In the west what are the proper uses of the phrase, "I love you." Hmmmmm.
Okay starting with the obvious. Between loving partners or from parent to child. (and back again.) Family members i.e brothers and sisters cousins, grandparents and dear friends. Sometimes from pet parents to pets (I admit being a childless pet parent who has presented my mom with four legged grandchildren.) I work at a school and sometimes if a child graces me with an "I love you" I respond in kind. That's about the only times I can think of. Does that help?

"I look forward to hearing more about it, such as publication date. " Brett, from your mouth to God's ear. If I wasn't such a procrastinator.
::sigh::

Brett, Delighted to have you join us the Novelist group. You might jump in by telling us what you’re working on in the “Show Me Your Novel and I’ll Show You Mine” discussion if you're not too uncomfortable talking about what you're working on. I’ll look forward to chatting with you!

Meg

Brett, Adding my voice to the welcome. If you’re looking for a place to jump in and you write longer fiction (or think you might like to), we’d love to have you join us in the Novelists – Struggling or Not group.

Hope you enjoy the site!

Meg Waite Clayton
Moderator, Publishing Industry News, and Novelist Group
Author of the national bestseller The Wednesday Sisters, The Language of Light, a Bellwether Prize finalist, and the forthcoming The Four Ms. Bradwells (Ballantine, March 2011)