1st Liebster Award Nomination

I am proud and flattered to announce that I've been nominated by Lynelle Clark of Lynelle Clark Aspired Writer for this honor.  As a blogger just back from hiatus and starting over from scratch, it is so nice to have other members of the blogging community reach out and help me find new followers.   So, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you, Ms. Clark!!!

I have directly taken this from Ms. Clark's blog. It is a description of the Liebster Award and the rules:  

The purpose of the Liebster Award is to get blogs with less than 200 followers noticed.

The Rules
1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog and link back to their blog.

2. Answer the 11 questions from the nominator, list 11 random facts about yourself and create 11 questions for your nominees;
3. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 11 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they’ve been chosen.
4. Copy and Paste the blog award on your blog.

My Questions and Answers from Aspired Writer

1. Why do you read? Or, why do you write? 

             I've been reading for as long as I can remember.  My mother taught me to read at a very early age and it has been one of my passions since I was a toddler.  I have one of those minds that just never ever turns off. It is imperative that you keep a mind like that fed and entertained or, at least distracted.

2.  What do you blog about?

          My thoughts on the books I read.  Often, when I read over my blog posts I find that I didn't actually review a book so much as discuss my feeling about it and how it relates to me and my life.  Wow! That sounds like a total ego project.  But, that's how I think about books. I think about the characters and the stories and how they affect me and how my thoughts, feelings and experience color what I see in the pages of a book.

3.  What wisdom can you give fellow bloggers?

     Even if you aren't actively blogging, for whatever reason, what you've created is important and should be saved.  Once upon a time I have a fairly successful book blog (the original unfortunately named Fausti's Book Quest) and after some family tragedies and the tumultuous times that went along with them, I got pretty sporadic about posting.  I missed a deadline with my web host and now it is all gone.  Years of work and dedication, all the relationships I built, just gone.  

4.  Do you have any pets?

     On December 10, 2012 I lost my beloved puppy, Mr. Pickles.  Of course, my puppy was 15 years old.  He was the sweetest dog on the planet, making friends where ever he went.  He loved everyone, and I am very pleased to report that he loved me best of all. He was such a mama's boy.  I really miss my sweet, crazy little old man puppy!

5.  Do you listen to music?  If so, what genre?  

     I love music. I listen to a lot of different music. There's the stuff I grew up with and the new music I like now and what my parents and grandparents taught me to appreciate.  I would say I prefer rock and alternative rock.  I am a book girl, so I find that I can really appreciate musicians with smart lyrics and love to stumble across literary references in my music. 

6.  What is your favorite dessert?

     What a time to ask this question.  I've given up junk food for Lent.  This means that, since you can break Lent on Sundays, I spend a lot of time during the week thinking of what I'm going to have on Sunday.  I don't think I can pick a favorite, though.  My teensy weensy perfect little mother taught me the joy of dessert and it was a lesson well learned!

7.   What is your current short, or long term goal?

      I've been writing. I have stories to tell and I'd like to see if I can actually tell them.  Even if I never felt confident enough in my writing to forward it to be considered for publication, I really want to see what I can do.

8.  What new release are you looking forward to this year?

     There are only a couple of series that I am absolutely wed to.  The Stephanie Plum numbers series by Janet Evanovich and John Sandford's Prey books.  I wait for those every year.  I feel like I am always playing catch up with reading, I never take the time to anticipate what's to come.  Maybe I should make that a goal.

9.  What is your favorite new book that you read in the last year?

     This is a tough question.  I've read some really great books.  Defending Jacob, The Fault in Our Stars, The Last Brother, 1Q84  and I'm probably missing a lot of great books I read in the last year.

10.  Do you have a favorite author? If so, who?
       I love Nabokov because he writes beautifully about horrible people and situations.  I love Haruki Murakami because all of his books are like being in a dream state.  I love any author who can truly transport me from where ever I am propped up reading a book to another world, another life, another time.

And, now for my nominees: 

1.  Marie's Bookworm Blog
2.  So Many Books, So Little Time
3.  An Abundance of Kathryn
4.  YA Midnight Reads
5.  From Bows to Books
6.  Bookworm's Avenue
7.  Bookclub Librarian
8.  One Book at a Time
9.  Una Dressed in Books
10.  Books and Insomnia
11.  The Life and Times of a Book Addict

Eleven Facts about me:  1) I was meant to be on, in or near water (preferably ocean); 2)  I helped hatch out a nest of baby sea turtles on a barrier island in South Carolina; 3) I am allergic to what seems like everything floating in the air and that touches my skin, but am otherwise so very healthy (knock, knock); 4) I attended four elementary schools in three states and my parents aren't military; 5) I sometimes crave a plain vanilla ice cream cone from Dairy Queen; 6) I want to see the world, but so far have only gotten little glimpses; 7)  I love zoos, museums and, especially aquariums; 8) I would be an awesome professional shopper, but am disappointed that it doesn't mean that anyone will pay me to shop for me; 9) My favorite color is now, and always has been, purple; 10)  I have a very rich inner life; 11) I love the home my boyfriend and I bought last year.

Now, onto the questions for my nominees:

1.    Why do you blog:
2.    What are 3 words you would use to describe yourself?
3.    What advice would you give fellow bloggers?
4.    Who is your favorite fairy tale character?
5.    Do you have any book crushes?
6.    How many books do you want to read this year?
7.    Where is your favorite place to read?
8.    What is your favorite time of year?
9.    What are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
10.  Do you prefer e-books or print books?
11.  Do you have any pets?

Okay, I think that I have completely complied with the terms. I thank you for taking the time to come by and read it all.