Tardy with an Award

A few weeks ago, (almost a month ago actually), my blog had another award bestowed upon it, the Liebster Blog Award given by the talented Angela Yuriko Smith and her wonderful blog Dandilyon Fluff.  Between writing, reviewing and general forgetfulness, I neglected to post about it until now. But better late than never I suppose.

So here it is:

“The Liebster Blog Award started in Germany and was intended to drive traffic to hidden gems.” Liebster is German for “friend”. The rules are simple:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top blogger friends and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

My top blogger friends (besides Angela) are:

Pat Bertram (who has so many blogs I’ve lost count). Check out her main one at: http://ptbertram.wordpress.com/

Joylene Nowell Butler, a wonderful writer with an insightful and helpful blog: http://cluculzwriter.blogspot.com/

Sheila Deeth, an exquisite writer who also does great book reviews: http://sheiladeeth.blogspot.com/

Rhetta Akamatsu, who writes about blues music, ghosts and the paranormal and steampunk: http://rhetta.wordpress.com/

And all the bloggers over at Murder by 4. There is always something interesting brewing at that blog: http://murderby4.blogspot.com/

Check them out, you won’t be sorry.

Awards, Inspiration and Bloggers

A big thank you to my friend, author and fellow Canadian, Joylene Nowell Butler who has graciously bestowed upon this blog the Inspiration Award

Here are the rules :

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded this to you. 
2. Link posts by you and ten fellow bloggers you find inspirational. 
3. Forward the award to those ten fellow bloggers.

The following ten blogs are full of hard-working and imaginative people who definitely earn an award of inspiration:

Fantasy Casting 
Post of Inspiration: http://fantasycasting.blogspot.com/2011/04/day-16-favorite-female-characters.html

SFF Chat
Post of Inspiration: http://blog.42scifi-fantasy.com/2011/04/more-fun-stuff-from-around-web.html

Murder by 4
Post of Inspiration: http://murderby4.blogspot.com/2011/04/hows-your-character-measure-up-to-life.html

Book Town Blog
Post of Inspiration: http://booktown-usa.blogspot.com/2011/02/excerpt-monday-ezekiel-code-by-gary-val.html

Beth Groundwater
Post of Inspiration: http://bethgroundwater.blogspot.com/2011/04/repeat-of-justice-is-served.html

Authors Promoting Authors
Post of Inspiration: http://authorspromotingauthors.blogspot.com/2011/04/sundays-stillpoint_17.html

Sheila Deeth
Post of Inspiration: http://sheiladeeth.blogspot.com/2011/04/reading-while-curled-up-in-blanket.html

Minnette Meador, World Weaver...
Post of Inspiration: http://minnettemeador.blogspot.com/2011/04/italy-or-england.html

Suzanne Trypak--Who's Imagining All This?
Post of Inspiration: http://ghostplanestory.blogspot.com/2011/04/thea-atkinson-flash-fiction-august-day.html

Poet Hound
Post of Inspiration: http://poethound.blogspot.com/2011/04/interview-with-ed-galing-about.html


Here's my review of an inspiring book: http://afstewartblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/luminescent-book-review-of-refracted.html

And as a bonus a few book recomendations from some of the fine authors listed above:

The One Truth (and the six lies)

No this post isn't about the secrets of the universe (I'm saving that for another day), I'm just revealing the answers to my previous post Awards and Lies.  In that post I told six lies and one truth and asked my readers to guess which was which.  Now I'm spilling the secret:

My Creative Facts:


I have travelled to at least nine countries.
A lie.  I have only been to two counties, Canada and the United States.

I have never owned a pet.
Another lie.  I have been a pet owner of cats for most of my life.

I am an only child.
Lie.  I am the youngest of the family and have six siblings.

I own replica swords, including the katana from the film, Highlander.
The Truth.  I have an entire collection of replica swords I purchased from Ebay, including a reproduction of the Highlander katana and the Bride's sword from Kill Bill.

My favourite dessert is Deep Dish Apple Pie.
A lie.  I like pie, but my absolute favourite dessert is Black Forest Cake.  You can't get any better than chocolate, cherries and whipped cream.

My least favourite actor is Bruce Campbell.
An enormous lie.  I am a huge fan of Bruce Campell.

I love to watch horror movies.
A lie.  I almost never watch horror movies.  They scare me to death and give me nightmares. 

Awards and Lies

Yet another blogger award has come my way, as Fantasy Pages (the blog of author, Denysé Bridger) nominated me for the Creative Writer Blogger Award.

So, thanks Denysé for the nod!

Now for the fun part.  As a recipient of this award I must tell lies and one truth, and you my readers  have to guess which statement is the true one.  Then, I get to hand the creative torch along to seven other bloggers, so they too might think up a few whoppers and pass the fun forward.



My Creative Facts: 

1. I have travelled to at least nine countries.
2. I have never owned a pet.
3. I am an only child.
4. I own replica swords, including the katana from the film, Highlander.
5. My favourite dessert is Deep Dish Apple Pie.
6. My least favourite actor is Bruce Campbell.
7. I love to watch horror movies.

My Creative Writers: 

My list consists of some of my favourite authors; all of them write fabulous books and stories

1. Minnette Meador: http://minnettemeador.blogspot.com/ 
2. Pat Bertram:  http://ptbertram.wordpress.com/ 
3. Kim Smith: http://writingspace.blogspot.com/ 
4. Marta Stephens: http://mstephens-musings.blogspot.com/ 
5. Joylene Nowell Butler: http://cluculzwriter.blogspot.com/ 
6. Rhetta Akamatsu:  http://rhetta.wordpress.com/
7. Sheila Deeth:  http://sheiladeeth.blogspot.com/ 

Changes and the Beautiful Blogger Award

Just in time for my layout re-design of my blog, I have been awarded the Beautiful Blogger Award by Renee Miller of Renee's Blog: Dangling on the Edge of (In)sanity.  Many thanks to Renee for the award!
Be sure to pop over and read her wonderful blog.

As a recipient of this award I was directed to pass it on to deserving bloggers.  My criteria was simple:  Art (books, paintings, writing, etc.) equals Beauty.   These blogs are full of books, writing, artists, wit, advice and overall cool stuff.  Do pay them all a visit.

My List:

1. Bertram's Blog
2. JaxPop 
3. Themes on Canvas
4. The Book Buff 
5. Joylene Nowell Butler
6. Prose & Musings
7. Book Hounds
8. Wolf Maiden Chronicles
9. Writing Space
10. Fantasy Pages

A Little Sunshine (Award) in February

My friend and fellow Canadian, Joylene Nowell Butler, bestowed on me this last week the Sunshine Award.
A big thanks to Joylene for thinking of me.

Here are the rules for accepting the Sunshine Award:

•   Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
•   Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.
•   Link the nominees within your post.
•   Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
•   Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Here's my picks (in no particular order) for classy people and their engaging blogs:

1. Minnette's  Worlds- Real or Imagined 
2. Rhetta's Blog
3. Dark Phantom Review 
4. The Pen and Muse  
5. Authors Promoting Authors 
6. Curiously Twisted (this blog has just started, but is run by a deserving person, Dara England)
7. Author's Studio 
8. Sheila Deeth
9. Random Musings 
10. Deb's Book Reviews
11. Robin Cain 
12. Beth Groundwater 

A great bunch all.

I've been "Mr. Linky"ed

Somehow, when I wasn't looking, friend and fellow blogger Marta Stephens (of Marta Stephens's Prose & Musings and other swell blogs) named me as a "prolific blogger" (see her post:  http://mstephens-musings.blogspot.com/2010/01/2010-day-27-prose-musings-got-mr-linky.html) and I'm now the recipient of the Prolific Blogger Award.  I have the honour of a "Mr Linky" badge and get to pass the award on to other bloggers.

Here's the scoop and the official award rules:

1.   Pass this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers.
2.   Link to the blog from which you received the award.
3.   Link back to this Prolific Blogger post, which explains the origins and motivation for the award.
4.   Add your name to the Mr. Linky.

So here are my lucky recipients, a motley bunch of writers who chat about everything from recipes to werewolves:

Pat Bertram:  http://ptbertram.wordpress.com/
Sheila Deeth:  http://sheiladeeth.blogspot.com/
Eva Gordon:  http://evagordon.blogspot.com/
Martha Cheves:  http://marthaskitchenkorner.blogspot.com/
April Robins: http://redriverwriters.typepad.com/red_river_writers/
Christine Bode: http://scullylovepromo.wordpress.com/
Margay Leah Justice:  http://moonlightlacemayhem.blogspot.com/