit http://www.anneswritingupdates.blogspot.comfor information on writing an award-winning novel. Talk with Anne on twitter at @TheAnneGreene. Visit Anne’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/AnneWGreeneAuthor.
  
 

CHARACTER EMOTIONS

Anne Greene here. Today we’re discussing character emotions. 
All characters have unique histories and childhoods. Events that occur in a person’s childhood shape the characters background giving them assumptions about life. The events occurring in late adolescence shape the character’s identity.
That’s why a complete background history is necessary for a rounded character. To create a believable character the traits, emotions, and responses must be consistent. In an earlier lesson, we went into the different personality types. For a refresher feel free to reread those lessons. Each personality type shows emotion in his own unique way. Today, we want to explore some ways to SHOW the character’s emotion rather than the much easier telling of a character’s emotions. 
We are exploring ANGER in this lesson.
 

There are so many levels to ANGER that the writer often finds ANGER difficult to show. Too often the writer shows only the extremes of ANGER. Yet anger sometimes simmers, boils, or is mixed with other emotions. It leaves the character shaken or exhausted.  
When you feel angry, note how often the anger returns and to what degree you experience anger. Write down your reactions to use in your novel. How would you write frustration, annoyance and irritation, all different forms of anger? 
Sometimes the character is merely piqued. The character might mutter or roll his eyes. Sometimes anger is shown with sarcasm. Sometimes anger is shown with The Silent Treatment.  
The writer can SHOW anger through another character’s dialogue. “I’ve only seen that scowl on your face when you were mad enough to kill. Take it easy, guy.” 
Use inner monologue to show anger. She could date that guy for eternity. He wouldn’t care. So what, her date’s taller and has more money. He didn’t care. He wouldn’t walk over and smack that snake in the face. He wouldn’t. No matter how she smiled at that jerk, He wouldn’t.  
Use action to show anger.  As he jerked to his feet, his chair hit the floor. He slammed his fist into the wall. 
Use dialogue. “He’s indestructible. A stake through the heart couldn’t kill him. But he’ll pay. I’ll make him pay.” 
 Just as anger is not always yelling, there are layers to build on. Anger might start as irritation and build to temper and then to wrath and perhaps to murder. On the descending side, anger might dissipate to bitterness, and then to hard feelings, and perhaps in a Christian novel to forgiveness. 
Try to use fresh imagery to convey anger. Things you as a writer have experienced, then your characters become real. Be unpredictable in your writing. Surprise the reader showing anger in a new way. 
How do you like to portray anger in your writing? Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of A TEXAS CHRISTMAS MYSTERY in time for Christmas.
 

ANNE GREENE delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. Her second novel, a Scottish historical, Masquerade Marriage , won the New England Reader Choice award, the Laurel Wreath Award, and the Heart of Excellence Award. The sequel Marriage By Arrangement released November, 2013.   A Texas Christmas Mystery also won awards. She makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor. View Anne’s travel pictures and art work at http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy Anne’s books at http://www.PelicanBookGroup.com. Or at http://www.Amazon.com. Visit http://www.anneswritingupdates.blogspot.com for information on writing an award-winning novel. Talk with Anne on twitter at @TheAnneGreene. Visit Anne’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/AnneWGreeneAuthor.   Anne's latest book released November 6, 2013. Buy a print copy or an Ebook copy on Amazon.
 
 

MALE ATTRACTION BODY LANGUAGE SIGNALS AND CHRISTMAS BLOG HOP

Anne Greene here. Be sure to read the Christmas Blog Hop following the promised information on male body attraction language signals. You will find some really interesting information on The Christmas Putz. If anyone knows what a Christmas Putz is before reading this, I'll enter you in a chance to win A Texas Christmas Mystery. Just leave a comment below telling me you already knew. See how much I trust my readers? If you did not know what a Christmas Putz was, leave a comment and tell me so, and you will also be entered in a drawing for a copy of A Texas Christmas Mystery. So, you can't lose.
First to the MABLS. Believe it or not, most male attraction body language signals are unconscious. Men are not very perceptive in reading female attraction signals. Women initiate most encounters so subtly that most men think they decided to approach a woman. Smart female character send out those signals.
You’ll probably be disappointment with the male attraction signals. Men rev up their car engines, brag about how much they earn, and challenge other men. Phew, quite a list, huh? Kidding aside, it's amazing men and women ever get together. So show your masculine lead doing the obvious.
Women have lures and skills to land their man. Man don’t. 
Menare no good at sending out or receiving signals. Most of the time men simply react unconsciously to the signals from a woman.  
When a man sees a woman he’s attracted to he will straighten his tie, smooth his collar, brush imaginary dust from his shoulder, touch his watch, and rearrange his shirt, coat, and other clothing. 
A man understands a woman likes to talk, and he will talk to gain her interest. But that doesn’t last long.   The most direct attraction signal he gives a woman is the thumbs-in-belt gesture. He may also turn his body toward her and point his foot at her, and hold her gaze for longer than usual.  
When a man is around a woman he’s attracted to, he will lower the timber of his voice to highlight his masculinity. He will stand taller, walk with a livelier gait, protrude his jaw, and expand his chest. 
So women characters have to look close and be alert to see a man who’s attracted to her.
Inspired by the book Body Language by Allan and Barbara Pease   
In honor of Christmas I’m highlighting a new novella release: 
A CHRISTMAS PROMISE By Tamera Lynn Kraft During colonial times, John and Anna settle in an Ohio village to become Moravian missionaries to the Lenape. When John is called away to help at another settlement two days before Christmas, he promises he’ll return by Christmas Day.
When he doesn’t, Anna works hard not to fear the worst while she provides her children with a traditional Moravian Christmas.
Through it all, she discovers a Christmas promise that gives her the peace she craves. Available at AMAZON.com, PELICAN BOOK GROUP.com, and CHRISTIANBOOK.com.
TAMERA LYNN KRAFT always loved adventures and writes Christian historical fiction set in America. She’s married to the love of her life, has two grown children, and lives in Akron, Ohio.Tamera leads Revival Fire for Kids where she mentors other children’s leaders, teaches workshops, and is a children’s ministry consultant and children’s evangelist. She has curriculum published and is a recipient of the 2007 National Children’s Leaders Association Shepherd’s Cup for lifetime achievement in children’s ministry. You can contact Tamera at http://tameralynnkraft.com and http://revivalfire4kids.com 
THE CHRISTMAS PUTZTamera’s novella, A Christmas Promise , tells about a Moravian family celebrating Christmas in Schoenbrunn Village in Ohio around 1773. The Moravian children had a custom of making a Christmas Putz. Sometimes it would be simple with the Nativity scene made with pinecones. Other times, it was quite elaborate with more pieces being added every year. The Putz is different from a basic Nativity scene because it is used as a teaching tool. The Nativity with Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus forms the central part, including  animals and the wise men. Many Putz of that time also included Moses delivering the children of Israel to remind the children that Passover was a symbol of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. They also included other Biblical scenes and sometimes would add Christmas villages.
Today, most Putz consist of elaborate Christmas villages. Whatever the Putz shows, it isn’t really a Putz unless the manger scene with Jesus is the central theme.ANNE GREENE delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. Her second novel, a Scottish historical, Masquerade Marriage , won the New England Reader Choice award, the Laurel Wreath Award, and the Heart of Excellence Award. The sequel Marriage By Arrangement released November, 2013.   A Texas Christmas Mystery also won awards. She makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor. View Anne’s travel pictures and art work at http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy Anne’s books at http://www.PelicanBookGroup.com. Or at http://www.Amazon.com. Visit http://www.anneswritingupdates.blogspot.com for information on writing an award-winning novel. Talk with Anne on twitter at @TheAnneGreene. Visit Anne’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/AnneWGreeneAuthor. Don't forget to leave your comments for a chance to win an autographed copy of A TEXAS CHRISTMAS MYSTERY. These Christmas books make excellent stocking stuffers.                                                        


Anne's latest book, MARRIAGE BY ARRANGMENT, released November 6th and is available on-line wherever books are sold.
 

 
 

FEMALE ATTRACTION GESTURES

Anne Greene here:

In two weeks I'll share Male Attraction Gestures. But this week I'm concentrating on the female.

The Head Toss and Hair Flick:
This is usually the first display a woman uses when she meets a man she’s attracted to. The head is flicked back to toss the hair over the shoulder or away from the face. Even a woman with short hair will flick her hair.  
Pouting Mouth Slightly Open- Marilyn Monroe perfected this look. Lip gloss enhances it. 
Touching - A woman will touch her neck or throat when she’s attracted to a man.  
A Limp Wrist – This is attractive to men because it speaks of submission. 
Exposed Wrists – A woman will show her palms and expose her wrists when she’s attracted to a man. Men consider a woman’s wrists erotic. 
Sideways Glance – A sideways glance over a raised shoulder especially with lowered eyelids beguiles men. Also the sideways glance with the down-tilted head is a come-on gesture. 
Rolling Hips – When a woman walks away from a man and rolls her hips she’s using a centuries’ old courting gesture. 
Most men are afraid to touch a woman’s purse. But if a woman finds a man attractive, she will often caress the handle of her handbag. Placing her purse close to a man is a sign of acceptance. 
Studies show that women and men prefer mates that are pretty much as attractive as they are. Most people are skeptical about beautiful people. They prefer a partner of equal attractiveness to themselves.
These are all interesting facts. A writer is challenged to convert these facts to paper and use them on their characters. Good luck in your writing. Some of these gestures are unconscious and some are probably deliberate. Which do you think are deliberate? Do you have any favorite gestures you use in your writing that you would like to share with us? 
Please leave a comment to win a copy of A Texas Christmas Mystery just in time for Christmas! Please leave your email address when you comment. I’d love for you to join my community by becoming a follower.                  
Anne Greene’s Scottish historical romance, Marriage By Arrangement, a sequel to Masquerade Marriage, just released and is available at http://www.amazon.com, Anne Greene author, or at http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com or wherever you love to shop online.


 Some of Anne's interesting information was inspired by the book, BODY LANGUAGE, by Allan and Barbara Pease.