Jinxed

Good morning. Today I'd like to discuss something I thought was only an old wives tale, but let me share with you my story and see what you think.

When the Monster was a baby she was sick all the time. From ear infections, to sinus infections, a bout with pneumonia, several with bronchitis, the kid was always running a fever for one reason for another. Now, we lived in Rhode Island at the time and naturally I kept in touch with my extended family of cousins, aunts, uncles and what not. Several times we had to cancel plans to go to a family gathering because Monster was either sick, or I was afraid she would get sick. Everyone was always concerned. Including me.

It seemed to me that whenever she was actually doing well, someone would invariably ask, "How's the Monster doing?" And I would always respond, "She's much better, thank you." And right after I said that, she would get sick again. I swear to God, I felt like I was jinxing myself, and I got so paranoid that whenever anyone would ask how she was, I would reply, "I can't tell you. Everytime I say how she is, she gets sick again, so I'm not going to say." (My family thought I was nuts.) But it worked. (I guess, at least that's how I thought of it. Come to find out, she was allergic to something in milk and once I switched her to organic milk, she was fine. If she gets sick now, I'll know it's really me...)

Anyway, I thought the jinxing was over. Ha!

You all know I've been working on the old house trying to get it ready to sell. It's been tough going because a few weeks ago, I shared with you how I've never felt better. Jinxed again. Since I've said that, I've felt really shitty.

Someone asked me last week how the painting was going. I said, "Really good. Moving right along." And it was, until I fell off the ladder. Not once, but twice.

I released my latest book, A ROMANTIC REGENCY COLLECTION. Now with this book, I didn't really promote it at all. One announcement on my Anne Gallagher blog, one announcement here, one day of sporadic Tweets, that was it. And it was selling really well. (Well, really well for me. I don't expect much with no fanfare, but it was having really good sales. Exceptionally good sales.) Until someone asked me how it was going. I said, "Fantastic!" Okay, jinxed again. That next day sales fell off markedly.

Can I really not talk about good things happening to me? I don't get it. I mean, it's not like I'm bragging or anything like that. I just want to share with my friends that things are going well for a change. But then when  I do, it all falls apart.

Is it just me or does this happen to you? Do you believe in jinxes? And if it is an old wives tale, does someone know how to countermand it? Do I spit while turning in a circle, or throw salt over my cat's left shoulder?

Beating a Dead Horse

A Wednesday post is rare these days, but I'm trying to swing for the fences. Spring training starts soon.

I've gotten my crits back on THE DUKE'S DIVORCE and I have to say they were pretty good. My writing has gotten tighter over the last few years, and I'm very proud of that. I've learned how to say what I mean, and mean what I say. Most times.

However, the one problem I'm still having is my tendency to explain certain points over and over to my readers, thinking they won't get it, or remember it. A key issue, the "smoking gun" if you will, that has to be explained again and again. Beating that dead horse for all it's worth. (Like I'm doing right now.)

Yes, we know that Robert had issues relating to his ex-fiance, but do we need to read about it five different times? Yes, we were told Fiona has received a box of jewelry from her father, but do we need to be retold twice more before it comes out to the forefront of the narrative.

I think my tendency to do this comes from needing to repeat what I say to The Monster, over and over. "Did you feed the cat? Pick up your socks. The stove is hot."

My question -- Do you feel that certain key points in your story need to be made again? Do you feel your readers won't remember? Or hear it the first time? Do you love your critique partners as much as I do?

Who Does Your Eyebrows?

Monster Child was watching me pluck my eyebrows the other day.
"Why do you that?" She asked.
I said, "So I don't look like a neanderthal."
"What's a neanderthal?"

After the discussion of cave men and dinosaurs, I thought about eyebrows, and how we use them in our work.

I'm sure you all have read at least one book where the hero 'quirks his eyebrow'. Or the heroine raises hers. Or someone knits them together.

I must confess I have used all three. In my latest book, each one of the major players does. But only once.

And therein lies my post for the day. Each of our characters are special to us. They become like family and with family we all have our own little quirky things that we do. Sometimes they drive other people nuts. Sometimes, they can be downright endearing.

When Monster Child was a baby she used to grab the bottom of my earlobe when she was feeding. (Very endearing and I miss it.) Now she sticks her cold feet down my bum before she goes to sleep. (Family bed, big mistake and not so endearing anymore.)

Genna in REMEMBERING YOU used to make this noise. I call it a snort, but it's not really. It's that noise in the back of your throat you make when someone does something incredibly stupid, yet funny at the same time. (We watch America's Funniest Videos every Sunday night so I am forever making that noise.)

Dr. Blakestock (in MisMATCHED) wipes his spectacles before he says something of importance. Lady Olivia (in MASQUERADE) thumps her cane on the floor to make people pay attention to her.

The key is to use them sparingly. If your hero is quirking his eyebrows on every other page we might think he has some kind of neurological disorder. If he rakes his hands through his hair during every chapter, I would think he needs a good shampoo. If your heroine dabs her eyes with a hankie more than twice, well, I think she should see an optition.

Don't get me wrong, character quirks are great to use but I recommend doing so only when it will really make a point. Otherwise it gets wasted, and the next time they do it, the reader will be saying, "Oh will you stop with the eyebrow already!"

Do you use character quirks? If so, what are they?