I was thinking about my kids this morning. They are all so different yet in ways similar too. Especially when it comes to how they love and how they like to be loved. How they register their frustration, their hurt, their discouragement.
We all know the universal signs of these emotions but that’s all they are. Come to think about it I never see their faces turn red, or their fingers curl into fists when they’re mad. It goes much deeper than that. It starts with mannerisms they’ve picked up from me or inherited genetically then moves to tone of voice and actions or lack of it. (Emotion Thesaurus anyone?)
But back to love.
My son needs gifts. To know I love him, that I care, he needs little candies in his lunch on Valentine’s Day and Easter, or his faith in how much we care wobbles. I see it in his face. (I’ll never make that mistake again.) Another child needs contact, snuggling and major quality time, as in game after game of Chess, Monopoly, Scrambled States of America…you name it.
Do you ever think about these different love languages when creating characters? I can see this aspect of emotion adding a deeper level to our characters. Something to think about.
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On a completely different note, I’m exited to reveal my friend, Lisa Gail Green’s, cover! And the story sounds fantastic! I’ve read Lisa short story in one of the Journey of Wonder anthologies and can’t wait for the novel.
Tricked into slavery by the man she loved, the Djinni Leela has an eternity to regret her choices.
Awakened in the prison of her adolescent body, she finds a new master in possession of the opal that binds her. But seventeen-year-old Jered is unlike any she’s seen. His kindness makes Leela yearn to trust again, to allow herself a glimmer of hope.
Could Jered be strong enough to free her from the curse of the Binding Stone?
So with no further ado, here it is!
Click the picture to add to Goodreads!
Any thoughts today friends? Isn’t this a fantastic cover?
I read a book on love languages. Very enlightening. I’m a gift girl, hubby is not, I’m still trying to let him know I NEED little gifts, trinkets really. I have a little guy who needs the games and total attention… my daughter, snuggles.
Which reminds me I need to sit for a bit with a game and dole out some hugs. 🙂
This cover is beauuuu-ti-ful!!! Love!! And the story sounds fabulous!!
I LOOOOOVE Lisa’s cover!!!!
You should hang out at my house. My boys will show you the typical signs of anger. Maybe I should give them Angela’s book so they can display different signs next time. That would be nice. 😀
I’m sure my kids show some typical signs too. 🙂
The cover is really nice.
We all need to be shown love differently. I’m aware of it, although I haven’t used it as much in my writing. Probably more so in my third book, though.
Thanks for the cover love!!! And what an awesome tip about ways to show love!
Truly, it’s a gorgeous cover!
Hmm… I hadn’t thought of the love languages in characterization before. But I am now! 😀
That’s great, and I’m also looking up the Scrambled States of America! My youngest would love that!
Yay for Lisa! Gorgeous cover~ <3
Seriously, My son loves it and because if it he knows all his states and capitals and nicknames. It’s fun too.
So love Lisa’s cover. And I hadn’t thought of love languages before. I’ll have to think about it now that you mentioned it.
Great cover and you’re so right about each kid expressing their frustrations, and worries differently. Not everyone narrows their brows.
I think some body language is reserved just for fiction. 🙂
That background pattern really caught my eye. So pretty! As for kids, it’s so true how everyone needs a totally different flavor of nurturing.
Thanks everyone! For supporting Lisa!