Body Language - Does it Concern You?

Recently I ran across a presentation about body language and how it affects the way buyers relate to you. The article and video related to artists selling art at outdoor events and in galleries. Of course, this also relates to authors promoting books at signings and to anyone who works in retail.

What I gathered from reading and watching is that you can turn people off when you close up by crossing your arms over your body and crossing your legs. You are crunching up to take up a smaller amount of space. Buyers reject this kind of posture. At least, according to what I gathered from watching the video and reading the article. They relate more to the person with an open stance who takes up more space.

The person who stands with hands on hips has a more inviting posture. That one surprised me because it might appear to others that person wants to dominate. I don't know. However, I often find myself in that pose just because it seems more comfortable. I'm not trying to dominate. At least, not consciously.

Message for authors and for artists: Open up. Be sincere. Invite conversation.

What do you think?

Ready for Halloween

My novel, Secrets by the Sea, features a ghost, so I'm pretty happy to be part of Leah Price's Daily Press blog for Halloween. Secrets is set in a haunted house, and it holds a special place in my heart. It's also a prequel to Jungle Jeopardy which with its black jaguar could be a Halloween story as well.

Completing A New Book Manuscript Brings Excitement

Completing a new book always brings excitement to me. My newest project, Daddy's Christmas Angel, has been a story of my heart for several years. I always call it my "Sleepless in Seattle" book because it's the story of a child's dream of having a mother of her own.

Kathleen's mother died in a tragic car accident when she was only a year old. Her father blamed himself for the tragedy and has spent the last six years trying to make up for the loss he brought to his child. He never wants either of them to be hurt again. That means staying away from any relationship that might make him vulnerable. Although David has a trustworthy older housekeeper who has cared for Kathleen since she was a baby, he does not realize how very much his young daughter wants and needs a mother.

When she inherits a rambling old house and land on the outskirts of a small town in Virginia, Angie picks up her life and moves from city life in St. Louis. She takes a job as a teacher, and Kathleen is one of her second-graders. The little girl takes a special liking to Angie and connives to connect them.

A few years ago, I sign a contract with a publishing company for this story as an e-book. Then, I decided the timing was not right for e-books, and I wanted to wait until it could come out in print form. So I asked to be released from the contract.

"Angel in the Trees" copyright MMSikes

The story has waited until this year. Several weeks ago, I pulled it back up on my computer and started revising it into a 75,000-word manuscript. It is not a "Passenger to Paradise" book because there is no exotic destination. It isn't a mystery, and there are no paranormal elements in it. It isn't a western novel. It's a love story. Remember the movie, "Love Story"? It is a little of that sort of story mixed with "Sleepless in Seattle" but with a happy ending.

It's exciting!


--Mary Montague Sikes

Fractal Energy and the Beauty of Art

Polka Dot Explosion Fractal Art by AsaLegault

Several years ago, a wonderful artist by the name of Mary Ann Beckwith introduced me to fractal art. She used fractals as inspiration for some of her paintings.

I was intrigued and found great inspiration in them for my own art work. I also introduced fractal art in the classroom for my elementary art students. Using fractals I found on the Internet, I placed prints around the art room for the children to use as reference materials. Studying these beautiful fractals, they created wonderful imaginative pieces of art.

Now, I've made another fractal discovery. This is of fractal mandalas. Here is a link to an absolutely awesome Fractal Mandala.

Thank you, Mary Ann.

Are you familiar with fractals? I would love to know your experiences.

--Mary Montague Sikes

Discovering Book Reviews Along the Way and a Jaguar

 Authors always enjoy discovering a positive book review for one of their creations. I found this today when I went to the Barnes and Noble Nook Books site. It's part of a five-star review by Sandra Heptinstall for Jungle Jeopardy, my adventure novel set in Central America.

"This book is filled with adventure, suspense, love and mystery. You will walk along with Dana, Clifton, Tyler and Mick, as they make their way through a wild jungle trying to find a lost cave that is filled with all types of treasures that Dana's grandfather hid there.

They are confronted with drug dealers, and a black jaguar that Dana called Billy, that follows them and has saved them more than once. I have really enjoyed this book, and know that if you like suspense, adventure, mystery and a romance that came alive again you will enjoy this book. It has something for everyone. Rated G"

"Billy, the Jaguar" copyright MMSikes

Knowing that someone else has discovered and enjoyed your book is always satisfying for the author. I'm glad this reviewer mentioned Billy, the jaguar. I hadn't planned to include a jaguar in my story; then, suddenly, he just appeared. At first, I thought he would be dangerous, but things changed, and my heroine, Dana, gave him a name...

I hadn't planned to paint him, but I did. And I hadn't planned to write about him today.

But I did.

--Mary Montague Sikes



I'm being interviewed at Romancing the Heart. Please stop by and visit.

Blog Stats and Copyright Issues

Since my discovery of the Blogspot Overview and Stats information, I've been looking at it and comparing it with my StatCounter at the bottom of my blog. The information is different, and I don't know why.

For example, the Blogspot Overview shows more page hits than StatCounter, yet the overall number of visits listed is the same. The StatCounter gives some more detailed information like exactly where the visitors are from.

The Stats information shows me that my post on Statistics a couple of weeks ago is almost as popular with visitors as the post I wrote in 2011 about Joe Dubois. It's really interesting to see which posts have created the most interest.

Copyright MMSikes

However, some of the hits are giving me concerns about copyright issues. I have a copyright statement at the bottom of my blog below everything else on my site. Do I need more copyright statements after each individual blog and under every photograph?

I hadn't thought much about it until I found a lot of hits on the subject of beach scenes. They went to the blog with this photo. While I want lots of blog traffic, I don't want others to use my photos or other material.

Has anyone else been concerned with this issue? I would like to know you opinions.

Mary Montague Sikes

 Please visit the Romancing the Heart blog http://tinyurl.com/8q2gxzf where I am guest author this week.

Also, please visit the Oak Tree Press site - http://otpblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/learning-to-like-book-signings.html. I have a post there about book signings.