I get a monthly copy of Bookpage from my local library, the Huron Public Library*, and usually glance through the articles and reviews of the new books being introduced.  I read many of the articles, but the one column I always read is "Author Enabler".  It is written by Red Room's own Sam Barry, and I always find it insightful and, often, humorous.  This month is no exception especially in the humor department.

Most times the questions repeat themselves in various ways such as:

   How do I get published? 

   How do I get an agent?

   I'm thinking about writing a book, and now what do I do?

   How do I get rich and make a million dollars on my book?

However, one of this month's questions was unique.  It was from a woman who asked about the recent trend she had noticed in every novel she is reading.  She asked about the tucking trend...that is, she noted that every novel has at least one reference to someone tucking a stray bit of hair or curl behind someone's ear.  It doesn't seem to matter whether it is a guy tucking it behind girl's ear, a mother tucking it behind a child's ear, or another woman tucking hair behind a friend's ear, but that definite tucking is going on.  She went on further to ask if there was a tucking-behind-the-ear editor involved in this. 

I had to laugh because it is true (and if the word tucking is not used, it is a variation thereof).  In romance novels and YA novels, in particular, I have noticed it myself (not enough to write the Author Enabler though).  In fact, as I read the question aloud to my husband, he was surprised by this question and then asked if I had noticed it. 

I said I had.  As I continued to read my current book, Mimosa Grove by Dinah McCall,  I read aloud passages (to him) in which one or another of the characters was playing with another character's hair, in other words, putting it behind the ear.  Now, granted this particular novel and these particular passages didn't use the word tuck, but the same action occurred.

From here on in, I am going to be looking for this trend even more. So much tucking going on.  Thanks Sam for enlightening the public to this tucking trend.

* Just a reminder, Vote YES on the Huron Public Library's levy!