Real Neat Sisterhood of the World: Blog Awards

Whoever came up with the idea of blog awards is awesome. :) I love that they allow us to show some love to our blogging friends and learn more about one another.

Many thanks to Ariel of The Librarian's Bookshelf and Shantelle of A Writer's Heart for the recent award nominations! I haven't been the greatest about participating in posts like these lately, but I couldn't resist answering these fun questions...

Real Neat Blog Award Rules:

• Put the award logo on your blog.
• Thank the people who nominated you, linking to their blogs.
• Answer 7 questions asked by the person who nominated you.
• Nominate any number of bloggers you like, linking to their blogs.
• Let them know you nominated them (by commenting on their blog, etc.).

Here are the questions...

1. What is your favorite genre and why?

I like to think I've broadened my reading horizons a bit since I first started blogging, and I've discovered some lovely gems in a variety of sub-genres (fantasy, contemporary, historical, time-travel, dystopian, and even paranormal). But the overarching theme/genre of the reads I most enjoy would be romance. Sometimes romance is just one flavor in the whole sundae, and most often it's the whole enchilada, but generally I love me some sweet love in my fiction. :)

2. Where is your favorite place to read?

Does "anywhere" count? I love the memories I make reading in unique places (like up a tree or in an airport), but I spend a lot of time reading in bed or on the couch, which works just fine!

3. What are you reading right now? What do you think so far?

I just finished a book last night (Five Enchanted Roses, which was awesome!), but I have a few others I've started, and some I plan to start soon. Part of me wishes I could read it all at once so I don't have to choose, but then I'm grateful that our brains force us to savor one story at a time. ;)

4. What made you want to start a book blog?

My desire to be a writer - with some inspiration from other bloggers I followed and a much-appreciated nudge from one of my professors at college. You can read my first post HERE, if you're interested!

5. Do you prefer physical books or ebooks?

Both! You just can't beat the experience of reading a physical book, but then you can't beat the convenience of buying and reading ebooks. I like collecting both. Love 'em either way!

6. Who is your favorite author?

Oh, good gravy - that's a tough question! While I do have some authors whose releases I eagerly anticipate (Sharon Cameron, Rosamund Hodge, Marissa Meyer, Serena Chase, MaryLu Tyndall, Karen Witemeyer, Jennifer E. Smith, Lena Goldfinch, and many more), I feel like I often roll on a book by book basis. I like trying new authors if the story sounds promising and the cover is pretty (#LetsBeReal). And sometimes, a favorite author releases a book that isn't so much my cup of tea, even though I still love their writing. Just depends!

7. What is your favorite series?

Again, just one? So hard! :) I'm going to cheat and list several: "The Legacy of the King's Pirates" by MaryLu Tyndall, "Phantom Island" by Krissi Dallas (eagerly awaiting the next set of four!), and "The Lunar Chronicles" by Marissa Meyer (not a huge fan of Fairest, but I'm dying for Winter!). Also, for a little #ThrowbackThursday fun, I still have a special place in my heart for the "Disney Girls" series by Gabrielle Charbonnet.

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award Rules:

• Thank the blogger who nominated you, linking back to their site. 
• Put the award logo on your blog. 
• Answer the ten questions sent to you. 
• Make up ten new questions for your nominees to answer. 
• Nominate ten blogs.

Here are the questions...

1. What genre have you read most this year?

Hmmm... I think it's a fairly good mix of contemporary, fantasy, and historical. Although it seems like I've been reading a lot of stories with some sort of fantastical or fairy-tale elements. :) You can check out my stats on Goodreads.

2. Do you enjoy fairy tales? Which one do you like most?

Yes, indeedy! I'd probably have to go with Beauty and the Beast as my favorite, although I greatly enjoy creative retellings of all sorts of tales.

3. Favorite dessert?

My grandma used to make a chocolate Texas sheet cake with homemade frosting for birthdays and special occasions, and there was nothing more delicious or delightful! I haven't tried to make it myself, but perhaps someday. It's a recipe that deserves to live on.

4. Which Disney princess are you most like and why?

Cliche as it is for a book blogger, I have to say Belle. The love of books, the longing for adventure...the naivete and brown hair. :) But when I was younger, I used to want to be like Jasmine (I even had a "magic carpet" - a little Oriental rug with tassels my mom had sewn on it!) and Ariel (I went through a period of wanting to be an Olympic swimmer and a professional singer when I grew up...). And now I really admire Princess Anna's attitude and kindness, and I love Tiana's work ethic, as well as her big dreams and big heart. Wouldn't mind being like them!

5. Which Disney prince do you consider the most dashing?

Flynn Rider/Eugene Fitzherbert. He's handsome, daring, and a total softie with the best smile. :) And if I could pick two, I'd add Prince Naveen. He starts out shallow, yes, but oh my goodness - the way he supports Tiana and totally adores her makes my heart melt. ♥

6. What was your favorite blog post this year?

I'm such a rebel...so I'm going with my Top 3 so far!

• An UPlifting Find (Because that mug! And life truly is a special occasion.)
• Discover Your Dream Hero! (Because personality quizzes rock.)
• The Beauty of Tuck Everlasting (Because I discovered a classic gem.)

7. A few books you hope to read soon?

The Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor by Melanie Dobson (for review), The Wonder of You by Susan May Warren (for fun), and Persuasion by Jane Austen (for the read-along!).

8. Favorite book of the year?

Favorite new fiction: Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade
Favorite non-fiction: The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst

And I just have to mention the two classics... I discovered the loveliness of the Tuck Everlasting book this year, and it's definitely a favorite! I also re-read To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time since freshman year of high school, I believe...and I was absolutely blown away by a book I hadn't really understood or appreciated when I was younger. Now, I feel it must be among my top favorites - the story is just that raw and true and meaningful, with characters that are real. Classics (for me) have often been books to wade through and endure because school required it, with a few exceptions in college (like Dracula and Jane Eyre) that I especially enjoyed. I'm so grateful and excited to experience the magic of classics that have surprised me and moved me.

9. Summer or winter?

Generally, I'd say summer. I love family vacations and longer days and sunshine and fun events like county fairs! Right now, this heat and the bugs are making me think fondly of winter days...but still, I do love summer overall.

10. One goal you have?

To read Persuasion for the first time! Yes, this is a shameless shout-out for the read-along starting next week. :)

And the awards go to...

I'm nominating: Julie (My Favorite Pastime) | Kara (Flowers of Quiet Happiness) | Rissi (Dreaming Under the Same Moon) | Courtney (The Green Mockingbird) | Carissa (Carissa's Bookshelf) | Alicia (A Brighter Destiny) | Meghan (A Northern Belle) | Emily (Zerina Blossom's Books) | Caitlyn (Just Your Average Reviews) | Miranda (To Be a Person)

Y'all can pick which award you want to share (or both!). (And absolutely no pressure if you don't have time or interest right now! This is just a fun thing for those who want to do it. :)) Feel free to either respond to the corresponding questions I answered above or choose from the questions below:

1. Dream vacation this summer, if you could go anywhere?

2. Classic (book) you're most interested in revisiting sometime?

3. Latest fictional crush?

4. Favorite period drama?

5. One summer book release you're super excited about?

6. Music you can't get enough of at this moment in time?

7. Most exciting discovery this year (book, movie, or music)?

8. Best freebie you've found online (ebook, download, subscription)?

9. Favorite Jane Austen hero?

10. Most beloved Disney sidekick?

The Gift of a Sunflower

Have you met blogger Shantelle H.? She recently started blogging at A Writer's Heart, and already she's got some fabulous posts up! It's always a treat to welcome a new friend to the blogosphere.

Shantelle very kindly included me among the recipients of the Sunflower Blogger Award. The award image is so pretty and cheery, and the "rules" so fun that I couldn't resist putting together my "acceptance post." ;)

Apparently the "in" number is 11, as the rules are to share 11 facts about yourself, answer 11 questions, then ask some bloggers 11 new questions as you pass along the award. So let's start with the facts! Since a lot of you know the basics about me, I'll kind of use this as a way to catch you up on some news...

11 "Facts" About Me, Myself, and I

1. I've been blogging for over 4 years here, and over 3 years at The Borrowed Book (on Mondays). I ♥ blogging!


2. One of my goals for 2014 was to get a part-time job within the first few months of the year. And in April, I started working part-time at a local grocery store right near my house. (Yay!) While it's been quite a different experience for me (vs. only freelancing from home), I've made some new friends, learned some new skills, and definitely had some lessons in humility. :) All in all, I'm really grateful I've had this opportunity!


3. After this week, though, I'll no longer be working at the grocery store. But you'll have to wait a bit longer to find out why! 


4. Yes, I'm a tease. Figured I might as well make this its own point.


5. I have an author newsletter (you can sign up HERE). I should be sending out the second edition very soon, hopefully!


6. I've been sadly absent lately on my series blog. :( If anyone has any post requests, please do let me know! Behind-the-scenes info, character spotlights, snippets from my WIP, sales/marketing news... I'd love to know what interests you!


7. I was toying with the idea of having a new blog for my freelance publicity business. Due to that news of which I must remain silent a little longer, plans have changed. So I'm now considering creating a blog/site for my publisher, instead. 


8. I'm considering this because I think I'll be going a different direction with my writing after I finish "The Heart's Spring" series (well, "finish" for now, as who knows if I might want to revisit it later on down the road!). It might be nice to have sort of a "home base" for Seasons of a Story Publishing beyond my series blog. Would that be helpful/appealing to you?


9. Yes, I realize I'm mostly rambling about my current life and asking you questions. I guess the fact that I realize this is sort of a fact about me, right?


10. I just finished reading The Seahorse Legacy by Serena Chase, and it was so good!! I'll be reviewing the book and interviewing the author here this Friday, as one of the blog tour stops. Not to be missed!


11. Today is my 23rd birthday. :) I'm not really throwing a blog party this year, but I thought this would be a fun celebratory sort of post for today! 

 Me on my first day of work. :)

Here's another "off the list" sort of fact: I own a book called A Handful of Flowers that lists different flowers and their meanings, and includes a lot of beautiful pictures and literary quotes. I decided to look up what the sunflower means, but the only reference I could find was to the dwarf sunflower, which apparently means "adoration." Sweet, no? And I do adore all my blogging friends!

Just for fun, if I were to pick a meaningful bouquet today, it might include the lesser celandine (even if it is considered a weed...), the bellflower, the centaury, and the sweet pea. So the message I'd like to convey is one of "future joy," "gratitude," "felicity," and "departure." And I think the yellow, purples, and pinks could look pretty together! ;)

Now, here are my responses to Shantelle's questions:

11 Responses

Shantelle: What is your favorite book (or one of them)?

Me: Oh, good - I'm grateful for the "one of them" option, as it's too hard to pick a favorite (beyond the Bible, of course)! For the sake of naming one, I'll say Entwined by Heather Dixon, which really enchanted me the first time I read it - and it's one I'd love to read again soon. You can see my virtual shelf of favorites on Shelfari.

Shantelle: What is your favorite book genre?

Me: Once upon a time I would say inspirational historical romance...and it still is one of my favorites, for sure! But I've also come to love some romantic fantasy books, as well as some contemporary romance. Young Adult reads have opened up a new realm for me, I think, along with the way self-publishing and the like have allowed Christian fiction to branch out. :)

Shantelle: Do you prefer winter or summer?

Me: While I love Christmas, I'm definitely going to have to go with summer. Summer means sunshine, day trips, family time. It feels more hopeful, a time when everything is at its peak, you know?

Shantelle: Who is your favorite historical figure and why?

Me: Hmmm... That's a tough one! When I was in high school I wrote fictional pieces on Amelia Earhart and Pocahontas, and they both fascinate me. Since reading Falk's Claim by Jon Humboldt Gates and writing about Falk in Bleeding Heart and Fairy Slippers, I'm intrigued by Noah Falk and his lumber town.

But I think I'll have to go with Mark Twain. For one, I really enjoyed The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Secondly, I loved learning about his connection with Virginia City, Nevada - and I got to see his desk at one of the museums there, which was very cool. And thirdly, the movie Mark Twain and Me was one I enjoyed watching with my grandparents and uncle. I love the way he had fun with his writing - how witty and humorous he was! And yet he wasn't afraid to write about controversial and important matters of humanity. His life, from what I know of it, was quite an adventurous one.

I'm sure I'll probably think of other historical figures after I've posted this, but really, some of my favorites of any category are ones that hold special memories for me in one way or another. Plus, I'm in love with history, period, and the ordinary yet extraordinary people who lived before this time.

Shantelle: A few movies you enjoy...?

Me: Anne of Green Gables, The Journey of Natty Gann, Tuck Everlasting, You've Got Mail, Brother Bear, The Croods

Shantelle: Do you like cake or pie better?

Me: Definitely cake! Although my mom does make a delicious chocolate cream pie. :)

Shantelle: How would you rather read, on Kindle or with paperback?

Me: Well, I absolutely love paperbacks - the look of them, the feel of them, the way you can flip through pages and stack them all together in pretty rows. I'm really rather fond of them, and I enjoy holding a book in my hands as I read.

However, I will say that the longer I've had it, the more I've fallen in love with my Kindle. I love that I can have so many reading options on one slim little device. While I'm not overly fond of the PDF format on there (the words are so small!), in general, I love how easy it is to read and click through the book. I love the highlight option (no highlighter required!); the ability to organize my books; the lightning speed of adding new books through purchasing on Amazon or downloading review files; and (echoing Kara of Flowers of Quiet Happiness) the way you can keep the reading experience a little more private, since no one can see the cover.

So...paperbacks will always have a special place in my heart, but I do rather enjoy reading on my Kindle!

Shantelle: Who are two of your favorite authors?

Me: Since I mentioned earlier about finishing her latest, I'll say Serena Chase, as well as Lena Goldfinch (my cover designer and fabulous author friend).

Shantelle: If you could live in any time period (past, present, or future), what would you choose?

Me: Well, part of me wants to say the 19th century in the American West, because that's the era of history that fascinates me the most. It's raw. It's wild and beautiful and deadly. It's full of so much to be explored.

But if this were a real choice with real consequences, I'd say I'd choose to live right here and now. Because really, this is where my life is, and it's a very blessed one. :)

Shantelle: Which do you like best, bright colors or pastels?

Me: Pastels. I'm fond of shades like lavender and periwinkle and mint green.

Shantelle: Are you more of a casual type, or do you like to dress up?

Me: Casual, for sure. Don't get me wrong - I love an opportunity to dress up! But one, those are few and far between. And two, I don't really wear makeup beyond coverup, and I don't really know how to make my hair look fancy, LOL. So...I cherish the times (like school dances) when I could dress up. I do like to wear nice shirts with pretty designs, too. But I'm a jeans gal. ;)

 A picture of Muffin Man...because he's adorable.

11 Tagged Bloggers and Their 11 Questions

Here are the 11 bloggers I'm tagging, if they'd like to participate! No pressure. :)

• Renee of Black 'n Gold Girl's Book Spot
• Rachelle of Inspiring Daring
• Kara of Flowers of Quiet Happiness
• Rissi of Dreaming Under the Same Moon
• Melanie of Christian Bookshelf Reviews
• Grace of Fictionally
• Tammy of Bluerose's Heart
• Brooke of i blog 4 books
• Faye of Labor Not in Vain
• Kate of Too Read or Not Too Read
• Miranda of To Be A Person

And here are my 11 questions for them:

1. What's one book you already know will go on your list of favorites for 2014? 
2. What's one book you're looking forward to reading this summer?
3. What's your favorite type of blog post to read?
4. What's your favorite type of blog post to write/put together?
5. Hardcover or paperback?
6. For paperbacks, soft cover (matte) or glossy?
7. Which do you enjoy most: Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, or Goodreads?
8. Which national park or country would you most like to visit?
9. What's your favorite genre of music?
10. Name one movie or TV show that surprised you recently.
11. What's your favorite flower?

Phew! This has been a long post, hasn't it? Sorry I got kind of carried away with everything...but it was fun! Thanks again to Shantelle for prompting me to write this post. :) I do so adore blogging, and I'm grateful for you, dear readers and blogging friends! Hope June is off to a lovely start for all of you. ♥

Bookish and Writerly Questions

The Liebster award has been floating around the blogosphere, and I've been blessed to be included in its wanderings! I was nominated to receive it by Miranda of To Be A Person, Rebeka of The Other World, Rel of Relz Reviewz, and Shannah of Book Reviews by Shannah. And I was mentioned by Crystal of Just Another Book Lovin' Girl and Rissi of Dreaming Under the Same Moon in their posts - such dear, sweet friends, who are also an inspiration to me!

Once upon a time I had a page for the blog awards I've received, but I decided to delete it because my list of pages (top right of the sidebar) got rather long... If you ever do want to see my awards posts (what I wrote about, who I nominated, etc.), you can click the "blog award" link in the labels section of the sidebar (titled "From Days Gone By...").

Anyway, I haven't been doing much with blog awards as of late, but I'm feeling the pressure this time around, LOL. Bloggers have been asking some great questions of each other, and I can't resist weighing in on some of them! Since I was nominated by four different bloggers with their own sets of questions, I decided to just pick and choose which questions I wanted to answer instead of answering all of them:

Question: If you had to choose one author to have a face-to-face chat with, who would it be and why?

Answer: Laura Frantz. (Although there are others I would love to meet, too!) Based on what I've heard and what I've experienced through her e-mails and blog posts and books, Laura is such a sweet person with a kind heart - not to mention a wonderful talent for penning gorgeous historical romances. It would be such a treat to be able to talk to her face-to-face about our stories and anything at all, really!

Question: If you were asked to pick one book you believe should be adapted into a movie, which would it be?

Answer: Does every author harbor a secret dream to have one of their books made into a movie? ;) At the risk of sounding incredibly vain, I had always thought it would be such a dream come true to have Michael Landon Jr. take on one of my books for a movie project! I'm not sure Bleeding Heart would make an ideal movie... Lots of traveling, violence and difficult topics, and just a lot going on - a movie version would probably have to change things up, and it might be hard to find the right audience without taking away from the story, you know? But Forget Me Not... I think there's potential! =)

Question: How would you describe your personal style?

Answer: I'm going to focus on my writing style - there's not much to say about my taste in clothes and whatnot, anyway, LOL. I'd say my writing style is atmospheric, thematic, and character-driven. I set the mood more than the scene, in the sense that I try to convey emotions more than I try to ground the reader with details. I keep things focused on the theme(s) of the story. And I pour my heart into my characters and their feelings. If you'd describe my writing differently, I'd be curious to here your thoughts! Hoping I'm not too self-deluded about my style. ;)

Question: Please share a snippet of your current work-in-progress.

Answer: Here's a snippet from the first draft of Fairy Slippers, a short story featuring Zachary Taylor (a secondary character from Bleeding Heart) that I'm planning on entering in Anne Elisabeth Stengl's Five Glass Slippers Creative Writing Contest. Zachary is in the middle of berating the proprietor of the general store for the lack of supplies, when he notices someone...

Turning, he spotted Margaret – the plain, quiet server who worked in the lumber camp cookhouse closer to the logging site. She appeared to be doing her best to blend into the shelves on the other side of the store. 

Something very much like butter clogged up his airway while simultaneously warming up his blood. She wasn’t the prettiest of Gertrude’s three assistants, but there was something about Margaret that softened him. Her long blond braid drew his eye down to her waist, where an apron she must have forgotten to remove hugged her hips. It was speckled with flour and grease stains. He almost smiled but caught himself in time before he ruined his stance in the argument with Lewis. 
 

Question: What is the name of the most recent book you have finished and loved?

Answer: A Spark Unseen by Sharon Cameron, YA historical fiction and sequel to one of my fave books of 2012, The Dark Unwinding. You can read my review HERE.

Question: What is the 17th line of the 125th page of the book you are currently reading?

Answer: I'm going to do this (approximately) for two books - one I'm re-reading (Watercrossing by Krissi Dallas) and one I'm reading for review, which I should have finished over a week ago (On Distant Shores by Sarah Sundin). (I'm so behind on my reading, and I need to catch up and be a more responsible reviewer. *sigh*)

Watercrossing - "...then you're just going back to how you were, Amelia...and this whole summer was pointless!"

On Distant Shores - "The asphalt burned her backside. Her breath trotted at a steady pace."

Question: What is your genre of choice? Why?

Answer: I enjoy a variety of genres, at times. There are some contemporary romances I've liked, some fantasy, some dystopian, some mystery, some Amish... But the one I often enjoy reading and the one I've taken to writing in at this time is historical romance. I love the things it can teach you, the reality mixed with imagination, the challenges found in each era, the interesting facts and the adventures through the past. I love the uniqueness of the romance and yet its timeless nature. History fascinates me, and I love how historical fiction works like a puzzle where you have to search for all the hidden pieces.

Question: If you had to swap lives with a character, who would it be and why?

Answer: Maybe Savannah from My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison, or Casey from Clockwise by Elle Strauss, or Whitnee from the "Phantom Island" series by Krissi Dallas. Being transported into a fairy tale, time travel to the Civil War era, or trips to a magical island - all with cute and protective boys? Mmmmhmmm!

Question: Do you alphabetise your books by author or title, on your bookshelves?

Answer: Author - last name! That way you can group an author's books together and find titles fairly easily.

Question: What is your favorite spot to read?

Answer: Probably my bed, because it's quiet at night and I can generally read the most when I'm there all cozy and undistracted. However, I'm not quite sure that's really my ultimate/only favorite spot... I love the memories you make when reading a book - how you can remember reading certain scenes in a certain location. I can pretty much be found with a book wherever I go, and I've loved the times I've read at my grandparents' house, at the airport, all over the place at college, etc.

How would you answer these questions? Would love to hear your responses!

The Booker Award

Huge thanks to Faye (labor not in vain), Cathy (Thoughts on Books), and Carissa (Carissa's bookshelf) for passing The Booker Award on to me!

Ah, yes - I think I do spent quite a bit of time in fictional worlds, LOL!

Here are the rules for this award: 

"1. This award is for book bloggers only. To receive this award the blogger's blog must be 50% about books (this includes writing blogs or reader blogs).

2. When you accept this award you must also share what your top five all time favorite books are. Going over five is encouraged.

3. You must pass this award on to five to ten other book blogs that you adore :)"

Now, I have a really hard time narrowing down my favorites when it comes to books... There are so many books that have moved me or inspired me or swept me away! But here are some of the books that I've marked as "Favorites" on Shelfari:

• A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer
• Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer
• Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz
• The Redemption by MaryLu Tyndall
• Surrender the Night by MaryLu Tyndall
• Yesterday's Tomorrow by Catherine West
• Undercurrent by Michelle Griep
• Chateau of Echoes by Siri Mitchell
• The Messenger by Siri Mitchell
• There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones
• The Rose of Winslow Street by Elizabeth Camden
• Promise Me This by Cathy Gohlke 
• The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen
• Love in Disguise by Carol Cox
• The "Phantom Island" series by Krissi Dallas (Windchaser, Windfall, and Watercrossing - with more to come!!)

Some other Christian fiction favorites:

• Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
• Snow Angel by Jamie Carie
• A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman

And some favorites from books I had to read for college classes (class underlined in parentheses):

• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (17th-19th Century British Literature)
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (19th-20th Century British Literature)
• Dracula by Bram Stoker (19th-20th Century British Literature)
• The Ghostway by Tony Hillerman (Literature of the American West)
• Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (19th Century American Literature)
• Into Africa by Martin Dugard (History of Modern Africa)
• Cavalier in Buckskin by Robert Utley (American Military History I)
• The Gospel of Ruth by Carolyn Custis James (Ruth & Esther)

Like I said before, there are so many books that have blessed me or challenged me. As a college graduate with a degree in English, I'm sure you can imagine that I am very grateful for books!

I'm passing this award on to:

• Bluerose (Bluerose's Heart)
• Lydia (The Overweight Bookshelf)
• Christy (Southern Sassy Things)
• Casey (Writing for Christ)
• Renee (Black 'n Gold Girl's Book Spot)
• Katie (Legacy of a Writer)

 What are some of your favorite books?

Catching Up - And a Blog Award!

Hello, dear friends! I'm so sorry my posts have been rather few and far between recently. Graduation is just around the corner, and I confess I've been rather preoccupied with this, that, and the other thing. But I think there are some good post ideas in my mind somewhere!

I've been doing plenty of reading still, and I'm quite intrigued by this YA/dystopian/fantasy wave that seems to have pulled many readers under - including me! I recently read Divergent by Veronica Roth, and I bought an iTunes audiobook version of Legend by Marie Lu. And let's not forget the fact that I'm caught up in The Hunger Games craze! I bought tickets for the midnight showing almost a month ago, and now it's only a few more days until the movie comes to theaters!! Anybody else planning on seeing the movie?? I might have to dedicate full posts to some of this stuff sooner or later!

Spring break is approaching rapidly (just one more week - thank goodness!), so I'm looking forward to the time off from school that I can spend at home with my family. Then just a month after that until graduation!

Anyway, thank you for your patience with me in the meantime! Hopefully there'll be some more posts coming your way soon! There might not be a regular posting schedule for the time being, but everybody loves surprises, right? So I'll just let you be surprised when you see I've actually posted something again! ;)

But while we're catching up on things right now, I wanted to thank all those who tagged me in recent posts (I'm sorry I didn't end up doing a post for that, but thank you just the same for thinking of me!). And thank you so much to Melanie from Christian Bookshelf Reviews for passing the Helpful Blogger Award on to this blog!

Here are the rules for this award:

1. Link back to the blogger who nominated you in your award post.

2. Post three helpful things you've done.

3. Nominate another three bloggers and tell them you nominated them.

I'm afraid I haven't been very helpful in the blogging world as of late, since I haven't been around all that much! I have been tweeting quite a bit, though - and, as my followers are probably painfully aware, I've been helping with the buzz regarding The Hunger Games movie by retweeting their tweets all the time, LOL! I do hope that my reviews and thoughts here on the blog are helpful and encouraging to others, as well!

There have certainly been a lot of bloggers who have been helpful and so kind to me! Here are three of them:

1. Renee from Black 'n Gold Girl's Bookspot
   
2. Casey from Writing for Christ
3. Faye from Labor Not in Vain
   

Thank you to these three ladies and all of my readers for your friendship and support!

Oh, and one last note... I'm sure you've noticed the blog design has changed. It's a bit early, but spring is on its way, so I'm happy for a change of pace. =) I hope the new design reminds you of the simple but wonderful beauty of spring and the hope that we have in the "spring" of humility when we trust in God and His plan for our lives. That's something I especially need to remember right now. It's hard to let go when my dreams and well-laid plans seem to change constantly and nothing feels certain. But the Lord is my Shepherd - I have all the direction and security I need in Him.

So happy early spring, everyone!

Tell Me About Yourself - Blog Award!

Thank you, Katie from Legacy of a Writer, for passing on the "Tell Me About Yourself" award to my blog! Katie's blog is lovely with lots of fun things going on all the time, so be sure to visit her if you haven't already!

Here are the rules for accepting the award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Give the award to 15 other bloggers.

And here are 7 things you may or may not know about me...

1. I am a family girl - I just love spending time with my family! We have such fun on our family vacations or simply watching I Love Lucy or Bonanza episodes together. =)
2. I love to read! (Surprising, right??)
3. I just joined Twitter recently (@SeasonsHumility).
4. I have a tabby cat named Mr. Murphy who lives at my grandparents' house. He's a sweetie! (Especially compared to my sister's cat, Muffin Man...although we still love him!)
   
5. Speaking of pets: growing up I had a Persian cat (for a short time), hamsters, and Beta fish. (I think I had gold fish for a very short time, too... But that was before I can remember!)
6. I didn't learn how to ride a bicycle until I was 11. *Blush*
7. I love chocolate!! (I think I have the "chocoholic" gene passed down from my mom...)

OK, enough about me! ;) I'm going to pare down the number in the third rule to 5 instead of 15 (not that I couldn't go on and on, though, about all the great blogs out there!), so here are the 5 blogs I'm passing this award on to:

• Beth's Thoughts

• Southern Sassy Things

• Doorkeeper

• Labor Not in Vain

• Hutt-Write Voice

Congratulations, ladies! You all have great blogs, and I appreciate your friendship - as well as the friendship of all my blogging buddies!!

I think this is a fun award to pass along so we can all learn fun, random facts about each other. =)

P.S. If you haven't seen the update page yet, I recently added the tentative schedule to the Love Finds You Blog Party page if you're interested in seeing some of the fun we have in store! Can't wait to party with ya'll!!

One Lovely Blog Award (#13)

Thank you to Melanie from Christian Bookshelf Reviews and Katie from Legacy of a Writer for the award!

There are 2 rules for accepting this award, and I confess that I'm going to "bend" the second one. But as per the first rule, here are 7 facts about me:

1. I'm an introvert. Give me a book, a movie, and my laptop on a quiet weekend anytime!
   
2. I love my family! This past summer we spent a lot of time together, which made me one happy camper. =)
   
3. This is my third year at college, but it's also my senior year, which means I'll be graduating in May!!
4. I'm a picky eater. (It's pretty much official.)
5. Spiders freak me out. (Just ask my mom!)
   
6. I'm going to the Women of Faith conference in October!
   
7. I'm (hopefully) going to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland in October and see Measure for Measure and Julius Caesar with my Shakespeare class!
   

Now, I'm going to cheat a little on the second rule and just list 5 very lovely blogs instead of 15. (There are so many lovely blogs out there, though, and this award is really making the rounds!)

• Bug's Beads

• Bluerose's Heart

• You Are More

• Hutt-Write Voice

• Beth's Thoughts

Let's show these lovely bloggers some love, shall we?

Community Love: Winners and a Blog Award!

We had four wonderful entries in this week's community contest - all so diverse and unique! Celebrity judge Laura Frantz had this to say about them:

"I am a terrible judge as I just LOVE them all!!"

Want to know what she means? Well, with the entrants' permission, I get to share them here with you so you can feel all the community love yourselves! So before I announce any winners, here are the four entries in no particular order:

Photograph Entry:

Submitted by Ariel from The Librarian's Bookshelf

Essay Entry:

Nerves coil in my belly and I take a shuddering breath. Is this really happening?
My knees turn to jelly and my hands quake in shuddering spasms. I slowly dial the numbers, for-certain sure this truly cannot be happening to me. I’m dreaming. It’s a mistake. She called the wrong number.
But she did say my name.
Good news.
It’s about my writing.
And it’s Susan May Warren on the other end of my answering machine.
“Hello, Warren Residence.”
“Susie?” My voice doesn’t sound like my own. It’s detached, distant and no amount of gulping is bring it back under control.
“This is she.”
“Hiii…This is Casey.”
“Casey! I’ve got good news for you! You’ve finaled in the My Book Therapy Frasier contest!”
Something within me breaks and the back of my eyes burn and threaten to leak. “Are you sure?” This can’t be true.
But it is. It is.
It. Is.
I hang up the phone a breath-taking five minutes later, I have to run out the door for my sister’s piano lesson is less than twenty minutes, but I instantly dial the number for my mom’s work.
I’m breathless as if I’ve run a marathon, grasping for air as though my throat doesn’t know how to work.
“Mama!” I squeal the news as best I can into her ear and I have to repeat myself several times over before it sinks into both of us.
I call my dad and the story repeats itself. All the time, the news is pounding in my head. I fire an email to a dear writing friend and run for the door with my sister in toe, determined to make her piano lesson. This is crazy! Is all my barely-functioning brain can compute.
Minutes later I swing into my mom’s work, still floating high on the euphoria that is sweeping my system like a cheap drug. I haven’t made it five steps into my mom’s work and “congratulations!” roll from the classrooms, reception desk and my mom’s office.
The news is spreading faster than a wild fire in a dry desert. I gulp, I smile wider than a mouth should be allowed and say “thank you!” at each opportunity.
I know these people. They’ve known me since I was in diapers and now they are celebrating in my success. Could it be anymore perfect?
I arrive home to a phone message from my dear writing friend and a squeal only one writer can give another when one of their own finds success. The grin is ever present, but I am humbled by the overflowing support.
I share the news on Facebook and friends spread the word on The Writer’s Alley, my group blog, Twitter. Can I wear out the words “Thank you”?
I determine it’s impossible.
Congratulations pour in, but it isn’t the praise that sweeps me away, it’s this amazing community of writers, friends and family. Many of them don’t know me that well yet, they’ve met me through one of my social networks, but they give of their love and support unconditionally. The kindness of people I’ve never met in person to sendme cards and warm congratulations
The kindness of strangers…but they aren’t strangers anymore. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, friends and family of the One True God, supporters even while one might be low, we are ready to lift the other up.
Community is often over-rated and under-appreciated. Not for me. Never again will I take for granted the friends I have made, the gift I have been given in a support that will not easily fade, wear away or rip asunder.
It’s family. It’s community. It’s all God.
###

Submitted by Casey from Writing for Christ

Poem Entry:

"Shared Tears"

Postponing the tear jerking task
As futile as trying to
Hold imminent tears at bay
Why doesn’t this pain retreat?
Time doesn’t heal, memories don’t soothe
I’ve left a thousand tears in this room
The sight of the silky films
Hugging shimmery satiny layers
Brings that familiar sharp sting--
Stoic eyes, straining not to weep.
We huddle around,
Dark granite contrasting light layers
Deft fingers brush over smooth, moist surface
Separating silk from satin.
A lone tear breaks free
A swift slushy staccato begs
My nose to join this tearful symphony
Twin rivulets trickle down my cheeks
I swish away tears
With the sleeve of my blouse
Will this stinging pain ever leave?
Years haven’t healed it.
The others sniffle somberly
Swishing away their own tears
A somewhat soothing salve
I step away to compose myself,
Prompting a fresh waterfall
Finally, the dreaded, mundane task
Everybody loves to loathe
Finds us swiping at the last tears.
Unspoken consent leaves
Silky remnants discarded,
While satiny layers are tucked away
For future use, future tears
With dry albeit red rimmed eyes
We quietly saunter away…
Blessed refreshing relief!
Till next time someone leaves us
A pail of onions to peel.

Submitted by Linda Maendel from Hutt-Write Voice

Photograph/Poem Entry:

Two Becoming One ...
embraced, enfolded, and upheld
by arms and hearts
that Love with
The Love
initiated by Father, Son and Holy Spirit
in community,
One with Another ...

Submitted by Sharon from Faith Hope Cherrytea

~ ~ ~

See how difficult it was for the judges to make a decision???

My mom and author Laura Frantz picked different entries for different reasons, and the third judge didn't get a chance to look over the entries (she had a wedding to attend, so she's forgiven!). ;) I almost thought I would have to do a random drawing in order to come to a decision! But thankfully my mom suggested my sister fill in as the third celebrity judge, and with her help we have a winner:

The essay written by Casey!

Congratulations, Casey! And to all those other entrants, your entries were all wonderful, and the decision was a difficult one. We appreciate your great reminders of the blessings of community. Thank you!!

And special thanks to our fabulous judges: author Laura Frantz, my mom, and my sister!!! ;) You all are awesome, and I'm so grateful for your help!

Oh, and there was one other giveaway for the interested entrants - the drawing for a copy of Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs. And the winner of this book is...

Faith Hope Cherrytea!

I hope ya'll have enjoyed this week of community! And I can't think of a better note to end it on than posting about a blog award given in love and passed on in love, as well!


I was given the Liebster Blog Award by three lovely bloggers: Cathy at Thoughts on Books, Casey at Writing for Christ, and Michelle at Sweet Treats & Inspiration. Thank you so much for the encouragement and support, my friends!

Be sure to check out their blogs if you haven't already! These ladies are so sweet!

Here are the rules for this particular award:

The Liebster is awarded to bloggers with less than 200 followers. It is an opportunity to shine the light on great blogs and their authors in an effort to build readership.

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them.

2. Give the Liebster Blog Award to five bloggers and let them know in a comment on their blog.

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

4. Have faith your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.

5. Have blogging fun!

Well, isn't this the perfect award for our community week? So let's share the love with five awesome bloggers!

~ Ruth at Booktalk & More: If you're looking for some fantastic reviews (especially for movies and T.V. programs like PBS Masterpiece), look no farther than Ruth's fantastic blog! Ruth is so awesome and thoughtful!

~ Julia at Dark Glass Ponderings: A sweet and caring person, Julia is a great friend and a great blogger! She's planning on focusing more on devotional-type posts in the future, to which I say bravo!

~ Casey at Operation Encourage an Author: I don't know if it's cheating to pass this award back to Casey through one of her other blogs, but I'm going to anyway! ;) This blog is so important, as it's a way for us readers to show our appreciation to authors. Be sure to check it out if you haven't yet!

~ Kav at Best Reads (2010-2011): Kav is super generous, writes great reviews, and is all around a wonderful person! I've so appreciated her friendship! And her blog offers AMAZING opportunities to learn about great books and maybe win some!!

~ Anne at Tales of Goldstone Wood: I have Anne's debut novel on my TBR stack, but despite the fact that I have yet to read it (and I can't wait to do so!!), I'm impressed by her blog and her sweet, humble attitude that shines through her posts. Many of her posts focus on her books, but that just makes me more excited to read them!

There you have it! You can show these great bloggers some love and extend our wonderful blogging community!

*Don't forget that tomorrow is the first day of the End of Summer Bash! And who's our first guest? None other than author Julie Lessman!!!*

Gone on Vacation

Tomorrow my family and I are heading for Sunriver, Oregon for a relaxing vacation! I love our family vacations, and this year my great-aunt and my cousin will be joining us in Oregon for a few days, which will be great! =)

Like last year, I'm planning on spending the following 10 days or so away from the blogosphere, so I can enjoy the undivided time with God and my family. (I'm planning on checking my e-mail occasionally, though, if you need to get a hold of me!) I love blogging, but it's amazing how time-consuming it can be, as you all know. ;) However, I will miss you all, and I look forward to catching up that first week of July!

Before I go, there are some loose ends I need to tie-up and some announcements I need to make:

First, I want to thank Beth from Beth's Thoughts for passing on "The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award" to me and this blog! Thank you, Beth, for your support and kindness!

I'm supposed to share some random facts about me, so here goes nothing!

• I have a cat named Mr. Murphy who stays at my grandparents' house. He's a brown tabby--a sweet purring machine and a dear friend!
  

• I'm listening to bluegrass music as I write this. Are you surprised? ;)

• I love to dance, even if I'm not very good at it!
  

• I also love to sing, even if I'm not very good at it! ;)

OK, enough about me! Here are the super sweet bloggers I'm passing this award on to:

• Renee at Black 'n Gold Girl's Book Spot

• Laura at LauraFrantz.net

• Casey at Writing for Christ

• Joy at Edgy Inspirational Romance

• Kav at Best Reads (2010-2011)

• Bluerose at Bluerose's Heart

Second, I wanted to let ya'll know that even though I'll be gone for the next week-ish, I still have a couple of posts pre-scheduled, including a cool giveaway! So feel free to comment while I'm gone, and I'll check in with you when I get back.

Also, I have posts scheduled for Monday, June 27th and Monday, July 4th over at The Borrowed Book, so I'd love to have you stop by there, as well, if you get a chance! As with this blog, I'll plan on checking the comments when I return. =)

Third, the weekend after I get back is the Christian Fiction Book Club discussion of Pompeii: City on Fire, which I'll be hosting right here at this blog (Saturday, July 9th)! Be sure to mark your calendars!

I hope you all are having a great summer so far! God bless!

Blog Award # 10 and Some Exciting News!!!

Thank you so much, Kait and Katy from Book Ponderings, for this beautiful award!

On their blog Kait and Katy posted 7 things about themselves to go along with this award, and they passed the award on to 7 other bloggers. I'll do the same thing except cut the number down to 5 for this time. Hope that's OK! ;)

Five Things About Me:

• I'm a Junior at Corban University, which means next year is my last year before graduating with my B.S. Degree in English! And that means that decision time is right around the corner...

• I still don't know how to drive, but hopefully that will change after this summer. ;)
  

• This year my younger sister is graduating from 8th grade on my birthday! How cool is that? And to celebrate, our family is going to Disneyland the day after!!

• News: I've been blogging for almost a whole year! So I hope you'll join me next week for a super fun, week-long blogoversary party, starting Monday!
  

• News: I finished the first draft of my first manuscript this past week during spring break!!! Yep, it still needs polishing and editing (etc.), but I feel blessed and excited to have completed the first draft, even if it is a bit on the short side. Wahoo!!!

And now for the bloggers I'm passing this award on to...

• Laura at LauraFrantz.net
• Casey at Writing for Christ
• Renee at Black 'n Gold Girl's Bookspot
• Joy at Edgy Inspirational Romance
• Carman at A Sequence of Continuous Delights (And happy almost 19th birthday, Carman!!!)

These are just some of the amazing bloggers I'm privileged to call my friends. Thank you, ladies, for having such stylish and inspiring blogs!

Blog Award # 9

I couldn't begin 2011 without taking care of some unfinished business! ;)

My dear blogging friend, Hannah from Project Journal, presented me with this really fun award a few months ago:

Pretty cool, huh? I'm sorry it took me so long to post about this! I don't know if there are any official rules I need to follow for passing this award on to others, so I'll just choose five bloggers whose blogs regularly inspire me with their awesomeness. And they are:

• Casey from Writing for Christ, Operation Encourage an Author, and The Writer's Alley
• Joy from Edgy Inspirational Romance
• Julia from Dark Glass Ponderings and The Writer's Alley
• Renee from Black 'n Gold Girl's Bookspot
• Renee Ann from Doorkeeper

There are many more I could include on this list, so if your blog isn't mentioned in this specific post, don't think for one moment that you aren't awesome! ;)

Thank you, ladies, for your awesome posts on your awesome blogs! And don't forget to visit Hannah's awesome blog, too!

Snail Mail Sunshine and a Blog Award

Many of you know what I mean when I say that snail mail is like afternoon sunshine spilled over a grassy hillside after a gray, dreary morning. We all get so busy with everyday life--going to classes, going to work, chauffeuring the kids, doing sports, helping at AWANA, doing homework, etc.--but having a piece of mail in your mailbox causes you to pause. Your heart warms as you see the return address of a loved one on an envelope, or a slip of paper that lets you know that you have a package.

I have been blessed with a lot of snail mail lately. Yes, a lot of packages I've received are books that need to be reviewed--but they're a treat nonetheless! It doesn't matter that you know it's coming. The sun starts to peek through the clouds, and you look for that inevitable splash of sun that will warm the earth and brighten the path.

This week I received copies of Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander and Emily's Chance by Sharon Gillenwater to review. I'm really looking forward to diving into those! I know I have a couple of books for fun coming, too, including a three-in-one hardcover copy of Tamera Alexander's "Fountain Creek Chronicles" series, which I got for a great price at Christianbook.com!

I recently received a letter from my grandparents, which is such a wonderful gift. I love corresponding with my grandparents, and I am so thankful that we can stay close even while I'm gone at school. "I'll be home for Christmas" takes on special meaning for the college student. =)

I also received a package from my sweet mother. Not only did she send me some different helps for my cold (medicine, Vitamin D, nose strips for nighttime breathing, etc.), but she also sent me some fall decorations! It feels a little more festive in my dorm room, and it makes such a difference to have those little connections with my mom, who decorates often for various holidays! And that wasn't all. There were other little things, like a copy of Country magazine and some candy for me and my roommate.

But there was also something very unique in this package. My mom sent me a copy of a book my aunt put together about my great-uncle Robert, who died in WWII and whose funeral I went to this past summer in Washington D.C. There were copies of letters, information about Robert, and pictures of him along with pictures of this past summer. Here's what the cover says:

Robert Lloyd Crane
He Gave His Life for His Country
On May 23, 1944
While Flying Needed Supplies
To Merrill's Marauders in Burma

Buried With Honors at Arlington National Cemetery
66 years later in Washington D.C.
July 15, 2010
In A Funeral Fit For Our Nation's Heroes

I simply looked through it when it came, and I couldn't help but cry . . . for the beautiful tribute to my great-uncle . . . for the beautiful family that I am a part of . . . for the beautiful sacrifice my great-uncle made for the people and the country he loved. This summer was unforgettable.

And it is with this aunt and some of the other members of my dad's side of the family that I get to spend Thanksgiving this year--in Texas! I am overwhelmed by the love of family, from welcoming arms to timely and meaningful packages in the mail.

Before I move on to the blog award I received from a dear blogging friend of mine (Casey), I want to let you know that I also received a package from this same friend a couple of days ago! Why am I telling you this? Because the package I received contained the jewelry I had ordered from Casey's blog Bug's Beads.

See the necklace pictured at left? I indulged and bought a piece of jewelry for myself, and isn't it lovely? Casey is a joy to do business with, and I can't wait to wear this necklace! Plus, her jewelry makes great gifts, so now might be a good time to do some birthday, early Christmas, or surprise gift shopping! (And she has a great earring sale going on RIGHT NOW!)

With that, I am so touched to say that Casey also passed on a blog award to me recently! Thank you so much, Casey! I'm so glad we can be friends! Take a look at this sweet award:

I could pass this on to so many people, because I have been blessed by all of you and your friendship! Here's a few of those people whose friendship brings sunshine into my life:

Ashley at After All, Tomorrow Is Another Day

Hannah at Project Journal

Bluerose at Bluerose's Heart

Cerella at The Cerella Life

Kav at Best Reads (2010)

. . . and Amanda, who as of now does not have her own blog, but whose encouraging, uplifting comments to everyone inspire me and brighten my life!

Thank you to all of you for your friendship! Be sure to check out the great blogs mentioned above.

And if any of you, my dear followers, would like some snail mail, e-mail me at stokes[dot]a[at]suddenlink[dot]net with your snail mail address and I will try my best to get a letter out to you, because I want to share a bit of the sunshine you have brought into my days! Maybe we could become pen pals!