The 2018 Liebster Award

I was nominated by the great Heather Hayden, author of Augment, for the Liebster Award. I'm not only honored by the nomination but by being nominated by Heather. Please check out her blog! She's an exceptional author and person that I'm lucky to know. :)

Here are my answers to her questions, as well as my nominees and the questions I came up with for them!

Question #1: You are awarded a month-long stay in a gorgeous castle by the sea. The only catch is that there are no computers allowed. When you enter the castle’s study, you find reams and reams of beautiful papers and rows upon rows of pens. What kind of paper do you choose to write on, and what kind of pen do you pick?
This is a lovely question, and I'm sure I'm one of the few people who'd actually be happy to take a break from technology! After arousing from my fainting episode, I would select traditional parchment paper and quill/ink (can a quill count as a "pen"?). I can write on any 8x11 white piece of paper any day. I think the experience of staying at a castle would be complete with the pleasant scratching of quill against parchment. I would sit for days in front of a fire place, writing... Ahhh....

Question #2: You are given the opportunity to visit one of the seven following places: Stonehenge, the North Pole, the Cliffs of Moher, Yggdrasil, the Faerie Realm, Olympus, and the Black Forest. Where would you go, and what would you do there?
If we're talking Mount Olympus as in Greek mythology, I choose that! Of my many ethnicities, I'm part Greek and I've always been a huge fan of Greek heroes & gods, and the epics stories about them. I'm not sure what else to say as the other places would be nice; however, I think Olympus would be grand, beautiful, fun, and vibrant. (I keep a book on Greek mythology in my library for references when I write!)

Question #3: Your favorite literary character has asked you to attend a tea party with them. Who is it, what do you wear, and how would you arrive?
I'm going to epically fail this question, but to be honest, I can't think of my favorite literary character to attend a tea party with. I've been sitting here for a half hour trying to make up my mind. So, I'll say: I'll go with any character as long as I get to dress fancy and arrive via boat. (Yes, I'm picturing said party on the shoreline along any body of water.)

MORE ABOUT THE LIEBSTER AWARD: 

The rules for the Liebster Award also require a small post about why I love blogging.

I think this is a wonderful opportunity for reflection because, to be honest, I initially started a blog because I thought I "had to" as an author... 

I've been blogging a little over a year and my emotions and investments in this have developed at a rapid pace. I never was into reading blogs nor interested in starting my own; however, when I received a publishing contract, I had to think fast. What makes a successful author? While I conducted my research, I've learned that starting a blog was one way. 

There was one gigantic lesson I learned immediately. You can't start a blog just to start one. You need a voice, a reason, and a passion. During the first month, I fished for topics to post. I struggled for content. As I struggled, I continued to network with fellow authors in my writing group and on Twitter. When I started reading their blogs, I sensed their passion.

That's when I realized I was terrified. What if I wrote a post that pissed people off? What if people leave nasty and rude comments? (I don't have thick skin). What if no one likes, or even cares, what I have to say? Now that I'm on "the other side", I realize this is a common fear. But, lesson learned, and I care about my blog immensely. It's transformed from just one platform to showcase my work to a wide open stage to share with readers and help other authors. That's why my motto is "Dream.Write.Share." Nothing has gave me more joy than hosting author interviews or posting book reviews. In fact, I don't even remember the last time I self-promoted on this site :)

After realizing my blog exists to promote other voices, and not my own, I will continue to maintain this blog for the reader and for the writer, and I'll continue to enjoy it.

NOMINEES & QUESTIONS

My nominees: Mae Baum,  Sean Frazier, Cassandra Fear (I would nominate more but a lot of people I had in mind are already nominated :) ) They are all amazing authors. Check them out!

My questions:

Question #1: You're given a challenge:  Thriller fiction or Paranormal Fantasy. You must live in one genre for a month and write a complete novel of the other genre in one month. Which do YOU chose?

Question #2: Would you rather land a publishing deal with one of the big five but be forced to make major plot changes OR self-publish/with an independent publisher and be able to retain your plot as is (but must front a lot of money, effort, and advertising)?

Question #3: Where would your favorite retreat be: in a cottage on the Cape, a shack on an island in the Caribbean, camping in the Grand Canyon (I will accept "glamping""),  a wood lodge in the Swiss Alps, or at a temple in Kyoto with a zen garden?

You can find the rules for/ learn more about the Liebster Award here.

**PEACE**
JE