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Allison D. Reid nominated me for a Liebster Award last week! I was quite surprised and honored that she thought to include my blog. Thank you, Allison, for the honor…it was fun reading your own answers. Before I jump into the questions and my own answers, I’d best share what the rules are for everyone else reading this post, and for those I’ve nominated in turn (the list is at the bottom of the page).
– Say thank you to the person who has nominated you for the award.
– Answer the 11 questions the person has asked you.
– Nominate 11 people (comment on their blog to let them know).
– Ask the people you have nominated 11 questions
Allison’s questions to me:
1. What is your favorite book, or if you prefer, your favorite author?
Well this one is quite easy, although five or ten years ago the answer might have been very different. My favorite author, without question, is J.R.R. Tolkien and my favorite book is The Hobbit, although I think The Children of Hurin, The Silmarillion, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy all deserve mention in the same conversation. They are all excellent reads, and each is unique in its own way.
2. Is there a country you have always wanted to visit, if so where?
This is another one that shifted in recent years. I used to really, really want to go to Scotland. I still do. But I think I’d want to go to England first, followed by Iceland, then New Zealand, with Scotland coming in fourth now.
3. What do you enjoy about blogging, and how has your blog changed in unexpected ways since you started it?
It is great to connect to other writers, bloggers, and readers. My blog changed from being a place for my own writing in 2012 and has evolved several times since then. I’ve tried book blogging, Indie Author promotion, Scripture Study, and book clubs. It is hard finding a niche, and that is okay because right now the flexibility allows me to take on more when time allows and drop other things when I need to free that time for other things. Right now the plan is to review a few books as I can, to continue the Medieval Book Club, and try to network with other authors while promoting information about my own book releases coming up.
4. What’s your preferred writing and/or blogging space?
I don’t really have a preferred space because it is all done at my desk. I do have some Middle-Earth maps on the wall and usually a playlist with either Lord of the Rings soundtracks or Brunuhville playing as I write. But the space itself is very simple.
5. How do you find inspiration?
Reading other writers. Seeing other Indie Authors finding success. Having a multitude of stories dancing in my head that demand to be told and an imagination that can always find inspiration for new stories.
6. What do you like to do for fun when you need a break from writing (or from your blog)?
Playing board games. Not Monopoly and Scrabble and those other games, but the modern wave of board games. There are excellent ones out there, hundreds and hundreds of better games than you grew up playing. And I’d love to talk about them with anyone interested!
7. What started you down the road of writing and/or blogging?
I’ve always had an interest in writing, but blogging in 2012 when I was creating flash fiction, so to speak, and posting them on my blog was what really cemented things. Not only did it lead to the creation of Ava and the Monster Huntress series and of the starting scenes for A Merchant in Oria, but it also helped me to connect to some great authors. One of whom I still am connected with and am eagerly waiting for her Elven Games book to see the light of day. 😀
8. Are there any Indie authors you would recommend to readers looking for a good book?
In no particular order:
Allison D. Reid
Andrea Lundgren
Joshua Robertson
Lillian Oake
Beth Hammond
Stephanie Ayers
A.L. Mabry
Josh Brown
Alex Ness
Patrick S. Baker
Anais Chartschenko
Elin V. Pettersson
And many others who I have missed but are equally worthy of mention and many others whose work I still have not read!
9. How do you keep yourself motivated?
Here is a secret: I don’t do well at this. Motivation comes in waves, where I can spend weeks pouring heart and soul into writing and then months without writing a word beyond the blogging. My seasons of writing come and go, but with a novella releasing this month and the possibility of a book in the near future, I am hoping to see more writing blossom in 2017!
10. What superpower would you choose and why?
Forget superpowers, just give me a T.A.R.D.I.S. and I’ll call it even. I’d much rather be able to travel through time and space than be able to fly, be invisible, have superhuman strength, etc.
11. What four people would you invite to a dinner party; contemporary, historical, or fictional?
I’m going to copy Allison’s own answer here, because I would provide the same answer, including the intimidation factor:
I would go to the Eagle and Child and sit down with the Inklings for an evening. I’d be completely intimidated by all of them, of course, and I doubt they would think much of my writing, but it would be a dream come true to just be in their company.
***
Now here are my nominations for the Liebster Award! (In no particular order):
Lillian Oake
Stephanie Ayers
A.L. Mabry
J.K. Allen
Stacy Overby
Emma T. Gitani
Anais Chartschenko
Katheryn Avila
Andrea Lundgren
Joshua Robertson
Jamie Lapeyrolerie
And the 11 questions, some the same and/or similar to the ones answered above.
1. What is your favorite book, or if you prefer, your favorite author?
2. Is there a country you have always wanted to visit, if so where?
3. What do you enjoy about blogging, and how has your blog changed in unexpected ways since you started it?
4. What is your biggest fandom and how did your fandom start?
5. What is the best book you’ve read so far this year? What books are you looking forward to reading still in 2017?
6. What do you like to do for fun when you need a break from writing (or from your blog)?
7. What started you down the road of writing and/or blogging?
8. Are there any Indie authors you would recommend to readers looking for a good book?
9. What is your favorite method of connecting with your blog readers?
10. What is the craziest thing you can remember wanting to be when you grew up and why did the younger you want to be that?
11. What four people would you invite to a dinner party; contemporary, historical, or fictional?