Liebster Award nomination

This Morning I Woke Up, honored, grateful, and excited. 

Why you ask? M.C Lavocat, the author of Control has come into my life for a second time. The first time we met was when I saw her post on Goodreads about her project called, Write it forward, and I asked to participate. She happily agreed and interviewed me about my novel, This Morning I Woke Up Dead for her blog, soulofvoodoo. And now, the second time, she’s nominated me for the Liebster award. What a cool chick! Hopefully, someday, I will have the privilege to meet and thank her in person for both of these great opportunities!

How thrilling!! How cool!! What an honor!!

But wait a sec. . .  What does is the Liebster award? I feel like the dad on A Christmas Story, and I am REALLY excited but have no idea what my 'major award' is. After checking things out a little, I found out that the Liebster award is a way to bring virtual attention to new up and coming bloggers. I am totally new to blogging, my blog is just a seedling and took barely root in January. If you could see my face right now, you’d see that it’s the color of over-ripened tomato. Although I feel unworthy to be a part of this opportunity, I couldn't be more pleased! Thank you M.C! Thank you! 

There are rules to be followed in order to accept the award. To be honest, usually, I would frown at this. Having rules can be a real drag. Being somewhat of a rebellious spirit, I like to do things my way, color outside of the lines, and I can get easily agitated when being told what to do. However, at this point, I am happy there is some kind of structure involved to keep me in order and on topic. Who knows what would happen if there wasn't?

Anyhow back to the rules

I must give eleven facts about myself

I must answer eleven questions provided by the blogger who nominated me

I must nominate eleven bloggers with fewer than 200 followers

I must provide my nominees eleven new questions

Part one: Eleven Useless, Yet Amusing Facts

1.    From the year 2007 until 2012 I hardly watched TV. Ever. Like not at all. Instead, I was a nerd girl, and reading at least four or five hours a day was my norm. My total of books read is over 500 novels. Through the magic and power of enthralling reads, I traveled back in time to the 1800’s and met Lizzie Bennett and her obnoxious sisters. Visited and ate in Italy, prayed in India, and fell in love in Thailand, all through the generosity of the novel Eat, Pray, Love. Embarrassingly I fell in love with an infamous vampire in, Forks, Washington. Journeyed on a train with a traveling circus, called: Le Cirque des Rêves where I witnessed a couple of headstrong magicians duel to their untimely death. And just to round it all out, I learned witchcraft and little about love from a spunky intelligent lady called, Diana Bishop and her dark and mysterious vampire lover, Mathew Clairmont.

2.    Over the years, I have had lots of different hair colors. I've been an overly-highlighted blonde, a fiery red head, and now, and for the last three years, a reddish brown brunette. 

What is my real hair color??

 I shall never tell. 

3.    I used to be a vegetarian. Yes. It’s true. For six months, I went without meat. Honestly, at the time, I didn't miss it. I love veggies, and love spicy black bean veggie burgers! Although I adore a great steak, I still order veggies burgers and even make my own from time to time.

4.    When I was five years old, a couple of inches of the tip of my fourth finger was cut off in the hinges of bathroom door at a pizza parlor. It was mended and placed back on with over a hundred stitches. It’s a tad shorter than the rest of my fingers. To this day, I will likely faint if I am confronted with blood.

5.    I have a shoe fetish. I love shoes. I really love them. They make me happy. I have a ton of them. Heels. Boots. Sandals. Running shoes. Converse’s. I have an entire Pinterest  board dedicated just to shoes. Each year or so, I’ll box some up and donate them or sell them. Soon enough I will replace whatever I parted with when I inevitably fall in love with a new pair. 

Vicious cycle, I know. 

6.    I am on my way to becoming a professional disc golfer. Not really. But I’d like to be. My boyfriend, Troy and I LOVE to play disc golf! He’s great at it. He’s a great teacher. Great coach. And he’s taught me so much. We've played in a little in Wyoming, and all over Idaho. Some favorite places to play include, Sun Valley, Victor, Driggs, Massacre Rocks, Idaho Falls, McCall, Boise, Blackfoot, and in our own town of Pocatello. We love, the not for wimps course, here in Pocatello, called Bengal Ridge. Feeling inspired by the movie, The Big Year with Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson, I too want to do a Big Year. But not a Big Year bird watching, I want to do a Big Year with Disc Golf. We will play ALL of the courses all across the US. I’d blog about it, take photos, and discuss the best discs to play at each course. 

Anyone want to sponsor us??

 

7.    Bragging is not something I feel comfortable doing, but, what the hell, this is kind of cool. I feel somewhat responsible for the San Francisco Giants winning the World Series last year, in 2012. Before last year, I had never watched a single game, but when Troy introduced me to one of his passions, baseball, and the San Francisco Giants, I was instantly hooked! Rarely do we miss a game. By using a little magical mojo and the power of believing, I helped them win the series and become the champs. Woot! Here's to becoming the 2013 champs!

8.    A few years back, every single night me and my kids would eat a bowl of microwave popcorn. This went on for a good six months. Hey, I am not a quitter! I need to mention it was the so called 'healthy' low-calorie kettle corn tasteless crap. Now I can hardly bare the sight or smell of the stuff.



9.The movie Poltergeist did a number on me. At five, I convinced my dad I was old enough, brave enough and man enough to handle it. Afterwards, I truly believed there was a ghost living in my bedroom. It hung out in the closet in the day and at night it was always under my bed but sleeping with the covers over my head protected me from any harm. As an adult, I am completely drawn to anything paranormal I love all all ghost related books, movies, and TV shows. 

10.  My mind never stops. I constantly analyze, plan out scenes in my head for my novels, and just think about things. My kids. Loved ones. Life. What I should do next. What I should write about next. If I’m overly quiet at times, that’s why. 

11. My  favorite place to go is without a doubt, the beach. Any of them. It's soul soothing, tranquil, and stunningly beautiful. However I rarely get in the water past my ankles, instead I love to walk along the cool waters edge as the waves roll in and out across my toes. Other times I enjoy sitting in the sand and taking it all in. The people. The salty air. Birds swooping in. The gentle majestic waves. It's all just pure bliss.

Part Two: Eleven Questions from a readers point of view

1.    If you had to pick one song to be your personal theme song what would it be?

At this very moment in time, I’d have to say, The Times they are A-Changin’ by, Bob Dylan. In the last year and half, I’ve had a TON of changes occur in my life, and I still feel like I am on the brink of even more new things unfolding.

2.    If you could choose one person to beat the crap out of, who would you choose and why?

I hate to waste the rare opportunity but I am at peace with all of the demons, bullies, and negative Nelly’s that have come and gone in my life and I can’t think of anyone.

3.    If you could give one person a non-sexual hug, who would it be and why?

Anyone in the Cullen family. Because I’d like to see what it would be like to hug a rock.

4.    If you could create the perfect ice cream sundae, what ice cream and toppings would you use? 

Mocha coffee flavored ice cream, dark chocolate syrup, and a cherry on top.

5.    What is the funniest movie you've ever seen?

Anchorman 

6.    If you were a character from the Outsiders, who would you be and why?

 Right off the top of my head, I’d be Cherry, because she’s chick and I couldn't fathom being a dude and what that would be like. Just like me, she can get along with anyone.

7.    Do you prefer to pull the toilet paper over the roll or under the roll? 

Over. Under always breaks before I am ready.

8.     What is the last book you read and what is your opinion of it in one word?

I am currently rereading The Secret Garden by Kate Morton. Enthralling.

9.    How do you take your coffee or tea?

If I am ordering from a coffeehouse, I get lots of splenda and nonfat milk. At home, I use a keurig single cup coffee maker; I adore hazelnut coffee with lots of caramel macchiato creamer.

10. Boxers or briefs?

Boxers.

11. What is the best holiday/vacation you've ever taken?

Last June, in 2012, I went with my four kids and my parents to Disneyland and the beach. We had a great time.

Part Three: My Nominee’s

1.  soulofvoodoo

2.  kbooklover

3. hauntedbookcase

4. thislittlebookworm

5. donnahawk

6. robinpwaldrop

7. inspirationsbysimone

8. turnthepagebookblog

9.  debdebreviews

10. phillybookblog

11.lmdavid54

Part Four: Questions for my nominee’s

1.   If you could pick one album to listen to every day for the rest of your life what would it be and why?

2.    If you were stranded on a desert island what one thing would you bring and why?

3.    If you could live inside of a book which one would you choose and why?

4.    What three foods could you not live without out?

5.    Are you a morning person or night owl?

6.    What animal would you be and why?

7.    What is your all time favorite drink?

8.    Knowing what you know now, and you could somehow go back in time and change one thing about your past, what would it be and why?

9.    If you could be anyone in the world, who would you be, and why?

10.  What makes you the happiest?

11.  If you had a dinner party and able to invite ANY three people, alive or deceased, who would you choose and why?

Thanks again to M.C Lavocat for the nomination and your friendship! To those of you I've nominated, thanks for your time and I hope you participate and have as much fun as I did! Cheers and have a great day!