I am a bit late posting this award.  This year got off to a busy start and it doesn’t look like it is going to slow down any time soon.  This is an award I’ve always coveted, so I have to give a HUGE thank you to Stephanie over at S.J. Thomas’s Book Blurbs for nominating me for the Liebster Award. Stephanie is a wonderful blogger and a true and loyal friend. Please stop by her blog and say “Hi.”

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.

2. You must answer the 10 questions given to you by the nominee before you.

3. You must nominate 10 of your favorite blogs with fewer than 200 followers and notify them of their nomination.

4. You must come up with 10 questions for your nominees to answer.

Q&A time… 10 questions to answer, so here we go:

1. What was your first job?

Hmmm, my first job….  I love to babysit so I babysat all of the time, but my first regular job was at a discount department store making and selling popcorn.  Because I LOVE popcorn, I never minded this job, and I never got tired of eating it. To this day, it is still my favorite snack. I worked kept this job through high school and up until I started college.

2.  Why did you start blogging?

I love reading and I wanted to thank the authors for their wonderful books I read. I decided the best way was to write a nice little blurb about the books. Also, since my friends were always asking me to recommend a book, blogging helped me fulfill that as well.

3.  What kind of family did you grow up in?

I grew up in a large family. I have three brothers and two sisters. When I was in 7^th grade my grandparents moved in with us, so my grandmother would have help taking care of my failing grandfather. We had a very warm and loving home and I often think about those times with all the fun, laughter, and hustle-and-bustle of a household with so many.

4.  What is the most expensive thing you have ever purchased?

I’d have to say it was our home.

5.  Is this where you thought you be at this age?

Not really. I never imagined that I’d have a blog.  It has been a wonderful experience, and I’ve met so many fantastic blogging friends.

6.  What is your favorite place that you’ve ever visited?

I don’t think I have one favorite place. There are so many wonderful places I’ve visited, each in their own unique way.  Charleston, SC has always been one of my favorite places to visit with its history, great food, gorgeous climate, and endless things to do. Boston, MA is another favorite and not just because my oldest son and his family live there, but for more for the same reasons I love Charleston – rich history, great food, endless things to do and see. Washington DC is another favorite for all the obvious reasons. It is a city I’ve gotten to know very well over the years when our Boston family and our youngest son and his family have both lived there for several years each. Maui was an amazing trip with so many different points of interest that I had never experienced before.

7.  If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

I’ve always wanted to visit Germany and visit some of the cities of my ancestors, as well as other countries my family came from.  My heritage includes France, Germany, England, Ireland, Wales, Italy, and so on.  I am still in the process of tracing my beginnings, but one thing I know for certain is … I am a mutt.

8.  What is your favorite movie? 

I don’t watch too many movies because I’m usually reading, but my favorites would include RUDY, REMEMBER THE TITANS, THE BLIND SIDE, and FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS.

9.  Cat or dog person?

Though I love both, I would have to say dog because I’m allergic to cats.  My favorite dog is my son’s black lab Riley.  Unfortunately, I haven’t convinced Hubby to get a dog.

10. Your favorite book?

I really dislike this question since there are so many great books it is impossible to pick just one or even a dozen.  Well here goes, but not in any specific order.  A BED OF RED FLOWERS by Nelofer Pazira, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES by Sue Monk Kidd, LIFE AND DEATH IN SHANGHAI by Nien Cheng, SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN by Lisa See, THE DAY THE FALLS STOOD STILL by Cathy Marie Buchanan, THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS by M.L. Stedman, THE APPLE ORCHARD by Susan Wiggs, THE CLOVER HOUSE by Henriette Lazardis Power, and THE KITCHEN DAUGHTER by Jael McHenry.  Since I love children’s books, I could list many of those as well, but I’ll stop here.

My 10 Questions for Nominees to Answer:

1. Why did you start blogging?
2. Who is your favorite author and why?
3. What is your favorite book and why?
4. What genre of books do you prefer?
5. Have you ever thought about writing a book? Why or why not?
6. What was your favorite childhood book (before 6^th grade)?
7. Do you have a favorite reading spot? Describe it and tell why you like to read in that location.
8. If you could be any character from any book, who would you choose and why?
9. Describe in three words or less, a world without books.
10. Who is your favorite author?

Nominations:

If you don’t do awards or have already received these, please just take it as a token of my appreciation for how wonderful your blogs are. You deserve it!

1. Julie Valerie’s Book Blog
2. True Stories
3. H.M. Brooks Writes
4. craftyStaci
5. Colline’s Blog
6. Such A Novel Idea
7. bibliobeth
8. The Day Dreaming, Candy Eating, Red Headed Bookworm
9. Amber Skye Forbes
10. Turn the Page Reviews

Congratulations everyone!