The Liebster Award

[scribblemyname]

So in_the_blue tagged me. First of all, awww, thank you! Now, I suppose I must answer the 11 questions and offer 11 random facts. Hmm...

1. What motivates you, deep down in your heart?

Hard to say. I love God and writing up there at the top, and while I love family as much, they motivate me after those two. What motivates me to write is questionable. I think it's how I work out my own thoughts and questions and feelings.

2. What are your three favorite books, and why?

Ingathering by Zenna Henderson, The Brother's Keeper by Tracy Groot, and Joseph by Terri L. Fivash.

Usually I look at the top five and I'm seriously tempted to go but Mister God, This is Anna by Fynn and the Anne of Green Gables series, especially Anne of the Island.

I think I love all of them for the same reasons. I love the characters and the questions and the ideas they hit. They don't stick to surface stuff; they really live their relationships with God and each other, they dig deeper, and they go outside the standard preconceived ideas and make me think, go outside the box. I love that they can actually dig into faith and worldbuilding and beautiful stories that engage me while also engaging seriously with the stuff going on inside.

I love it when I find this stuff in science fiction, and my favorite book list is a little longer than three, or I might actually be able to hit on some better variety here. Christian fiction is oddly enough not my favorite genre.

3. If money was no object and you could live anywhere in the world, where would you pick?

To live? Colorado. To visit, Hawaii.

4. Tea or coffee?

Tea. So much tea. I drink probably between two cups and a pot of tea every day. First thing I go hunting for after I brush my teeth is a cup of tea. I pack tea to take to work. First thing when I get home from work or after dinner, I'd like more tea. Then if I've got an at-home project, there goes another cup. And right before bed is the perfect time for a spot of mint chamomile lemon tea. Seriously, I love me some tea.

5. What’s your go-to soundtrack when you write?

None. I can write with or without music, but if I'm going to put music on, I put everything on random and start pulling out the songs that really inspire a particular story until I've built a playlist. Most fics aren't long enough to justify the effort.

6. You’re finally on the shuttle to Mars, but only get to watch one movie over and over until you get there. Which one do you want as your travel companion?

Esther maybe? I usually sit through that one whenever it's on. Or The Secret Garden. Yeah, The Secret Garden (1993). I'd watch that one over and over and tune it out when I wanted to think.

7. How many languages do you speak? What are they?

I speak English fluently. I started to learn Spanish, Hebrew, and American Sign Language, but without practice interacting in them, I wouldn't say I speak them.

8. Fill in the blank: In my perfect world, .

In my perfect world, I'd be able to write and not worry about making a living.

9. What’s your sun sign?

Uh... If you mean month, it's Cancer. I'm a July baby. And a sun baby for that matter, born in California and desperately wishing in winter, I never had to actually go outside when it's cold.

10. Do you have a favorite social media platform? What is it and why do you like it?

Twitter. It doesn't suck me in and drain me dry. I'm also not using it right now, except for auto-crossposting. I'm not into social media.

11. If you have siblings, where do you stand in the pecking order?

I'm the youngest. My sister is the one I'm still around and she's the middle, but she definitely has a concept of pulling rank, and I definitely have a concept of we're sisters and equals and not letting her.

And eleven random facts about me:

1. My left side is stronger than my right by far, but my right is more dexterous.
2. I have literally no preference between creative and analytical thinking.
3. I started writing when I was four years old. I didn't actually write anything good.
4. My friend when I was in eighth grade told me I was the only person she'd ever met who lived her life like she was in a musical. I still do.
5. I create my own languages for fun. I love creating languages.
6. My favorite comfort food is grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.
7. But I can't stand cheese slices, only block or shreds. They don't taste like plastic.
8. My ears look like fairy ears—naturally. But one side's more pointed than the other and if you don't look close, you might miss it, which is good in the long run.
9. The only major race/ethnicity I don't have in my blood is Asian. I got pretty much everything else.
10. I'm medically underweight and have never in my life weighed more than 93 pounds. I do not currently weigh 93 pounds.
11. I have flare ups of tendonitis and sciatica if I'm not careful. That means I go to the chiropractor and sometimes don't get a lot of work/writing done.

So, since I haven't the faintest idea how many followers anyone has, I'm going to just say, snag the questions if you want them:

1. What got you into writing fiction (or fanfic), and what kind do you like to write?
2. Do you prefer to read a good book you know you love, read something you haven't read before, or watch a TV show?
3. Mornings or evenings?
4. What's your favorite beverage and why?
5. Do you enjoy preparing for a holiday with the family or prefer once all the fuss is over?
6. What is your favorite holiday?
7. Favorite music to relax to?
8. Favorite books or authors and why?
9. What is your favorite story you ever wrote and why?
10. What do you wish more people realized about you?
11. Introvert or extrovert?

Comments

[in-the-blue.livejournal.com]

See? Now I know more about you! Thanks for answering. :)

[scribblemyname]

No problem! It was kind of fun. I need to go read your answers better. I got totally side-tracked on an exchange letter.