We all have our quirks, which is described as possessing “peculiar or unexpected traits.” For example, eating odd food combinations like peanut butter and pickles, grilled cheese and jam, or the strangely popular ham and pineapple pizza. Talking to oneself is considered odd, as is collecting specific things. Needing to have all the cupboards closed is also in the unusual category, as is randomly singing whenever one feels the urge.
I’ll admit, I’m quirky in several ways. In fact, I’ve been accused of everything listed above, but the one I struggle with the most is walls. Not the actual walls, but the way people hang things on them. I am compelled to correct those weirdly leaning pieces of art, which can look a bit suspicious to people who are kind enough to invite me into their homes.
Now this might not seem like a big deal, but I’ve learned that I need to be stealthy when I rearrange wall décor, because when I am caught in the act, people sometimes furrow their brows, clearly wondering what I’m up to.
And now, I’ll bet half of you are saying, “Geez, Anne! Why don’t you just leave the walls alone?”
This is what my AI friend says: “You need to straighten pictures on the wall because the human brain prefers visual balance, symmetry, and straight lines, finding crooked images subconsciously jarring, unbalanced. or ‘wrong,’ disrupting perception and creating subtle discomfort…”
Then there is the human quest for perfection. Apparently, over 90% of us struggle with some degree of perfectionism, and those dang uneven wall hangings are an easy target, providing us with a mild jolt of satisfaction when we place them just so. While it’s true this need for symmetry sometimes afflicts those suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, for the vast majority of us there is no mental health disorder involved. It’s just our quest for visual harmony at play and the human desire for order that propels one’s arm forward to gently nudged that picture to the right. And once suitably placed we can linger on the art itself and the way it melds with a room’s design.
While I used to worry about this urge, informal studies have shown that 50% of us, when faced with a crooked frame, will reach out and make the appropriate adjustment. And I find that comforting, don’t you?
THE CASTLE
ANNE MONTGOMERY
Suspense/Thriller
Ancient ruins. Haunted memories. A ruthless predator. Can Maggie survive the ghosts of her past – and the monster hiding in plain sight?
When she returns to her job as a National Park Ranger at “The Castle”—a centuried-old Native American pueblo carved into an Arizona cliff—Maggie hopes the comfort of familiar ground will help her heal. Battling trauma and the grief of unimaginable loss, Maggie’s days are carefully measured, her life held together by the thinnest of threads.
But strange things are happening at the park. A mysterious child appears and vanishes without a trace. And a predator watches her every move, planning his attack.
With the help of friends, fellow survivors, and the land itself, Maggie begins to reclaim her strength. But the danger is closer than she knows, and soon Maggie will have to face a deadly threat… and her deepest fears.
Bookstores, libraries, and other booksellers can order copies directly from the Ingram Catalog.
Praise for The Castle
“A deftly written and riveting read from cover to cover, “The Castle” effectively showcases author Anne Montgomery’s genuine mastery of the Romantic Suspense genre.” – Midwest Book Review
“A slow burn thriller, mixed in with a touch of mystical realism…A true five-star experience!” – Sara Steven Chick Lit Central
“A beautifully considered, sumptuous novel from a skilled storyteller.” – SaraRose Auburn Writing & Reviews
“This is a novel about good rage, about channeling the injustices of the world around us and fighting to do some good with both words and deeds. Lucky for readers, it was penned by a maestra like Anne Montgomery, so that we got a tense, powerful novel in the bargain too.” – Jennifer deBie-Rosie Amber Book Reviews
“Ms. Montgomery manipulates uncomfortable subjects and dark suspense into a gripping tale with hints of romance and humor carefully guiding readers on an informative journey of survival and self-discovery.“ Tonya Mathenia InD’tale Magazine
“Soul-stirring. A brilliant book…Truly a masterpiece.” – Anu Menon Thought is Free Book Blog
“I was gripped from start to end.” – Katherine Hayward Pérez Just Katherine Blog
“Ms. Montgomery has an almost magical talent to draw the reader into the worlds she creates through her words. Her characters are interesting, vulnerable and strong. While describing the locations in which her books are set, she weaves history with vivid images, immersing the reader in a hard-to-put-down story full of history, beauty and mystery.” – Margaret Millmore Author
Author Anne Montgomery 