Difficult Writing Choices

I planned this novel better than any other written work I have ever done. I thought about it a great deal as I was finishing up Raindancer, and the basics were in place by the time I posted Raindancer on Amazon.
For some time I have known how the story was going to work itself out. Yes, there have been the normal shifts along the way (I don't want to give anything away here), but the original concept has stayed the course. The writing has come easier than normal and I was at 40,000 words before I knew it.
As planned, I came to the point in the storytelling where the main female character (MFC) dies a violent death. I put if off all day yesterday. There were other things to be done: work on the book trailer, set up the books website, and eat lunch. That afternoon I even decided to take a walk on the beach at Maalea. I said that I'd give the writing of this sensitive chapter some thought as I walked through the warm waters along the beach. Then I decided to get to it after dinner, but I let other things get in the way.
Like the MMC in the story, I fell in love with her. I didn't want to let her go, but the story-line from the beginning dictated that she come to an end (see, I can't even say it). Her death is an essential component to the love story, and to the greater message of Human Trafficking contained within the story.
After a good nights sleep, I rose early and started writing, and like all other writing challenges, the words came, and I lost myself in wordsmithing, and not the subject at hand. I can't say that I have taken a clinical approach to writing this segment of the story. But I am doing what a writer does, write the story. I'll go down to Maalea again this evening, and I will walk along the sand. And like the MMC in the story, I will mourn her death.


The Affect of Red: A Tragic Love Story.
Coming in Early 2013
www.theaffectofred.webs.com 

The Affect of Red

Coming in Early 2013

The Affect of Red
a novel by P A Davis

The Affect of Color

I am posting some of the research information I have gathered as I prepare for my next novel.

Af-fect: to impress the mind or move the feelings of. 

Ef-fect: something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence.

The Affect of Color
Color affects the way we, as humans, perceive the world around us. It influences us and motivates our brain to respond in one way or another. Use of color can create many different psychological effects, most of which subliminally convince our brain to motivate actions, or to respond with emotional feelings. For example: you go to a new restaurant, and not being familiar with the menu, you order something that sounds good. If the restaurant is known for fine cuisine, it is possible that the food is arranged on the plate by color. If the food is arranged on a white plate, and the colors are harmonious, other senses, such as: olfactory, gustatory, and somatosensory kick in as a part of the determination of delectability. Alternately, if the food is not arranged so that the shape of known foods is easily identified, and the food is clumped in a hodgepodge of ingredients, the less appetizing it likely will be.

Our brain makes these determinations instantly, drawing on previous knowledge and experience. The factual determinations made by our brain evoke an emotional response to the food, and therefore, each person decides on whether they would like to sample the food. And the final determination is not restricted to color. Texture, identity, and ingredient identification each play a supporting role in the decision.

These cognitive functions come within the province of what we know as Color Psychology, a psychological model consisting of six basic principles.

1. Color can carry a specific meaning.
2. Color meaning is either based in learning meaning or biologically innate meaning.
3. Perception of a color causes evaluation automatically by the person perceiving.
4. The evaluation process forces color motivated behavior.
5. Color usually exerts its influence automatically.
6. Color meaning and effect has to do with context.

Color psychology studies color as a factor in human behavior. Color has been used to create different perceptions or feelings. We have learned that color can give one the feeling of coziness, or the perception of spaciousness. Although the psychological effect of color stimuli varies from person to person, enough statistical data has been gathered so that we may make certain assumptions about the psychological effects of color.

1. Hues in the blue part of the color spectrum have the highest preference among people.
2. People who are cold prefer warm colors like red and yellow, where people who are hot prefer cool  colors like blue and green.

But as I stated before, there is not a consistency in how different people react to color. From previous studies we can conclude that color affects people’s moods or emotions, but there is no assurance that two people will react equally to a color in the same situation.

In some cases cultural background has a strong influence on color preference. Studies have shown that people from the same region have similar color preferences, regardless of race, and one region within a country may have differing color preferences to another region.

There are four psychological primary colors: red, blue, yellow, and green. They are related respectively to the body, the mind, the emotions, and the balance between these three. Color has a profound effect on human behavior. It affects your bottom line in branding, packaging, product design, and fashion, among many others. The following are just a few of the common effects of colors within the region of the Western Hemisphere:

If you want to draw attention, use red. It is the color of energy, and often where the eye looks first. Red is associated with movement and excitement, it’s the wrong color for a baby’s room, but perfect where the intent is to get people excited. A relevant characterization of the effect of the color red is effectively demonstrated in Chris de Burgh's song, "The Lady in Red".  Red is the symbol of life.

The majority of people will say that blue is their favorite color. Much of the world is blue, and just seeing the color causes the body to produce chemicals throughout the body that are calming. Over the ages blue has become associated with steadfastness, dependability, wisdom, and loyalty. People are more productive in a blue room because they are calm and can remain focused on the task.

The color of growth, nature, and money. A calming color that has strong ties to nature, and pleasant to the senses. Dark forest green is associated with terms like: conservative, masculine, and wealth. Hospitals use light green rooms because they too are found to have a calming effect on patients. It is also the color associated with envy, good luck, generosity, and fertility.

Cheerful, yellow is the color most people associate with the sun. It is also identified with laughter, happiness, and good times. A person surrounded with yellow feels optimistic because the brain actually releases more serotonin (feel good chemical) when around this color. Similarly to the color red, it has the power to speed up your metabolism and bring out some creative thoughts.

Black is all colors combined, totally absorbed. The psychological implications of black are considerable. It reflects sophistication, glamour, security, emotional safety and substance. Black can also negatively enhance: oppression, coldness, menace, and heaviness. It creates a perception of weight and seriousness.

Where black it total absorption, white is total reflection. White is purity and, like black, uncompromising. It is clean, hygienic, and sterile, and communicates a message of “Touch me Not.” White gives a heightened perception of space.

Automobile Garages

Residential architecture has many difficulties, but it also has many rewards. The following garages were designed for those whose means allowed them to fulfill some childhood fantasies:

The King Kamehameha Golf Club – Waikapu, Maui, Hawaii

The King Kamehameha Golf Club, located on the north slope of the West Maui Mountains, is the only private 18-hole golf course on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The club’s 74,000 square foot club house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is perched 750 feet above sea level on a commanding site with dramatic views of Haleakala and the ocean. How did is building, designed by America’s most celebrated architect, come to the Island of Maui? It makes for an interesting story.

Interestingly, the story started in 1949 when Mr. Wright first conceived the design as a luxury home for the Windfohr family of Fort Worth, Texas. This original design had a large circular living room with a domed roof and central skylight. There were wings of the building that radiated from this central area, and leading to the bedrooms, kitchen and other rooms of the house. The design was never built for the Windfohr family and it was shelved as an "unbuilt design".

In 1952, Raul Bailleres, cabinet member of the Mexican Government, asked Mr. Wright to design a home for him to be located at Acapulco Bay. Mr. Wright visited the site, and modified the concept of the Windfohr house for the cliff side of Acapulco Bay. The floor area size of the building was enlarged, the design was adjusted to fit the sloping site, and a covered terrace and partial lower level added. Unfortunately, because of an accident in the family, the project was abandoned.

In 1957, Marilyn Monroe and her husband, Arthur Miller, approached Mr. Wright to design a large country home for them in Connecticut. Mr. Wright was apparently very fond of this particular design, and he once again modified the house design for the couple. Thus, this structure’s plans became known as the “Marilyn Monroe” house. The house was not built because of the cost, and once again the design was shelved. Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller separated the next year, and in 1959 Frank Lloyd Wright died.

In 1988 the owners of the King Kamehameha Country Club visited Taliesin West on Scottsdale, AZ, to review plans of structures designed by Mr. Wright that were not built. They questioned if Mr. Wright had designed any golf course clubhouses, and learned that indeed, Mr. Wright had designed one in River Forest, Illinois, which today is still standing. They also learned that he had designed one for the Nakoma Country Club in Madison, Wisconsin, which was not built.

The Nakoma Country Club design was considered, but after Taliesin reviewed the Waikapu site, the Nakoma design was determined inappropriate. Taliesin searched their archieves and suggested that the character of the clubhouse should be more along the lines of a country manor house rather than a commercial building. Taliesin then suggested Frank Lloyd Wright’s large residence design that he did for Marilyn Monroe.


The design was expanded to 74,000 square feet to accommodate all the program needs of a major gold clubhouse, and was built, and stands proudly, visible from long distances on Maui.