Rose Anderson's Blog, page 42

Luck Symbols & Hump Day Happenings

Who hasn’t heard of luck charms? Mention a rabbit’s foot or a horseshoe nailed over the door and our minds make an immediate association to luck. These symbols of good fortune come in all shapes and sizes, are made of all manner of materials, and represent generic or personal beliefs. For the next few days, I’ll be delving into these interesting and curious symbols.

For fun one night, my husband and I went to a local bingo game (first and last time. People take it far too seriously. lol). All around us were players with luck charms of all sorts piled on top of their bingo games. I saw everything from bobble-head devils and rabbit feet to Smurfs and angels. Why do people like luck charms? I suspect they’re just a fun way to believe there are good forces working on our side in an existence that’s filled with curve balls. From simple to wacky, I enjoy them for the symbols they are.

When I was a teen, my mother had occasion to go to Italy. I’d asked that she bring back a cornicello. (It has nothing to do with corn or cellos) I still have it. It’s a little luck charm in the shape of a horn made of red coral. Thousands of years before the onset of Christianity, the horn was worn on behalf of the goddess in all her aspects in the hope she’d shine a little good fortune your way. I’ve read  the cornicello, or cornuto/corno, as the horn is sometimes called, has ties to the Celts. It makes sense if you know the Celts were all over Europe, and parts of Asia and Africa and not just on the British Isles. This amulet is a popular talisman in southern Italy and is supposed to bring good luck. My grandfather came from Sicily so I figured the charm was a nice nod to the old country.

As  teen, I used to wear mine on a silver chain strung alongside my mano cornuto — another Italian charm. Those curious little charms come in a range of styles, mine is basically a small silver fist with the first and pinky fingers extended. The idea here is — upright it’s supposed to look like a devil’s head with horns sticking up.  Now before you peg me as an Illuminati or witch or some such thing I’m not, the little hand is worn upside down and therefore works as an apotropaic luck charm (from the Greek apotropaios meaning averting evil.) Upside-down is often interpreted as the opposite of something. In Italy they’re also known as a malocchio or mal occhio (Latin for bad eye).

What is that exactly? Well, it’s the evil eye — just about every negative or malicious thought anyone can glare your way from envy to death wishes. Luck charms like these protect against the evil eye. As mentioned above, the Maloccio comes from Italy, but it was known as oculus malus among the Ancient Romans. The evil eye belief is found all over the world. In Scotland it’s known as the droch shuil. In France it’s the mauvais oeil. In Germany, the evil eye is called the bösen Blick. And it’s known as ayin harsha in Arabic, and ayin horeh in Hebrew. If you’ve ever seen blue eyes made of glass on pendants, beads, rings, etc, you’re looking at an apotropaic luck charm to keep the evil eye away.

Every Christmas for years now, I give an apotropaic luck charm to my friends on a card explaining where it comes from in the world and what it symbolizes. I call them wishes — an intentional wish for my friends to have good health, prosperity, vitality, happiness…you get the picture.

Tomorrow ~ More!

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 71 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Bimarian (adjective 1731)

pertaining to two seas

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It’s Wednesday and time for Hump Day happenings around the web.

Hump Day Hook

http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Books Hooks NEW!

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Horny Hump Day

http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

First Kiss Wednesday

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

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Today is author Sandra K. Marshall’s interview.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Only three interviews left on the RB4U. The thoughtful questions are a great way to get to know us. Commenting that day gives you a chance to win a collectable t-shirt. Come see!

The February contest has started on Romance Books ’4′ Us and it’s all about Cupid. Find the little cherub hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/



Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Coming soon on the EQ ~ Tempt Us Tuesday

Today’s author: Lisa Chalmers

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

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Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

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The Tempest in the Teacup

Brrrrr…… Is it cold. The added wind chill here took an already cold night and knocked it down to -50. This morning’s climb to -30 is a heatwave by comparison. This farm house is so drafty, I’ve just set up the electric heater next to the bird cage. Check out this bubble of icy misery:

Gratitude fills me this morning. We have fuel and food and a working well. My family isn’t living out of a car or shelter, we aren’t huddled under an underpass. My pets are warm and well fed. My family and friends and the animals they love and care for all live in the same state of grace. How fortunate we are.

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Yesterday’s Wash Line Monday on Exquisite Quills was an incredible success. I sold a nice handful of The Witchy Wolf and the Wendigo yesterday, and that was the snippet I featured. It just shows people like to *see* the books they read.

My friend offered to do an illustrated novel of that story. He’s a little too busy at this point in his life, but perhaps one day we will. Of all the stories I’ve written, that one would lend itself well to it. It’s a very visual novel. Click here if you’d like to see those details.

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I’ve mentioned before that I was involved with living history for a long time. We started our odd interest in 1984 and raised our family in it. There was a point we were off doing living history events  across five states every weekend from April to October. Oh to have that stamina again!

Some of my fondest memories are of meeting up with living history lady friends, and the occasional gentleman, dressed in our colonial finery for afternoon tea. I’d set out my china and silver spoons and silver service, they’d bring fire-baked shortbread and cobbler, and dried fruits. Our antiques were the genuine article. You have to have antiques or fine reproductions to portray living history with any authenticity. The goal is always the suspension of disbelief.

At our gatherings we’d occasionally have a reader to entertain us with a passage from some old book or collection of poems. I always read the tea leaves in between refills. In other words, I divined our fortunes in the bottom of a china cup.

Today and tomorrow’s portion of my symbol series is all about symbols being portents to some future occurrence. Things like luck charms.

Tea leaf reading, also known as tasseography, involves interpreting patterns made by tea leaves in the teacup (People also look for symbols in coffee grounds, and wine sediments in their goblets). Divination by scrutinizing sediment in the bottom of drinking vessels is an ancient practice that’s not limited to Gypsy fortunetellers. History has it popping up all over the world from Ancient Greece and all along the Silk Road, and across all of Europe.

Why? For the same reason people read horoscopes. I suppose humans always want to know what’s around the bend. Will life get better or worse? Will they find love? Etc. I did it for fun, and still do on occasion if my friends ask or if I happen to think of it.  I have a small collection of vintage fortune-telling china teacups to make the mood.

When I hosted those costumed colonial teas back then, I used a special tea called

Lapsang souchong — the first black tea in history. But I know people who just cut open regular old black tea teabags and brew their tea as usual.  You need fine bits to form images in the dregs. l also have a very old book that I learned from. I did teas so often back then I used to be able to read without the book. As the old adage goes — if you don’t use it, you do lose it.  Still, it’s fun to do even with the book as a reference.

Here are two nice sites with pattern info if you’d like to give tasseography a try.

http://readingtealeaves.info/symbols_significations.html

http://readingtealeaves.info/

Tomorrow ~ More!

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I’m trying out a new meme today. The idea is to take a picture and write a 200-word teaser. What do you think?

Tantalizing Tuesday

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 72 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Maleolent (adjective 1657-1727)

having an ill odor

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Today guest author Vicki Batman.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

All through January the RB4U authors are doing interviews. The thoughtful questions are a great way to get to know us. Commenting that day gives you a chance to win a collectable t-shirt. Come see!

Last days in the COLD SNOW, HOT ROMANCE CONTEST! Three winners will each receive a $25 gift card for Amazon/Barnes & Noble, and split the other prizes randomly picked from prize list. Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/



Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Coming soon on the EQ ~ Tempt Us Tuesday

Today’s author: Suz DeMello

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

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Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

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Finding Meaning in the Elements

I admitted to friends recently, an old shame. Back in my high school days I tried convincing an organization that put reading materials into the hands of the vision impaired, that I needed a book on tape. Mind you, back in the age of the 8-Track, books on tape were really books on reels and next to impossible to come by. Going in I knew it was a long shot but I had to try.

I’m a terrible liar and have no poker face whatsoever, even on the phone! I had the worst stomach ache from nerves made worse by the guilt that followed. I discovered they didn’t have it on a reel, but they offered me braille. They also said the book was a short one so they could have someone schedule to read to me over the phone. Read to me? I sheepishly thanked them but declined that generous offer realizing they would schedule to read to me and someone in real need would go without. I felt 100% ashamed of myself. I still do!

What book could possibly lead me down the dark path of chicanery? The Great Gatsby.

Don’t laugh!

At the time that book was a necessary evil, a thorn in my side, a pebble in my shoe. It was required reading in my English class and I hated it. From the very beginning it grated on me…I would find myself reading and rereading the same paragraphs over and over. My brain just couldn’t go on. The city divided into East Egg and West Egg? Eggs? Who writes like that? The weather tied-in to everything Daisy did or felt?  By the time I determined those fading, bespectacled eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg were actually a metaphor for divine judgement in George’s mind, I wanted to punch ol’ F. Scot Fitzgerald in the nose.

So, my humiliating confession aside, I’ll move on to today’s portion of the symbol series. Like Doctor T. J. Eckleburg’s glasses, in literature “things” are often symbols for concepts. For the next day or so, I’ll dip into a hodgepodge of things deliberately used to stand in for a thought.

Before I go off into details, I just want to comment on the weather. It’s colder than a well digger’s tookus here, and the sharp howling wind feels like needles on bare skin. That being the case…

Today ~ weather

Weather often symbolizes the overall mood. Like Gatsby’s Daisey Buchanan character who forever had a cloud or sunbeam on her frame of mind, authors use weather and natural phenomenon to convey all sorts of details.

Here are a few from earth and the elements to ponder:

Air ~ German Philosopher Nietzsche thought of air as man’s freedom and his writings often refer to air and flying through air in one form or another. Shakespeare used air as a symbol of thought. As breathing creatures, we rely upon air. Now with those first two things in mind, how powerful a metaphor is it to have “air” taken away?

Wind ~ Gentle breezes and ill winds generally act as portents signifying that change is on the way. Wind is fleeting and transient. Sometimes the reference comes in the form of billowing sails that could represent adversity unless a new course is charted. Then it takes on a role of potentiality. If you really want to see wind used to convey a thought, read John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.

Dawn ~ Almost always a symbol of awakening. The coming of light is seen as a resurrection. A new day is a second chance.

Night ~ Often associated with secrecy and things hidden under darkness. It can be the flip-side to dawn. Instead of enlightenment, you get ignorance. Nightfall also has sexual and death associations.

Sky ~ The sky broadly represents eternity and references vastness and unlimited possibilities. It also symbolizes heaven and the universe.

Earth ~ Generally a reference for stability and foundation for life. We see “earthy” references that hint at the robust, lusty, or uninhibited. Often used for unrefined, basic, coarse, or crude.

Clouds, fog, and Mist ~ Represent the unseen and often the uncertainty about the future and beyond. Fog rolling in can represent approaching death as well. Fog lifting represents a clarity of thought and the end of indecision.

Water ~ Generally represents life or strength of purpose. Flowing water usually represents change and the passage of time. *see cataclysm

Rain ~ Often symbolizes acts of purification or revelation. Depending upon intensity, it could be revitalizing and life-giving or it can signify complete destruction.

Ice ~ Is often a symbol for things stiff and unyielding. It’s also a nod to frigid: cold and void of love, and emotionally difficult. It can reference the coming of death. To some, ice is the dividing line between the conscious and the unconscious. Dante referenced it for the deepest part of Hell.

Snow ~  Generally represents isolation. Anton Chekov  frequently tucked snow into his works for that hopeless thought. Edith Wharton used it that way in Ethan Fromm. Snow, because it’s white, can also signify purity. Melting snow represents the softening of the heart and new beginnings.

Wild weather ~ Hurricanes, twisters, cyclones and tornadoes often have hand-of-god wrath and judgement references.

Cataclysms ~ Floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunami, etc are often the harbingers of change. The end product comes through themes of sacrifice, death and rebirth, baptism and spiritual regeneration.

Lightning ~ Traditional lighting bolts are a symbol of sudden illumination and the destruction of ignorance. Author Bernard Malamud wrote a novel that was later made into a movie about baseball. I haven’t read the novel The Natural, but if the movie is true to the story (which happens to be a modern spin on Homer’s Odyssey) the lightning reference was a divine gift to give the hero the power of inheritance. (To allow his father’s belief in his natural talent pass to him so the hero would believe in himself).

Thunder ~ Generally represent a creative force unfolding (picture Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein). Thunder is often seen as the calling card of the demiurge whether good or evil.

Fire ~Fire is often used to represent passion — it consumes, it burns. Depending upon the context in which it’s used, fire can mean a lot of different things. It can illuminate and warm, but it can also cause destruction, pain, and death. It can also reference rebirth. Example: the phoenix.

That’s all for today. I have a lot of Monday work to see to.

Tomorrow ~ More!

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New today Wash Line Monday!

My friend and fellow author E. Ayers, came up with a very cute idea for the Exquisite Quills blog — have a day dedicated to clothing. Authors can stop by and in 300 words or less taken from the pages of their novel, describe what a character is wearing. I’ve never seen anything like it promo-wise. How fun. I started the weekly event with a snippet from book2 in The Witchy Wolf and the Wendigo that describes my Native American shaman’s dance regalia.  Set the Scene in Six on Sundays and First Kiss Wednesdays are quite popular. I’m sure this fun weekly meme will be too. Come join us!

 http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 73 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Acrasial (adjective from 1851)

ill-regulated; ill-tempered

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Today author Janice Seagraves’ interview.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

All through January the RB4U authors are doing interviews. The thoughtful questions are a great way to get to know us. Commenting that day gives you a chance to win a collectable t-shirt. Come see!

Last days in the COLD SNOW, HOT ROMANCE CONTEST! Three winners will each receive a $25 gift card for Amazon/Barnes & Noble, and split the other prizes randomly picked from prize list. Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/



Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Coming soon on the EQ ~ Tempt Us Tuesday

Today’s author: Charmaine Gordon

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

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Funday Happenings

That’s not a typo.

To have one less mentally-busy day and still have a good time on this blog, I’ve decided Sundays will be all about wonder and smiles. In honor of mentally kicking back once in a while, Sundays will be Fun Days! Each Sunday, I’ll post a short, fun or unusual something here. I’m a nerd with a complex sense of humor and absurd wit. It literally could be anything. lol

I woke to a lot of snow that fell overnight. I’ve said before, I love snow. I admit I am now officially tired of winter. Yesterday I bought a gardening magazine at a book store!

Today, I have two clips. The first is a video of Lake Michigan ice balls. The amazingly cold polar vortex we’re experiencing across the country willed these into being. They break off ice sheets and get shaped by waves. They range in size from golf ball to basketball and are even larger and continue to grow. I hear at this large size they’re a “once in a decade phenomenon”. As a Chicago native, I must say I’ve never seen them in my lifetime. I’m tempted to take a drive.

I stumbled across this video a few years ago. I think you’ll agree it’s interesting, if not a bit dumbfounding.

I am so easily amused. If you can’t see it through your subscription email, try here.


Tomorrow ~ the symbols series resumes!

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 74 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Succisive (adjective appeared 1619-1656)

of time, spare or in excess

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I’m all over the web with my satellite blogs this weekend. If two things are listed for one blog, that’s one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Scroll back to see what you’ve missed. 

Seductive Studs& Sirens & Weekend Writing Warriors http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

Sneak Peek Sunday

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Set the Scene in Six (open author promo – come leave yours!) http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

My Sexy Saturday & Sexy Snippets

http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/

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Today is author Bobbye Terry/Daryn Cross’ interview.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

All through January the RB4U authors are doing interviews. The thoughtful questions are a great way to get to know us. Commenting that day gives you a chance to win a collectable t-shirt. Come see!

Last days in the COLD SNOW, HOT ROMANCE CONTEST! Three winners will each receive a $25 gift card for Amazon/Barnes & Noble, and split the other prizes randomly picked from prize list. Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Today is Set the Scene in Six. Come share your backdrop or lead-up in 300 words.

Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/



Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Coming soon on the EQ ~ Tempt Us Tuesday

Today’s author: Andrea Cooper

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

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Obvious Things

“By George!” cried the inspector. “How did you ever see that?”

“Because I looked for it.”

~Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Dancing Men

“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.”

~Sherlock Holmes The Hound of the Baskervilles

“Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons, with the greatest for the last.”

~Sherlock Holmes His Last Bow

My novels are works of fiction, but they couldn’t be more true in their details. My facts are solid. The only thing I take liberty with as a writer is how I stitch the facts together.

A little known fact of me — I’ve read the entire 1985 World Book Encyclopedia. It took me about six years with all the updates (No, I did not read the updates entirely, just the stuff that interested me).

An obscure fact of me — I was raised in market research. My family had a business that introduced companies to the benefit of both. To do that you needed to know what those companies needed. That required research. I was full-blown researching at a very early age, and that was long before the internet put research capabilities at my fingertips. I love it. It’s like hunting for treasure. Combine an entire encyclopedia with a penchant for treasure hunting and you get a very busy mind that loves information and has one crazy fertile imagination. :) 

Sadly, the older I get, the more blank pages turn up in my mental vault. It’s just as well. Knowledge grows exponentially. My brain wouldn’t have room for the new stuff!

So…when I think up topics for my blog posts, I basically get an idea from the vault and run with it. This symbol series started on January 5th because I read the Huffington Post piece on the top baby names popular in 2013. That coincided with my interview on Romance Books ’4′ Us where I was asked how I chose names for my characters. Well, I’m all about synchronistic events! That started this ball rolling. Do scroll down to previous posts if you haven’t been here before.

My character names often symbolize something. As mentioned at the start of this series, I’ve been fascinated by symbols since I was a child. They set my imagination buzzing — zodiac, Periodic Table, planets, old west cattle brands, signs, you name it. They charm me. I’ve also mentioned that I like coloring with words. Words themselves are symbols for thought. At the end of this post, I have a link to sampler of 1st and 2nd chapters from my novels (18+ adult novels). It’s free. Sample them with uncovering symbols in mind, and you’ll see a rainbow of nuance.



♥♥♥

I didn’t foresee this body symbol portion of my series to run on like it has. I hadn’t considered there would be so many! I’m sure if you were to think about it, you’d come up with even more. Today I’m wrapping up those telltale body symbols we do on purpose or display subconsciously. Think about adding some extra body language to your characters’ lives to add depth to the story. Or just for fun! 

Sucking in the belly – look at me

Chest back, belly out – you’re uncomfortably close to me, back off

Rubbing belly – seeking comfort

Rubbing belly – (situational – pondering or having uncomfortable thoughts)

Thrusting hips – provocative, overtly sexual

Hips drawn back – uncomfortable, protecting the vulnerable spot

Hips sideways – (situational – a subtle indication of what you really want)

Swaying hips, sashay – suggestive sexual display

Hands on hips – waiting

Hands on hips, stance wide – growing impatience

Hands on hips, elbows wide – (situational, could mean aggression)

Cupping hand gesture – the topic needs extra care

Gripping hands – possessiveness, ownership

Holding your own hands – seeking comfort

Wringing hands – extreme nervousness, woe

Fist in hand – repressed anger

Hands wrapped around a mug etc – self-comfort

Hands clenched thumbs up – pleasure

Cupped hand weighing gesture – evaluation

Fingers curled, thumbs inside – seeking comfort

Hand out sideways – greeting

Laced fingers propping chin – thinking, listening

Laced fingers behind head – carefree, evaluation

Drumming fingers – impatience

Finger tracing a circle at the temple – he’s nuttier than a squirrel!

Index finger to thumb, other fingers out – it’s ok, all is good

One finger in the air – (Situational – seeking attention or having a point)

Hand with/without one finger in air, arm raised – attention, pick me!

Finger tapping temple – (Situational -

think about it, he’s touched in the head!)

8 fingertips on the mouth – received shocking news

Hiding hands – (Situational -

lying, concealing, I don’t care to talk, I want to listen to you)

Hand on face, middle finger over mouth – evaluating

Steepled fingers -  (Situational – thinking, superiority, confidence)

Rubbing hands together – (Situational -

cold, plotting, excitement, anxious to get going)

Palms flat together – prayer, contemplation

Hand massage – stress, anxiety

Palm(s) up – (Situational -

beseeching, asking for help greeting, nothing to hide)

Fiddling fingers – expelling tensile energy

Handshake, simultaneous arm grip – dominance

Firm handshake – display of strength, alpha move

Handshake, quick withdrawal – submission, discomfort

Finger point – that way!

Fist pound into palm – rage

Snap – like that! That fast! In an instant

Clapping hands – approval

Sharp clap – attention getting

Thumbs up – it’s ok, liked

Thumbs down – it’s not ok, disliked

Thumb jerk over shoulder - that way!

Finger slash over throat – your dead, it’s dead, it’s done

Palm out – Stop I’ve heard enough, interrupt

Side hand chop – It’s done! Enough!

Wave – helloooo

Wave off – dismissive

Wave to – come here!

Hand shaping – hands forming words as you speak them, sincerity

Butt thrust – sarcasm as in kiss my….

Butt thrust with patting – insult as in kiss this

Butt thrust, mooning – disregard

Butt wiggling – overt sexual display

Butt sway - look at me, I’m hot

Butt patting -  you want me

Thighs widen – conscious or unconscious sexual invitation

Thighs tight together – self-protection

Swinging legs – delight, tensile energy – usually sexual

Crossing legs – (situational – at ease, self-control, defensive)

Hands on thighs – I’m ready to go

Hands on inside thighs – unconscious desire

Both hands on thighs elbows out sideways -

    equal to hands on hips – (situational – impatience or aggression)

Thigh slap – motivational gesture

Thigh drumming – (situational – boredom, impatience, excitement)

Bouncing thigh(s) – focusing or impatience

Touching or stroking the knee – sexual tease

Balled fists on knees – anger

Foot point – works like a finger point

Parallel feet pointing at someone – you have my full attention

Curling toes – (Situational -

frustration, fear, excitement, pleasure or anxiety)

Foot tap – impatience

Toes pointing inward – (Situational -

    introspection, awkwardness, defensiveness

Foot stomp – seeking attention, rage, tantrum

Foot swinging – focus, expelling nervous energy

Tilting back on balls of feet – contemplative, made a decision

Bouncing on toes – exuberance

I started this post last night. This morning I thought of more and squeezed them in. I’m sure there are many more conscious and subconscious body symbols than this lot, but my personal well is dry!

Tomorrow ~ Funday Happenings

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 75 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Vicambulate (verb commonly seen 1873)

to walk about in the streets

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I’m all over the web with my satellite blogs this weekend. If two things are listed for one blog, that’s one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Scroll back to see what you’ve missed. 

Seductive Studs& Sirens & Weekend Writing Warriors http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

Sneak Peek Sunday

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Set the Scene in Six (open author promo – come leave yours!) http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

My Sexy Saturday & Sexy Snippets

http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/

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Today is guest author M.S. Spencer.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

All through January the RB4U authors are doing interviews. The thoughtful questions are a great way to get to know us. Commenting that day gives you a chance to win a collectable t-shirt. Come see!

Last days in the COLD SNOW, HOT ROMANCE CONTEST! Three winners will each receive a $25 gift card for Amazon/Barnes & Noble, and split the other prizes randomly picked from prize list. Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Today’s author interview is Tonya Ramagos

Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/



Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Coming soon on the EQ ~ Tempt Us Tuesday

Today’s author: Lisa Chalmers

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

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Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

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The Game is Still afoot!

“You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of trifles.”

~Sherlock Holmes ~ The Boscombe Valley Mystery

“You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear.”

~Sherlock Holmes ~ A Scandal in Bohemia

 

Though I’d planned something different for today’s post on symbolism, I had such a huge response to yesterday’s body language from head to collar, I thought I’d expand it a bit more. 

Covering the neck with the hand – disturbed or fearful

Slow palm stroke down the front of the neck – uncomfortable

Massaging the neck – indicates tension or anxiety

Massaging the neck – (situational – desire, weary)

Exercising the neck – boredom

Sudden front neck-grab – shock or surprise

Grabbing the back of the neck – a displacement activity for anger

Shrug – I don’t know or indifference

Shrug with arms up – I don’t know, I tell you!

Quick slight shrug – lying or lack of understanding

Slow animated shrug – aggression or disregard 

Chest in profile – sexual overtone

Chest thrust – I’m tough, look at me

Sunken chest – meek, don’t hurt me

Chest leaning, crossing into the other person’s space – aggression

Touching your chest – highly suggestive and flirtatious

Breathing:

Slow deep breath – buying time, thinking

Shuddering breath – overwhelmed, forgot to breathe

Turning your back – (situational male. Belittling. You’re no threat to me)

Hunched shoulders – feeling cold or fear

Hunched shoulders ducked head – fearing attack

Hunched shoulders forward head – wishing to hide

Shoulders back – fearless or taunting

Shoulders back, back up against a wall – desire to remain unseen

Shoulder on the wall – relaxed 

Shoulder on the wall with ankles crossed – carefree

Shoulder half turning away – disinterest or uncomfortable with the topic

Arms held firmly to the sides – deception

Arms thrown in the air – exasperation

Arms in motion during conversation – excitement

One arm suddenly thrust in the air – I have no idea! Sarcasm: That’s just great!

Forearm up to face with head-ducking – self-protection

Crossed arms – can be situational, as in feeling cold

Crossed arms, shoulders tense – wary and feeling vulnerable

Crossed arms – self-protection, feeling vulnerable and uncomfortable

Crossed arms hug – seeking comfort

Crossed arms with shoulder on wall – waiting and growing impatient

Crossed arms, balled fists – restraint (or situational – my hands are cold)

Crossed arms, hands in armpits – cold

Crossed arms, shoulder on wall, crossed ankles – judgmental

Crossed arms, shoulder on wall, crossed ankles, balled fists – intolerant and ready to fight

Crossed arms, turn away – hurt feelings

One hand on arm or shoulder – I want to be friends with you

Reaching out – seeking comfort

Reaching out situational – I want to throttle you!

Reaching out, pulling back sharply – defensive

Arms back – hiding something

Arms back exposing torso – (situational – submissive or over confident)

Elbow jab - get out of my way!

Propped on elbows  – listening

Wow, we humans say a lot when we say nothing, don’t we? That’s just the tip of the iceberg. I’d hoped to take it to the toes, but every time I thought I was finished with neck through elbows, I remembered another! Alas, I have work to do. I’m stopping here.

Tomorrow ~ More!

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 76 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Resarciate (verb commonly seen 1656-1657)

to mend; to make amends

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Today is Author Cara Marsi’s interview..

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

All through January the RB4U authors are doing interviews. The thoughtful questions are a great way to get to know us. Commenting that day gives you a chance to win a collectable t-shirt. Come see!

Last days in the COLD SNOW, HOT ROMANCE CONTEST! Three winners will each receive a $25 gift card for Amazon/Barnes & Noble, and split the other prizes randomly picked from prize list. Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/



Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Coming soon on the EQ ~ Tempt Us Tuesday

Today’s author: Cathy Perkins

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

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Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

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Thinking like Sherlock

“By a man’s finger nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boot, by his trouser knees, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirt cuffs — by each of these things a man’s calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail to enlighten the competent enquirer in any case is almost inconceivable.”

~Sherlock Holmes A Study in Scarlet

Ah, Sherlock. I’m so glad season 3 in your latest iteration is finally on TV. The game is afoot in my imagination.

Our lives are filled with symbols. Literally filled. Two of the oldest are the nod and the shaking of the head as stand-ins for yes and no. In sociology, the study of human social behavior,  these simple body gestures are symbols of communication. The interesting thing about those two, they’re nearly world-wide in understanding. That shows you how truly old they really are. Gestures are nonverbal information and they happen consciously and subconsciously.

Of course I understand them as a human, but the writer I am sees potential in the fact they happen consciously and subconsciously. Just knowing that puts my mind in Sherlock mode. As Sherlock Holmes would say, “Give me details!”. The literary world is full of body language — from pacing and nervous twitches to head-scratching perplexity and  come hither glances.  I could go on…

I think I will!

Body language from head to toe collar

I started this post with the idea of doing a head to toe run-down of gesture symbology. But after I’d composed all of the following, I saw dozens more in my mind. I’ve decided to change it to head to collar. Otherwise I’d be working on it all day! I can’t do that, I have a novel in progress that needs my attention.

Head tilt – interest

Prolonged tilt – boredom or impatience

Head in hand – boredom or focus

Head in two hands – overwhelmed or listening with deeper focus

Head bowed, eyes raised – coy invitation

Head clasping, elbows high – wondering what to do next

Hair twirling or fiddling – insecurity,  lack of confidence, sexual overtones

Hair tossing – look at me!

Hair pulling – frustration

Brow furrowing – a moment of confusion or deep thought

Brow raising – astonishment

Brow flick – acknowledgment or greeting

Forehead slap – sudden understanding

Face palm – exasperation

Face to face – sincerity or aggression

Knitted brows – anxiety

One brow raised – doubt

Fingertip to the temple – contemplation

Blinking – disbelief or astonishment

Dilated pupils – desire

Narrowing eyes – doubt or suspicion

Rubbing the eyes – doubt

Wide eyes – surprise

Eye rolling – exasperation

Eye crossing – fed up

Side eye – wary

Long eye closing – stop what you’re saying

Wincing – embarrassment or revulsion

Blank stare – unable to follow the thought

Looking down – embarrassment

Looking away – discomfort

Eye to eye – sincerity

Doe eyes – desire

Wink – share a secret

Eye batting – you want me don’t you?

Fluttering blink – nervous or aroused

Prolonged eye contact – sexual attraction

Head to toe perusal – overtly sexual – I like what I see

Rubbing the point between the eyes – weary or negative evaluation

Eyebrow fiddling – contemplating

Ear folding or tugging – Indecision

Nose wrinkling – something distasteful

Pinching the nose  – distasteful as in that stinks

Rubbing the nose – you don’t like it

flared nostrils – excitement: positive or negative

Sharp sniff – displeasure

Finger to the side of the nose – keep the secret

Hand to cheek – evaluation

Inflating cheeks on a breath – buying time to decide

Lip licking – enjoyment

Lip worrying (biting) – anxiety

Finger to lip – enjoyable thoughts

Thrusting lip – a pout

Pursed lips – contemplative or annoyed

Finger to lip tapping – thinking and deciding

Tight lips – annoyance

Lip twitch – suppressed humor

Smile – happy

Frown – disturbed

Tongue poking – deep concentration

Sticking out the tongue – cheeky petulance

Running a tongue over the lips – potential enjoyment or I want you

Clenched teeth – anger

Baring teeth – aggression

Teeth tapping together – thought in process

Teeth tapping with fingernail – boredom

Yawn – tired or bored

Clenching jaw or jaw tic – suppressed anger

Jaw drop – stunned

Biting inside of cheek – holding back

Grimace – regret

Scowl – deep negativity

Stroking chin – thinking or making a decision

Thrusting chin – obstinate

A neck scratch in conversation – lying

Massaging the neck – working a problem or a show of attraction

Pulling collar – I’ve been found out

Holy cow. And that just involves the head! I’m sure I’ve missed some. There are so many ways to silently communicate. Other nonverbal gestures involving hands and body stances say even more. For the most part they’re universal symbols. Again, their universal understanding suggests they are beyond ancient to our species. Interesting to note: There are places in the world where your A-Ok or thumbs-up hand gesture would be taken as an insult. There are also places where your nod means no. In Korea, you must be careful how you smile. I  have to wonder how anomalies of this sort came to be.

A few interesting places to learn more about gestures~

http://lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/concepts.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gestures

http://www.koko.org/world/signlanguage.html

Tomorrow ~ More!

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 77 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Kexy (adjective commonly seen 1608-1884)

dry, brittle, withered

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Today our guest is Elizabeth Schechter.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

All through January the RB4U authors are doing interviews. The thoughtful questions are a great way to get to know us. Commenting that day gives you a chance to win a collectable t-shirt. Come see!

Right now the COLD SNOW, HOT ROMANCE CONTEST is on! Three winners will each receive a $25 gift card for Amazon/Barnes & Noble, and split the other prizes randomly picked from prize list. Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Today on Genesis of a Book we have Kelley Heckart

Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/



Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Coming soon ~ Tempt Us Tuesday

Today’s author: Augusta Fern

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

Grave Symbols & Hump Day Happenings

Many years ago my husband and I volunteered to care for an abandoned country cemetery not far from our home. We like cemeteries mainly for their history, but also for the love people have left there. He and I were both born and raised in Chicago where old cemeteries are these amazing  monument parks dedicated to love. 

On the National Register of Historic Places, Chicago’s Rosehill cemetery is one of the most impressive of all the Victorian Cemeteries around the city. As a hub of trade and commerce, Chicago had more than its share of well-heeled Victorian industrialists and financiers. That being the case, many well-known Chicagoans are buried at Rosehill amid small-trunked oak trees. Off topic but interesting, those trees were stunted by the sandy nutrient-poor soil but are actually hundreds of years old. Many of Rosehill’s beautiful monuments are famous for their eccentricity. Some people say the place is haunted. :)  This site gives a small view.

So… back to our cemetery stewardship. Basically, that job consisted of mowing and trimming. The small forgotten plots don’t have the resources for their care as larger cemeteries do. Vandalism and neglect take their toll. If you’re interested, your local historical society can get you involved. Here’s a site devoted to grave preservation: http://saveagrave.net/

One day, we discovered a headstone that had fallen forward to be covered over by time and soil, a headstone that hadn’t been inventoried before. When we stood it upright, we discovered a beautiful poem and a carving of a woman’s hand in the act of pouring water from a pitcher. I saw the symbolism there, but no ready resources existed at the time to tell me what it meant.

Have you ever walked a cemetery and wondered about that stone lamb or concrete tree stump? What’s with the sculptured hands, beehives, weeping willows, and burning torches?

Burial symbology has been around for about as long as there have been burials. A recent discovery of a 12,000 year old female shaman’s grave suggests she had a greater connection to the afterlife. It’s also hard to miss the focus on the afterlife in the archaeological remains of Ancient Egypt. Comparatively speaking, our western cemeteries don’t look a smidge as interesting. But…were you to look closer…you’d discover cemeteries are filled with all manner of symbols. Those images mentioned above all have deeper meanings. Learn how to read them and you’ll see life stories in microcosm. The following links will help you read the small stories that head stones, crypts, and monuments tell. Fascinating stuff. Tuck some of these into your novels.

http://www.thecemeteryclub.com/symbols.html

http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/misc/grave_symbols.shtml

http://www.graveaddiction.com/symbol.html

I once created gifts for my two children based on these symbols — kits for taking rubbings off old headstones. The companion book, one in each kit, took me a little more than two months to compile, and in it all the symbols, themes, and iconography associated with death that I could find. It was a fun project.

How to: Thin quilter’s muslin works better than paper. So does Pellon interfacing. Blue painter’s tape won’t damage the stone. Melt some crayons and pour in a paper cup to harden to get yourself a nice large crayon hockey puck to work with. Rub gently, the image will eventually darken. Be extra careful not to get wax on the stone. Clean up after yourself.

Tomorrow: More!

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It’s Wednesday and time for Hump Day happenings around the web.

Hump Day Hook

http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Books Hooks NEW!

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Horny Hump Day

http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

First Kiss Wednesday

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 78 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Weequashing (noun first seen 1888-1902)

spearing of fish or eels by torchlight from canoes

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Today we have author Desiree Holt’s interview.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

All through January the RB4U authors are doing interviews. The thoughtful questions are a great way to get to know us. Commenting that day gives you a chance to win a collectable t-shirt. Come see!

Right now the COLD SNOW, HOT ROMANCE CONTEST is on! Three winners will each receive a $25 gift card for Amazon/Barnes & Noble, and split the other prizes randomly picked from prize list. Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss today!

Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/



Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Coming soon ~ Tempt Us Tuesday

Today’s author: Cassandra Carr

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

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Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

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50+ shades of emotion

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

If only. The world would certainly be a better place if color enhanced rather than divided. In most parts of the world, our neck of the woods included, shades of skin tone can hold an over-important meaning to some. The funny thing about that is the color pendulum regarding color bias swings wide and not only both ways, but all ways. Even today, people born with albinism are killed for their body parts. Other people take issue with hue in their own races. 

On the spectrum, I must mention here that redheads were once collected for harems (and dumped a lot of latent redhead genes in the middle east). We were also burned as witches. I hear there’s a negative ginger bias in parts of the world too. But the flip side — just the other day I read the words “ginger fox” in reference to England’s Prince Harry. I can’t keep up.

Because I’m shy, my hair color has always drawn some kind of uncomfortable attention to me. You wouldn’t believe the variety of comments made about my hair through the years — everything from compliments like your hair is so pretty and autumn is your color, to weird ones like hey carrot top and copper top, or your hair matches my golden retriever’s. I’ve gotten many rude ones too, such as this toned-down version: is it true what they say about redheads? That last one always gets me. There are a LOT of things said about redheads. But I know what that one means. It’s a collar matching the cuffs bit of snark. The first time I’d heard it I was 13. Having a vague idea what he was talking about, I did ask the boy what he meant. Watching him turn bright red and say never mind, it’s not important made my day. lol Love me, hate me, I’m a redhead.  I really must get that publicity shot taken before it all goes silver. Then I’ll deal with ageism!

But what if the dividing factor in the world wasn’t skin color at all, but things like eye color or the whiteness of your teeth or number of freckles on your face? How about “outie” vs. “innie” belly buttons, free or attached earlobes, or Roman vs. round noses? Surely in following whatever criteria exists that says one skin color is better over another, these things must be as divisive. Nonsensical stuff, no? That’s because skin color bias doesn’t make sense. 

There’s more to color than what meets the eye.

A big proponent of using art as therapy, Carl Jung, psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology, believed  color choices held deeper insight about true personality traits. He felt his patients could better understand their psyche if they used color. Studying this, he found introverts and extroverts predictably did this: Extroverts chose red. Introverts chose blue.

Interesting.

We’re all familiar with colors being symbols for personality traits and emotions. Think about it. How often do our characters metaphorically see red with rage,  turn yellow in fear, turn white as a ghost, or go green with envy”? How fun to insert colors into scenes to hint at the emotion in that moment. It could be something small, like a red wine stain on a table cloth is noticed just before an argument ensues. Or the sunset out the window could be banded in purple just before your character’s audience with the king. If you read my books with an eye to such things, you’ll be surprised! 

Here’s a list to ponder~

Red: all things intense and passionate ~ excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, strength, power, heat, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, sincerity, and happiness.

Yellow: jealousy, joy, happiness, betrayal, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, friendship, summer, dishonesty, cowardice, illness, covetousness, deceit,  and caution.

Green: nature, vigor, youth, good for the environment, healthy, good luck, renewal,  spring, generosity, fertility, or jealousy, inexperience, envy, and misfortune, .

Blue: Peace, sky, water, tranquility, cold, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty,  and depression.

Purple: Royalty, nobility, mourning, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, honor, arrogance, and temperance.

Orange: demanding of attention, vibrant, energy, balance, enthusiasm, warmth,  and flamboyance.

Brown: earthy, stability, hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, endurance, simplicity, and comfort.

Black: sexuality, sophistication, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, unhappiness, depth, style, sadness, remorse, anger, anonymity, detachment, underground, good technical color, mourning, death, austerity, power and powerful.

Gray: security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, dignity, maturity, solid, conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring, and calm.

White: purity, birth, sterility, virginity, reverence, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, winter, snow, good, marriage, death, and cold.

Aquamarine: water.

Pink: love and romance, caring, tenderness, and acceptance.

Lavender: mourning, femininity, grace, and elegance.

Beige: unification and simplicity.

Ivory: pleasantness.

Tomorrow: More!

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 79 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Sarcinarious (adjective first appeared 1656)

serving to carry a burden or load

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Today we have author Renee Vincent’s interview.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

All through January the RB4U authors are doing interviews. The thoughtful questions are a great way to get to know us. Commenting that day gives you a chance to win a collectable t-shirt. Come see!

Right now the COLD SNOW, HOT ROMANCE CONTEST is on! Three winners will each receive a $25 gift card for Amazon/Barnes & Noble, and split the other prizes randomly picked from prize list. Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/



Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Coming soon ~ Tempt Us Tuesday

Today’s author: M. S. Spencer

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

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Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

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Ambassadors of sentiment

Few people in history actually define an era or period. Napoleon did briefly. I’d say the regnal eras, those dynastic periods defined by the reign of a king or queen, are the ones that seem to stick. Eras defined as Tudor, Elizabethan, Jacobean, Caroline, Georgian, Regency, and Edwardian, all have things about them that draw immediate images in our minds. As a long-time living history presenter, I see clothing styles first. Then I see the rest…

For the Tudor period I picture Henry VIII of course, but I also see architecture. Elizabethan fills my head with theater. Jacobean gives me images of Guy Fawkes and musketeers.  The Caroline era comes to me in the form spaniels! (King Charles spaniels specifically). The Georgian era puts redcoats and revolution in my mind. Regency calls up empire dresses and Mr. Darcy. Mmm Darcy.  And the Edwardian era comes to me with women’s suffrage and germ theory, not to mention it ushers in mechanized warfare. 

Did you notice which one is missing from that list? Hint1: a long-running period utterly defined by one woman. Hint2: She had a HUGE family. Hint3: Her era fell between Georgian and Edwardian. From 1837 to 1901.

Yes, I’m speaking of Queen Victoria and the Victorian era.  It was a long era because she was queen a long time. In that span so many things were credited to her –too many for this post. Check here for more.  A lot of symbols come out of the Victorian era. In fact, Victoria herself was a symbol of British imperialism and pride. In the next few posts, I’m going to touch upon some great symbols that could be used to add depth to historical romance.  

Today ~ The symbol of flowers during Victoria’s reign.

Flowers adorned just about everything in the Victorian era. Decor-wise, it was an extremely busy time for the eye. Flowers decorated every other inch of people’s lives, and men’s and women’s clothing and jewelry sported all manner of florals too. I offer a site with an impressive list of 371 Victorian flowers and their symbology. I’ve tucked a few into my stories.

A fantastic reference site with more info than flowers:

http://www.victorianbazaar.com/meanings.html

Tomorrow: More!

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 80 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Prandicle (noun appeared 1656-1658)

small meal

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Today we have guest author Eileen Dreyer/Kathleen Korbel.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

All through January the RB4U authors are doing interviews. The thoughtful questions are a great way to get to know us. Commenting that day gives you a chance to win a collectable t-shirt. Come see!

Right now the COLD SNOW, HOT ROMANCE CONTEST is on! Three winners will each receive a $25 gift card for Amazon/Barnes & Noble, and split the other prizes randomly picked from prize list. Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests.

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/



Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

Today’s author:

EQ’s own Jane Leopold Quinn

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

A new place for your old stars to shine

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤