Liebster Blog Award and Nominations
Well, what do you know? I received a Liebster Blog Award! I’d like to take the opportunity to thank my friend & fellow blogger, Stephanie Neighbour, for nominating me. I encourage you all to check out Stephanie‘s blog. She’s funny and an overall goofball…which I love. Now, here’s how it works:
– I list 11 random facts about myself.
– I’ll answer the 11 questions asked of me by the person who nominated me.
– I will then nominate my 5 picks (normally you’re supposed to choose 11, but I’m a rebel and never follow the rules) for the award along with my 11 questions for them to answer when they post a response.
– If you’re nominated, your name/link will appear at the bottom of this post along with your questions. Follow the same format; paste the award badge to your blog, give us 11 random facts about yourself, answer my 11 questions, and choose your nominees…but you cannot nominate the blog who nominated you.
11 Random facts about me:
1) I am a Whovian. How did I spend my Christmas day? By watching all of the Doctor Who Christmas specials on BBC America and topping it off with the newest Christmas special. What can I say? I’m a giant nerd!
2) When I was a little girl, I dreamed of playing the lead in “Annie” on Broadway. I was angry with my parents for months when they wouldn’t sell their farm in Iowa and move to New York City so I could become a famous Broadway star.
3) As a child, I once had a dog named Rubbers. She was our farm dog…a beautiful reddish dog with black feet. It looked like she had black, rubber boots on her feet, hence the name. (Get your mind out of the gutter!)
4) Growing up, I also had a horse named Woody. (I’m beginning to think there was something wrong with my family.)
5) I have an enormous fear of frogs. Yes…frogs. They’re slimy, gross and have the ability to hop up your pant leg if they so desire. I understand that being afraid of frogs is irrational, but that’s what an irrational fear is, isn’t it? Being afraid of something that isn’t rational. But I stick by my guns…because I have no desire to hop around and scream like a child just because I didn’t take caution around a leg-climbing frog. Don’t judge me.
6) I used to perform in retirement homes when I was little, singing various holiday-themed songs to elderly people and their staff. My mom would sew my costumes and force me to sing in character. The worst one was when she used to make me perform around the 4th of July in a red, white and blue polyester monstrosity complete with a white beard. I was supposed to look like Uncle Sam. I looked ridiculous…but the elderly audience loved it. Oh, the things I did back then for fame.
7) My parents didn’t allow me to watch the show “Facts of Life” as a kid because they didn’t approve of the title. Yep.
8) One day, I’d love to ride in a custom, luxury RV, traveling from one end of the country to the other. My husband hates that idea.
9) I started college twice before finally getting a degree in Business of Project Management. The first time, I majored in music and had to drop out due to illness. The second time, I majored in English and dropped out because I met my first husband. The third time was a charm.
10) I work out about 5 days a week. My goal is to lose 47 pounds by this time next year. I’m completely okay with getting older, but nothing says I can’t try and look good for my age.
11) My mother used to keep everything while I was growing up. My hair, my baby shoes and even the scab from my small pox shot. It’s in my baby book under a bunch of tape. (How I wish I was making that up.)
– Stephanie’s Questions:
-What hobby would you like to learn but have put off trying? – I would love to try my hand at photography, but it isn’t a cheap hobby by any means. Maybe one day…
-If you could write in another genre, what would it be and why? – I love writing in the young adult paranormal romance genre, but I would love to try my hand at young adult sci-fi. It’s a tricky genre, but when done well can be an extremely good read. I wrote a sci-fi short story aimed at teens and thoroughly enjoyed the entire process. Perhaps once the “Haunting” trilogy has been completed, I may need to do some soul-searching and look at changing things up.
-You can have a two-hour lunch with anyone, famous or not. Who would it be and why? – Stephen King. I’m not a huge fan of his books, but he knows how to develop a story that sells. I can only imagine the wisdom and advice I could ascertain in a two-hour period.
-Music or television? – Television. I’m addicted to BBC America and “Doctor Who”. I will also watch pretty much anything on the Discovery Channel and the Science Channel. My youngest daughter and I have discovered “The Incredible Dr. Pol” and also love watching “Oddities” together as well. If it’s a smart, intelligent show, we’ll watch it. If it’s “Honey Boo Boo” or “Jersey Shore”…it’ll never happen.
-What time of the day do you find you are most creative? – Between 9:00 pm and 9:05 pm. (You asked!)
-What is your biggest vice and do you plan to give it up or stay with it? – I have no vices, but if I did, I’M NOT A QUITTER!
-Mac or PC – The last time I used a Mac was in high school…and that was a long, long, long, long time ago. So, I’ll go with PC.
-What in your life are you most proud of? – My three daughters are my biggest accomplishment. The fact that I haven’t completely ruined them for life is a huge achievement. Each one is distinctly different. My oldest works with kids with special needs and works part-time in a day care. My middle daughter is an amazing artist and writer. (Perhaps a children’s book author in our future?) And my youngest, a third grader, has a big heart and stands up for her friends. I’m a very proud mom.
-If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be? – The one thing I’d change is my college career. If I could go back and do things differently, I would major in American Literature and get a Masters in Library Sciences. Then, I would have spent the last 13 years working as a Librarian rather than in the corporate world. Maybe one day I can still get my Masters…only time will tell.
-What is your idea of a perfect vacation? – Universal Studios. Harry Potter. My entire family. Perfection.
-What was the impetus for you to begin writing and do you think this is something you will always pursue? – As a child, I read book after book to escape my childhood. As I got older, I began to write for the same reason. In 2009, I lost my job and needed something to do during the day between job interviews. One day, I picked up a pen and a pad of paper and began to write. I wasn’t even sure where I was going with the story. Before you knew it, I was transcribing the scribbles onto an old laptop and the rest was history. My first attempt at a whole manuscript was a middle-grade fantasy that I dedicated to my oldest daughter for her fifteenth birthday. I look back at it now, and it wasn’t very good…but I’m proud of the accomplishment nonetheless. It lit that fuse inside me again that had gone out long ago, not to mention shook off the dust and cobwebs inside my brain. Now, I can’t imagine my life without the stories and my laptop. Undoubtedly, I will keep writing as long as my mind allows.
Here are my nominations. Click on their names below and the link will take you to their websites.
Nominees, here are your 11 questions:
-Dogs or cats?
-Who is your favorite author?
-What is your favorite classic novel and why?
-If there was on person, either dead or alive, you could spend the day with, who would it be and why?
-Book or eReader?
-If they turned your life into a big screen movie, who would play you?
-What was it that drew you to become a writer?
-What is your idea of the perfect day?
-What is the name of the person who inspired you the most growing up? How did they inspire you?
-Who is your hero and why?
-Where do you hope to be as a writer in ten years?
Enjoy!!
