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I share Samantha Mozart’s words when I say I am pleased to announce that I have been given the Liebster Award for 2016. This marks the second year I have received the award; the first was for 2014. The Liebster Award is peer nominated, normally given by bloggers to other bloggers, and offers the opportunity to develop relationships with fellow bloggers and new readers. I accept this award and am honored to be part of this tradition. Thank you, Samantha Mozart, for nominating me.
Samantha is a gifted journalist and writer of non-fiction and fiction stories. She is a dedicated historian. In addition, Samantha wrote two expressive books about her experiences as a caregiver for her mother, who had Dementia. Her books, BEGINS THE NIGHT MUSIC, A Dementia Caregiver’s Journal and TO WHAT GREEN ALTAR, A Dementia Caregiver’s Journal talk about her involvement as an unpaid caregiver for her mother. Additionally, you will find Samantha’s blog, The Scheherazade Chronicles at http://thescheherazadechronicles.org. Again, Samantha, Thank You for being a wonderful and supportive friend.

The Rules
- Write a post about yourself, displaying an image of the Liebster Award.
- Link back and thank the blogger who nominated you in your post.
- Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
- Pick 5 – 10 new bloggers (must have less than 300 followers) to nominate and ask them 11 new questions. Do not re-nominate the blogger that nominated you.
- Go to each new blogger’s site and inform them of their nomination.
Questions Samantha asked of me:
- When did you begin writing and what or who inspired you to dedicate yourself to writing professionally?
My writing career is quite confusing. Years ago I was extremely involved with organizations that helped children. I was so extensively interested in the Lake Washington School District, where my young children were schooled, that I nudged the district into creating a brochure listing their various programs and the details about the these programs. I interviewed the head of each program and wrote a detailed outline about it. Since I worked closely with the district’s Public Information Officer during this time, I asked if I could become her Intern. Her response was that she would love to have me as her Intern provided I take writing classes. Due to life, after my Internship I stopped writing.
Then many years later my mother experienced five years of traumatic strokes. Finally between the ugly dynamics in my family, and after my mother’s death I needed a creative outlet so I took writing courses. My teachers encouraged me to continue my writing. Due to the dysfunction in my family I wanted to write stories about my family, hoping that others would learn from our mistakes.
- Do you have a writing routine? Please tell us about it.
I wish I could say I have a writing routine, but I don’t. I write when the urge hits me. However, this year I have been caregiving for my ill husband. Additionally, the quiet, soothing writing area that I had for writing is gone as we had to move because of my husband’s illness. So at the moment, I feel like I have crashed head-first into a brick wall as my brain is numb and I’m physically tired.
In fact, this month I missed my submittal for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. I can only hope that this submittal will double as a response to both the IWSG and Liebster?

- Do you write at a computer, a typewriter or in longhand, or a combination of these?
I definitely write at my computer. This way I can actually read what I write. My hand can’t keep up with my brain and I have so many crossed out sentences and arrows redirecting me that I get confused as to what I have written when I use longhand.
- Do you have a designated space for writing? Where?
Prior to our move to this apartment, my desk was in the back of the kitchen looking out over a gully into Miller Bay. I could play the music on my computer or sit and daydream. Now, in this apartment, my desk is against the back wall of the living room. Today, if I had tried to write I would have had the football games playing constantly in my ear. The TV distracts me.
- Do you write to music? If so, what kind?
I love music, but what music I listen to while I write depends on my mood. Usually, I prefer peace, quiet, and solitude. I don’t have that here in this apartment.
- What types of works do you read?
I read a wide variety of genre. It depends on what book jumps into my arms there in the book store. I do like memoire as this is what I’m attempting to write, but I read mystery, romance, non-fiction, history, biographies, and as I mentioned memoires.
- Who is your favorite author and how has this author influenced you?
I don’t have a favorite author. I truly love a wide variety of books. I grew up with a literal library in our house, so books have always been special to me. However, I think I especially love Sherlock Holmes as a ten year old child I read all 1,056 pages.
- What is your writing process from inception to completion and publication?
I will have to say that my writing process regarding my stories can be similar to a ping-pong game. I bounce back and forth between my computer and my duties during the day. Often I write and re-write before I let my story settle. Then I go back to edit it. My biggest issue is that I tend toward telling stories rather than showing them, so I definitely need to work at that aspect of my writing.

- Are you published? Through a publisher or indie? E-books or print or both?
I write short stories for magazines, so far. I have published four short stories for I LOVE CATS and LA JOIE magazines.
- Please share a paragraph or two of a work in progress.
- At the moment, my only work in progress is answering the questions for this questionnaire. With luck, this will stimulate my thinking so that I begin working on another story. However, right now my brain is stuck in the mud!
- Do you have an agent? If so, how did you get your agent? Otherwise, how do you market and promote your work?
No, I don’t have an agent as I have not worked with the idea of writing a book, to this point. My thinking may change, though.
My Liebster Nominations:
I sincerely hope you will enjoy these bloggers as much as I do.
https://www.gularavincent.com/
https://silviatomasvillalobos.wordpress.com/
https://courseofmirrors.wordpress.com/
https://breathofgreenair.com/
http://laborsvoices.org/
My Questions to Nominees
- When did you begin writing and what or who inspired you to dedicate yourself to writing professionally?
- Do you have a writing routine? Please tell us about it.
- Do you write at a computer, a typewriter or in longhand, or a combination of these?
- Do you have a designated space for writing? Where?
- Do you write to music? If so, what kind?
- What types of works do you read?
- Who is your favorite author and how has this author influenced you?
- What is your writing process from inception to completion and publication?
- Are you published? Through a publisher or indie? E-books or print or both?
- Please share a paragraph or two of a work in progress.
- Do you have an agent? If so, how did you get your agent? Otherwise, how do you market and promote your work?