First Mystery Blogger Award

In the last month, I was nominated for the Mystery Blogger Award by both Adam from Write Thoughts and Ronel the Mythmaker. Both blogs discuss writing and storytelling with class, distinction, and a whole lot of fun. Thanks for sharing your time and work with the world, and for nominating me!

What is the Mystery Blogger Award?
“The ‘Mystery Blogger Award‘ is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging and they do it with so much love and passion” ~ Okoto Enigma. Have I mentioned that I am hugely honored to receive this award, twice?

How Does it Work?
• Put the award logo/image on your blog
• List the rules
• Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog
• Mention the creator of the award
• Tell your readers 3 things about yourself
• Nominate up to 10 people
• Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog
• Ask your nominees any five questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question
• Share a link to your best post(s)

Three Things About Me

I love gardening and baking. When I need a break from writing, both lets me keep my hands busy while my mind can ponder and plot.

I’m apprehensive to publish my works-in-progress, even though I know the day is drawing near. I’ve been working on books one through five of a series for eleven years now, and the thought of letting them go at last is more than a little stressful.

I like sewing by hand. Even though it takes a long time, I find it restful and soothing…a good thing to do after contemplating publishing at last. 🙂

 

And now, Ronel’s questions:

1.Who is your favourite author and why?

You had to pick that question…grr. I don’t think I can name a favorite, as I’m one of those people who read a book and then don’t touch it again for years. But, if a favorite author is one whom I’ve read almost all their writings, enjoying not just a story but all their works, then…Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and C. S. Lewis. Slipping into their writings is like greeting an old friend.

2. What are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?

Right now, I’ve been reading The Lord of the Rings to my two sons, and yes, I’d recommend it. We read about a chapter a day, and it’s a good, workable chunk. The description actually works better when read aloud, as you have to note the poetry and music of the description (even though I still feel like he could’ve dispensed with a great deal of it, but I’m not sure it’d be Tolkien then; just like if we took the songs out).

3. How long have you been blogging?

Three years this May, and it’s been a delightful journey (though it feels like longer than that).

4. Which four fictional characters would you invite to a dinner party and why?

If I wanted them, and me, to survive? Nice people, like Mr. Knightley, Mr. Darcy, Emma, and Elizabeth (I wonder what they would think of each other?).

5. What would your supervillain name be?

Not sure I’d want to be a supervillain. They have trouble recruiting good help. And are prone to monologues. And giving last chances, last words, last everything. Much too risky. 🙂

 

And now for Adam’s questions:

1. What is your favorite word and why?

Hebetudinous. I love the way it sounds, and the way it flows off the tongue. (And I wonder if there is any link between the word and Hebe, the goddess of youth, though scholars don’t seem to think so; perhaps one must be occasionally lethargic and dull to remain youthful?)

2. What would be the title of your autobiography?

Adventures in the Writerlea, because so much of my life relates to writing.

3. Describe one time in your life where you were terrified before and/or during, but grateful/proud afterwards.

Taking the stage as a senior in college. I was cast in one of Chekhov’s shorter, happier plays, and it was theatre-in-the-round, so the audience was on all sides. I was incredibly nervous, and it didn’t help that we were performing with a Russian accent (to create a facsimile of their “native tongue,” which would’ve felt as odd as an accent since upper class Russians spoke mostly French at that time). Still, I’m very grateful I had the opportunity to create my own version of a character by such a talented, accomplished writer.

4. What supervillain do you most feel a kinship with?

Hmmm…maybe we should change the blog award to the “supervillain mystery award,” as there seems to be an unspoken rule for asking about supervillains. 🙂 But joking aside, I think Loki is the one I sympathize with the most. I think he’s misunderstood, by writers and everyone else. I don’t think he’s nearly as bad as everyone likes to make him, and I actually patterned a character in one of my works-in-progress after him (at least, after his comic potential as captured in Thor II).

5. If you could bring one character from a fictional story into the real world, who would you choose, and why?

Samwise Gamgee. He always seemed like a solid chap–loyal, kind, thoughtful, and capable without a lot of bluster. And he could help me with my gardening (no more weeds!).

 

Link to my best post(s): Plotting a Novel is like Playing a Game of Rummy It’s a recent post, but the concept is so useful. I find myself using the analogy as I work through my own works-in-progress, noting what “cards” I’m giving the reader to hold and whether I want them to have them in their hand or not.

And C. S. Lewis Quotes on Pets and Birth and Pregnancy in Literature, Part One. They’ve been some of my most visited posts for years now.

 

Now, for my nominations. Since it is a Mystery Blog Award, I thought I’d nominate the ten most recent followers to my site so as to have an opportunity to learn more about them.

1. Balaka of Trina Looks Back
2. K Marie from Lines of Lazarus
3. Angie Marotte of Transcribing Memory
4. Joel Thimell
5. Maia Kumari Gilman
6. Ed A. Murray
7. L. E. Hunt
8. Movie Babbler
9. Tammy Thompson from Passionate Portraits
10. Writer to Writer

And the five questions:

1. What are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
2. What is your favorite word and why?
3. Describe one time in your life where you were terrified before and/or during, but grateful/proud afterwards.
4. How long have you been blogging and what is your favorite aspect of it?
5. If you could bring one character from a fictional story into the real world, who would you choose, and why?

Thank you to everyone for taking part (it is optional but great fun!), and again, thank you Ronel and Adam for nominating me and being so patient!