Obvious Things

The Game is Still afoot! Funday Happenings

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.

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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