Show Your True Colors: A Colorful List of Idioms

Color idioms, anyone? Look no further! I just spent a couple hours compiling as many phrases as I could find so you don't have to...thank-you-very-much and you're welcome.

Color Chips

 

RED

Caught red-handed: caught in the act of a misdeed

Seeing red: angry

Beet red: embarrassed and blushing

Red tape: Bureaucratic obstacles or tasks 

Taking the red-eye: late night traveling

Red light: stop

In the red: in debt, losing money

Roll out the red carpet: treat a person or group like royalty

The red-carpet treatment: give special treatment

Paint the town red: spending money on having a good time

Red-headed step-child: treated like the least favorite person

A red herring: a distraction

 

BLUE

Have the blues: melancholy

Feeling blue: sad, moody, depressed

Out of the blue: random chance, a surprise

Once in a blue moon: happenstance, something that rarely happens

Blue collar: manual labor, works with hands, wears overalls to work

Blue-eyed boy: a boy who is the favorite

Blue in the face: frustration

A blue-blood: aristocrat 

True-blue: loyal

A blue streak: moves fast

Blue cloud: profanity

Turn the air blue: saying a litany of swear words

A blue-hair: geriatric, old person

The blue hour: time when sun is below the horizon, either before sunrise or after sunset

YELLOW

Yellow-bellied: cowardly

To be yellow: coward

 

GREEN
Green with envy: to be jealous or envious

Green thumb: having a knack for growing healthy plants

Green light: permission to move forward, approval

Green backs: dollar bills, paper money

The grass is always greener: to covet, always wanting, never happy

Green around the gills: sick, queasy 

Looks green: sick, queasy

To be green: a novice, immature

Green-eyed monster: jealousy

ORANGE

Just peachy: everything is fine

 

PURPLE

Purple prose: flowery language that is excessive and draws attention to itself

Born in the purple: born into royalty

PINK

Tickled pink: delighted

Getting a pink slip: an official dismissal from a job

To see pink elephants: seeing imaginery things

Rosy outlook: optimistic

Rose-colored glasses: seeing things better than they really are

In the pink: in good spirits and good health

BROWN

Brown-nose: to curry favor by excessive obedience or attentiveness

A brown shirt: a Nazi 

Brownie points: an imaginary award for doing good deeds, a people pleaser

Brown-bagging it: bring your own

A brown study: lost in thought

 

BLACK

Black and blue: bruised

Black sheep: a person on the outs with their family

Black out: to faint

Black and white: clear and defined, plain and simple, easy to figure out

Black as night: dark, can't see

Black eye: a bruise around the eye 

Black gold: a valuable item despite its appearance

Black comedy: tragic yet funny

Pot calling the kettle black: hypocrisy

In the black: profitable, making money

A black day: bad things are coming

On the black list: a list of people on the outs

In a black book: rejected or out of favor

Black-balled: to be rejected in secret, a vote against

A black look: angry

Blackmail: a crime, demanding payment to keep secrets

Black-tie: formal dress, formal event 

Pitch black: dark, can't see

Black market: trading illegal goods

WHITE

White lie: a lie told to be polite or alter the truth enough to not get into trouble

White elephant: a possession that is expensive and hard to get rid of

White collar: high paying job, wear a suit to work, desk job 

White livered: cowardly

White as a sheet (ghost): pale, sickly

White flag: retreat, give up, admit defeat

White pain: shooting, hot, neuralgic pain

GRAY

Gray area: undefined and unclear 

Gray matter: brain or thinking

Shades of gray: ambiguous 

Has a gray cloud: pessimistic

 

GOLD 

Golden opportunity: a perfect chance

Good as gold: positive

Heart of gold: generous and kind

Worth your weight in gold: useful and helpful

The golden hour: when the sun is low on the horizon either after sunrise or before sunset

A golden boy: a popular, lucky, successful male

Taking the golden ticket: to swap one's soul for success, making a deal with the devil

 

SILVER

Silver screen: the film industry, Hollywood

Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth: born into a wealthy family

Silver lining: see the good in a bad situation

Silver-tongue: someone who says what others want to hear to persuade them 

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"The color I love..."

Developmental Edit: Outlook Good

Sometimes a person has to break through a barrier of some kind (sorry Magic 8 Ball!) to manifest the kind of change their looking for. Persevere mentally, brick-by-brick, word-by-word because you want it bad enough. Don't give up! For me, I wanted the outlook to be good, and after a couple whacks with my hammer I got it ;)

Outlook good!

After taking four years to write, rearrange, get critiques, and write some more, I finally have completed my third story. It was a long, arduous haul, and I was pretty nervous sending it off to my developmental editor. It's a blessing and a curse and her job to not hold back, so I expected the same treatment that I got for my first two books. Instead, I got a lift! Good news--only a few minor changes ahead!

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"Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress no matter how slow." ~ Plato

Summer 2020 Reading Challenge: Summer Scourge

Inspired by the word "Scourge."

I like the word "scourge." The hard sounds of it pretty much denote its meaning and all the feels for what 2020 has been about over the past 5 months: virus contamination, nursing homes, murder hornets, Asian gypsy moths, flying ant invasion, masks, ventilators, "I can't breathe," vaccines, toilet paper shortage, fever, social distancing, isolation, protests, riots, looting, testing, Hollywood, Epstein's flight log, Seattle CHAZ, Portland ANTIFA, #BLM, elections, power-mad bureaucrats...

As we all know the list keeps going. Hell, I didn't even get to dinosaurs, super Earths, or the weather! 

Call me crazy, but what's better than a media-inspired, fear-based, summer reading challenge? 💊😷💀🐝🌍🌡🎥💰💉 I say yessss!

The books already on my shelf that had inspirational Covid-19 titles are:

1.) That Summer by Sarah Dessen

2.) Greetings from Witness Protection! by Jake Burt

3.) The Scourge by Jennifer A. Nielsen

4.) Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

5.) Where the World Ends by Geraldine McCaughrean

Wish me luck! If I get depressed I'll try to find a cute book about bats instead. Less because of China's wet market and more because I want a bat habitat house. Check out this cool place: Nice Nests in Twisp, Washington. *swoon* Too cute!

Nice Nests

Bat Box by Patrick Hannigan

"Nice Nests, not just for the birds."

What Good Are Crutch Words?

I found a great article called So, Um, You Really Need to Stop Using Crutch Words by Niti Shah about crutch words (a.k.a. filler words) and how they confuse what a speaker is saying by diluting the message, as well as making the person sound nervous and unsure. She says, "I'm identifying words that we often use but have no business being said out loud."

For speakers, sure, but this isn't necessarily true for fiction writers!

"I mean...I just...like you."

Artist Trading Coin by Stacia Leigh

So, what good are crutch words?

They may be considered unnecessary fluff to some, but they have their place. They're really good for implying a voice or a tone when writing unique characters. Each person in the story needs to sound like an individual and if all the characters have similar quirks or start their sentences with, "Actually," then the lines get blurred pretty quickly regarding who's who. Why do the teens sound like the adults? Why does the villain speak in the same manner as the hero? Is the alien talking or the captain of the ship?

Confusion will inevitably set in and that confusion lifts the curtain between the mist of the imaginary world and the concrete reality of text on the page. Authors need to keep the reader immersed in the story for it to be a satisfying read, and one small part of this process is to have characters that are easily identifiable by voice.

I've included a list of crutch words below for easy access. Mix and match and have fun. Do you have a favorite or a new word to add? Let me know!


STARTING A SENTENCE
* And (so)
* So
* Anyway(s)
* At the end of the day
* Okay
* Well
* Hey
* Like I said
* Like I was saying
* As I was saying
* Well...yeah
* Listen
* Tell me something
* You see
* I mean
* In fact
* To be honest with you
* Somehow
* In a weird way
* Regardless
* Nevertheless
* For what it's worth
* Now
* By the way
* No way
* All things being equal
* As a matter of fact
* As far as I'm concerned
* At this point (in time)
* Here's the thing
* I feel (that or like)
* I think (that)
* I believe (that)
* I might add
* In my (humble) opinion
* It seems like
* The most important thing is to
* The reason
* Time and time again


SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE
* Just
* Almost
* Mostly
* Only
* Basically
* Actually
* Definitely
* Literally
* Really
* Very
* Truly
* Essentially
* Absolutely
* Seriously
* Totally
* Honestly
* Obviously
* Like
* Clearly
* Technically
* Great
* Fantastic
* Awesome
* Sick
* Excellent
* Wow
* Whoa
* Brilliant
* Definite
* Typical
* Uh
* Er
* Um
* Hmm
* Ah
* Uh huh
* And one more thing
* Maybe
* Sure (thing)
* Certainly
* A lot
* In any shape or form
* Slightly
* Simply
* Exactly
* Perhaps


ENDING A SENTENCE
* Right
* You know
* (You) Know what I mean
* (You) Know what I'm saying
* You get the idea
* And so on and so forth
* I guess (so)
* I suppose (so)
* Or something (like that)
* Stuff like that
* Or whatever
* You get me
* You feel me
* Are you with me
* Believe (you) me
* Believe it
* Got it
* Considering
* Here
* There


OTHER RESOURCES
* 298 Filler Words & Phrases That Rob Your Writing of Its Power by SmartBlogger
* Fill in the Gaps by FluentU
* 10 Crutch Words to Avoid Using When Speaking or Writing by Online-Spellcheck.com
* Don't Get Crippled by Crutch Words by TCK Publishing.com
* 30 Filler Words You Can Cut Out of Your Writing by GrammarCheck
* 25 Filler Words That Won't Get You Hired by BrandYourself

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"Don't be the crutch for someone who can walk." ~ LaShawn Henderson

Sharing Books with Little Free Libraries: Blaine, Washington

Road trip...retreat...rest and relaxation.

The letter 'R' represents!

The Adventure Starts...

...in the Tiny Taproom

Last weekend was spent with the ladies in Blaine, Washington to celebrate birthdays, have some fun, and explore a new area. Loved Blaine, a cute, quaint border town right on the coast. Had some drinks--check out the Tiny Taproom, capacity twelve--had some laughs, and found some Little Free Libraries, too.

Burnout by Stacia Leigh

Birch Bay Visitor Center

Dealing with Blue by Stacia Leigh

Bayview Avenue

The Ladies at Birch Bay State Park

Birch Bay Beach

Rainbow from Semiahmoo Point

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"And then I realized adventures are the best way to learn." 

Personalized Signs by Lone Star Art

March 2020 Reading Challenge: Create an Outfit

What do you feel like wearing this month? The book I'm excited to read, Finding Frances by Kelly Vincent, inspired my reading challenge for March. A pair of sneakers is prominently shown on the front cover and thus becomes my first article of clothing. Let's see, what to wear...what to wear...

*Digs through closet*

1.) Shoes on and ready to go. No, I don't put my shoes of first, but this book is the first on my list, so work with me, people.

Finding Frances by Kelly Vincent

2.) Underwear to me, though some might (will) argue these are swimsuits and then I'd be forced to take a closer look, which I don't want to do.

The Secrets of Boys by Hailey Abbott

3.) Daisy Duke shorts and sunglasses because I'm feeling sassy.

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

4.) Tank top up, car top down! I'm REALLY ready for summer. #stopraining

Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

5.) Bangles and bling. Now if I find the car keys to that red convertible up there, I'll be on my way, but if not, no worries. I'm feeling bookish anyway. Happy reading!

Unfriended by Rachel Vail

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"Clothes mean nothing until someone lives in them." ~ Marc Jacobs

Sharing Books with Little Free Libraries: Renton and Newcastle, Washington

After meeting with my writer's critique group in Renton, I decided to meander my way back home by way of Little Free Libraries. I truly enjoyed the search, the book sharing--leaving behind the books I wrote, the books I've read, and my crafty bookmarks--and posting these cute little houses on the dub-dub-dub. My friend called it guerrilla marketing...lol. I prefer using the word "organic."

Dealing with Blue

Grant Street

Burnout

Second Avenue

Some of the houses have quite a fresh stack, new titles with lots of variety: mysteries, romances, picture books, middle grade, art, intrigue... And some, like the LFL on Second Avenue, had a little something extra, a wooden box for trading seeds. Cute!

Dealing with Blue

Pelly Avenue

Wow!

Carved Sculpture on Jones Avenue

Some of the libraries held faded books with warped covers, old titles, or a slog of reading material on container gardening, like one neighbor had an interest to share, not leaving much of a variety. Of the eight houses I visited, two didn't have libraries anymore. The one on Jones Street had an empty post, but sadly no library. But wow, really glad I stopped because that wood carving in the front yard was breathtaking. I even saw a small pasture in the middle of urban Renton with a donkey. And so it goes...

Sounds Complicated

86th Street

Distance Between

84th Way

Dealing with Blue

73rd Street

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New Author Shout Out!


Finding Frances
by Kelly Vincent

February 2020 Reading Challenge: Sunny Yellow

A Yellow Reading Pile

For February's reading challenge, I opted out of a Valentine theme, like the color red or heart shapes on the cover, and instead chose a book I wanted to read and then tried to find a commonality with other books on my shelves. I've had my eye on The Rosie Project for quite some time, and decided to give it a go, which inspired this month's reading challenge. The bright, sunny color on the cover of Graeme Simsion's book is a wonderful contrast to the PNW weather we're currently having here in Seattle, gray and dismal and wet. #stopraining

The list of yellow books:

1.) The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

2.) This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

3.) Ghost by Jason Reynolds

4. The Hive by Gill Hornby

5.) Comedy Writing Secrets by Mark Shatz with Mel Helitzer

6.) Slade House by David Mitchell

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"The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain." ~ Henry W. Longfellow 

January 2020 Reading Challenge: Books on the Cover

Goodbye Christmas Book Binge Reading Challenge and all things holiday, and hello to the New Year. Let's start 2020 off with books and more books! The challenge this month is to read anything that says the word "book" or shows it on its cover. Ready, set...read!

Books with Book(s) on the Cover

January Book Pile

1.) Book in a Month by Victoria Lynn Schmidt

2.) The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald

3.) Journal Sparks: Fire Up Your Creativity by Emily Neuburger*

4.) No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen

5.) By Your Side by Kasie West* 

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Looks Like a Books, Smells Like a...

Old Books...Smells So Good.

* An enjoyable read. I recommend!

Fabulous Five: Favorite Reads for 2019

Here it is, a reading year in review!

Goodreads Reading Challenge

131% Done!

I've read 131 books for the 2019 Goodreads Reading Challenge. A big number for me due mainly to my interest in picture books. A really good one stands out like a bright star, and sadly, I didn't find one of those this year, so nothing to recommend on that account. However, all five of my favorite reads listed below were in the children's category:

TOP FIVE!

1.) My all-time 2019 favorite read goes to...

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Young Adult

2.) Best YA story in audio form--loved the narrator, Sarah Drew!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Young Adult Audio Book

3.) Most original read for 2019--really enjoyed the tone and pacing of this one:

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

Middle Grade Fantasy

4.) Best Middle Grade in audio-form, narrated by the talented Robbie Daymond:

Inkling by Kenneth Oppel

Middle Grade

5.) This book is #3 in the Berrybrook Middle School series, but #1 with me:

Crush by Svetlana Chmakova

Middle Grade Graphic Novel

BONUS!

I really enjoyed this book, beautiful with all the feels. Interested in blackout poetry? Check this one out:

A Wonderful Catastrophe by Colette Love Hilliard

Blackout Poetry and Art

Free eBook on Amazon...Today Only!

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Today only on Amazon!

Free ebook alert! Dealing with Blue is available on Amazon today only. Last deal of the year, expiring at midnight tonight. Grab a copy and enjoy a young adult romance while ringing in the New Year.

Tilly

#noregrets

Dealing with Blue, a love story for the young and the young at heart is about good girl Suzy Blue. She keeps her embarrassing home life a secret, but the charming neighbor boy, J.J. Radborne, keeps coming around, bringing along a wave of complications.

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Dealing with Blue hits #1 in two categories on Amazon!

Thank you so much and happy reading!

Free eBook on Amazon...Today Only!

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Today only on Amazon!

Free ebook alert! Dealing with Blue is available on Amazon today only, deal expiring at midnight. Here's to wishing my dog a happy 5th birthday and a Merry Christmas and happy holidaze to all.

Tango

Terrier hair...don't care!

Dealing with Blue, a young adult romance, is a love story for the young and the young at heart. Good girl Suzy Blue keeps her embarrassing home life a secret, but the charming neighbor boy keeps coming around, bringing along a wave of complications.

Grab a copy for some light-hearted holiday reading, and please consider leaving a review. It's much needed and always appreciated. 

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Dealing with Blue hits #1 on an Amazon "Best Sellers" list!

Thank you so much and happy reading!

December 2019 Reading Challenge: Christmas Book Binge Reading

'Tis the season to avoid snowy roads, cold weather, and pushy holiday shoppers with their big coats and oversized purses. My advice: Stay indoors. Grab a couch, a cozy blanket, and get snuggly by the fireplace. Read about being snowed in for the holidays...

Bliss.

"...except interesting."

by Teeturtle

But say there's no place to have a fire and you're looking for a little heat, then check out Isabel Eats' Mexican hot chocolate recipe, sure to put a little spice in your life. In between sips is a good time to start binging on the holiday reads.

The Holiday Pile

And don't forget to have a holiday bookmark on hand, Christmas spirit and all that. I made a fresh batch of corner bookmarks last week, and if you're interested in such things, head on over to my Etsy shop: ESPIALdesign for a look-see.

Corner Bookmarks: A Fresh Batch 

Corner Bookmarks: Front and Back

What's left? Snap! That's right, Christmas carols...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Now, back to the reading business. Below is a mix of genres including children picture books, middle grade, young adult, and romance. If they passed my good-read meter--meaning I'd recommend them--then I made it bold and inserted a link. I'll be updating this list throughout December, so stay tuned while I hunt down the diamonds in the rough for ya.

Here's the list, up to date:

CHILDREN PICTURE BOOKS

1.) When Santa Was a Baby by Linda Bailey & Genevieve Godbout
2.) The Twelve Days of Christmas by Alison Jay
3.) Tough Cookie by Edward Hemingway
4.) Merry Christmas, Little Elliot by Mike Curato
5.) How Winston Delivered Christmas by Alex T. Smith
6.) The Little Reindeer by Nicola Killen
7.) Santa Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins
8.) The Tree That's Meant to Be by Yuval Zommer
9.) Silent Night by Lara Hawthorne
10.) Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman and Rick Allen
11.) Mouse's First Christmas by Lauren Thompson
12.) The Wish Tree by Kyo Maclear
13.) Snow Sisters: Two Sisters, One Snowy Day by Kerri Kokias and Teagan White
14.) Snow Globe Wishes by Erin Dealey
15.) Santa's Countdown to Christmas: 24 Days of Stories by Kim Thompson
16.) Santa's Story by Will Hillenbrand
17.) Dasher by Matt Tavares

MIDDLE GRADE
18.) The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson

YOUNG ADULT
19.) Snowed In by Rachel Hawthorne
20.) Icing on the Lake by Catherine Clark
21.) 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston
22.) My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Christmas Stories by Stephanie Perkins et al. - A few cute stories in this anthology, like Rowell and De Le Pena, to name two.

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
23.) It Started with Christmas by Jenny Hale
24.) Christmas at Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop by Jenny Colgan
25.) Snowbound by C.J. Martin
26.) We Met in December by Rosie Curtis
27.) A Christmas Wish by Leeanna Morgan

QUOTES & HUMOR
28.) Keep Calm at Christmas by Ebury Press

HISTORICAL FICTION w/ MAGICAL REALISM
29.) The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

2019 Christmas good-read meter = 3 book(s) to recommend, so far.

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Check out the 3 recommended Christmas/winter reads for 2022 here!
Check out the 3 recommended Christmas/winter reads for 2018 here!
Check out the 8 recommended Christmas/winter reads for 2017 here!