How many words would it take to describe the picture above? Could you do a good job with the description? Could you actually describe the beauty in that picture to someone who couldn’t see? I would say there are times when a picture is worth a thousand words.
On the other hand, there are times when a picture can’t give you the whole story. Where is this located? Is it a sunrise or a sunset? Do those dark clouds mean there is stormy weather in the future? The picture can’t answer those questions.
As authors we are painting word pictures. Do our words always live up to a picture? Probably not, but when it comes to the emotions of our characters, words do so much better than pictures, in my opinion.
What do these pictures show?
Can you name the emotions displayed in each picture? You probably can, but can you say why they are showing the emotions you see? Probably not. That is what is so great about a word picture, the kind writers put into their books.
I love to read books with lots of emotions, emotions that put me into the skin of the characters. I want to know what they are feeling and why they are feeling that way. A picture can’t do that. That is why so often movies based on books aren’t as good as the book, in my opinion. Sometimes characters put on a happy face, but inside they are anything but happy. As readers we get to have a glimpse into the character’s mind and know what they are really thinking.
A LOVE TO CALL MINE is the third book in my Front Porch Promises series. Because the hero has cancer, there are a lot of emotional moments in this book. I hope I did them justice.
Here is a short excerpt from the book.
“Isn’t that just wonderful!” Anger bubbled up inside of Max. How was he going to deal with Heather Watson? What was God trying to tell him? First the cancer. Now a nightmare of a nurse. His own “Nurse Ratched,” wearing a blue smock.
Heather was the last person he’d expected to see here. The last person he wanted to be around while he battled cancer. The last person he wanted to help him through this troubled time. Could he request another nurse?
“I’m glad you feel that way. This is a surprise.”
“Yeah. Not exactly how I would choose to meet again.” Max had never dreamed of seeing her another time. He couldn’t help noticing the way her mouth quivered a little while she tried to ignore his sarcasm. Maybe he wouldn’t have to request a new nurse after all. Maybe she would take herself off his case.
“Well, here we are. Renewing old acquaintances.” Her back to him as she spoke, she set a folder on the nearby counter. “We have some catching up to do.”
Was she serious? When she turned to look at him, she smiled again. Maybe she was serious, but he didn’t want to catch up with her for any reason. “I suppose.”
Heather busied herself with a computer-like instrument sitting on a cart next to the exam table. “But that’s not why you’re here.”
That was an understatement. Was she trying to make him feel at ease, or was he just edgy about everything right now?
He had to get a better attitude. She was here to help him. How ironic. In his mind, she’d been his adversary. He’d always put most of the blame for the demise of his relationship with Brittany squarely in Heather’s lap. She’d made it abundantly clear to him that she thought he was inconsiderate, self-centered, and a loser. She’d convinced Brittany that she would be better off without him.
Guess Heather was right. Brittany had married someone else. That someone else just happened to be Heather’s uncle. She’d wasted no time introducing them after Brittany had broken up with him.
How was he going to look at Heather without thinking of Brittany? Lowering his head, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Wishing Brittany was back in his life would do him no good. He had to move on, but he’d been trying to do that for over two years. He hadn’t been very successful.
I have several questions for our readers.
1. Can you name the emotions connected with each photo above?
2. Do you think books are better than movies? If so, why?
3. Do you like books that make you laugh and cry?
I will give away a print “proof” copy of A LOVE TO CALL MINE to one person who answers the questions. If you are not a resident of the USA, you will receive an ebook copy of this book. I will draw the winning name on May 27, 2022 at 9PM MST.
“Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.”
Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.
1. Anger
Sustain
Bemusement
Excited surprise
Joy
2. Books are way better. Seldom does the movie portray the scenes the way my mind does from word descriptions and that leaves me disappointed
3. Laughter I love! Tears I can handle in small doses. Having said that a good book( for me) should take me through a whole range of emotions
I won’t even try to name the emotions in the pictures! lol!! I always love books better than movies, as I don’t watch movies. I like books that will give me the whole range of emotions, laughing, crying, all of it! Even better if there’s a character that I can’t stand in the book, too, though those are few and far between, as I usually like all of the characters once I get to know them. There are three that I love to “hate” right now.
1.anger
Sad
Puzzled
Excited
Joy
2. I don’t watch television so books are better than movies
3. I like books with all different emotions
Good morning Merrillee! I love the picture you shared & since I love sunsets, I would describe it as such :-)
My guesses for the pictures:
1. Anger or rage (or maybe practicing for a play?)
2. Sad or depressed (maybe his favorite coffee shop closed?)
3. Stressed or a headache (maybe she got a bad job review)
4. Surprised (maybe they found out they won a cruise somewhere tropical?)
5. Happy (maybe because their team won?)
See my imagination runs wild sometimes! :-)
I think books are better than movies….ALWAYS! I’ve seen a few movies based on books and they don’t often follow the script, so therefore it ruins my enjoyment. I’d much rather read the book, also because it seems to go “deeper” with characters, scenery and plot. Plus, I don’t watch a lot of movies in the first place, so there’s that.
I love books that make me laugh or cry (or both in the same story). If I can connect with the characters in all their emotions, it makes the story richer & more real in my mind. Connection to a story is vital for me, because if I can’t connect, then I won’t read it. I will just put it down and move onto a different book. I’m so glad that writers use various ways for a reader to connect with the story and make them “see” what the author is writing about. Like painting pictures in my mind :-) I’ve often wished that the town or city that the writer has set the book in was real because then I could visit!
Fun post today. No need to enter me into the giveaway since I’ve read your books….which have all the elements I love in them, by the way! :-)
No
Yes
Yes
Thank you for sharing. Blessings
thank you for sharing today
1. anger, frustration
sad, contemplative
confused
excited, happy
joyful, happy, fun
2. Yes I like books better than movies because I can imagine all the emotions, happenings. I can become one with the characters. When watching a movie, I just am entertained. A movie doesnt stay with as long as a book would
3. Yes I love to laugh and sometimes cry with a book
Hi Jeannette,
Yes, books are definitely better.
Hi Trudy,
Interesting about characters that you love to “hate.” I suppose if that’s the villain. I have to like the characters in order to keep reading. I will give them some time to show their good side, but if I don’t see an inkling of change for the good, I have a hard time finishing the story.
Hi Kendra,
I also like books with all kinds of emotions. The third picture is supposed to be disappointment. I think that emotion is sometimes hard to show with a picture.
Trixi,
Thanks so much for your kind words. The top photo is a sunset. The third photo is the one that seems to be the hardest to interpret. It’s supposed to be disappointment.
Lelia,
You’re welcome.
Hi Lori,
Books do stay with us longer. I love to laugh and cry with books. Sometimes I even cry at the happy parts.
They were all “minor” characters that the hero and heroine had to deal with. If they were main characters I wouldn’t have liked it, either!! One of them did get his own book, but that author knows that in my mind, I still killed him off!!! lol!!
1. Flustrated 2. Sad 3. Overwhelmed 4. Excited/Surprised 5. Happy
5. Yes, I enjoy books better than movies. In books, you are able to read what is going on in someones mind as well as more detail in to how someone feels.
6. Yes, I like to laugh and cry when reading books.
1. anger, confused, stressed, surprised, happy
2. can be, depends on how they’re written
3. sure
1. Upset, Sad, Stressed, Excited, & Very Happy.
2. I really enjoy books but it depends on the book. Some I enjoy both the book & movie also.
3. I enjoy both laughing & crying type of books but depends on the subject of the book.
1. Mad, Sad, Stressed out, Excitement, & Happy
2. I prefer movies because I like to see the faces & actions
3. I enjoy happy books
Anger, Confusion, Frustration, Surprise and Happiness are my guesses for the photos. I do enjoy book to movie adaptations if they’re done correctly and actually respect the source material rather than just taking the idea and ruining it. I enjoy both books that make me laugh and books that make me cry, though I probably choose laughter more often. It just depends on my mood at the time.
Yes I believe so. Books are better because the author lays the foundation and I create the pictures in my mind of the story. The movie is someone else’s version of the story rather than mine. I love books that evoke emotion, it is such an admirable skill to be able to invoke that in readers! Thanks.