Liebster Award

I was recently nominated for the Liebster Award.  It’s a sweet gesture that is like the welcome wagon for wordsmiths (bloggers).  I had a hint that it was coming and I was a little nervous that it might be a bit beyond me, but in the interest of being grateful for the honor and appreciative of the opportunity to promote my blog, I’m moving forward with my privileges and responsibilities.

The Liebster who nominated me is Jena C. Henry, author of The Golden Age of Charli series. She has a lovely website that includes her biography, blog, and other things, including a place to buy her book. I highly recommend checking it out (including the book buying part). I’ve enjoyed interacting with her via comments, twitter, and Facebook, even though I’m still learning how to use some (most) of the features. I used to think twitter was for the birds, but I’m finding out that a tweet is more than just a cheer-up. It’s a way to support, encourage, learn, and connect.

Part of my privilege as a Liebster nominee is to thank Jena for nominating me. Thanks, Jena! I am honored to be on your friends list. Perhaps we’ll meet in a non digital format someday? It’s nice to “know” you! I’m looking forward to the continuation of your series. I appreciate your advice about book publishing. It’s nice to be a part of the club!

The second part of the Liebster Award is to answer a set of questions from my nominator. I considered calling her de nominator, but that sounded a bit common. Jena is special! Her book is a fast and fun read. I knew it was a good book when I felt like I knew her leading character as a friend. Don’t forget to follow her blog. Her writing has a sparkle of humor mixed with reality, practicality and fun.

Jena’s questions. My answers.

1. Brussels sprouts or kale? My first reaction to this question was, “What the kale?”  Toss a handful in a smoothie or a pot of turkey soup. If it’s chopped up fine enough, it won’t spill out of the scoop.  Kale is the easy answer. But I love Brussels sprouts roasted with a bit of balsamic vinegar, rosemary, and sea salt.
2. What’s your favorite quote..the one you would put in a big frame and display at all times? “Keep your chin up and your nose down.” This is advice I gave my kids often. It seemed to just come out of my head when I needed it, but upon Googling the phrase, I saw that an author, Jack Griffin, had used that line in a book about work communication (How to Say It: Be Indispensable at Work: Winning Words and Strategies to Get Noticed, Get Hired, and Get Ahead.) I was curious to know a little more about this author A Google search of the name revealed a Jack Griffin, CEO of Tribune Publishing, but no suggestion that he might be the author of the book with my quote. So I scrolled to the contact section and gave a gentleman a call to ask the simple question, “Is Jack Griffin, your CEO, also the author of some business books?” It turns out, the man who answered the phone was on an errand away from his desk, didn’t know the answer to my question, but got my contact information and promised to call me back later today. He asked if I was a reporter, but I said I was an author just trying to get to the source of a quote in a book. I assured him it was not a high priority thing, but he assured me he would get back to me. So. The even longer answer to this simple question hasn’t been written yet. I still like the quote. To me, it means: Keep a good attitude and don’t put on airs. Or don’t take yourself too seriously. Or whatever other mom advice I needed to convey to encourage my kids to be honest and grounded (but not “grounded”). Update on the quote: the man called back to get more information from me. He doesn’t know the answer to my question, but he is determined to find out if his boss wrote the book I found my quote in. He also wanted to know if we’d be interested in signing up for our local newspaper again (a Tribune company paper).  He’ll call back when he gets the rest of the story. But in the meantime, perhaps I’ll put together a story that will interest him in a column I could write for his papers! This favorite quote may become even more favorite! Stay tuned.
3. What’s your favorite commercial? I think I would have to say most of the Geico commercials. Their “15 minutes” line played right into describing how quickly I could ruin any diet efforts when I was an out of control sugar addict. I could ruin a diet in less time than it takes for people to switch car insurance companies.
4. You have to choose: would you prefer to live in 1916 or 2116? But I can’t choose! I like to think I could adapt to whatever age I’m in. It’s what’s been happening since 1962, for better or for worse. Oh, wait! That started in 1985!
5. What’s your favorite blog post that you wrote? This is another hard to choose situation. As I was editing my book, I continually came across favorites that I didn’t even remember writing. I knew it was good when I was surprised that I’d written something that good!
6. Are you a morning glory or a night owl? Aaack! This question is giving me a mid-day crisis! I was NOT a morning glory this morning. It was very hard to get out of bed. Yesterday, I was awake at 4:40 AM.–not as a morning glory, but as the recipient of a text message. I am all morning glory when I’m headed out on an adventure–like a ski trip. I guess I’ll just go with the morning glory (if I could always go to sleep at my perfect bedtime of 9 pm. which almost never happens)
7. What office task or housekeeping chore would you gladly pay someone to do? Hmmm. Only one? Paying bills or keeping the books. But I guess I have to sell the books to get the money to pay the person to pay the bills. Maybe I should pick cleaning bathrooms.
8. Tell us about your writing projects. My writing projects me as a recovering sugar addict who likes to play with words. Projects include my forthcoming book The I’m Possible Journey: Learning to Live with Sugar Addiction; my Weight Watchers community blog; a new blog about running; and another about cooking. I haven’t made the last two public. Yet. 
9. What’s at the top of your bucket list? Perhaps it’s publishing a book. I’m at the stage of waiting for the proofreaders to give me my book back to start the final approvals. It’s a bit surreal. I am developing marketing strategies for something I can’t quite get my hands on.
10. Ok, how about giving us your best advice about writing, editing, promoting, marketing your work. I think my best advice comes out of a Nike ad. Just do it. It’s having enough umph to go with a try that gets to the triumph. I’m not saying it’s a straight line or even a swoosh. It involves showing up and making an effort. I don’t think it has to involve a big budget, but it has to involve effort to budge it. I think that goes for writing, editing, promoting, and marketing.

In addition to the acknowledgments and answering of questions, I award ten people a Liebster nomination. I’m going to cut and paste Jena’s instructions here. I don’t want to mess this up!

If you’re a nominee, thank the person who nominated you (ME!!) and link to their blog in your post. ( I’m Possible Journey Blog)

(If you’re not a nominee, and you want to be, contact me! I’ll check out your blog! This part is my insertion.)

Copy and paste the Liebster Award badge into your post.
Answer the ten new questions from me- these are posted below the list of nominees.
Nominate ten newbie bloggers. Inform them by commenting on their blog with the news that they’ve been nominated and tell them to follow the link to your blog, which you will also give them.
List your ten new questions for them to answer.

OK. Back to the programming. It’s time to post my Liebster Award nominations.

1. Angela Tompkins. I don’t think she’s actually a blogger. But she has a Facebook page for her new book Insanity’s Shoes. I mention her because she sheds light on the subject of postpartum psychosis. It’s her personal story of healing from a very serious yet seldom talked about illness. I found the book to be engaging and educational. I think it’s an important book of awareness for mothers and fathers and families and neighbors and health professionals.
2. tave777. She’s the niece of one of my very good friends. Her blog is about her tiny house project and it’s really good. Check out Tiny Domestic Bliss.
3. Kelly. She’s one of my very good friends and she’s the aunt of tave777. I know she has blogged before. Perhaps she’ll blog again if she gets enough encouragement. She has provided lots of support and enthusiasm for my writing projects. And I appreciate her to the maru-n and back!
4. Beaton. He commented on my blog. I commented on his. He’s from Zimbabwe. His writing style intrigues me. One thing I know about him is that he LOVES getting comments. Here’s the link to his blog. Tell him Maureen sent you.
5. Helen Hayward. I saw on her comments that she’d already been nominated for a Liebster Award. Her response indicated that she wasn’t likely to do such a thing due to technical issues. It’s okay with me if she doesn’t want to accept my nomination. I like her writing. She’s not new to blogging, but I’m new to her blog. In my mind, she qualifies and I’m nominating her. Even if it only means someone else gets to enjoy her writing because they mosey on over to her blog to check it out because of this post, I think I win.
6. Darcie Carr. She’s my new friend in real life. She blogs. And she wants to publish a book. I hope she does. She has encouraged me with my book project. Head on over to her blog and encourage her to do it!
7. Bethany Vaughan Cotten. She’s a busy mother of a bunch of great kids. I love peeking into her life as she writes about what’s happening in the north country. Every once in a while, she reviews children’s books. I love her book reviews. They take me back to when I was being read to as a child and then when I read to my children. She knows how to capture a feeling in words. And makes me smile. I don’t know if she does awards, but she gets my nomination. It’s a Cotten Life
8. Danielle Walker. I don’t know her, but a friend of mine shared this Leftover Chicken and Roasted Vegetable Soup recipe with me. It was on a blog post and I search for it every time I want to make this wonderful soup. I have a feeling she’s well connected as a blogger and an author, but I’m going to share her blog and her soup recipe with this Liebster Award nomination! (By the way, I might add that kale makes a great substitute for spinach in this soup!)
9. Ellie C. Hither and Yon. Ellie has a way with words. She makes me smile. And sometimes she makes me guffaw. I nominate her because I like her to know I like her writing. In fact, I really think she should write a book and publish it. Check out her blog and you may think the same thing. I give you permission.
10. This list is not in any specific order. I’m not that organized. I’m not saving the best for last, or implying that number 5 is my favorite. I’m just amazed that I’ve gotten this far and not listed my niece. Kayla Brown. I think she still blogs. She has a website. She challenges me to be me. And so I’m challenging her. No. Nominating her. For this Liebster Award.

And now for the questions.

1. Cake mix or from scratch? (If you don’t make cakes, scratch this question)
2. Chickens or eggs? (Chickens came first. Which do you like best? Or maybe this is a question about what’s in your backyard vs going to the store.)
3. Do you exercise regularly? (I suppose this could include exercising caution so you don’t get a sports injury.)
4. Paper books, e-books, or audio books?
5. Library or bookstore?
6. Do you like thrift store shopping? If yes, what was your most thrilling find?
7. Where is your favorite vacation destination?
8. Window seat or aisle?
9. How much do you use social media for marketing and can you tell if it has made a difference?
10. What do you wish everyone knew about you?

Now I have to figure out how to let everyone know about their nominations. I’ll post this to my blog as well as contacting each nominee. If you happen to click on any or all of the links, please consider leaving a comment that I’m trying to get in touch with them about a special award I think they have earned. You might give them some of your own feedback, too. Speaking of feedback, I must say when I saw the word nomination I thought of a country with only good food. (nomi-nation) I think it’s time to fix supper.

Back to the comment comment. If you’ve made it this far in my post, I’d love to know what you think. Feel free to answer any and all of my questions, too. I really like getting comments! Thank you.