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In her career of working with professional models in London, Wynne Dalley has long had a message for young girls.

"It's not only good looks, beauty or charm, but it's a question of everything being put together," she said.

While it includes taking care of your hair, skin and nails – not everyone can afford to go to beauty parlors, she adds -- it is also a matter of treating people well.

"If the girls are willing to understand that it will help them in the future, regardless of their career, forget modeling, which I was dealing with, if they want to be a dental hygienist, they still should know the best way to take care of their appearance and their general personality."

Dalley, a Diablo resident, shared this message to students at her school in Walnut Creek as well as in various high schools when she gave lectures on the subject of etiquette. Now she plans to reach more young girls with a book she self-published a book in May, titled "Etiquette and Self-Improvement for Teenage Girls."

"If girls learn early to make very best of their appearance, take care of their skin and hair, and to treat people well, I thought it all came together and would be helpful for early teens," she said. "It's so much more complicated now, compared to 30 or 40 years ago. Girls have got to cope with so many different areas. I'm being told all the time, that this is a helpful timely book."

The reference book covers topics such as not being nervous going out to a big social dinner for the first time. She provides tips and hints that can help younger girls to learn a few basics. It's more of an easy read, she said, with time-tested etiquette lessons that aren't intimidating.

Most of the people interested in the books are grandparents who are concerned about granddaughters.

"There is a general concern with grandparents and I don't know what that is telling us," she said. "That's the generation who thought this type of interest in manners was so important. I don't want to say whether the new generation of mothers isn't really sure or whether they would not be popular in saying 'this is the correct knife and fork.' It's just so different."

Since completing the book, she's done several book signings with mostly parents and grandparents finding out through word of mouth. She's looking forward to getting the message out to teen groups and may eventually sell the book on Amazon.

Young men aren't left in the dark, however, as Dalley is now working on "Good Manners are Cool." This book is for teen boys.

"[Etiquette for boys comes up a lot too," she said. "They know that being polite is going to make them appear a nicer, more education person."

Her book for girls is $18. For more information, visit www.butterflypressbooks.com.

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