Last week, Laura Roberts of Buttontapper Press nominated me for a Liebster Award because of my homophone pieces from April’s A to Z Challenge, as well as my new 52 Weeks of Creativity Challenge.
Laura, thank you so much for the nomination, I’m honored to be one among your awesome group of nominees!
These are the guidelines to keep the award going when you decide to accept it:
- Display an image of the award and write about your nomination.
- Thank and link the person who nominated you for this award.
- Answer the 11 questions prepared for you by the blogger who nominated you.
- Nominate 5-11 awesome bloggers who you think deserve this award, and create 11 questions of your own for your nominees to answer.
- List these guidelines in your blog post.
My Answers to Laura’s Questions:
1. What most inspires you to write?
Observation (and the need to preserve my own vague level of sanity).
2. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about writing?
Two gems from Elizabeth Gilbert:
3. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I grew up in Southern New Hampshire, so I’ll gladly take any body of water, ocean, lake, or river. Ideally, I’d have a cabana with a comfy chair or hammock, and of course someone to keep me supplied with delicious food.
4. What’s your favorite book, and why?
Back in the day, as I waited for my Classical Mythology class to begin, Professor Smith asked me this question. At the time, it was probably Harry Potter (book four or five had just come out), but I doubt that’s what I actually told him. Regardless of my answer, Professor Smith replied, “From now on, the Iliad is your favorite book.” As I continued my studies in Classics and Latin, this became a running joke, and now (over a decade later) I always have to include Stanley Lombardo’s translation of the Iliad as one of my favorite books. The scene where Hector returns home to see his wife and son for the last time is so powerful; Andromache’s speech to Hector moves me to tears every time I read it.
I still love the Potter series – I read all seven books in twelve days last summer – and I maintain the Jo Rowling is both the example of and the exception to every rule about writing.
5. What kinds of things do you do for fun, when you’re not writing?
I love to get in the car and drive. I take random roads and try to see how “lost” I can get before I actually turn the GPS on for directions. I also love going to concerts with my husband. Music is one of the things that brought us together, and we try to get out to a few shows every year.
6. If you had to pick one song that best represents your life, what would it be?
There are so many songs that have made up the soundtrack of my life, but I think I have to go with Everything Is Sound by Jason Mraz.
7. Do you have any good luck charms, and if so, what are they?
I’ve had a number of good luck charms over the years: a fabric worry doll, a playing card from a magic trick, a piece of mother-of-pearl … but right now, the only “good luck” thing I have is a jar where I keep the fortunes from fortune cookies.
8. Which fictional character best represents you?
I think I’m somewhere between Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice and Shakespeare’s Beatrix from Much Ado About Nothing.
9. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
I suppose it has to be moving my family from New Hampshire to Southern California. We’d wanted to do it for a while, and suddenly the opportunity to go was there, so we left with only a couple of weeks to get everything packed and planned.
10. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment in life (so far)?
I had a hard time answering this question. I don’t have grand list of professional achievements, I haven’t traveled extensively, and – while I’ve volunteered for some amazing organizations – I’m not making a huge difference in the world. However, I have finally gotten to a point in my life where I feel confident in being completely myself. I pursue professional and creative endeavors that interest me, raise my children as I see fit, and consistently find ways to expand my understanding of myself and the world. Maybe it’s a small accomplishment, but as Frost says, “that has made all the difference.”
11. And, of course, the all-important question: Pirates or Ninjas?
Pirates, obviously. Ninjas are cool, but that whole stealth thing bugs me. I’d want everyone to know I’m badass.
My Nominees:
The Brain Hole for completing the A to Z Challenge and for her recent post: You, yes, YOU, can make a difference. Here’s how.
Kai’s Life in Words for such thoughtful and important posts as part of the A to Z Challenge. T is for Transition is a must read.
Weekends in Maine for wonderful posts that give me a taste of “back home.” I particularly enjoyed I is for Infographic.
Sass and Balderdash for her humorous take on what really matters in public restrooms.
Mud and Bone for a delightfully eclectic blog, especially: Photo Series. Things + Places Forgotten.
My questions for you:
- What fictional character would you most like to be? Why?
- Who has had the greatest influence on you?
- What TV show or movie do you quote most often?
- How do you like to decompress?
- What’s your favorite movie theatre snack?
- If you could have a super power, what would it be?
- What is your most vivid memory?
- How do you define family?
- What are your favorite and least favorite words?
- If you were made supreme ruler of the universe, what would you do first?
- Wonderland or Oz?
I’ve really enjoyed spending the last week searching the blogosphere for these awesome contributors. Check them out and show them some love!
Maggie Writes Stuff 
Congratulations on the award!
Thank you!
Reblogged this on Maggie McGarvey and commented:
For Week Two: Missing This, head on over to my writing blog to see my nominees for the Liebster Award. You don’t want to miss out on what they’re saying!