Versatile Blogger Award - Pass It On

I would like to thank Michael Haynes for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award. You can find his blog here.

Here are the rules of the award:

1. In a post on your blog, nominate 15 fellow bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award.
2. In the same post, add the Versatile Blogger Award.
3. In the same post, thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link back to their blog.
4. In the same post, share 7 completely random pieces of information about yourself.
5. In the same post, include this set of rules.
6. Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.

And so, I would like to pass on the Versatile Blogger Award to the following 15 bloggers:

1. Heather McCorkle
2. Kicked, Cornered, Bitten and Chased - Lisa Chickos
3. LM Preson
4. Muse, Rant and Rave - Melinda Collins
5. TS Tate
6. Tina Moss
7. Shevi Arnold
8. Writability – Ava Jae
9. Susan Kaye Quinn
10. Seeing Creative - Stina Lindeblatt
11. Kriss Brady
12. The Writer’s Blog - Vanessa Eccles
13. Entertaining Interests - Danielle Bertrand
14. Writing and Kids - Lisa Bouchard
15. Leigh Evans

Since I already listed 7 random facts about me in another award post, I'm going to list the same facts below for those interested.

7 Random facts about me:

1)      I’m a black belt in Shotokan Karate, a traditional Japanese Karate and I’m an internationally licensed instructor. I teach women’s and other classes in the Japan Shotokan Karate Association. My husband is a 6^th degree black belt.

2)      I was born in Kiev, Ukraine and came to America when I was 13 years old. I haven’t been back since, but hoping to visit in the next couple of years.



Kiev


3)      I learned to dive before I could swim. My dad taught me both.

4)      I use to paint with watercolors all my childhood and into my teens. I was best at painting still-life and nature but always wanted to learn to draw people. It is still one of my goals when I get some free time (hmmm…when will that be?)

5)

Kirk

 My husband and I had three cats named after the original Star Trek characters – Captain James T. Kirk, Mr. Spock and Bones. Kirk and Spock passed away within the last year and so now Bones is learning to be the alpha cat. Kirk was always the alpha cat and was like a son to my husband especially. I was always a dog person but these three cats became my “children” and I cannot imagine my life without them now.



Bones

6)      One of my absolutely all-time favorite books is “Master and Margarita” by a Russian writer Michael Bulgakov. The book has been translated in many languages and I strongly recommend it to everyone. Here’s the link to it on amazon.com: Master and Margarita

7)      I wanted to be an archeologist and almost majored in it. My grandfather’s good friend is a prominent archeologist and I always wanted to go on a dig. It still remains an activity to do. But I love everything ancient history.

Teaser Tuesday

Here are the rules:

1. Post 2 sentences from the current book you're reading. You can either

a) open the book and share 2 sentences from anywhere on that page or
b) share your favorite 2 senetnces from the book (they have to be in a row)

2. List the page #

*PLEASE DO NOT POST ANYTHING THAT CAN BE INTERPRETED AS A SPOILER!

3. List the name of the book and the author
"The magic hit, so thick my heart skipped a beat. Derek clenched his teeth. His face strained, muscles on his forearms bulged, and his eyes flooded with yellow."

p. 120

Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews (e- version)


Share your teasers in the comments or give a link to your blog if you're running a Teaser Tuesday.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Happy New Year everyone! May all your wishes come true and may muse find you everywhere you go and in everything you do!

HAVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

Florida Vacation




Hubby and I in Epcot, Disney

  Hubby and I just came back from a week long vacation in Florida. We needed a change of scenary and  a break. We stayed with Tommy's father near Tampa for a few days and then spent a couple of days in Disney. Last day was in Epcot.
The temperature was perfect - 80's, then 70's (although the last few days it got down into the 40's in the morning and evening). While at my father-in-law's, I relaxed by the pool and wrote. I haven't felt this relaxed and stress free in quiet a while and my productivity was up. I wrote more in three days than I wrote in the last couple of weeks. I guess that is the key for the muse to find me - I have to be in a relaxed dreamy state, and preferrably somewhere warm. Until I can be in that state constantly (ha ha, I made myself laugh), I have to find ways to attract the muse more consistently and up my creativity in the every day life. That should be a fun challenge for the new year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Versatile Blogger Award and Happy Holidays

As I'm going on a trip and will, in all likelihood, not be able to post for the next few days, I just wanted to drop q quick note about a couple of things.

First of all, I wanted to thank Michael Hayes for awarding me with the Versatile Blogger award! You can find his post here. I will be more than happy to pass the award to other bloggers. Unfortunately, I do not have the time to write that post now, so I will do a thorough "Versatile Blogger award" as per rules after the holidays.
And I can't wait to do it!

Secondly, don't forget to check out Writing During the Holiday Madness and let me know how you're handling it.

At last, I would like to wish everyone very happy, joyful, relaxing and safe holidays! May the joy of the season be felt in your heart!

I will mostly likely do a post or two next week but until then - enjoy the holidays and happy writing!

Teaser Tuesday

Here are the rules:

1. Post 2 sentences from the current book you're reading. You can either

a) open the book and share 2 sentences from anywhere on that page or
b) share your favorite 2 senetnces from the book (they have to be in a row)

2. List the page #

*PLEASE DO NOT POST ANYTHING THAT CAN BE INTERPRETED AS A SPOILER!

3. List the name of the book and the author

"I'm a tea snub. My sensei had introduced me to teas and teaware when I was teenager and I had made a study of tea after hours, after he had bruised and beaten me into a pulp and somehow along the way, taught me how to fight like a man."

p.44

Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock, book 1) by Faith Hunter (e- version)


Share your teasers in the comments or give a link to your blog if you're running a Teaser Tuesday.