While on holidays in Australia’s Red Centre I received a Facebook message from Karen Bayly, a Sydney-based “science-geek” and writer, who nominated me for the Liebster Award. My first thought was ‘What a strange name’, my second thought was ‘Liebster sounds very German…’. Back home, I googled the award, and it did not take long to land on a German blogger’s website explaining her award nomination and what she experienced when she invited people to participate. Liebster is a German word – lieb meaning ‘nice’, lovable, sweet – and liebster meaning ‘my favourite’. As the rules for this award are similar to the ‘chain letter’ system, some bloggers in Germany seemed to have negative associations and chose not to participate and break the chain.
I, however, was very grateful to be nominated and thought it is an excellent way to acknowledge and share emerging writers’ and bloggers’ work and help them to get noticed in the dense internet jungle. While I started looking for blogs, which I could nominate in return, a tweet popped up in my inbox saying that I was again nominated, this time from Melbourne-based fiction writer Linda Alley. Thanks so much to Karen and Linda for including me in their selections of noteworthy blogs. Now I faced the dilemma which questions to answer… Following the motto ‘First come, first serve’ I decided to go with Karen’s questions and hope that Linda appreciates my efforts.
According to the rules, I have to share the rules – so here they are:
The rules:
1. Display an image of the award and write about your nomination.
2. Thank and link the person who nominated you for this award.
3. Answer the 11 questions prepared for you by the blogger who nominated you.
4. Nominate 5-11 awesome bloggers who you think deserve this award and create 11 questions of your own for your nominees to answer.
5. List these guidelines in your blog post.
And on to Karen’s questions!
1. Name the character from a book with whom you most resonate?
Evie Lockhart in A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald by Natasha Lester
2. Have you ever walked out of a film? If so, what was it and why?
I think I never walked out of a film, as I usually only go to movies which I heard of and interest me. However, I have often stopped watching movies on TV – too scary, too brutal or just absolute crap – which resulted in the decision to stop watching TV altogether, apart from the news from time to time or soccer.
3. Who was your childhood hero/heroine?
I can’t remember that I had a specific hero.
4. Which book do you wish you'd written?
David Jones’ 175 Years by Helen O’Neill
5. If you could time travel, where would you go and why?
Back to 1920s and 1930s. I love Art Deco, the furniture, the fashion, and Jazz.
6. What are your four favourite words?
Gratitude, beauty, and curiosity.
7. What is the weirdest thing you've researched for any piece of writing?
I love researching but can't remember anything weird - sorry!
8. Which author has influenced you most?
My life-writing teacher Patti Miller.
9. What not-so-good book, TV show or movie is a guilty pleasure?
The Rosamunde Pilcher romance films I used to watch every Sunday night on German TV.
10. If you could bring anyone back from the dead, who would it be?
My mother.
11. The world as we know it has ended. What killed it?
War, greed, megalomania, fanaticism.
My nominees for the Liebster Award:
The Australian Bookshelf
Loren, a psychologist by day, loves to read, write and share her literary passion with the world.
Build Mum a House
A blog run by Jola Jackson, who built a house for her 80-year old mum when it was time to downsize her home. Jola blogs about beautiful and thoughtful interior design “ that addresses reduced mobility issues, spans ages and is on trend.
Eat Well Travel Often
Shannon, a Kiwi living in Australia, shares her passion for travelling and food with her readers.
Keep Calm Get Organised
Michelle is a mother, wife, and blogger on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. She shares her tips and techniques for de-cluttering and staying organised at home – something very close to my heart.
Slow Your Home
Brooke is based in the Blue Mountains and an advocate for living with less. She not only writes about minimalism but also publishes a podcast.
My questions for my nominees (no pressure to accept):
1. What is your favourite colour?
2. What was your favourite holiday and why?
3. What made you start your blog?
4. What was your biggest achievement in your writing life so far?
5. What is a dream writing project?
6. Where do you find inspiration for your writing?
7. If you could spend a day with a celebrity, who would it be?
8. Which childhood experience had a major impact on your life?
9. Who influenced you most?
10. What are your top 3 values?
11. What is the first point on your bucket list?
Please let me know when your post is published, and I will share the link.
Yes, definitely appreciated.
I like Rosamunde Pilcher too!