Kreativ Blogger Award

Thanks to Rebecca Nazar of Scratch That (who should get an additional award for the most soothing blog design) for awarding me the Kreativ Blogger Award.

The rules are:

1. Thank the person who awarded you and link to them.-Done
2. Display the logo-Done
3. Nominate seven worthy souls, link to them, and tell them they've been nominated––see below
4. Reveal seven things about yourself--oooh, that's hard, but I'll try.

Okay, the nominees are:

1. Kat Magendie
2. Kimberly Davis (another one with a soothing design)
3. l. lee lowe who not only blogs but serializes her novels online––really cool
4. Jendi Reiter, while I am not a Christian I often stop by to read her posts which I always find well-written and thought-provoking. I enjoy intellectually stimulating posts.
5. Cashewelliott/John he's slowed down his blogging a bit lately, but I identify with his mix of writing and political posting.
6. Gabrielle for reaching out to teen writers
7. Scott Doyle

Okay, seven things you may or may not know about me:

1. I'm fascinated by Constitutional Law and am a Supreme Court groupie.
   
2. I am areligious. Unlike even an atheist, I don't ponder issues like creation or life after death. It's what I do while I'm here that matters.
3. My politics are way left of the current Democratic Party.
4. I'm more comfortable with a roomful of people than having lunch with one friend.
5. I'm an exercise junkie who has to do something aerobic every day or I climb walls (which is challenging but not aerobic).
6. Even though I'm a writer I read three nonfiction books (usually history) for every one book of fiction.
7. When my work hasn't been accepted for a while, I can't write anything new.

So go forth all you nominees and pay it forward.

1. 
   
2. The rules:

1. Thank the person who awarded you and link to them.

2. Display logo.

3. Nominate seven worthy souls, link to them, and inform them they've been awarded.

4. Reveal seven things about yourself.

Seven things you may not know about me . . . rules:

1. Thank the person who awarded you and link to them.

2. Display logo.

3. Nominate seven worthy souls, link to them, and inform them they've been awarded.

4. Reveal seven things about yourself.

Seven things you may not know about me . . .

Getting to Know Us: Adnan Mahmutovic

I'd like to introduce Adnan Mahmutovic not just as a blogger but as a writer, artist, commentator, and much more. While posts on Adnan's blog UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN are sporadic, they are always thoughtful and erudite. I was introduced to Adnan when he submitted his short story "Integration Under the Midnight Sun,"  to The Rose & Thorn. "Integration" is one of the stories in his excellent collection Refuge[e], and I still consider it among the best, if not the best short fiction the zine ever published. We nominated  that story for every award we participated in, but, sadly, due to a certain bias that still exists against zines, it probably wasn't taken as seriously as it deserved.

I continue in my belief, however, that one day I will say, "We knew Adnan when..."

Don't just check out his blog, please do yourself a favor and check out his writing.

Getting to Know Us: L.Lee Lowe

Sorry, I'm a little behind in my "Getting to Know Us" post. I usually pre-post for 8:00 AM, but what can I say. Yesterday was bookkeeping day, I'm working on my taxes, and life has gotten a little crazy here, with some good things and some not so good.

Anyway, without further ado, let me reintroduce blogger L. Lee Lowe. I say reintroduce, because those of you who have been following my blog for a while may remember her guest post Self-Publishing Online. If you haven't read it, go back and check it out.

If you don't know it already, Lee is not your average blogger. Yes, she maintains a personal blog, Lowebrow, (how I envy people with names that can be made into catchy titles), but she has also serialized one YA novel online––Mortal Ghost––and has just begun the second––Corvus.

Besides being a good writer and an interesting blogger, L.Lee Lowe could serve as the poster child for online publishing. Her decision wasn't made after years of unsuccessful shopping of her work. She had an agent but decided she would have more control and could reach more readers––especially her focus audience of young adults––online. She has also made use of the all the venues available, like podcasts, PDF, e-book, and downloads to ereaders and iPhones.

Very impressive stuff. I encourage you to visit all three sites as soon as you can!

Getting to Know Us: Gabrielles' Innovative a Word for the WriTeen

As Gabrielle describes her blog,

Innovative is here for those who think teenagers and writing make a smooth combination...

Garbielle does just that. She's an impressive young woman who posts a combination of advice, announcements, book reviews, and some exceptional interviews focusing on teen writers and YA. This blog takes teen writing seriously and is updated regularly. It's a wonderful place to visit, not just for young writers, but those who want to know what's going on in the world of YA or what appeals to teens.

Visit Innovative as soon as you can and get to know Gabrielle.

Getting to Know Us: Frank Wilson

I noted last week that I was going to join blogging friend, Kat Magendie, in writing a weekly "Getting to Know Us" post about a fellow blogger. Kat and Angie Ledbetter were my obvious first choices, because I have known them so long and in so many capacities. My second choice has been harder, because there are so many bloggers I've met who I really want everyone to get to know. I guess I will just have to pick one at a time and be satisfied that I'll get to all of them eventually.

So, for my second introduction––drum roll please––I pick Frank Wilson and Books, Inq––Epilogue. Frank is the former Books Editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer (hence the name), and rather than the usual mix of opinions and critiques, his blog is more of a clearing house. He searches out the best posts from other sites––often book or publishing related, but not always––and usually adds a short comment of his own. To say he posts several times a day would be be an understatement. In fact, I'm wondering what his record is for the most posts in one day. He also gets some help from the contributors listed in the sidebar.

Due to the wealth of information I try to discipline myself not to visit every day, or I'd never do anything else. I do visit every few days and never come away without reading several articles in full and often finding inspiration for a post or two of my own. I don't need to go into much detail on Frank's bio as he kindly agreed to be interviewed by me when I was still with R&T and you can read that interview here. What I will add is that Frank is an extremely well-read and erudite blogger, as comfortable discussing the latest best seller as he is the great philosophers.

Frank's blog doesn't need to be hyped. I'm guessing his weekly hits are in the thousands at least, but he is always happy to support fellow bloggers by linking to them or highlighting someone's work that's been published online.

So if you haven't already, go over and visit Books Inq––The Epilogue, and tell 'em Nannette sent you. Well, really that's not necessary, but do visit for your own edification.

This just in: Since I posted this I learned that Books Inq––The Epilogue was chosen by Bryan Appleyard of the Times London as one of his 100 Best Blogs. While I'm sure my mention is much more significant, that one is nice too.

Getting to Know Us: Expanding a Great Idea

My friend and fellow blogger, Kat Magendie, had a great idea. She's going to make Saturday a "Getting to Know Us Day" on her blog. She will introduce her blog followers to the bloggers she follows. I thought it was such a great idea, I'd join in. Only rather than do it the same day, I'll be doing mine on Sunday.

Sooo, I thought it only fitting that the first blogger I introduce would be Kat herself. However, since I met both Kat and Angie Ledbetter when I was Co-Managing Editor at The Rose & Thorn (where the two of them are now sharing the Co-Managing Editor position), and since, like "love and marriage" or maybe more appropriately Abbott and Costello, I can't think of one without the other, I figured I'd introduce them both at the same time.

Kat's blog is Tender Graces named after her novel that will be released by Belle Books later this spring. Kat is a great writer and editor, and a very hard worker. She's one of those gals who can't say no, which is why she does so much for The Rose & Thorn in addition to her own writing, editing and blogging.

Angie is the author of Seeds of Faith and her blog, Gumbo Writer, can only be described in her own words.

Thoughts on one crazy life with three teens, a new puppy, writing, editing, taking care of family, cooking, politically incorrect stuff, trivia, laughter and whatever else comes up. ~~ Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment if you have time! Huggage, Gumbo Writer.

Both of these blogs are fun and interactive, like the ladies who author them. Stop by and visit them often. I do.