The Official Rules of the Liebster Award

1. Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog.
2. Display the award on your blog — by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget.”
3. Provide 10 random facts about yourself.
4. Nominate five or more blogs that you feel deserve the award.
5. List these rules in your post, modifying them (only slightly!) as necessary to meet your needs. Once you have written and published your post, you then have to:
6. Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster Award, and provide them with a link to your post. Don’t forget to create 10 questions, give or take, for them to answer. Notify your nominees and provide a link to your post so that they’ll know what to do.

Some random facts about me:

1. I am over six feet tall.
2. I have lived in Michigan, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
3. During college, I was a DJ for Michigan State University’s student-run alternative/indie rock radio station, 88.9 FM the Impact, which won the Michigan Association of Broadcasters College Station of the Year Award while I worked there.
4. I have run five half-marathons, and was once featured in an advertisement for the Runner’s World Half-Marathon Festival.
5. When I lived in Wyoming, my family owned a total of six horses.
6. I drive a six-speed stick shift.
7. I love to eat, but not to cook.
8. I never kill anything, ever. Not on purpose, anyway.
9. I am a certified integrative wellness and life coach.
10. I grow pineapple plants, and have a garden and small greenhouse.

Answers to the Questions:

While I prepared questions with the nominees in mind, I encourage, and would greatly appreciate,  guidance and feedback from the more well established bloggers.

1. What generation were you born into? Which one do you most identify with? I think I am a Gen Y-er, but I am not 100% sure, to be honest. I haven’t given a whole lot of thought to what generation I most identify with. I don’t know much about the values, life experiences, perspectives, or attitudes about specific generations, so it’s hard to know.
2. Which writers have influenced you? What genre are you most comfortable with? (Poetry, short stories, non-fiction?) This is another had one. I would say in my early years as a writer, maybe Laura Ingalls Wilder and Lucy Maud Montgomery. I remember having read something about an “alabaster brow” in one of the Anne of Avonlea books and immediately incorporating that into my writing. I also really identified with the family in all of Wilder’s Little House books, as well as with Montgomery’s Anne. More recently, perhaps Steinbeck and Hemingway, at least in terms of dialog. I love writing dialog, and Steinbeck and Hemingway have mastered it. Honestly, though, I’d say I probably lack a self-awareness of the influences on my writing.
3. Who would write and perform your theme song? Why? Can I have a different theme song for each one of my moods? Or each phase of my life, at least? I’d have to figure out my theme before I could figure out my theme song, or anything about it, so I need more time for this one…
4. Have you ever sold any of your work? I’ve been paid for a handful of poems and essays/articles, yes. I’d like to continue that, and increase its frequency and intensity.
5. Name the accomplishment or act of kindness you are most proud of. What do you feel guilty about? I have a couple top-of-the-list accomplishments: running my five half-marathons, studying in Germany (in particular, passing the class the professor good-naturedly told me she originally had doubted I could pass), and every time my work is published. As for acts of kindness, I am particularly proud of my animal rescue habit. Whenever I see an injured or lost animal, I stop to help if I can. This summer alone, I was able to save two wild birds and a few turtles, and find a home for a puppy.  I also volunteered for a local no-kill animal shelter for about four and a half consecutive years. Unfortunately, I feel guilty about lots of things. Not going to church even when I can. Forgetting what my true priorities are. Being stubborn, prideful, and self-righteous. Not doing my best.
6. What’s your favorite sport? What sport are you best at? I don’t really like watching sports, but if I have to, I’d prefer figure skating or something similarly artistic. I enjoy horseback riding, though I haven’t gone in years. I like to ice skate and swim. I’m a decent runner, with a few medals and trophies to my name. Though it’s been about 10 months since I’ve run a race, I still run on my own three to five days a week.
7. Do you think all politicians are corrupt? What’s your take on Hillary and Trump being the finest the U.S. has to offer for President? Will you, or would you vote 3rd party? Do you think most Americans are out of touch with the rest of the world? Can I plead the 5th…? Let’s try to simplify this. No, I do not think all politicians are corrupt. I do not think Hillary or Trump are the finest, or if they are, we’re in trouble. Honestly, I cannot believe it has come to this. I am dumbfounded. I do not yet know where my vote will go. I do think that, in general, Americans are out of touch with the rest of the world, yes. I do not exclude myself from this judgement.
8. Do you have a strategy for promoting and growing your blog followers? Do you link every post to social media? What type of blog most interests you? I wouldn’t say I really have a strategy. I follow other blogs when I discover those I enjoy. I post updates on Instagram and Facebook. As for blogs that interest me, my tastes are eclectic. I like blogs authored by people I actually know. I like blogs about animals, writing, travel, lifestyles…
9. Do you usually comment on posts that you like? How important to you is direct interaction with fellow artists and bloggers? I do usually comment–or at a minimum “like”–posts that strike me if I get a chance. Direct interaction is very important to me. I find it encouraging on several levels. It encourages me to persist. It supports my faith in humanity. And it’s just fun! I feel good when someone comments on my work–so shouldn’t I pay it forward by trying to comment when I find something I find worthwhile?
10. Do you sometimes post something you know is not up to your standards because you feel the need to keep your blog active, and to maximize your SEO? Does linking back to an earlier post accomplish the same thing? I have no idea what SEO stands for… Should I? I do sometimes post something that is not quite up to my standards, yes. I have never re-posted a post on the same blog, but I have linked back to earlier posts within a new post, if doing so is relevant.
11. Are you a better baker or cook? I have no idea. I’m not a shining start at either. I’d prefer to just eat.

Here are my nominees:

While I prepared questions with the nominees in mind, I encourage, and would greatly appreciate,  guidance and feedback from the more well established bloggers.

1. My Dear Yellow World–Visit this blog for a dose of positivity and spirituality.
2. USA Through Our Eyes–I just discovered this blog and I love it. Maintained by a couple and their dog, and reminiscent of a more contemporary Travels with Charley, it features sounds, videos, photographs, and stories from around the country.
3. Quintessential Editor–This blog provides so many excellent insights into the writing life, and the author is fun and witty.
4. If Mermaids Wore Suspenders–This blog is quirky, creative, and musical.
5. Coffee, Chocolate, and Writing–I mean, could this be bad? (Aside, of course, from the coffee.)
6. Write. Revise. Repeat.–This encouraging blog about writing is genuine, insightful, and authored by my friend and fellow W.O.W Network blogger.

Finally, here are my questions for my nominees:

1. What initially inspired you to begin blogging? What motivates you to continue?
2. How did you decide on theme, subject matter, or topic for your blog?
3. Do you maintain other blogs? If so, what are they?
4. Aside from blogging, what are your hobbies?
5. What are some milestones in your life you would expect yourself to remember, but do not?
6. What are a few of your most cherished memories?
7. What’s your favorite time of day and why? Favorite time of year and why?
8. What is your existential philosophy? Are our lives fated? Destined? Coincidence?
9. What is one goal you are currently working towards?
10. What are some things you have done wrong? Right?

And now, I’m done–and off to notify my nominees!