Hi everyone, thx so much for all the comments. It's been fun!
If you want to find out what happened next...
GIVE ME A SIGN is published by Flame Books on 1 July and OUT TO BUY NOW.
Order your copy NOW from FLAME or AMAZON!
If you need a bit of extra encouragement, check out what the lovely people are saying about the book...
"A 21st century love story with a strong message: Be yourself and don’t let anyone tell you what to do. However, this story is strictly for over 13s only due to strong language and love scenes. My verdict: Buy this book now and I guarantee you won’t regret it!" says I-MAG
"Oh, I did enjoy this short and sweet book. It's all about growing up and the desperate desire to fit in conflicting with the need to find individuality. And it's hinged around a first love affair, so intense, so sweet, so heartbreaking. Everington taps right into the wavering self esteem of a teenage girl and Liz is an utterly believable character...A short, bittersweet story of growing up, first love and difference. Sparely written with concentration on the emotional landscape, it will appeal to even the least habitual reader." says The Bookbag
"I found it very hard to put this book down once I'd started reading; I immediately cared about Liz and I felt involved in her life and problems. The book touches on many issues, including coping with bereavement, bullying, love and prejudice, but these topics never swamp the story...a consistently well-written and engaging story of first love and finding your place in the world. Highly recommended." says Chicklish
Sunday 29 June 2008
Saturday 21 June 2008
The ugly duckling
Omigod, the first session of the BSL class was really funny. We had to go round the group and say why we'd enrolled. This red-head said she was doing voluntary work in a deaf school. A girl with a very tight denim skirt said she was taking a year out to do missionary work.
A boy-man said he worked with a deaf guy and wants to be able to chat. That's more like it, not this 'helping the unfortunates' crap! I said, 'I'm here because my boyfriend's deaf.' Somebody actually gasped. Can you believe it? 'And because I think everybody should learn'.
The tutor's called Clive but he has a sign name, which is like a nickname in BSL. It's the sign for C moved across the top of his fingers because he always wears lots of rings. That's his thing. Clive gave me a sign name - swan - and I thought, here we go, it's just like what the Russells said, because I've got really long neck or something freakish.
Then he spelt G.R.A.C.E.F.U.L. and I could have cried.
Hey, why don't you think about giving yourself a sign name? You can tell me what it is if you like. I promise I won't laugh.
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NEXT POST BY MONDAY 30TH JUNE 2008
A boy-man said he worked with a deaf guy and wants to be able to chat. That's more like it, not this 'helping the unfortunates' crap! I said, 'I'm here because my boyfriend's deaf.' Somebody actually gasped. Can you believe it? 'And because I think everybody should learn'.
The tutor's called Clive but he has a sign name, which is like a nickname in BSL. It's the sign for C moved across the top of his fingers because he always wears lots of rings. That's his thing. Clive gave me a sign name - swan - and I thought, here we go, it's just like what the Russells said, because I've got really long neck or something freakish.
Then he spelt G.R.A.C.E.F.U.L. and I could have cried.
Hey, why don't you think about giving yourself a sign name? You can tell me what it is if you like. I promise I won't laugh.
PLEASE POST ME A COMMENT. You don't need to be registered and you can post anonymously.
NEXT POST BY MONDAY 30TH JUNE 2008
Sunday 15 June 2008
About time
Oh God, meeting Doug's parents was AWFUL. One of the first things that came out of his mum's mouth was 'We're so glad that Doug's got a girlfriend like you.' I thought it was a bit weird, like, what does she know about me?
Well, I discovered later that she meant a HEARING girlfriend. His mum was saying it was easier that I was hearing and then she started talking about Doug's ex, Dana who was deaf. He's never spoken about her and it made me feel funny thinking about it.
Everyone was signing - Doug, Sam and their dad. But their mum wasn't. Not even a single word. In fact she seemed cross and kept going on about his hearing aid. And when I saw him wearing it, I couldn't help it but it just made me think of old people.
So I've decided to enrol at BSL class. I think it's about time I showed a bit of commitment. But I am bricking it totally. I don't know if I'll be able to do it. Also, I've got to invite Doug to meet my parents now or should I say my mum and stepdad, Dave and I am dreading that! Do you think it's all going to work out or what? Will I be able to learn BSL? Is it really hard? What will happen to me and Doug if I can't do it? Help!
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NEXT POST BY MONDAY 23 JUNE
Well, I discovered later that she meant a HEARING girlfriend. His mum was saying it was easier that I was hearing and then she started talking about Doug's ex, Dana who was deaf. He's never spoken about her and it made me feel funny thinking about it.
Everyone was signing - Doug, Sam and their dad. But their mum wasn't. Not even a single word. In fact she seemed cross and kept going on about his hearing aid. And when I saw him wearing it, I couldn't help it but it just made me think of old people.
So I've decided to enrol at BSL class. I think it's about time I showed a bit of commitment. But I am bricking it totally. I don't know if I'll be able to do it. Also, I've got to invite Doug to meet my parents now or should I say my mum and stepdad, Dave and I am dreading that! Do you think it's all going to work out or what? Will I be able to learn BSL? Is it really hard? What will happen to me and Doug if I can't do it? Help!
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NEXT POST BY MONDAY 23 JUNE
Sunday 8 June 2008
Meet the parents!
The Russell twins cornered me in the corridor the other day. All I could hear was Doug's voice telling me to be myself. So Jess said to me, 'Is it true what they're saying about you and deaf boy?' and I said to her, 'His name's Doug.' She asked if he made funny noises when we got it on and Sarah chipped in, 'Does he grunt?' You know what? I just laughed and said, 'Only if he's really turned on.' and they walked off. Result!
So they like picking on me. So what? I don't care because if Doug likes me everything's cool. However.... he's invited me to meet his parents and I am bricking it because a) they might hate me and b) I'll have to return the offer aaarghh!!! What do you do when you meet your boyfriend's parents?! Any advice????
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NEXT POST BY MONDAY 16th JUNE.
So they like picking on me. So what? I don't care because if Doug likes me everything's cool. However.... he's invited me to meet his parents and I am bricking it because a) they might hate me and b) I'll have to return the offer aaarghh!!! What do you do when you meet your boyfriend's parents?! Any advice????
PLEASE POST ME A COMMENT. You don't need to be registered and you can post anonymously.
NEXT POST BY MONDAY 16th JUNE.
Sunday 1 June 2008
Experimenting
So this week, I've been doing some experiments. You see, I've been wondering what it's like to be deaf but as I can't crawl inside Doug's head to find out, I did these things instead...
I slid my head under the water in the bath and stayed down as long as I could and let the water fill my ears and block out the sound of my little sister, Emma squealing. Hmm, not effective enough! ;)
I went without radio or CDs or music of any kind for a whole week to see if I’d miss it. I do. I really do. My Keane album keeps staring at me longingly and I have to shake my head and walk on past.
And this morning, I rolled up some cotton wool really tight and shoved it in my ears and walked around the house before anyone else was up. I couldn’t hear my footsteps as I went down the creaky stairs. I couldn’t hear the door swing on the hinges as I went into the kitchen. I couldn’t hear the kettle boil as I made tea. I couldn’t hear the clink of my tea spoon, or the slurp as I drank my tea. It was all so weird.
Mum nearly gave me a heart attack when she crept up behind me at the sink. I screamed and she stared at me like I was mad. Maybe I am. She wanted to know what I was up to but I didn't tell her anything. Well, I wasn't about to tell her that I’ve got a boy-friend now, was I?
So, try the experiments and tell me what you feel like. Got any others for me to try?
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NEXT POST BY MONDAY 9 JUNE
I slid my head under the water in the bath and stayed down as long as I could and let the water fill my ears and block out the sound of my little sister, Emma squealing. Hmm, not effective enough! ;)
I went without radio or CDs or music of any kind for a whole week to see if I’d miss it. I do. I really do. My Keane album keeps staring at me longingly and I have to shake my head and walk on past.
And this morning, I rolled up some cotton wool really tight and shoved it in my ears and walked around the house before anyone else was up. I couldn’t hear my footsteps as I went down the creaky stairs. I couldn’t hear the door swing on the hinges as I went into the kitchen. I couldn’t hear the kettle boil as I made tea. I couldn’t hear the clink of my tea spoon, or the slurp as I drank my tea. It was all so weird.
Mum nearly gave me a heart attack when she crept up behind me at the sink. I screamed and she stared at me like I was mad. Maybe I am. She wanted to know what I was up to but I didn't tell her anything. Well, I wasn't about to tell her that I’ve got a boy-friend now, was I?
So, try the experiments and tell me what you feel like. Got any others for me to try?
PLEASE POST ME A COMMENT. You don't have to register and you can post anonymously.
NEXT POST BY MONDAY 9 JUNE
Sunday 25 May 2008
The date!
Oh, I don't know about anything now. It's all so confusing. I think my brain might burst. Along with my heart.
Doug asked me where I wanted to go and there was a film I wanted to see and he was checking where it was on and I didn't understand because I knew it was everywhere.... (pause for breath)... Well, he was looking for a showing with subtitles d'oh! because it's too hard to lip read on screen. I tried it on TV with the sound down and it's bloody impossible!
In the end, we went for pizza and got the bus and we were sitting next to each other and that's pretty crap for lip reading too. But good for touching thighs ;) The waitress asked if we wanted extra cheese and Doug didn't see or hear and I answered no and I didn't even ask him. How crap was that?
There was so much more that went wrong but I don't even want to think about it! :( But he did kiss me at the door and that was pretty amazing! ;)
I've only just started thinking about learning to sign and now I'm realising there's so much to deaf communication. It's a whole new world to me, it really is. What I need is 'The Idiot's Guide to Dating a Deaf Person' but I don't think such a book exists. I want the inside info. All the secret tips, so I can impress him.
How can I learn all this stuff without making a total show of myself? Help!
Please post me a comment. You don't need to be registered and you can post anonymously.
NEXT POST BY MONDAY 7th JUNE
Doug asked me where I wanted to go and there was a film I wanted to see and he was checking where it was on and I didn't understand because I knew it was everywhere.... (pause for breath)... Well, he was looking for a showing with subtitles d'oh! because it's too hard to lip read on screen. I tried it on TV with the sound down and it's bloody impossible!
In the end, we went for pizza and got the bus and we were sitting next to each other and that's pretty crap for lip reading too. But good for touching thighs ;) The waitress asked if we wanted extra cheese and Doug didn't see or hear and I answered no and I didn't even ask him. How crap was that?
There was so much more that went wrong but I don't even want to think about it! :( But he did kiss me at the door and that was pretty amazing! ;)
I've only just started thinking about learning to sign and now I'm realising there's so much to deaf communication. It's a whole new world to me, it really is. What I need is 'The Idiot's Guide to Dating a Deaf Person' but I don't think such a book exists. I want the inside info. All the secret tips, so I can impress him.
How can I learn all this stuff without making a total show of myself? Help!
Please post me a comment. You don't need to be registered and you can post anonymously.
NEXT POST BY MONDAY 7th JUNE
Sunday 18 May 2008
Learning to sign
So, this week... my best friend, Meiying, was talking about Green Eyes, this boy she fancies. And I felt all bad and secretive because I didn't tell her anything about liking Doug. But there was no point because I knew there was no chance on this earth someone that gorgeous would ever fancy me.
Then I had to walk by him on the steps to get to French and he asked me if I was being bullied because he saw the Russell twins having a go. I haven't told anybody about that but I said yes and it was such a relief to tell someone. I felt like crying.
Then, then. You will not believe this. He asked me out! HE asked ME out!!!!!! My chipped toenails were dancing in my size nines, I can tell you!
BUT now I am plain terrified! It's one thing having a little rendez vous on the steps but a DATE! The thing is (and this is really embarrassing but) I haven't actually been on a date before. Ever. With anyone. So now you know.
PLUS, I don't think being able to sign Liz and Doug is going to get me very far, do you? So do I just talk normally or shall I go to the library and look up sign language. Can you learn it from looking at pictures? Does anybody know?
Help! I need your advice!
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You don't have to be registered and you can post anonymously.
NEXT POST BY MONDAY 2 JUNE
Then I had to walk by him on the steps to get to French and he asked me if I was being bullied because he saw the Russell twins having a go. I haven't told anybody about that but I said yes and it was such a relief to tell someone. I felt like crying.
Then, then. You will not believe this. He asked me out! HE asked ME out!!!!!! My chipped toenails were dancing in my size nines, I can tell you!
BUT now I am plain terrified! It's one thing having a little rendez vous on the steps but a DATE! The thing is (and this is really embarrassing but) I haven't actually been on a date before. Ever. With anyone. So now you know.
PLUS, I don't think being able to sign Liz and Doug is going to get me very far, do you? So do I just talk normally or shall I go to the library and look up sign language. Can you learn it from looking at pictures? Does anybody know?
Help! I need your advice!
PLEASE POST ME A COMMENT.
You don't have to be registered and you can post anonymously.
NEXT POST BY MONDAY 2 JUNE
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