Saturday, January 14, 2012

Time for a Little Fun


Last week I received The Versatile Blogger Award from new blogging friend, Fiona J. Phillips over at Fi's Magical Writing Haven. Thanks, Fi. I'd also like to thank C. Lee McKenzie from The Write Game, for bestowing this honor on me several months back.

The rules insist that I tell you seven things you don't know about me, and pass the award on to five other bloggers, so here goes:

1.  I'm keeping all of the chocolates I received for Christmas (coconut wreaths, cordial cherries, thin mints, assorted cremes, etc.) on my desk. I've been spending an inordinate amount of time in my office this month. Any connection? I'll let you decide ;)



2.  I also received a gift card to our local independent book shop. Stacked in a very satisfying pile on the corner of my desk (next to the cache of chocolates) are North of Beautiful, by Justina Chen HeadleyI am the Messenger by Markus Zusak, Second Sight by Cheryl B. KIein, and May B. by Caroline Starr Rose. I am in readers bliss.

3. I love to bake, but hate to cook. Give me Toll House cookie bars over pork chops any day!

4. I never learned to dress like an adult. I wear jeans, t-shirts and sneakers every day. (Although I recently went on a shopping spree in preparation for attending a writers conference later in the year.) I almost don't recognize myself all dressed up.

5.  Figuring out what to make for dinner is my least favorite part of each day. Sometimes I just want to scream, "Really, I have to cook every day?"

6. Although I swore this would never happen to me, I sometimes forget how old I am.

7. I was once asked if my (older) sister was my daughter. This happened only once and I tell myself that the room was dimly lit, the woman who asked was elderly and surely she had some sort of vision impairment. It wasn't. And to my knowledge, she didn't. But I tell myself this anyway.

And now I'd like to pass this award on to five of my blogging friends. I hope you'll click on over and check them out.


1.  Mirka Breen shares wonderfully honest posts on her own blog and is a faithful commenter on so many others. Thanks, Mirka!
2.  Susanna Leonard Hill runs a truly versatile blog. She's always got something going on: challenges, contests, polls, prompts. There's never a dull moment.
3.  Janet Sumner Johnson because she is awesome! See this post.
4.  Sarah Pearson has an addicting blog feature called Musical Stories. If you haven't already, you're going to want to check them out. 
5.  Rosalind Adam because she's one of the nicest people I've met since I started blogging.

Now, to celebrate the fact that I'm going to be diving into the query process with my YA novel in verse this week, I'm joining a reading challenge. My daughter, Amanda, is hosting a Novels In Verse Reading Challenge over at Born Bookish.



I've signed on at the Sonnet Level to read 9-12 novels in verse before the end of the year. I hope you'll consider joining as well. And if you've never read a novel in verse, you may be surprised to find how many of them there are. She's got lists of both MG and YA titles here.


88 comments:

  1. #4 made me laugh. I always thought that I'd know when I'd grown up because I'd start wearing skirts and heeled shoes (like my mum). I still spend most of my days in jeans.

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    1. Annalisa, Yeah, I thought it would just happen, too. Turns out it's a lot of work. Too much, IMO ;)

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  2. #6 happens to me a lot - and has for a long time. It's not something I have ever really thought about (okay, except when I was 9 3/4, ready to turn 10 any second), so it takes me a while sometimes to remember how old I am. I think it's a good thing. Helps keep us young. You never get old if you still feel 10, right?

    I'm intrigued by the novels in verse challenge, but I'm not sure that I would like them. Maybe I should try just one to check it out.

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    1. Ellen, The first level of the challenge only requires you to read 1-4 books. So even if you just try one, if you sign up, you'd be eligible for the giveaways.

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  3. You are so funny. I still wear jeans, t-shirt and tennis shoes too! It's the best way to stay comfortable! And I like baking more than cooking too. I really don't want to make dinner tonight. *sigh* Hmm - if you find any of your chocolates missing, it may have been me. I'm a total chocoholic!

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    1. I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes to go casual. It's one of the perks of being a writer, I guess.

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  4. LOL! I like your fun facts, and can relate to a lot of them. Good book choices--Second Sight is incredible. I'll definitely check out your daughter's list of MG novels in verse!

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    1. The thing about having so many good books close at hand is, it's hard to decide what to read first. I'm reading a couple of the novels, but I've picked a few sections from Second Sight, as well, that I just couldn't wait to dive into.

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  5. I was reading your lovely (and sweet, must be all those chocolates in your drawer) post when I ran into my name. What's it doing there? Wow.
    Thank you, generous spirited Ruth.

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    1. I hope I remain sweet and lovely even after the chocolate is gone. It's not lasting as long as I thought it would ;)

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  6. I adore your chocolate! I just had a small splurge a few minutes ago 'cause I was on a particularly "sticky" bit of revision and I needed something to clear my mind. I'll admit I tend to wear skirts around the house, and I always need to have my hair look nice or I feel a total slob. Isn't that weird?

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    1. I totally understand, Cat. Those sticky bits of revision practically require chocolate to get through them.

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  7. Congratulations! And personally I'd revel in that story about your sister looking like your daughter.

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    1. I think my sister has reveling rights, in this case. Me - not so much.

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  8. Having to cook every day is a sore trial even to those of us who like to cook. Anybody who swears they're always up for cooking is guaranteed to be somebody who doesn't have to do it every single day.

    But I love baking too, and give me Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies any day!

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    1. I agree, Mary. My husband tells people he loves to cook. But he NEVER does the cooking at home. I'm convinced he would hate it if he had done it every day for 25 years.

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  9. That was such a fun post, Ruth. Although I enjoy cooking, sometimes the dailiness of it all gets on my nerves. Thankfully, my husband does most of the shopping so there is always something to cook.

    Oh, I also forgot how old I was and I just had a birthday. LOL. I must be getting old.

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    1. Oh, happy belated birthday, Vijaya. Mine was in December as well.
      How nice that your husband does the shopping. That's another tiresome chore, for sure.

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  10. Congrats on receiving the award - you truly deserve it! :) I love your list of 7 - they are so the same as mine (except no one has yet asked if my sister is my daughter and she is younger) that I think we may actually be the same person! Thanks so very much for passing the award on to me - I am honored!

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    1. Hahaha, it's nice to come across a kindred spirit!

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  11. Congrats. Number five cracked me up (I feel the same way).

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  12. Congrats on the award, and...um, now I want some chocolate. D'oh!!

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    1. Thanks, Trisha. Hope you have some chocolate handy.

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  13. Ruth, I like how you love to bake but don't feel the same toward cooking. And I got confused about my age when I was in my early twenties. Novels in verse sounds really interesting. I'll drop by your daughter's page soon. Congrats on the award!

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    1. Hi Claudine, I hope you give novels in verse a try. There are some amazing ones out there. I just read May B. by Caroline Starr Rose last night. It's a MG novel set in a Kansas prairie during the nineteenth century. The young MC is sent to work on a neighbor's homestead and ends up stranded there. I couldn't put it down.

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  14. I don't dress like an adult, either. Guess I should learn a little about that . . . ;)

    And thanks so much for the award! I'm honored you thought of me. (And P.S. You ARE awesome!)

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    1. Thanks, Janet. I'm glad there are so many of us.

      And your Awesome Post is one that should be read and reread by everyone. It makes me smile ;)

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  15. Dressing like an adult is highly overrated and terribly confining. IMHO.

    A friend of mine wrote a wonderful novel in verse called Riding Invisible. I'd recommend that to . . . not because she's a friend, but because it was a really good book.

    Thanks for remembering me and giving me a link. I really appreciate that thoughtfulness.

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  16. Congrats on the award! It's fun to learn a little more about you. :)

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    1. Thanks, Karen. Yes, these "random facts" seem impossible when you're writing them. But they are fun to read.

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  17. Chocolate and books on your desk? I would spend extra time in my office area, too.

    It took me many years to finally dress like an adult, but I'll always prefer jeans, sweatpants, and sneakers.

    Have a great week.

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    1. Medeia, I think everyone should try keeping chocolate on their desk. It could be the key to new-found levels of productivity ;)

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  18. Thank you so much for your kind words, they're much appreciated. 4 and 6 are so me, but the one I was saying yes, yes, yes to was number 5. I hate cooking more than anything else in the world!

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    1. Sarah,

      Do you have a family of picky eaters? I think it's hard to like cooking when you have a hard to please bunch of eaters.

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  19. Congrats on the award. It was fun getting to know you better. And a gift card to a bookstore sounds glorious!

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    1. Yes, Kelly. The gift card is glorious. I was trying to decide just this morning, how I will spend the remaining balance. I think I've decided on Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay.

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  20. I love chocolate and am an avid baker also. I'm not good at cooking but LOVE baking! :O)

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    1. Diane, I think I'm good at baking because I can follow a recipe and know what the final product will be like. With cooking, my husband insists that you have to taste the food and add a little of this, a little of that, whatever it needs. I'm no good at that.

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  21. North of Beautiful is AMAZING! Like amazing, AMAZING! I loved it!
    I hate deciding what to make for dinner too! I start dreading it from the moment I wake up in the morning.
    Congrats on your award!

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    1. Thanks, Candace. Actually, I think it was your review of North of Beautiful that encouraged me to buy it.

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  22. How fun! And that is so awesome that you can write in verse. There is no way I can do that! :) Good luck querying and thanks for stopping by my blog!!

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  23. Thank you so much for the award and for your very kind words *blushes uncontrollably*. I also hate having to cook dinner every night. I can never think of anything inspiring that I can rustle up in 5 minutes flat!
    Gook luck with the querying and thanks again for the award :-)

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    1. Rosalind, I focus on those quick and easy recipes. With a family of picky eaters, there's no sense spending all day in the kitchen. They usually aren't going to like the finished product anyway.

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  24. Congrats on the award. I like the idea of a desk with chocolates very much. I can relate to the like to back, but not cook point. Good luck with the queries.

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    1. Thanks, Stacy. You really should try the chocolate stash. It provides great inspiration.

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  25. I'd be spending more time in my office if I had that much chocolate around!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting on Karen's guest post. She's a good friend and one terrific lady.

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    1. Hi Susan,

      Thanks for stopping by. And now you know - need to spend more time in the office? Stock the desk with chocolates ;)

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  26. How cool is that? I love learning new things about my blogging friends. For a "shy" writer, you sure are prolific here on your blog. And you have a YA ready to go out? THat is so fantastic! YES!

    For the record, I'd like a desk MADE of chocolates.It would last very long, though. :)

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    1. Donna, What an awesome idea: a desk made of chocolate. Pure genius!

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  27. Always love reading the random facts! I am so hungry for chocolate now, but of course it must wait, because it's time to make dinner again!!! (I feel the same way as you!)
    :)

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  28. Coleen,

    I think having to make dinner each night would become more tolerable if you snacked on a few chocolates before heading to the kitchen. Just sayin'

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  29. Happy to find your blog - thanks for stopping over at mine.

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  30. What a fun post. Congratulations on the award. Love your answers.

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  31. Hi, thanks for the mention. I want chocolate now. Great post. Good to meet you too.

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    1. Hi Fi,

      You should always have some chocolate closeby In case of emergencies.

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  32. Chocolates, hating to cook & hating to dress up--a woman after my own heart! :D

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  33. Great good luck on querying! I'm doing the exact same thing.

    Um -- you still HAVE your Christmas chocolates? :D

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    1. Thanks, Marcia. Best of luck with your querying as well.

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  34. Ha ha haaa. I hate dressing up too! Sweats for me. :-) Uh, er, can I have a chocolate please?

    Congrads on an award well-deserved. *waving*

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    1. Hi Robyn,

      I've got enough for sharing - chocolates for everyone!

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  35. Congrats on the awards, Ruth! And yay for you at the querying stage with your novel in verse. I do like novels in verse, but I don't think I could write one. Takes special talent to do that, so I wish you all the best in finding an agent and publisher for it. I enjoyed the 7 things about you, too. And if there's any chocolate left, my mouth is watering for a piece! Yum!

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    1. Hi Lynn, It's good to hear from you. Thanks for the well wishes. This whole querying business has me a little stressed out. But that's what the chocolate's for ;)

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  36. Congrats, Ruth! Wanted to let you know I (finally) put up award badges on my blog too and the one you gave me is acknowledged. Your blog is really great, by the way!

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    1. Miranda, thanks for your kind words about my blog. I'm clicking over to yours now to check out the badge.

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  37. When I read that you didn't know how to dress as an adult, my mind immediately jumped to the show "What Not to Wear." It's my fold-the-laundry show, and both educates and terrifies me. That jeans and sneakers thing would give them fits! (But I hear ya.)

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    1. MotherReader, I love that show. But I would be one of those frustrating people who gets to the store and can't seem to implement the rules. I need a professional shopper to hold my hand and tell me what to buy. It's sad, I know. We women are supposed to like to shop, right?!

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  38. lol, nice sharing. I'm going to check out your five friends now. Thanks for making my life easier for the comment challenge.

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    1. Hi Carol,

      Glad I could help ;) I am having fun with the comment challenge!

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  39. Nice to meet you, Ruth. Those chocolates look might tasty. I love my red converse sneakers so I can relate to your casual shoe vibe. I dig the name of your blog - perfect. Thanks for poppin' over to my neck of the woods.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Leslie. Oh, converse, nice. They are truly a versatile shoe. My daughter's best friend got married in a pair of sparkly white ones. And my other daughter, at another wedding, wore a brown pair, as a bridesmaid. And they looked fabulous =D

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  40. Novels in verse, yes I need more of that. I'll be checking out your award blogs, you have them great taglines. :)

    Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog.

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    1. Yes, yes, Catherine, we all need more novels in verse ;)

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  41. If I had gotten chocolates for Christmas, they'd be gone now. Nice to meet you.

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    1. I'm rationing them. But they are dwindling. Thanks for stopping by.

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  42. If I had chocolate for Christmas, they would be gone now. Nice to meet you.

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  43. Nice to meet you! Congrats on your award and to the new winners!

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  44. I'm sorry I've not been present on your wonderful blog. Family issues. I love your list -- LOL on the chocolate and Amen on having to come up with dinner. At least you put shoes on -- I seem to run around the house in ballet slippers. Will do better.

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    1. Patricia! So nice to hear from you. I've been concerned about you. I'm sorry to hear you've been dealing with family issues. I do pray that everything works out for the best.
      Ooooo, ballet slippers, that sounds lovely.

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  45. Love this post - it's given me a great introduction to you and your blog! Thanks for sharing :)

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  46. Thanks! Glad you stopped by. I'm clicking over to check out your blog now. . .

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