English at its root and some common mistakes heard on TV.

Any person using the word 'tenDerhooks' instead of the correct 'tenTerhooks' please take note.  The word is derived from 'tener' to hold. The hooks in question, while used to tenderise meat, were installed for holding and hanging. A tenterhook is a gadget for hanging anything you want, not necessarily meat.  To be 'on tenterhooks' means to be 'in a state of being on hold'.

It mystifies me as to why the Catholic Church did away with the Latin mass as it made going to church less a waste of time.  It formed the basis for good (almost insidious) linguistic capability!  And for churchgoers and altar boys, the repetition was invaluable.  Sadly, schools no longer teach Latin and Greek roots as a component of English studies.  I certainly am grateful now for my childhood church routine as I am struggling with learning Spanish, but at least can read books and newspapers etc. just through applying the rules I learned years ago in English classes.  

A great art site!

http://www.sumiephotography.com/

This is especially for those who enjoy traditional Japanese arts and would like to own something at a very low cost. 

The stories attached to these photos/haiku/calligraphy artworks are inspirational too.

Check them out!

Write your body language into your story

But don't overdo it and beware of repeats. The Milennium Trilogy overdoes the number of times that its characters 'bit her bottom lip and stared out the window'.

A little is effective but make sure it is only once in the book.  You would be surprised how readers pick up on repeated phrases and tire of them fast.  Even habitual nail-biters can be darn annoying.

Here's a handy chart that employment agencies use when people are going for jobs. 

It is a chart of notable body language clues to emotions and it is the sort of stuff you can research to put into your books to denote TYPE or to BUILD characters.. Or people can use these in a studied way to project an image they prefer or need at the time.

Crossed arms: Anger, defensiveness

Moving away, tilting a chair back: You are too close, space is invaded

Fidgeting, tapping foot or fingers: Nervousness, boredom

Slow, deliberate walk: Confidence

Standing with hands on hips: Readiness, aggression

Sitting with legs crossed, foot kicking: slightly Boredom

Sitting, legs apart Open: relaxed

Touching, slightly rubbing nose: Rejection, doubt, lying

Rubbing the eye: Doubt, disbelief

Hands clasped behind back: Anger, frustration, apprehension

Locked ankles: Apprehension

Head resting in hand, eyes downcast: Boredom

Rubbing hands: Anticipation

Sitting with hands clasped behind head: Smugness, superiority

Open palm: Sincerity, openness, innocence

Tapping or drumming fingers: Impatience

Patting/fondling hair: Lack of self-confidence; insecurity

Stroking chin: Trying to make a decision

Looking down: face turned away Disbelief

Biting nails: Insecurity, nervousness

Pulling or tugging at ear: Indecision

Adjusting tie: Insecurity, nervousness

Putting tips of fingers of one hand against tips of the other hand: Confidence

Clearing throat: Nervousness

Shoes made me a writer.

When I was 14, it was the beginning of the pointy-toed shoes era.  I desperately wanted a pair of ultra-pointy, black patent leather high heels with a matching bag and kid leather gloves.  Stopped short of the pillbox hat though.  So I sent off some stories to an English magazine.   I could see our letterbox from my school desk, Australian History class, last period before the lunch break.  We lived across the road from the school.  When the postman would make a delivery, I would leave class as soon as I heard the first bell, vault the wire fence and collect the mail.  My letters would be ripped open fast before my parents arrived home for their lunch (they both worked at the school) and when cheques began to arrive, I would deposit the money in my savings account.  It only took one story to cover the shoes and bag.  The next cheque paid for acting lessons.  The next, train tickets to the city and the occasional Lindt chocolate treat. My stories?  Ugh, terrible rubbish, but with an arc that seemed to work.  The women all had auburn hair and pretty names like Jessica.  The men were Brent and wore camel sportscoats that had a whiff of Amphora tobacco when their lovers nestled into their shoulders.  It was good discipline. And I became self-sufficient and never told my parents how I suddenly became well dressed.  They would never have approved of my steamy (in a childish way) ramblings!  But it was the 1960s when anything could easily earn a 'grounding' or worse still, a beating with the back of a hairbrush.  Which was NOT good discipline.

'Calandra's Spring' released for Kindle on amazon.com

I'm so excited about this - I actually took the plunge and uploaded my first novel to amazon.com for digital purchase only.  There are still a few wrinkles in the learning curve and I welcome any feedback.

The link to it is:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007IX4NI2

Any reviews are most welcome !

But first - let me introduce myself.  I am a citizen of Planet Earth - love to travel and at present my husband and I are taking a break in Nuevo Vallarta, a suburb of Puerto Vallarta, in Mexico.  Oldies may remember this place from 'The Love Boat' and 'Night of the Iguana'. 

Along the way, I will tell you some things about Mexico and my background.  I have worked as a writer and a producer for TV and film but gradually the writing just took over.  Personal histories are one of my favourite genres to work on, though in a financial sense, the person for whom I am 'ghosting' always expects more than is reasonable in the way of revision of aspects of their story.  The older the person, the less honest they want to be and oh, if only I could 'name names' ...

More later!