The Liebster Award (and boy, did I get some fantastic questions to answer!)

OK, I said I was going to get to this, and I am!

The Liebster Award    (<– click there for an interesting post on origins)

I was nominated for this award by two fantastic bloggers: L. Marie, one of my favourite commenters around here and writer on her fantastic blog “El Space”, where she posts insightful and thought-provoking articles on writing (seriously, go check it out), and Briana Vedsted, author of YA and Westerns and one of those bloggers who’s always helping out everyone else, reblogging blogs on “When I Became an Author”, promoting promotions, interviewing authors who could use the exposure, and sharing awesome bits of herself and her writing in the process. Thank you both!

Two nominations means two sets of questions to answer, and one set for me to make up for my own nominees. Hmm…

From L. Marie:

1. What is one thing you want to do to help change the world? Jeez, start with an easy one why don’t you… I want to make the world a better place by making myself a better example for my boys to look up to, so that they can grow up to be curious, intelligent, respectful, loving, creative versions of whoever it is they want to be. The world needs more people like that. Also, I want to spread happiness and kindness where I can.
2. What is your favorite adaptation of a book to a movie?  Ooh, tough one. I’m usually hard on movie adaptations. The Shipping News was really well done, and the Shawshank Redemption.
3. Why did you start your blog? I wanted a place to share all of the fun, weird stuff in my head and to talk about writing. I didn’t think anyone would actually read it…
4. When did you first discover that you wanted to write? Probably in first grade. My school “published” our books by laminating and binding them after they were written and illustrated. It was so fun!
5. Most inspiring outdoor place? Why? Too many! My grandparents’ cottage is one; it’s a peaceful spot on a wooded island in a lake in Northern Ontario, and it inspired a lot of adventures in my mind when I was younger. Cape Spear (the Easternmost point in North America) is fantastically inspiring on foggy days. You wouldn’t believe the atmosphere.
6. Do you have a life slogan? If so, what is it?  I don’t. I collect quotes, but I don’t have one slogan. I should get one.
7. Name one person who has influenced the way you see life right now. Why? STOP MAKING ME THINK. OK, Tina Fey. She’s funny and entertaining, but she’s more than that. She’s very smart and says a lot of insightful things about achieving goals, being yourself, and why women today can’t think of feminism as something we don’t need anymore.
8. Who is one of your favorite authors? Why?  Just one? Stephen King. A lot of people think he writes pulp for shock value, but there’s more depth to his stories (especially recent ones) than a lot of people give him credit for. He’s talented, he writes genre fiction, and he doesn’t apologize for “wasting” his talent. I don’t love all of his books, but when they hook me I can’t put them down. Also, his book “On Writing” changed my life.
9. One piece of advice you would give to a middle schooler or an older teen is . . .  Take time to figure things out on your own before you jump into relationships. You feel like you’re all grown up now, but there’s time for that stuff later. “You complete me” is a terrible philosophy when it comes to love. Figure out who you are, complete yourself, then find someone who appreciates the things that make you you and who brings out the best of that. This takes time; respect yourself enough to know that, and before you make big decisions on who your friends are, boyfriends/girlfriends, sex (or jobs, religion, anything), think about whether it’s helping you move toward being the person you want to be. This is so huge that it’s easy to ignore.
10. A goal you have now is to . . .  Self-publish something to see if I can do it.

11. A favorite statement a family member or friend has said to you recently about your writing is . . . From one friend/beta reader on Bound:

• “I may neglect my children for a few days while I read this. Does talking to them without looking up from the page constitute neglect? “
• “Decent amount of sexual tension, I must say! I’m pretty ready for her to jump Aren.”
• “ok back to reading. you have me hooked. I was reading before bed last night and dreamed about magical lands all night.”
• “You need to publish this. You’re a natural.”
• (When I tried to talk about something else) “Shhh! Aren is flying into Rowan’s stormy mind! DON’T INTERRUPT!!!!”
• “ummm… what??? Story over?? I need MORE! Come on.”

HOLY CRAP THE WARM FUZZIES.

And Briana’s questions:

1. What is your pet peeve?  People tossing garbage out of their car windows (I have several, this is actually a minor one)
2. Where would you like to go on vacation? Ontario, to visit my family
3. Who is your favorite singer?  Um… I don’t have one favourite. Let’s say Harry Chapin for now, since I’m going to do a blog post on him some day. 🙂
4. Do you have a nickname?  My husband calls me Kitty. Kate is actually a nickname; most people call me Kathleen in real life
5. Is there something you collect, i.e. stamps, rocks, dried flowers? My Little Ponies, moose and chicken-related items, old magazine ads featuring mounties
6. If you could go back in time for a  day, what year would you go to?  I can’t even answer this one. Too many variables!
7. What is your favorite color? Green
8. What smell reminds you of home? the ocean
9. What was your first pet? A kitten named Tiffany. She got hit by a car. 😦
10. What is your most prized possession? Right now, my first Canadian edition copy of Animal Farm that I found in my great-grandmother’s things after she died. It changes, though.
11. Name your favorite book off the top of your head.  East of Eden (see random facts)

OK, let’s check the rules…

• Rule number 1 is to list 11 random facts about me.  (see post here)
• Rule number 2 is to nominate 11 other bloggers for the  Liebster Award and list their blogsites. (see below)
• Rule number 3 is to notify the bloggers of their award.  (I’ll get to it)
• Rule number 4 is to ask the award winners 11 questions to  answer when they accept their Liebster Award. (below, again)
• Rule number 5 is I answer the questions left for me by the  blogger who gave me the award. (Done. Twice)

NOMINEES (drumroll, please):

Budget Bliss (a friend of mine blogs about planning her dream wedding on a tight time-and-money budget, and offers tips to others aiming to do the same)

Deciphering Kim (another friend’s personal blog. She’s a fantastic teacher and a beautiful person, and she posts updates on her favourite music, what she’s doing with her students, and various ponderings and pictures)

RDUS Customizers’ Paradise (Shannon sells doll hair and posts interviews with pony/doll/toy customizers to show off their amazing work)

Michelle Proulx- The Blog  (Michelle wrote the first Sci-Fi book I’ve ever really loved, and her blog is both informative and ridiculously entertaining)

Lit and Scribbles (I’m sure Jae has been nominated plenty of times, but she’s one of the first WordPress bloggers I really connected with, and her blog on writing is fantastic, so get your butt on over there if you haven’t been)

Trainer Trish (a gentle and informative philosophy on training dogs, insightful posts, sweet pictures. I wish I could take Jack to her classes, they sound like so much fun!)

Tricia Drammeh (another of my new favourite writing blogs, with insights into small, independent publishing’s advantages and pitfalls)

tracycembor (great blog for writers. Her updates on publishing are my favourites)

Walk a Mile in my Shoes  (amazing mom of a special needs child offers insights and hopes her story will help others in similar situations)

Opinionated, Baby (another amazing mom who writes. Her Mother’s Day post was incredible, and said things I can never manage to. Lovely person and a talented photographer, too!)

Tales From the Red House (another amazing mom and blogger who I’m proud to say is my cousin. Awesomeness runs in my family, guys.)

There are so many other blogs I love, but I thought I’d mix it up here, throw in a bunch of non-writing blogs and random new favourites. There are other awards to nominate for…

So, did I nominate you? Here are the eleven questions you need to answer in your own post (follow the rules listed above for other requirements, and don’t feel obligated to participate! I’m just trying to show your fantastic blogs some love)

1. If our knees bent the other way, what would a chair look like? (describe, or better yet, draw)
2. What is your favourite flower? Favourite tree?
3. What did you dream about last night (or the last one you can remember)?
4. What do you hope people will gain by reading your blog?
5. Of the books you’ve read recently (say, 6 months or a year), what was your favourite? Why?
6. Sweet or salty?
7. What is your favourite genre for reading? Movies? If they’re different, why do you think that is?
8. Imagine your perfect morning. What’s the best way you can think of to wake up?
9. Summer Olympics, or winter? Favourite sport?
10. What’s the nicest compliment you’ve received recently (writing-related for writers, otherwise for all others)?
11. Did you read through this whole post, or just skip to the nominations, rules, and these questions? Be honest, we’ve all done it…

So there we go! Here are the rules again, in case any nominees missed them:

• Rule number 1 is to list 11 random facts about me.  (see post here)
• Rule number 2 is to nominate 11 other bloggers for the  Liebster Award and list their blogsites. (see below)
• Rule number 3 is to notify the bloggers of their award.  (I’ll get to it)
• Rule number 4 is to ask the award winners 11 questions to  answer when they accept their Liebster Award. (below, again)
• Rule number 5 is I answer the questions left for me by the  blogger who gave me the award. (Done. Twice)

If you nominated me for this and I missed your questions, let me know! WordPress won’t let me search comments, so if you nominated me somewhere other than my “about me” page, I might have lost it. This goes for the other awards, too.