Thank you (and keep it up in 2013!)

Today, with 2013 just around the corner, I am handing out blogging awards to a couple of the blogs I have enjoyed reading this year.

First, a word about these “chain” blogger awards.  I have said before how these awards are reminiscent of the chain letters I used to receive as a teenager.  However, unlike those letters, which threatened bad luck if you did not comply with its demand, these chain blogger awards have no strings of superstition attached.  It’s simply an opportunity to show my appreciation for other bloggers, while directing some of my readers to other blogs they might like.  For the honorees, as always, participation on your own blog is optional.  There’s no pressure!

The Very Inspiring Blogger Award

I am honored to have received this award from Cassandra Giovanni and Kas-a-Fras.  C. Giovanni, who blogs at C. Giovanni Writes, is the author of In Between Seasons, which is a post-apocalyptic romance, and Walking in the Shadows, a murder mystery romance.  Kas-a-Fras is the blogger behind livesimplykmm, where she discusses a range of topics, including books.   Thanks for nominating me!

Here are the rules for this award: (1) Thank and link back to the blogger(s) who nominated you; (2) Post the award graphic to your blog; (3) Nominate other bloggers who inspire you and notify them; (4) Share seven facts about yourself.

It’s getting harder to share seven little known facts about myself now that my life is an open book on this blog, but here goes…

(1)   I am shy.  I am happy to converse with people on the internet, but I am likely to cross the street to avoid running into someone in person.  It’s the unplanned encounters I can’t handle.  I’m okay with meeting for tea or going to a party (which I enjoy doing), as long as I have time to mentally prepare for it.

(2)   I don’t like surprises in general, making me particularly love book reviews with “spoiler alert” written all over them.  I want to know how a story ends before I begin it; I don’t need to know every twist and turn, but I want to know the broad outlines.  The joy I get in reading a book comes from the specific details—the writing style, the interactions between characters, etc.— that can’t be spoiled by knowing the plot points.  That said, I try my hardest not to include spoilers in my own reviews (not that I always succeed).

(3)   I eat very little meat, but I am not a vegetarian.  Almost everyone who knows me thinks I am, though.

(4)   No matter what I do, I cannot keep ficus plants alive.

(5)   It bothers me that my husband is 9 months younger than I am, and I know this is a silly issue to have.  It’s his birthday today, actually — he suggests you party tonight in his honor.

(6)   Despite having some age-related hang ups, I love being in my 30s.  I have control over the course of my life in a way that I never did in my 20s.

(7)   We are a family of insomniacs.  We never sleep.  My children are awake at midnight, and I was the same way as a kid.

Here are the blogs I am nominating for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award, in no particular order (as I said above, participation is optional):

Roy McCarthy, an author who lives in Jersey, Channel Islands.  He blogs at Back on the Rock, where he discusses writing, reading, running, and other subjects.  His books are Barry-A Novel and A Jersey Midsummer Tale.

Jaclyn at Covered in Flour, where she talks about books, baking, and parenting.  I feel like I have a lot in common with her—we’re both attorneys, we’re the same age, our children are preemies, and we both love the Cotswolds.

Theo Fenraven, an author and photographer, whose newest work of fiction (paranormal mystery romance), The Lightning Struck Tower, will be available on New Year’s Day.

Jane at Robby Robin’s Journey.  She blogs about a range of subjects, from books to travel, including recent posts on the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu.

Molly at Wrapped Up in Books.  I have read a few books because of Molly’s insightful and thorough reviews.  She’s a writer and book reviewer who specializes in young adult literature.

Alesia at Alesiablogs.  She writes an introspective blog about genealogy, parenting, writing, and other subjects.  I appreciate the personal touch she brings to blogging.

BLOG OF THE YEAR-2012

Cassandra from C. Giovanni Writes also nominated me for the Blog of the Year Award.  Thank you so much!  The rules are here.

My nominations are…

Fransi Weinstein at Three Hundred and Sixty-Five, where she impresses me by writing a thought-provoking, interesting post every single day of the year.  I wouldn’t be able to pull that off.

Donna at Garden Walk Garden Talk, where she not only discusses interesting topics related to gardening, the environment, and photography, but where she also displays stunning images.  It’s a beautiful blog.

Jae at Lit and Scribbles, a writer whose creativity is second to none.  Her young adult work-in-progress, Shade, has received quite a bit of praise lately.

I look forward to seeing what these blogs and the others I follow have in store for 2013!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

*I chose the top image because it conveys the sense of happiness I associate with giving and receiving recognition/awards.  The top image is my daughter Samira in December 2009, enjoying a huge snowfall we had.  We haven’t had much snow this year, and the storm last weekend brought only an inch or so, just enough for a snowperson (see below).