The Centurion Series Is Now Live!

New editions of The Centurion Series are now out @ Amazon!

I'm so excited with the new covers, some much needed edits that I've been dying to do for years and the superb quality of the three books. Both Kindle and paperbacks are now available - make sure to enter my contest over there to win a free copy of The Centurion & The Queen. Here are covers and links! Minnette ;o)

Marius has been stationed on the island of 60 AD Britannia for sixteen years, since his demotion from the famous Praetorian Guard after his suspected involvement in the assassination of Caligula. When Delia enters his life, she challenges everything he believes, effortlessly strips away years of Roman conditioning, and angers him to the point of betraying his training, and his oaths. He simply cannot resist her. Delia is sister to an indolent Celtic king, but that role has turned to nothing more than another surrender. All she can do now is help her people survive the gradual conquest by Rome and their suicidal pride as so many throw themselves against the unstoppable Roman machine. The last thing she expected was to find herself craving the love of an enemy.

The Boudica revolt has been squelched, the tribes of the Iceni and the Trinovantes have been exterminated by the Roman Governor of Britannia, Suetonius. Marius and Delia are now King and Queen of a broken Celtic tribe, and Marius has to use all his skill and cunning to help his hunted people as they flee before General Suetonius' sword. But they are threatened by secret plots, jealousy, and a new enemy that hammers a wedge between them, a wedge that even an unborn child may not be able to dislodge when Marius falls under the charms of Delia's sworn enemy. Sacrifices will have to be made to save their people, to keep the nation together, to survive the Roman rage. In the end, it may be more than their love or their lives they lose.

Prince Thane is the last surviving royalty of the Trinovantes Tribe in Roman Britannia, having surrendered to the Romans to save his two young daughters, whose identities he sacrifices his freedom to protect. He is condemned by Nero himself to become a gladiator, to fight until he dies in the arena. When his two daughters are taken in a slaver's raid, Thane escapes to find them. Phaedra holds a terrible secret that would mean the death of her younger brother. Her only hope is to force the gladiator to protect them as they flee to Rome. He reluctantly agrees. Little does he know that the beautiful Syrian woman holds not only the key to his passion, but a secret that triggers a disaster that ignites the world. Will this spoiled willful girl betray him in the end or sacrifice herself to save them all?

Books by Minnette Meador

THE BELL STALKER

an urban fantasy thriller

by Minnette Meador

EXCERPT - CHAPTER ONE

Belle Stark has struggled to conquer fears plaguing her since being attacked by a maniac who continues to roam free and the murder of her father. And she nearly succeeds, until she discovers her lover's murdered body spread over the furniture, making Belle a prime suspect. Certain her attacker is to blame, she seeks help from her ex-husband, homicide detective Mike Cranston, the one person she swore she would never let back into her life, or heart. In their hunt for answers, the two uncover more than a lunatic: a supernatural underworld hidden beneath the tall skyscrapers of the city and a secret that could kill them both. Faced with a terrible choice, Belle surrenders herself to the hands of a monster and Mike must solve an ancient mystery before it's too late to save her---

Chapter One - Read by the author

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A GHOST OF A CHANCE
Excerpt - Chapter One

a paranormal romantic comedy
by Minnette Meador

Keenan Swanson is your typical, everyday graphic designer. Well, except for the hundreds of pesky, prank-loving poltergeists that make his life interesting (in a Chinese curse sort of way). He finds his situation precarious yet manageable—until witty, smoking-hot coworker Isabella enters the scene and Keenan decides he wants her all for himself. With a horny succubus who has other ideas, a burly city cop determined to lock Keenan away, and an evil entity who’s hell-bent on using Keenan’s seed to create a living demon, the reluctant psychic realizes he just might not come out of this alive—or with heart intact.

• "This is a fantastic romp that grabbed me from the first page. Unexpected devilment filled the pages and my imagination. The author paints indelible images with words that are nothing less than stunning. There are twists and turns to keep even the most jaded reader guessing. Fast-paced, unpredictable, and funny, the dark subject matter is treated with irreverence and indisputable style. With its unparalleled originality, this novel is sure to amaze and amuse."

Coffee Time Romance & More

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THE GLADIATOR PRINCE
Excerpt - Chapter One
a historical romance
by Minnette Meador
Book III of the Centurion Series

Prince Thane is the last surviving royalty of the Trinovantes Tribe in Roman Britannia, having surrendered to the Romans to save his two young daughters, whose identities he sacrifices his freedom to protect. He is condemned by Nero himself to become a gladiator, to fight until he dies in the arena. When his two daughters are taken in a slaver's raid, Thane escapes to find them. 

Phaedra holds a terrible secret that would mean the death of her younger brother. Her only hope is to force the gladiator to protect them as they flee to Rome. He reluctantly agrees. Little does he know that the beautiful Syrian woman holds not only the key to his passion, but a secret that triggers a disaster that ignites the world. Will this spoiled willful girl betray him in the end or sacrifice herself to save them all? 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE CENTURION & THE QUEEN

Excerpt Chapter I

a historical romance
by Minnette Meador
Book I of the Centurion Series

Marius is disciplined, precise, as cold as his armor. A twenty-five year veteran, the Centurion is dedicated to the principles of Rome. No one had ever dared to challenge his command… until now.

Queen Delia struggles to save her dying Celtic people, fighting to lead in a world dominated by savage men. The last thing she expects is to feel her body craving the touch of an enemy. 

The revolution that sparks their desire rips her from his arms. They find themselves on opposing sides, in love, and unable to stop the future.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE EDGE OF HONORExcerpt - Chapter I

a historical romance
by Minnette Meador
(Book II of the Centurion Series)

The Boudicca revolt has been squelched; the tribes of the Iceni and the Trinovantes have been exterminated by the Roman Governor of Britannia, Suetonius. He has sworn his revenge on the remaining tribes for the Celtic insolence. Marius gave up his allegiance to Rome for the woman he  loves, but now must fight to save her dying people. In the end, it may be more than their love or their lives they lose.

SOME REVIEWS

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - "I was engrossed by The Centurion and the Queen, and didn't put it down."

SIMPLY ROMANCE REVIEWS - "Historical novels especially historical Romance tend to fall within fairly set parameters and usually tend to be a bit cliché. This story breaks out of those parameters and destroys the clichés with a truly refreshing story of love in ancient Britannia."

FALLEN ANGEL REVIEWS - "Minnette Meador adeptly weaves in Roman and Celtic words and references [in the Edge of Honor], adding realism to this harsh world. Fans of The Centurion and the Queen will not be disappointed."

NIGHTOWL ROMANCE - "I encourage you to try out Minnette’s work and see how enmeshed you will become in her wonderful settings. …this book pulled me in and I read it in two sittings…”

 ~~~~~~~~~~

STARSIGHT I
Excerpt - Chapter One
an epic fantasy
by Minnette Meador

Trenara never thought she would have to guide a student she loved to become a messiah, but it is the only way this second trial Starguider can salvage her world.

 “[Starsight] is one powerful and imaginative fantasy adventure novel with many nice touches...there is magic galore, and challenge galore; nothing comes easy. It's the first of a series, and it should do well...” Piers Anthony

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STARSIGHT II
Excerpt

an epic fantasy

by Minnette Meador
Release Date: 2008
Amazon

Trenara no longer trusts the power that has turned the boy she once loved into a man she no longer understands. He frightens her. Will Joshan use the power to rescue his world or will a new tyrant sit upon Sirdar’s throne? Second volume in the Starsight Series

“This is a Typhoid Mary of a book, from a writer to watch." Spider Robinson

UPCOMING RELEASES IN THE SERIES:

Starsight III: The Restless Seeds
Starsight IV: Prequel – The God Wars

Create Romantic Friction between the Sheets
...of Paper
*Goals, Motivation & Conflict: The Building Blocks of Good Fiction by Debra DixonI’m a big fan of writing the story down as quickly as possible and then layering in the “details”: Descriptions, pacing, backstory, dialogue, emotions, reactions, timelines, and loose ends/plot problems. Here is what I do with three of these elements:

HERO'S JOURNEY : REFERENCE (1)

This page summarizes the brief explanations from every step of the Hero's Journey. The call to adventure is the point in a person's life when they are first given notice that everything is going to change, whether they know it or not. Often when the call is given, the future hero refuses to heed it. This may be from a sense of duty or obligation, fear, insecurity, a sense of inadequacy, or any of a range of reasons that work to hold the person in his or her current circumstances. Once the hero has committed to the quest, consciously or unconsciously, his or her guide and magical helper appears, or becomes known. This is the point where the person actually crosses into the field of adventure, leaving the known limits of his or her world and venturing into an unknown and dangerous realm where the rules and limits are not known. The belly of the whale represents the final separation from the hero's known world and self. It is sometimes described as the person's lowest point, but it is actually the point when the person is between or transitioning between worlds and selves. The separation has been made, or is being made, or being fully recognized between the old world and old self and the potential for a new world/self. The experiences that will shape the new world and self will begin shortly, or may be beginning with this experience which is often symbolized by something dark, unknown and frightening. By entering this stage, the person shows their willingness to undergo a metamorphosis, to die to him or herself. The road of trials is a series of tests, tasks, or ordeals that the person must undergo to begin the transformation. Often the person fails one or more of these tests, which often occur in threes. The meeting with the goddess represents the point in the adventure when the person experiences a love that has the power and significance of the all-powerful, all encompassing, unconditional love that a fortunate infant may experience with his or her mother. It is also known as the "hieros gamos", or sacred marriage, the union of opposites, and may take place entirely within the person. In other words, the person begins to see him or herself in a non-dualistic way. This is a very important step in the process and is often represented by the person finding the other person that he or she loves most completely. Although Campbell symbolizes this step as a meeting with a goddess, unconditional love and /or self-unification does not have to be represented by a woman. At one level, this step is about those temptations that may lead the hero to abandon or stray from his or her quest, which as with the Meeting with the Goddess does not necessarily have to be represented by a woman. For Campbell, however, this step is about the revulsion that the usually male hero may feel about his own fleshy/earthy nature, and the subsequent attachment or projection of that revulsion to women. Woman is a metaphor for the physical or material temptations of life, since the hero-knight was often tempted by lust from his spiritual journey. In this step the person must confront and be initiated by whatever holds the ultimate power in his or her life. In many myths and stories this is the father, or a father figure who has life and death power. This is the center point of the journey. All the previous steps have been moving in to this place, all that follow will move out from it. Although this step is most frequently symbolized by an encounter with a male entity, it does not have to be a male; just someone or thing with incredible power. For the transformation to take place, the person as he or she has been must be "killed" so that the new self can come into being. Sometime this killing is literal, and the earthly journey for that character is either over or moves into a different realm. To apotheosize is to deify. When someone dies a physical death, or dies to the self to live in spirit, he or she moves beyond the pairs of opposites to a state of divine knowledge, love, compassion and bliss. This is a god-like state; the person is in heaven and beyond all strife. A more mundane way of looking at this step is that it is a period of rest, peace and fulfillment before the hero begins the return. The ultimate boon is the achievement of the goal of the quest. It is what the person went on the journey to get. All the previous steps serve to prepare and purify the person for this step, since in many myths the boon is something transcendent like the elixir of life itself, or a plant that supplies immortality, or the holy grail. So why, when all has been achieved, the ambrosia has been drunk, and we have conversed with the gods, why come back to normal life with all its cares and woes? Sometimes the hero must escape with the boon, if it is something that the gods have been jealously guarding. It can be just as adventurous and dangerous returning from the journey as it was to go on it. Just as the hero may need guides and assistants to set out on the quest, often times he or she must have powerful guides and rescuers to bring them back to everyday life, especially if the person has been wounded or weakened by the experience. Or perhaps the person doesn't realize that it is time to return, that they can return, or that others need their boon. The trick in returning is to retain the wisdom gained on the quest, to integrate that wisdom into a human life, and then maybe figure out how to share the wisdom with the rest of the world. This is usually extremely difficult. In myth, this step is usually represented by a transcendental hero like Jesus or Buddha. For a human hero, it may mean achieving a balance between the material and spiritual. The person has become comfortable and competent in both the inner and outer worlds. Mastery leads to freedom from the fear of death, which in turn is the freedom to live. This is sometimes referred to as living in the moment, neither anticipating the future nor regretting the past. Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction (MCLI)Maricopa Community Collegesthe ' net connection at MCLI is Alan Levinecomments about the site to : alan.levine@domail.maricopa.eduquestions about the content to : liz.warren@smcmail.maricopa.edu

last modified: 11/19/1999 12:06:34URL: http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/smc/journey/ref/summary.html

Anxious/Impatient/Nervous/Tense/Fearful

Fingertip Clasp

straight arm extended handshake

hand clench - chin level

fingers to mouth

ear rub

back neck rub - looking up

single arm cross

adjusting watch/bracelet or sleeves

leg lock position - no cold

foot tapping or wagging w/redundant foot movement

hair twisting

twisting of neck chain

clear throat

swallow

gulp

jaw drop/open mouth

dry mouth

wet lips with tongue/touch lips with finger

catch in throat

raspy voice unable to speak

male – bobbing/jumping Adam’s apple

perspire (palms/face/neck/armpits) = cold sweat

pale skin

lean/angle away from what’s making person anxious

make oneself smaller to reduce exposure to danger

tense lips, neck, shoulder muscles

arms folded across lower chest/upper abdomen

neutral facial expression = do not approach

no eye contact

rapid eye blink

protruding eyeballs

wide eyes

tick in cheek/eye/corner of mouth

dilated pupils

flared nostrils

Frown

crying

increased breathing rate/rapid heartbeat

tremble, especially lips

chattering of teeth

hair bristling

clenched fists

drumming/tapping fingers

palms down, beating gesture/flailing hands/arms

scratching/rubbing/pinching/holding parts of body

Angling body away; "Don't touch me."

Release of underarm scent; "Go away! I am unappealing! I stink!"

Increase in breathing rate. "I'm going to run away!"

Trembling and/or chattering teeth. "I want to run away!"

Crouching. "Don't hurt me!"

Crying. "I'm hurt enough!"

Displacement gestures; "How did THIS happen?"

Fast eye-blink rate. "I don't believe what I'm seeing!"

Fear grin. "I'm friendly! Honest!"

Widely opened flashbulb eyes. "I can't believe this!"

Unconscious escape motions designed to remove a body part, or parts, from danger (e.g., flexing the neck to lower and protect the head). "Don't hit me!"

Freeze reactions; "Am I in danger?"

Hair-bristling; "I feel danger!"

Accelerated heart rate. "I'm getting ready to run away!"

Tightened shoulder muscle tension; "It's going to hit me!"

Screaming; "Don't touch me!"

Squirm cues; "Let go of me."

Staring eyes with wide-dilated pupils; "How much danger am I in?"

Sweaty palms. "I don't wanna touch that!"

Tense-mouth. "Don't make me bite you."

Throat-clearing. "I want to vomit."

Audibly tense tone-of-voice, either low and close to a growl, "I'm warning you..." or high to present a non-threatening sound. "I'm not a threat!"

Yawning. "I have no fangs, see? I'm not a predator!"

rearing back

Arrogant/Disdainful

mocking bow of head or upper torso

lift chin

look down nose

jut chin

lift one eyebrow

tilt head back

narrowed eyes

compressed lips/mouth

lip raised/curled in sneer

hands on hips

look down one’s nose

flared nostrils

loud voice

yawn

Bored

hand to chin & cheek

foot tapping or wagging

Cold

folded arms - cold

leg lock position - cold

Confident/Brave

hands behind the back - clasped together

hands behind the head - relaxed

crossing the knees

ankle on knee

ankle to ankle leg cross

square shoulders

full body display

stand erect/tall

hands on hips

swagger when walking

Confused/Puzzled/Uncertain

frown

slack jaw

pout

pursed lips

wet lips with tongue/touch lips with finger

tongue clenched between lips

suck thumb

mouth turned downward

clenched jaw

clear throat

lowered eyelids

elbow raised with hand behind head

scratch head

tug on ear

tap cheek with finger

rub back of neck with one hand

Wrinkled nose

scratching/rubbing/pinching/holding parts of body

hug waist with arms

shrug shoulders

raspy/thready voice

Involuntary sideward eye movements; "Where is the danger coming from?"

Self-touching gestures; "Am I still in one piece?"

Frown; "I don't want that…"

Hand-behind-head; "I don't like it."

Side-to-side head-shakes "No."

Sideward head-tilts; "I don't want that…"

Lip-pout, lip-purse, and tense-mouth expressions "That looks like it tastes bad."

Palm-up gestures; "I surrender."

Shoulder-shrug; "Don't touch me."

Curious

hand steepling - lowered

closed hand, index finger extended

hand on lower jaw w/chin stroking

head tilt

head cocked to one side

wrinkled nose/brow

pursed lips

raised brow

wide eyes

finger touch to cheek/jaw

Defeated

hand clench - chest level

hand chop @ chest level

slumped/hunched shoulders

vacant expression

toneless voice

Defensive/Aggressive/Angry/Enraged

open palm out or down

closed palm w/Ext Finger

handshake on top

Power handshake (knuckle cruncher)

hand chop @ chin

hand behind the back - holding wrist or arm

thumb presentation

hands behind the head - lean back/'chin up

folded arms - no cold

folded arms w/clenched fists

arm gripping (both arms)

backward head tilt

nose flare

skewed mouth

tense jaw/mouth

compressed mouth/lips

biting bottom lip

sneer

guttural throat sounds

loud speech/yell/scream

jutted chin

clenched jaw

frown

wrinkled nose

flared nostrils

widened eyes

protruding eyeballs

dilated pupils

body displayed broadside

squared shoulders

shrug shoulders

body held erect/stand tall

head jerks

tick in cheek/eye/corner of mouth

head brought forward

clenched fists

drumming/tapping fingers

palms down, beating gesture/flailing hands/arms

red face/neck/ears

hitting something with fists

stiff walking

Jaws tensed to a biting position; "I'm going to bite you!"

Chest expansion, squaring of shoulders, and/or hands-on-hips; "I'm bigger than you."

Cut-off and head-jerk cues; "No. I don't want that."

Hand-behind-head / hand-above-head. "I may or may not strike you."

Fists, palm-down beating gestures. "I will strike you!"

Frowning and tense-mouth expressions; "Don't make me bite you."

Growling voice tones; "Consider me a threat."

Staring; "I consider you a threat."

Gaze avoidance; the head is turned fully away to one side; "Run while I am not looking and I will not attack you."

Eyebrow raise; "Are you challenging me?"

Hands-on-hips posture; "I'm ready for battle."

Head-tilt-back; "I dare you to bite me."

Palm-down gesture; "Do I need to strike you?"

Swagger walk; "I'm stronger than you."

Table-slap; "I will strike you!"

Lower tone of voice, close to a growl. "Don't make me bite you."

Wedge-shaped Chest expansion, squaring of shoulders; "I'm bigger than you."

Direct stare; "I consider you a threat."

Looming with chin down; "I will bite you."

Disagree/Disgusted/Abhorrent/Revulsion

distance from object

turn or face away/shift body away

turning one’s back

lean back

fold arms across upper chest/lower abdomen

cut off hand gesture

sneer

roll eyes

narrowed eyes

no eye contact

wrinkled nose

flared nostrils

backward head jerks

head shake

protrusion of tongue

guttural throat sounds

pursed lips

thin lips

tongue pressed between lips

clenched jaw

Curled upper lip, a retracted upper lip, and mouth movements. "I feel like vomiting."

Digestive sounds of revulsion. Guttural sounds ("ach" or "ugh"); "I AM going to vomit!"

Narrowed or partly closed eyes; "I don't want to see that!"

Lowered brows of the frown face. "I don't want to smell that!"

Backward head-jerks and side-to-side head-shakes. "I don't want to taste that!"

Visible protrusions of the tongue. "I can see that it tastes bad."

Disbelief/Skeptical/Suspicious

lifted eyebrow

arch eyebrow

narrowed eyes

compressed lips/Down-turned mouth

head shake

clenched jaw

shoulder shrug

Embarrassed

clear throat

swallow

gulp

wet lips with tongue

male: bobbling or jumping Adam’s apple

flushed skin

hot/tingling skin

lack of eye contact

breathiness

Friendly/Love/Infatuated

handshake not up or down

gloved handshake (2 hands)

handshake w/clasping arm

hand steepling - raised

hair stroking & head tossing

head tilt - when man present

raised eyebrows - rapid and widen eyes

raised eyebrows - rapid and widen eyes w/longer duration

Friendly/Love/Infatuated (cont)

head tilted to one side

head/hair toss

shoulder shrug

stand up straighter, more alert

pull in stomach

skin blush or pale

change in body smell

draw attention to lips (i.e. wet with tongue, pout)

touch own body

stroke or push hair away from face

adjust clothing

hand on hip to expose wrist and/or palm

increased heart rate

hug/snuggle/nuzzle

nose rub

playful bite

tongue touches lip

kiss

bat eyelids

flirting glance

narrowed eyes

deliberate eye contact/holding gaze

eyes roam over other person's face, linger on throat, breasts/chest, body in deliberate signal of interest

dilated pupils

caress with fingertips or lips

tickle

hold hands

stroke other person's palm with thumb

lingering touch

extend or reach out with arms/hands

man - place open hand at the small of woman's back while walking = you're mine/I'm in command

female: sway hips when walking\male: saunter

thigh contact

facial flush

gaze down coyly

sigh

smile

breathiness

husky voice

throaty voice

giggle

flattering comments

Physical contact, including hugs and kisses. "I like you."

Increased breathing rate; "I want to smell you."

Courtship behavior; "I want to make love to you."

Direct gaze with wide pupils; "I find you pleasing to look at."

Facial flushing; blood rushing to enhance the senses: hearing, sight, taste, smell.

Head-tilt-side; "Do I have your attention?"

Increased heart rate; to enhance the senses: hearing, sight, taste, smell.

Mimic of behavior and/or appearance; "We make a set, we belong together."

Softened tone of voice; "If you want to hear what I say, come closer."

Closing personal distance; "I want to touch you."

Humor/Happiness

smile

animated eyes/expression

tears in eyes/crying/sobbing

tightening of the throat/inability to speak

quivering chin

dilated pupils

raise/lift eyebrows to widen eyes

facial flush

laugh (can be silent)

hugging upper abdomen/lower chest sigh

a. Laugh or smile

b. Tears; "I am overwhelmed."

Humble/Deferential/Non-aggressive/Submissive

open palm up

handshake on bottom

Dead fish handshake

bowed head

head tilted to one side

Lowered chin

down-turned eyes

no direct eye contact

tight-lipped

silent

slumped/hunched shoulders

shrug shoulders

turn body inward to make smaller

open palms

arms next to side

pout

low voice

Turning away "No thank you."

Body-bend, body-shift, and bowing "Please don't…"

Displacement cues "How did THIS happen?"

Facial flushing; Blood rushing to enhance the senses: hearing, sight, taste, smell. ; Blood rushing to enhance the senses: hearing, sight, taste, smell.

Humble/Deferential/Non-aggressive/Submissive (cont)

gaze-down; "I am not a threat."

give-way; "I will not challenge you."

head-tilt-side; "Don't…"

Mimic of superior's body movements "I will not challenge you."

laughing; "I will not challenge you."

palms-up; "I surrender."

exaggerated personal distance; "Don't touch me."

pigeon toes; "I can't chase you, I am not a threat."

shoulder-shrugging; "Don't touch me."

shyness; "Don't notice me."

difficulty gazing directly at, or cross lines of sight with, a dominant individual. "I don't want to challenge you."

higher vocal pitch "I'm weak, and helpless."

yawning; "No fangs, see? I am not a threat."

Lying/Deception

hand/finger to mouth

hand over mouth

hand over mouth w/finger under nose

eye rub

back neck rub - looking down

gazing down/lack of eye contact

sweaty palms/head/neck/armpits

raising upward on/lifting toes

scratching/rubbing/pinching/holding parts of body

dilated pupils

rapid eye blink

pretending excitement to convince

lips pressed together

darting tongue

clear throat

false smile

reticence/withdrawal from contact

shoulder shrug

touching forehead/jaw with hand

facial flushing, especially around eyes

deliberate control of body energy = fewer movements, stiffness of demeanor

wheedling tone of voice

Sad/Depressed/Grief/Pain

tears standing in eyes/crying/sobbing

narrowed eyes

closed eyes

tightening of the throat

inability to speak

repeated swallowing

quivering chin

pout

compressed/down-turned mouth or lips

chew lip

flared nostrils

wrinkled nose/ brow

forward bowing of body, turning in on oneself

arms folded across lower chest/upper abdomen

lethargy

clenched fist

stiffness of body

hand over heart

slumped posture/drooping shoulders

gazing downward

sigh

wavering voice

toneless voice

Bowing postures; "I'm terribly sorry."

Cry face and lip-pout; "Please don't hurt me anymore."

Gazing-down; "I am not a challenge."

Slumped flexed-forward posture of the shoulders; "I give up."

Audible sigh; "I give up."

Compressed lips; "No, I don't want that."

wide eyes w/blinking

Surprise

wide eyes

brows arched upward

open mouth

parted lips

grimace

wide eyes

fixated stare

rapid eye blink

startle reflex

sudden intake of breath

drawing back of body

head jerked/thrown back

exclamation

Summary of common Facial Cues.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Nose:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a) nostril flare; "Oh that scent!" (arousal, rivalry)

b) nose wrinkle; (disgust)

2. Lips:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a) grin (happiness, friendship, contentment)

b) grimace (fear)

c) lip-compression (anger, emotion, frustration)

d) canine snarl (disgust)

e) lip-pout (sadness, submission, uncertainty)

f) lip-purse (disagree)

g) sneer (contempt)

3. Brows:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a) frown (anger, sadness, concentration)

b) brow-raise (intensity)

4. Tongue:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

tongue-show (dislike, disagree)

5. Eyelids:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a) flashbulb eyes (surprise)

b) widened (excitement, surprise)

c) narrowed (threat, disagreement)

d) fast-blink (arousal)

e) normal-blink (relaxed)

6. Eyes:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a) big pupils (arousal, fight-or-flight)

b) small pupils (rest-and-digest)

c) direct-gaze (affiliate, threaten)

d) gaze cut-off (dislike, disagree)

e) gaze-down (submission, deception)

f) CLEMS* (thought processing) This is an acronym for "Conjugate Lateral Eye Movement." When the eyes move sideward (to the right or left) in response to a question. Rightward movement is associated with symbolic thinking, or Memory, (what we KNOW,) while Leftward Movement is associated with visual thinking, or Creativity, (what we INVENT).

By Minnette MeadorTHE ROMANTIC ARC – There is a story ARC in everything you write; whether it’s a thriller, mystery, or even a children’s book. I use a mix of the Heroes’ Journey (1) and Aristotle's tragic fall from grace for most of my books.THE NORMAL LIFE – My depiction of the “normal life” that prefaces the story ARC of a romance doesn’t have to be dull. As a matter of fact, I try to portray the life of my lead characters as dramatic as possible. In the beginning of my first historical the hero has just killed a Celtic warrior. In the second historical he is running from Roman soldiers trying to hide his identity. Both normal everyday things Marius does. In Ghost of a Chance the story starts out with Keenan ogling the woman of his dreams just to be interrupted by a screaming apparition, which, for him, is also his normal life. I try to blend in the barriers right from the beginning to create mystery. In a romance ARC I think it’s important to build the “normal” romantic life from the beginning too: i.e. he sees ghosts so how can he ever hope to have a normal relationship; she has sworn off men and will never date again; she finds him annoyingly attractive, until he opens his mouth, that is; he can’t stand bossy women and this one is the worst… if only he didn’t like her so much. It makes that fateful step through the Looking Glass or crossing that first threshold an even harder step. The character has already been through a lot when I open my stories. I try to stay away from backstory as much as possible in the beginning pages. I want to portray that the normal life for this exceptional character will only become more intriguing.
THE OPEN DOOR – The second part of the ARC for me is the beginning of the journey, the stepping through that forbidden door, or the change in circumstances that hurls the character into unknown territory. In a romance ARC, this could be anything out of the ordinary for my characters. In The Belle Stalker, the path opens when Belle finds her lover murdered in her apartment and her homicide detective ex-husband back in her life. In A Ghost of a Chance the road changes when Keenan is seduced by a powerful spirit that changes his life forever. In The Centurion and the Queen, Delia’s life changes when she meets the Centurion and is thrust into the middle of a war. Every story has this dramatic change of life circumstances and I try to make them powerful enough to turn the characters onto different paths way beyond their comfort zones.THE FALL FROM GRACE – some people don’t use this step in the story, but I love it. Human beings are flawed, awkward, crazy, argumentative, docile, and have many imperfections that make them ultimately fascinating. Even a hero has bouts of nerves, kind people sometime hiss with the best of them, smart people go suddenly stupid in the most dire of situations, and evil people can even show compassion. I build in a fall from grace for my characters; in the romance ARC this might mean something like deliberately pointing out a mate’s shortcomings in a heated argument; turning into a coward at the threshold of disaster to save your own skin; walking away from responsibility when others are counting on you. The lower they go the more glorious the black moment and the resolution.MAKE IS WORSER – I have a wonderful editor, who would tell me to make it worser, i.e. make it bad, then go one further and make it worse… then make it worser. That piece of advice has always helped me. I torture my poor characters mercilessly. It makes for good reading every time. THE BLACK MOMENT – Donald Maase is an amazing instructor and teaches this about the black moment:
Work out the one thing your character would never do, then make him/her do it.Work out the one thing your character would never sacrifice, then make him/her sacrifice it. Work out your character’s greatest fear then make him/her face that. THE RESURRECTION – This is the shining moment of the romance ARC, the place where the couple decides they can’t live without each other, the daring rescue despite his fears, the resounding revelation that they do love each other, or the all-encompassing realization that what you wanted all along was right in front of you. This works for the romance ARC as it does for any genre. THE JOURNEY HOME – This is the part that wraps up the story and takes the character “home,” wherever that might be. THE LANGUAGE OF LOVETHE WORDS – There has been countless articles written about what words to use for the romantic ARC and many can be found on the internet. When I first started to write I fell into a lot of the same traps that lots of us do; trying to come up with new and exciting ways to talk about physical love. I found out that that usually ends up sounding like “purple prose” (http://www.fiction-writers-mentor.com/purple-prose.html). For me, the more straightforward the better in love scenes and to write about them baring their emotions to each other, their fears, their passions. I have written just about every level of sexual heat in my books. The difference is language; innuendo vs. explicit. I’m giving you some examples attached of the two, but keep in mind both are for adults only. I don’t know if I can tell you my technique; for me, these are the hardest scenes to write and take lots of practice. My suggestion would be that if you want to write sex scenes you read what others have written and learn from them. Here is an excellent article on the subject as well: http://www.writing-world.com/romance/essentials.shtml. THE FACE – The eyes are the windows to the soul, but the hundreds of tiny muscles in the face are what really communicate to us. When someone is interested we send off a plethora of signals to the other person. These can be so subtle you’d have to have stop motion photography to catch them, yet we know them instantly when we see them (or not… how many signals have you missed from others in love?). The face is an excellent place to “show, don’t tell.” Here are some of the things the face can tell us in love:It’s in the EyesThe size of the person’s pupils and gaze behaviorsExcitement, happiness, lustPupils can dilate up to four times their original sizeDilation also associated with problem-solving, mental activities – dilating to maximum when a decision is reached.Angry, negative moodPupils restrict to what are commonly known as “beady little eyes” or “snake eyes”Lighter eyes can look more attractive because it’s easier to see the dilation – we can read the other person better. This is why dark eyes are considered mysterious.Key signal in courtship – purpose of eye makeup is to emphasize eye display. Centuries ago, prostitutes put drops of belladonna, a tincture containing atropine into their eyes to dilate their pupils and make themselves look more desirable.Dimly lit places prove to be more successful in romantic encounters – everyone’s pupils dilate. This is why you’ll need to reflect more body language.
THE BODY – Just as the face displays romantic interest, so does the body.Regular furtive glances with intervals of three to five seconds, decreasing as interest develops to two to three seconds.Staring and full of intensityHide and seek game of sneaking looks and flashing glances
LOVE RESOURCES: There are hundreds of web pages on this subject and I’ve researched many of them. They give you countless ways to show male and female interest without using words and are wonderful resources. Here are just a couple, but there are many more: http://www.2knowmyself.com/relationship_breakups/body_language_love_signals http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/body-language/#/category1
SHOW DON’T TELL - I spent years working on craft and studying that ever elusive “show, don’t tell” maxim. One of the best tools I’ve found is the “cheat sheet,” a wonderful quick guide to body language for every emotion. I’ve created an 11 page cheat sheet for myself with a wide range of body language cues (things we do that project certain emotions) and I’m happy to share it with you. This was compiled from several resources and has helped me immensely. I hope it can help you too. GOALS, MOTIVATIONS, AND CONFLICTS – A great book on GMC is Goal, Motivation, & Conflict: The Building Blocks of Good Fiction by Debra Dixon. This is an amazing book about building substance into your heroes, heroines, and bad guys to make them more three dimensional. I do GMC for every major character in my book and even for secondary ones if it’s needed. I also do an extensive character survey sheet for each one to tell me all about them. In a nutshell:
What: The ideal scene – What does the character want more than anything else? Note: It is NOT to fall in love. Romance is usually the LAST thing a character wants and it messes up everything every time. What is your protagonist’s goal? What is your antagonist’s goal?Why: What is his motivation?  Why does he want this goal? Because… The motivation is what drives characters and sets up the foundation for the novel. It also what keeps it moving forward. Think of a motivation your character has.Why not? Who or what stands in our way?Definition of conflict*:Conflict is a struggle against someone or something in which the outcome is in doubt.Conflict is bad things happening to good people.Conflict is bad things happening to bad people.Conflict is friction, tension, opposition… and danger.Conflict is two dogs and one bone. THE WIZARD OF OZ:WHO – DOROTHYWHAT/GOAL – TO GET BACK TO KANSASWHY/MOTIVATION – BECAUSE HER AUNTIE EM IS SICKWHY NOT/CONFLICT – THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST WHO WANTS THE RUBY SLIPPERS
LAYERING IN THE ROMANCEThe backstory – I try to work in as little back story as I can in the beginning of the book and reserve it for the “quiet” times. I try to build it into dialogue first and then in reflections. This for me is one of the hardest things to do because you don’t want to just do a “data dump” to your readers. It pulls them out of the story and usually causes page skipping. I’ve seen it myself in books by some of the best authors in the world. The backstory needs to come out naturally, a bit at a time, leaving a mystery after each bite to move the reader forward in the story. I try very hard never to give them all the story until the very end.Dialogue – This should be a natural result of relationship building. Sometimes just throwing two people together where they have to stay that way will generate dialogue. I try to make my dialogue short, sweet, and pithy wherever I can, however, I also have my characters tell their own stories as well. It’s usually more interesting coming from them than it is from me. I’m notorious for the “story within a story” using flashbacks that are usually funny and hopefully always interesting. Romance dialogue is used to learn about each other; think of a time when you went on a date. What was your conversation like? Have the characters ask questions, get into a tiff where something comes out that shouldn’t have, come up with a solution to a problem based on past experience that the other person didn’t know about. You can weave this all into your story to bulk it up. The quiet moments - If you have no quiet times you are going to exhaust your reader – everyone needs a breather, including your characters. It is during these quiet moments that we learn all the good, bad, and ugly things about our characters, heroes and villains. As a musician I learned a lot about silence and its importance to music. It is the pauses as much as the crescendos that define the emotion of music. It’s the same with writing; the quiet and even silent times in the story builds a foundation for the tension and movement and make them more real. Just as life breathes in and out, so does a story. Even the most thrilling of suspense novels have their quiet times. The trick is learning to balance the two. LAST NOTES:If you want to write well, read well.Study and practice your craft. No one lives in a vacuum. Learn from as many other writers as you can.Romance can be as subtle as a stolen kiss and as grand as an elaborate marriage. Let your characters be frightened, unsure, clumsy, and doubtful. In matters of love, we’re all like that no matter how we act on the outside. The only other occupation we know less about is being a parent. That is true for your characters as well.Even the most macho man in the world can be brought down by the flash of a lovely eye.Even the most steadfast liberated woman can melt into the arms of a lover who truly cherishes her.Romance can add warmth and passion to any story, even the dourest ones. We often cling to love when all else fails. And it is usually love that sees us through the worst life can throw at us.
QUESTIONS:
ATTACHED MATERIALS: HERO’S JOURNEY - SUMMARYIt’s Not What You Say; It’s How You Say It Body Language Basics for WritersCHART OF BODY CUES BY EMOTION/ATTITUDESUMMARY OF COMMON FACIAL CUESCOLOR TERMS – DIFFERENT WORDS FOR COLORS
SEX SCENE SAMPLES (Available after meeting with author)
Please email me at mmeador@minnettemeador.com for a copy of this presentation with notes or any of the handouts. I’m happy to share whatever I have with other writers so please don’t hesitate to ask.
RESOURCE LISThttp://www.minnettemeadorbooks.com/p/writing-resources_27.html

www.minnettemeador.comBLOGwww.minnettemeadorbooks.comE-MAILmmeador@minnettemeador.comTWITTERhttp://twitter.com/#%21/MinnetteMeadorFACEBOOKhttp://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Minnette-Meador/19208183951 http://www.amazon.com/Minnette-Meador/e/B002BMBV58/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1BARNES & NOBLEhttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/MINNETTE-MEADOR?keyword=MINNETTE+MEADOR&store=allproductsPOWELLS BOOKShttp://www.powells.com/s?kw=Minnette+Meador&class= The hero's journey: summary of the stepsDeparture The Call to AdventureRefusal of the CallSupernatural AidThe Crossing of the First ThresholdThe Belly of the WhaleInitiation The Road of TrialsThe Meeting with the GoddessWoman as the TemptressAtonement with the FatherApotheosisThe Ultimate BoonReturn Refusal of the ReturnThe Magic FlightRescue from WithoutThe Crossing of the Return ThresholdMaster of the Two WorldsFreedom to LiveHeros Journey : Summary of Steps SAMPLE 1 – INNUENDO – The Centurion & The QueenAll at once, there was nothing in Delia’s universe but Marius kissing, touching, biting, and exploring every inch of her body with his mouth, his tongue, and his hands. For the first time in her life, Delia forgot everything else. The bliss sent an earthquake through her loins, causing her body to teeter on the brink of the sublime. Nothing in her experience prepared her for the new sensations; the tingle in her neck, arms, and hands; the tightening of her belly when a wave of lightning engulfed it; the escape of her moisture as it saturated her, swelled her. Once unrestrained, her passion was urgent, desperate, and critical, but Marius forced her to yield to his slow pace, his unhurried touch, bringing her, again and again, to the edge of rapture and then denying her, until she wanted to beg for it. Marius’ lips devoured hers; his tongue explored her mouth, her neck, and her ears. His teeth found her breasts and her nipples, his tongue torturing them until she moaned in need. With a movement that startled her, he forced her legs open with strong arms, cupped her buttock in his hands, and lifted her hips to meet his mouth. With gentle, delicate flicks of his tongue, he brought her close to the edge so many times she lost count in delirium. Delia could do nothing more than squeeze the blankets. His hands finally opened her, slowly, gradually, insistently. With his thumbs, he spread the softness, the moistness, grabbing her wrist to force her own hand to feel for herself, and laughing at her greedy caresses. Marius moved Delia’s fingers to the soft head of his erection where she let them linger and explore, running the tiny, delicate pads over the heavily veined skin. Delia could feel herself blush and prickles of pleasure moved through her arms when he grew harder in her hand. She squeezed instinctively, feeling the muscle throb and flex, forcing her to tighten her grip. More moisture drenched her in anticipation.
SAMPLE 2 – EXPLICIT – A GHOST OF A CHANCENaked heaving breasts came into view; the nipples were long, slate hard, and the areolas black against dark skin. Her waist and hips were slim. Stretched fingers pinched the nipples, making them longer, more rigid. The triangle of her pussy was bald, the slit dark and inviting. Hazy clouds covered her face, making it soft and featureless, but billowing tendrils of black hair twisted out from around it, flowing in a wind Keenan couldn’t hear. It moved in a watery dance. The covers glided slowly down his body. The soft touch of the silk made his cock twinge in agony, and he gritted his teeth to hiss his pleasure. Electric shocks ignited the nerves in his neck, shoulders, and arms. When Keenan was completely exposed, he wasn’t cold. His cock sprang into ready position. The hair on his arms and legs snapped with static. Rising from the floor until her naked body hovered horizontally inches above him, the entity’s nipples brushed his chest scattering goose bumps across every pore. The creature reached down and wrapped a hot hand around his erection making it pulse when she squeezed. Her grip was like iron. Keenan pulled a gasping moan into his lungs. He could only watch as she slid down to put her mouth above his agonized member. She brushed her tongue several times across the tip then pulled it hard into her mouth. Barbs of lightning convulsed Keenan’s body, intensifying his senses. The sucking sound of her mouth against his flesh, the sweet smell of her juices mixing with his own musky scent, the feel of those hot soft lips caressing the sensitive flesh as they slid over the head of his cock, and the strong grip of her warm hand, all fought for his attention. It’s Not What You Say; It’s How You Say ItBody Language Basics for Writers

What is Body Language?A term for communication using body movements or gestures instead of, or in addition to, sounds, verbal language or other communications. Considered “paralanguage” which describes all forms of human communication that is not verbal. Can also incorporate the use of facial expressions.
The total impact of a message is:7% verbal (words)38% vocal (tone of voice, inflection, and other sounds)55% nonverbal (body language)
How does Body Language reveal emotions and thoughts?Body Language is an outward reflection of a person’s emotional conditionHardwired from our pasts when body language and vocal, not words, comprised communication.Dominated by biological rules that control our actions, reactions, body language and gestures.Human animal is rarely aware that our postures, movements, and gestures can tell one story, the truth, while our words are telling another.
Can Body Language Be Faked?Language can be faked but body’s physical reactions cannot.Politicians, interviewees, pageant contestants – use studiously learned body movements but even the most expert can only fake body language a short period.Physical reactions are the key:Pupil dilationSweatingBlushingInvoluntary mouth movements like a split-second sneerForehead crease, crow’s feet
Women are More PerceptiveYour heroine can read the hero and other characters better because:Commonly referred to as woman’s intuitionInnate ability to pick up and decipher nonverbal signals and an accurate eye for small details.Particularly evident in women who have raised children since the first few years, the mother relies almost solely on the nonverbal to communicate with the child.Woman have between 14-16 areas of brain to evaluate other’s behavior – men have 4-6.Female brain is organized for multi-tasking – which is why men lose plot when women try to communicate to them during show.More white around their eyes
It’s in the EyesUnwittingly referring to the size of the person’s pupils and to gaze behaviorsExcitement, happiness, lustPupils can dilate up to four times their original sizeDilation also associated with problem-solving, mental activities – dilating to maximum when a decision is reached.Angry, negative moodPupils restrict to what are commonly known as “beady little eyes” or “snake eyes”Lighter eyes can look more attractive because it’s easier to see the dilation – we can read the other person better. This is why dark eyes are considered mysterious.Key signal in courtship – purpose of eye makeup is to emphasize eye display. Centuries ago, prostitutes put drops of belladonna, a tincture containing atropine into their eyes to dilate their pupils and make themselves look more desirable.Dimly lit places prove to be more successful in romantic encounters – everyone’s pupils dilate. This is why you’ll need to reflect more body language.
LyingMost people associate looking away with lyingLook at the pupils and other tells – pupils constrictedRapid eye blinking
Sexual Attraction – What each sex looks at:WomenMore time on face – mouth, eyes and hairSize and buildClothes – shoes, rings and other jewelryButtCrotchLeg lengthMenBreastsLeg lengthGenerally scans from ground up – feet, legs, crotch, torso, breasts, shoulders and then face.Men who keep their gaze focused on woman’s face rather than her body are consistently rated as being more attractive.Studies show that most men are not hardwired to read a woman’s first gaze signal so she usually needs to repeat it three times for the average man, four times for a slow man and five or more for the especially thick man.
Getting a Man’s AttentionRegular furtive glances with intervals of three to five seconds, decreasing as interest develops to two to three seconds.Staring and full of intensityHide and seek game of sneaking looks and flashing glances
Brain’s Response to ThreatFreeze – to avoid detection by dangerous predators or in dangerous situations and/or to give yourself the opportunity to assess the situation and decide on a response.Stop suddenly, perhaps strike himself on the head before turning aroundA nervous interviewee holds her breath or breaths shallowlyA person being questioned about a crime locks legs interlocked behind the chair legs (position of security)Another – diminishing of the body – hunching shoulders (turtle effect)Flight – to escape the threat or to distance oneself from danger.Lean away, place an object or objects on her lap, or turning her feet toward the nearest exit, closing eyes, rubbing the eyes, placing hands in front of the face (blocking)Distancing non-verbal behaviorsHolding one leg at right angle to his body, feet pointing to nearest exitClasping of the knees and shifting of body weight on the feet Feet shift from flat-footed to the “starter’s position” like a sprinter Fight – this is the brain’s final tactic for survival through aggression. When a person cannot avoid detection by freezing and cannot protect himself by escaping, fight is the only alternative.Fight response is does not always mean physical attackOne form of modern aggression is verbal altercation as in arguingUsing posture to show aggression – puffing out the chest, violating another’s personal space
Pacifying BehaviorsAdapters – serve to calm us down after we experience something unpleasant or downright nasty – brain enlists the body to provide comforting (pacifying) behaviorsChewing GumBiting pencils/pensTouching the face, neck or lipsPlaying with hair or stroking a beardStroking tops of hands or fingersPlaying with a necklace or adjusting cuff linksRubbing the foreheadSmoothing down the front of a shirt or adjusting a tieLicking the lipsSelf-administered body hug – crossing their arms and rubbing their hands against their shoulders as if experiencing a chillMassaging the earlobe with thumb or forefingerMen prefer to touch their faces; women prefer to touch their necks, clothing, jewelry, arms and hair