Six months ago, I was so excited to receive my first blog award, I spread my response across three separate posts. Little did I know back then that the seemingly innocuous Liebster could herald my co-option into a coven of bloggers whose every keystroke would be sacrificed to the beast that resides on many a sidebar, gobbling up batch after batch of interesting/amusing facts about the blogger and sending said blogger wandering lonely through the blogosphere to recruit another fifteen initiates to the fold.
The fear of losing Annecdotal to the swamp of award-dom, led me to renege on my blogigations, failing to complete my versatile nominations or respond to a third Liebster – no, I can’t remember where the second came from, but I know it existed – or display the badge for a very inspiring or a double one lovely, never mind honour the four nominations for various versions of the my writing process blog hop. My guilt was mounting until I witnessed the endorsement of Paula Reed Nancarrow’s post on breaking the chain of blog awards as well as her witty follow-up on ten reasons to decline. Could it be that in my tiny corner of cyberspace, the beast had been sated, that blog awards were now passé?
Yet it’s always a pleasure to give and receive a compliment, and blog awards are one among many possible ways. Today, because I’m puffed up with bonhomie about my good news, I’ve decided to tackle my award in-tray to spread some goodwill around. However, I hope you’ll excuse me for serving up the flash-fiction version of the blog awards. If you want to check out the formal rules for each award, follow the link to the person who nominated me. Otherwise, I’m doing it my way: linking to the person who nominated me; answering ONE set of questions; acknowledging an indeterminate number of blogs and bloggers I consider versatile and/or lovely and/or inspiring. It’s then up to these individuals to decide whether or not to continue the award process.
So thanks to the two lovelies Luccia Gray and Julia Simpson for passing on the One Lovely Blog Award; I’m truly grateful to be acknowledged in this way.
So thanks to the two lovelies Luccia Gray and Julia Simpson for passing on the One Lovely Blog Award; I’m truly grateful to be acknowledged in this way.
Thank you Geoff Lepard finding my blog inspiring as well as for the extra Liebster; it’s not nearly enough recompense for your generosity, but you get half of your questions answered here:
1. If you find yourself in the condemned man’s (woman’s) cell, what is your last meal? Masala dosa.
2. What music would you choose to be played at your funeral? Go now
3. If you had the choice of our next Prime Minister (or President or Potentate or minor deity, depending where you are and who you are ruled by) who, from anyone living, would you choose and why? Eddie Izard.
4. When you are driving what irritates you most in other drivers/road users. Their existence?
5. Do you prefer first or third person books and why? No preference, so long as it’s good writing.
1. If you find yourself in the condemned man’s (woman’s) cell, what is your last meal? Masala dosa.
2. What music would you choose to be played at your funeral? Go now
3. If you had the choice of our next Prime Minister (or President or Potentate or minor deity, depending where you are and who you are ruled by) who, from anyone living, would you choose and why? Eddie Izard.
4. When you are driving what irritates you most in other drivers/road users. Their existence?
5. Do you prefer first or third person books and why? No preference, so long as it’s good writing.
Now, on to my heroines (and one hero). I’m trying to avoid duplicating those I’ve awarded the Versatile and the Liebster, but I can’t omit three great minds producing lovely blogs that continue to inspire my thinking: the teacher we all wish we’d had Norah Colvin; champion of Rough Writers Charli Mills; the man whose tangents comprise a beautifully formed circle Geoff Lepard.
Other lovely and inspiring blogs are hosted by intrepid traveller Lori Shafer; composer of the modern Haiku Teagan Kearney; hostess of the virtual literary salon Isabel Costello; story slammer and chain breaker Paula Reed Nancarrow (if I dare); successful self-publisher Terry Tyler; advocate of retiring with attitude Caroline Lodge; bullshit-busting supporter of insecure writers Quanie Miller; writing tutor Derbhile Graham; composer of software and beautiful prose Gargi Mehra; cheerleader of women's fiction Naomi Frisby; top-notch writing teacher and novelist Emma Darwin; photographer and memoirist Irene Waters; literary agony aunt Shelly Weiner; fighter for freedom from medical hegemony Juliet O’Callaghan; chicken-keeper and prize-winning short story writer Safia Moore; memoir enthusiast and investigator of the chemo brain Lisa Reiter; novelist and artist Tracey Scott Townsend: a new blog badge is yours for the taking.
Other lovely and inspiring blogs are hosted by intrepid traveller Lori Shafer; composer of the modern Haiku Teagan Kearney; hostess of the virtual literary salon Isabel Costello; story slammer and chain breaker Paula Reed Nancarrow (if I dare); successful self-publisher Terry Tyler; advocate of retiring with attitude Caroline Lodge; bullshit-busting supporter of insecure writers Quanie Miller; writing tutor Derbhile Graham; composer of software and beautiful prose Gargi Mehra; cheerleader of women's fiction Naomi Frisby; top-notch writing teacher and novelist Emma Darwin; photographer and memoirist Irene Waters; literary agony aunt Shelly Weiner; fighter for freedom from medical hegemony Juliet O’Callaghan; chicken-keeper and prize-winning short story writer Safia Moore; memoir enthusiast and investigator of the chemo brain Lisa Reiter; novelist and artist Tracey Scott Townsend: a new blog badge is yours for the taking.
| Thanks so much to a wonderfully supportive community bloggers across the world and apologies both to those who didn’t want the burden of another mention and to anyone I forgot. (There are at least another 3x15 nomination slots vacant if you want to give me a nudge.) Apologies too for the sketchy information about your wonderful blogs; I’d be delighted if you were to compensate for my failings by elaborating in the comments. |  Norah, me, Geoff, Lisa at a bloggers' meet-up this week |
Tracey signing The final five of my listed bloggers are by no means least, each deserving a special mention in relation to my news: Shelley for helping resolve the structural problems of my novel Sugar and Snails; Safia and Juliet for invaluable feedback; Lisa for introducing me via her blog/Twitter to Tracey; and Tracey who led me via her blog and her highly original debut novel, The Last Time We Saw Marion, to the dynamic young publisher Inspired Quill. A couple of weeks ago I met Tracey at a book signing in Waterstones and, besides being lovely to meet her in person, I was inspired by her professional approach to engaging with her public. I’m now looking forward to following in her footsteps, having been offered a contract with the same team.
Yes, folks, you read it here first: Sugar and Snails will be launched into the world in July 2015. Before that, I’m looking forward to the three edits that will hopefully smooth out the rough edges and learning about the process of transition from manuscript to paperback and e-book. There’s a lot of work to be done over the next ten months and, no doubt, I’ll be sharing some of that journey here on my blog. I’ve no illusions about the difficulty for a small press in getting a novel from an unknown writer to readers but, from my dealings with the publishers so far, I’m optimistic they’ll give it a decent chance.
Thanks to my readers, old and new, for all your support. I hope you’ll stick around for the next phase.
Thanks to my readers, old and new, for all your support. I hope you’ll stick around for the next phase.
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