Nominations for the Liebster Award - recognising excellence in blogging.

First, I want to thank Martin Crosby (http://strangerdesigns.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/darker-times-and-liebster-list.html) for ‘nominating’ me for a Liebster Award.

Not sure who started the Liebster Awards but it’s a great way to spread the love and to discover new blogs.

Here are the requirements: I have to list 11 random facts about me, then answer 11 questions asked by the person who nominated me (that would be Martin). I then nominate 11 bloggers to follow on from me and come up with 11 new questions (cannot use the same ones I was asked). I post the award on my blog and it goes on – hopefully bringing new readers to our blogs.  

So here goes. Eleven facts about me – this should be fun:

1.       Riley is not my real name. It is a pseudonym I came up with to protect my poor mother’s innocence due to the ‘racy’ nature of The William S Club. My real name is Rebecca.

2.       I have lived in four different countries – Australia, Papua New Guinea, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. I have also lived in four different states in Australia – Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania, pretty much ticking off the entire eastern seaboard with the exception of Canberra.

3.       My best friend calls me Gypsy Girl because of my relentless moving and my addiction to travel (in addition to living in four states and four countries, I have lived in more than 32 different houses in 40 years. Considering I lived in the same childhood house for 15 years, that’s a LOT of moves.

4.       Having had my first child at 20, I have always been one of the youngest mother’s in my children’s schools. Now 40, I am in the scary position of having children who are 19, 17 and 15 when most of my friends have children in pre-school!

5.       I have been married for 20 years and am still hopelessly in love with my husband – to the point that we talk to each other several times a day.

6.       I am the youngest of 8 children!

7.       As much as I wish it was, the photo on my profile page is not me but the main character out of The William S Club – Charlotte Burke.

8.       I still check under my bed before I go to sleep, and if I forget, I cannot sleep properly!

9.       I once inadvertently caused a major diplomatic incident while working at the Australian Embassy in Papua New Guinea!

10.   I am a complete TV and movie addict – my favourite shows include Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, The Walking Dead, and Grey’s Anatomy. I also watch reality TV shows like The Voice Australia, X Factor Australia, The Block, Celebrity Apprentice and My Kitchen Rules, often roping my poor husband into watching with me. I am so addicted that, if I can’t remember an actor’s name or what else they’ve been in, I will look them up on IMDB just to appease my curiosity.

11.   If I could live in any country in the world, it would definitely be France. I am a total Francophile who gushes madly about the country, the food, the people and the language. No wonder France often features in my books.

Answers to Martin’s 11 Questions:

1.       Do you write your first drafts by hand?

I write some rough notes by hand. The rest is done on the computer. Having started my career as a Personal Assistant, I type much faster than I write.

2.       Do you follow more than 10 blogs?

Umm, yes – lots more. But I am the worst blog follower ever. Unless a headline grabs me, I don’t bother reading (hint to bloggers – put as much work into your heading as you do the content). That is because, thanks to working two jobs and trying to write books under two different author names (oh, and trying to be a good mum and wife), I am very, very time poor. I delete far more email than I actually read. I do have a handful of blogs that I always pay attention to though.

3.       Do you play a musical instrument?

Very badly. I learned piano as a child but my parents forced me to choose between going to private school and continuing with piano lessons. I actually chose the piano lessons and then they told me I made the wrong choice and sent me to private school anyway. Have always wished I could play piano better. My grandfather was a concert pianist and music kind of runs through my family. A good piano solo can actually bring me to tears. I can sing though – so you could say I play the vocal chords.

4.       Given the choice, which opera would you attend?

Phantom of the Opera every time. Saw it in Melbourne when I was a teenager and then took my daughter to see it in London. Love Phantom so much.

5.       eBook or paper book?

Paper, without a doubt – I love the feel of a book in my hand, though I must admit, I love the space saving benefits of an ereader. Being able to take 15 books on holidays on one tiny device saves lots of arguments with the husband about too much luggage.

6.       Do you use an electric blanket?

Never! I get really hot when I sleep and have been known to turn a fan on in the middle of winter. I love a cold bedroom. That way I can snuggle with my hubby under the blankets and keep warm together.

7.       Do you write in cafes?

No. I rarely go to cafes alone (maybe because I don’t drink coffee). I’m usually there with my husband or with friends. Plus, as I said earlier, I tend to write so much faster on a computer.

8.       Is there a film that has influenced you greatly?

Movie addict here. Lots of movies have influenced me. I’m the kind of person who can watch a movie over and over and over again – that is if it grabs me. If it doesn’t, I won’t bother watching again. Saw Dances with Wolves about 14 times at the cinemas and have since seen in a number of times on DVD. Probably my favourite movie ever is Gone with the Wind. But also love Braveheart, particularly as I am related to Robert the Bruce on my mother’s side.

9.       Do you keep a diary?

Have tried to a number of times but I’m really bad at it. I write for a couple of days then forget for years, then half-heartedly try to take it back up again, only to lose interest again. One day I will have to write down all my experiences before they are gone forever.

10.   Which foodstuff do you like the least?

Anchovies! Incidentally, they are my husband’s favourite, but guaranteed to make me puke.

11.   Do you listen to music while you work? If so, what?

It depends. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I can’t because I am so deeply engrossed in my writing that anything exterior to that is a distraction. I have three different stages of ‘music’ for writing. One is a list with all my favourite songs on it (far too many to name). Then when I find the lyrics in songs distracting, I switch to instrumental music only (lots of movie soundtracks, which I’m a bit of a sucker for). Then there is the sounds of silence when I really need to focus, where I can’t handle anything on in the background.

My 11 nominations - apologies in advance for not pre-warning you. 


Anyway people, I encourage you to sign up for their blogs and follow them on Twitter. 

1.       Luke Romyn (http://www.lukeromyn.com/)  - Twitter: https://twitter.com/LukeRomyn

2.       DH Nevins (http://www.dhnevins.com/) – Twitter: https://twitter.com/dhnevins

3.       Simon Okill (http://tassyoneill.wix.com/the-phantom-bigfoot) – Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimonOkill

4.       Andy Szpuk (http://andyszpuk.wordpress.com/) – Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndySzpuk

5.       Debra Wattes (http://www.debrawattes.com/) – Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebraWattes

6.       Dianne Harman (http://dianneharman.com/) – Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianneDHarman

7.       Travis Luedke (http://www.twluedke.com/) – Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWLuedke

8.       Vince Considine (http://www.vconisidne.com/)  -  Twitter: https://twitter.com/JAEL488

9.       Clive Eaton (http://www.cliveeaton.com/) – Twitter: https://twitter.com/CliveEaton

10.   Vampire Origins (http://www.vampireorigins.net/) – Twitter: https://twitter.com/vampireorigins

11.   Eric B Thomasma (http://ericbt.webs.com/) – Twitter: https://twitter.com/seams16  

Questions for my nominees:

1.       If a genie offered you the chance to switch places with a fictional character for a day, who would it be and why?  

2.       If you could travel back in time to any period in history, when would it be and why?

3.       Where do you find your ideas for your blogs/books/writing?

4.       Of the seven deadly sins, what is your biggest vice? (Lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride)

5.       What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?

6.       Who is your favourite person on earth and why do you choose that person?

7.       Name three things on your bucket list.

8.       If you could choose any celebrity/famous person to do the foreword for your book, who would it be and why?

9.       Your book reaches the top spot on the New York Times Best Sellers list, netting you a cool million in book sales. What is the first thing you buy with your million dollars?

10.   What is your favourite sport to watch on television?

11.   Favourite holiday destination? 




Make sure to let me know when you post your answers. I'm very keen to read what you all have to say.