Wednesday, January 2, 2013


Blondie's Liebster Blog Award


It happened. It did. I was nominated for the Liebster Blog Award. I've been seeing this badge on other blogs for awhile now and wondered how, if, when, maybe, someday... Now thanks to a wonderful supporter of my blog, Judy from Rhode Island (but pronounced Rhoa Deye Lind) I'm now part of the prestigious Liebster club!! Thank you Judi! You are amazing! Be sure to check out her great blog 50 and Fabulous. 

 The rules of this award are listed below and I hope you check out my answers to Judi's questions, my random facts, 11 questions for my nominees, and who I've chosen to pass the award on to next. 

 I promise my next post will be a water adventure. I've got two written and will share them shortly.

The rules of the Liebster Award are as follows:

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog and link back to the blogger who presented this award to you;

2.  Answer the 11 questions from the nominator, list 11 random facts about yourself and create 11 questions for your nominees;

3. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 11 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed and leave a comment on their blog letting them know they have been chosen. (No tag backs)  

4. Copy and Paste the blog award on your blog.


Questions From Judi


1.  What is the one food you can't do without?

Probably salad if we're talking about healthy food. Yes, I realize salad is not 'one food' but I have a 'bigger than yer head' salad almost every night. If we're talking about desserts it would have to be ice cream -- coffee ice cream with Oreo's and caramel sauce. (Wipes the drool from my lips.) 

Nightly evening snack mixed green salad with cherry 
tomatoes, baby carrots, avocado, and mixed nuts.
2.  One thing you want to do before you die? 

Scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef. No doubt would be an amazing experience made even better if I saw a shark and still had all bits accounted for afterwards.

Great Barrier Reef, yes please. Add sharks and stir.

3.  What is your favorite hobby and why? 

 Is swimming a hobby? Ah heck it's my blog I can chose swimming if I want to. So yes, swimming in rivers, lakes, lazy rivers, pools, oceans, streams, creeks. Yeah, definitely swimming. But only if it's warm.

Swimming would have to be my favorite hobby. No doubt. Why? See Blondie in the Pool. 

4.  If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? 

Gerry, you wanna go to Bermuda? 
Bermuda and Scotland would be my top two travel destinations. I've been to both and fell deeply in love. Maybe just take a few Scottish people to Bermuda. Then I can be warm and enjoy their fab personalities and swim in that gorgeous ocean. 

5.  What book are you reading now? 

 I'm reading several books now...but mostly my own book. See #6.



6.  What are you looking forward to most in the New Year? 

My upcoming novel cover design.
Hopefully it will be out this spring.
Finishing my novel and getting it out in the world will be a great joy in 2013. I've already written about two-thirds of the second book in the Stealing Time trilogy and I can't wait to get back to it. Did I mention both books have Scottish people in them? I haven't managed to get Bermuda in them yet but I do have an ocean scene with a buff dude in Puerto Rico. I need to find a way to put the Scottish people in the sea. Book three maybe? 

 7.  Favorite meal when eating out?

Seafood, no doubt, is my favorite meal. As one of my twitter friends say, it's mermaid food. If I had to pick one I'd say scallops in white wine and a huge salad with goat cheese, walnuts and cranberries. 

Mermaid food is my fave.
8.  If you have one 'do-over', what would it be? 

Do over? Not sure about that. I'm very happy with my decisions. Maybe to travel more before I had kids. Although I did make it to Ireland, Scotland, England, Bermuda and Switzerland before kids. Oh, and Canada if you can really count that.

9.  What is your favorite movie and why?

That's a tough question. I'm not sure I have a favorite movie. I really liked Timeline but mostly because I studied it for the genre and timing of the plot. I'm not sure I'd call it my favorite movie. Enjoyed Beowulf and Grendel and the documentary War of the Gods about the filming of Beowulf during a hurricane and the other disasters they endured. A coincidence that the hurricanes that are in my novel are the same ones that hit Iceland during the filming of this movie and a Scottish dude stars in it? I think not. 

Not my favorite movie, but a good one...

10.  Who is your favorite TV character?

Dexter is my favorite character at the moment. I've cut out most of 'my shows' to make time for writing. TV is the bane of a writer's existence, as you know, because it sucks away your productive time. I've weeded out all other favorite shows and left Dexter as my Sunday night guilty pleasure. 

Why Dexter? If you're not familiar with the show, he's a serial killer. I know what you're thinking, he's my kind of guy with all that bloody knife action. But, the writing is excellent. They're masters at suspense and building the scene to maximize the viewer's angst. I have to wait an hour afterwards to get to sleep after watching an episode. Michael C. Hall plays the role as Dexter beautifully with brains, brawn, and excellent deadpan snark in voice over. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out on Showtime.

Favorite TV Character -- Dexter. Dark and twisty. Snarky and intelligent. 
Plus he rids the world of bad people. What's not to love?

11.  If you had a day to do anything you wanted to do, what would you do?

That's easy. See my blog Blondie in Bermuda. That would be #1 on my list. Snorkeling in the aqua waters of Bermuda with a well muscled man. It'd have to be summer though. Water is too cold this time of year, but since it's a fantasy type question I'm gonna go with a fantasy type answer and make it July.

 This Blondie Loves Bermuda

Random Me Facts  

1. I am allergic to onions and garlic. And no, I'm not a vampire! You did hear the part about me liking the beach right? Sunny warm beaches? Nope, not a vampire.

2. My favorite chocolate is Caramello, or any good chocolate with oooey gooey caramel. 

3. I used to play underwater hockey.  No, I'm not kidding, this is a real sport. My team mates told me I played like a guy and I won the MVP award.

4.  Both my father and step father were Episcopalian ministers. Mom, you have some s'plainin' to do.

5.  My favorite actor is Gerard Butler. Also my favorite flavor of human... Scottish.

6.  I love the Black Eyed Peas, especially Will.i.am.

7.  I broke my hand and foot on the same boyfriend's body. Different times in the same year. Very glad to be rid of him when I moved on to college.

8.  I love water, and I don't mean just to drink.

 9.  I drink sweet tea with Splenda in large quantities.

10.  I'd rather play with my children than clean the house. 

11.  To prove #6, I shake my thang to The Black Eyed Peas Experience Kinect game. 

Questions for my Nominees


Even if you're not a nominee feel free to answer these questions in the comments section. Like all bloggers I love comments. It's like crack to a crack ho. So get me high...

1. What is your favorite movie and why?

2. Who is your favorite author and why?

3. What is the concept behind your blog? Simply to promote your book/skills/product or a bigger purpose, like mine as therapy to deal with my current location?

4. What is your favorite meal?

5. What would you describe as your biggest personal accomplishment?

6. Why are you so awesome? I ask this because I chose you...apparently I think you're pretty fab.

7. What is your favorite household appliance and why? Ha! How's that for a quirky question.

8. For the ladies: Thongs, granny panties, or something in between. For the gents boxers or briefs (or just give me a cheeky answer if you prefer.)

9. What is your favorite holiday and why?

 10. What is your favorite restaurant? Why? 

11. Which question above was the hardest to answer? Why?

Nominees

1. Chef John Malik A Writer Trapped in a Cook's Body

2.  Shaunda Wegner Slow Stir Dribblings from a Writer's Life

3.  Charles Gonzo The Gonzo Lecture

4.  Scott Phillips Rattle and Blast

5.  Jonny A. Mypixel.se

6. Marla Madison Reading and Writing are Fattening

7. J.J. Collins Author

8. Stuart Haddon

9. Kenny C Dontthinkjustwrite

10. Valentine de Francis tossing logic out the window 

11. Chuck Barrett 


I really appreciate you stopping by my blog! Made my day in fact! Please take a few minutes to check out these amazing blogs.  If they're anything like me, a comment will make them very happy. 

Connect With Me

When I'm not working on Stealing Time you can find me on my social media at the links below. I hope to have my novel completed by spring 2013 with book two close behind.

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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Blondie on the Blog Hop -- The Next Big Thing

The Next Big Thing . . .

Welcome to the next big thing blog hop! Join the fun blog hopping our way through some new reads, including works in progress and new and upcoming releases. For those who haven't been part of a blog hop before, you read my blog and hop on over to the next blog link for more entertainment. In this case, two very creative indie authors who recently released their novels.

A big fancy 'thank you' to Shaunda Wegner for including me in this bloggertunity! Check out her blog and her soon to be released historical cookbook. Very cool concept! Don't miss her paranormal fiction books already available on Amazon.

Part of the Blog Hop is to introduce you to my work in progress by answering ten interview questions. I would love for you to comment below because you know that comments to a blogger are like crack to an addict. So get me high, baby!

I hope you'll take some time to follow the links to my author friends' blogs as well. They have some truly impressive books in print and a few in the works as well.

Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing


What is the working title of your book?

Stealing Time

Cover art for Stealing Time

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I've always been fascinated by time travel stories, especially ones that take you to the past. After a harrowing summer in Florida with four major hurricanes, the first striking only three days after I moved into the state, the idea to combine hurricanes and time travel into Stealing Time began brewing in my head. It wasn't until the following summer that I began working on it.


What genre does your book fall under?

Time Travel Thriller (Hey that's T cubed).


Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Gerard Butler as Mike Walsh

The only actor I've pictured in the movie version of Stealing Time is a character in book two, Mike Walsh, who would be played by Gerard Butler. *Sigh* I'm not sure it's helpful to put anyone else in the reader's minds. I want them to imagine Ronnie, Jeffrey, Jack, Steph and Mathias on their own.


What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Wow, that's a toughie. Ronnie Andrews has a bad day or two? No, surely I can do better than that -- let me try again: Ronnie Andrews finds herself inexplicably thrown back in time during the worst hurricane to hit Central Florida in more than forty years.


Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I will self publish this first one and maybe try for traditional publishing after I see how this one goes.


How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Ahem, you had to ask. OK, confession time: I've been working on this for 7 years. But . . . I will have 3 books completed by year 8ish. I've decided to split the story into 3 separate books and then I'll release them as a compilation at a later date. Why? I realized last spring that e-books were running a lot shorter than traditional pubs, at least in my genre. It occurred to me that people may not want a tome, even if it is amazing, er, really good. So Stealing Time will be a trilogy.


What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I like to compare my story to Michael Crichton's Timeline, in that it is science fiction that is more reality based than spaceships and weird creatures from the future. Timeline also has a healthy dose of historical fiction thrown in along with the sci-fi aspect, like Stealing Time. 

Other works that are similar, although I don't think anyone has tackled the material in the way that I have, are perhaps Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. This series is technically a fantasy set up as opposed to science fiction since the character is sent back in time via druid standing stones in the hills of Scotland instead of a time travel device.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 
http://www.amazon.com/Outlander-Diana-Gabaldon/dp/0440212561


Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I first decided to write a novel after becoming enamored (some may say obsessed) with Outlander. Diana has a book called the Outlandish Companion that describes the characters and tapestries of her vast novels. She also talks about her writing process and one section in particular describes how she writes a scene without knowing how it fits in to the rest of the story and then makes the connections afterwards.

I was very inspired by that, being similarly challenged with structure while having an abundance of creative ideas. The thought of a successful author having a creative rather than structured approach to the novel seemed a heck of a lot more plausible strategy for me. I've used some very helpful tools to give me the structure, which you can read about on my guest blog here that involves a book called The Marshall Plan, by Evan Marshall.


What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

I rather like extreme weather.

If you are fascinated with weather, as I am, I've included a healthy dose of bad scary weather, written from actual experience. I've been in about 15 hurricanes in my lifetime and can easily convey the power and awe I felt during those storms.

I've also tackled the time travel component in a very original way, without spoiling it, I can only say as the story develops the method of time travel and the intricacies of how one is placed back in time is revealed and it is very complex.

If that's not enough, I've got a sexy blonde heroine as the main character and a tall, dark, and handsome accomplice to throw another curve ball in her unsettled world. Oh, I forgot to mention there is a mad scientist and a sadistic captor. Interested? I hope so!


Next week, stay tuned for more posts in The Next Big Thing blog hop. Watch for posts on November 7 from these authors:


G. A. Albrethsen -- http://gaalbrethsen.com

Alex Gouthro -- Jagouthro.blogspot.ca

Check them out now and learn about their current novels and works in progress.


Connect With Me

When I'm not working on Stealing Time you can find me on my social media at the links below. I hope to have my novel completed by spring 2013 with book two close behind.

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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Blondie in the Pond -- Winning




Blondie in the Pond 
Listen to ‘Blondie in the Pond’ on Audioboo

I am sitting here in my wet bathing suit waiting for my turn in the shower after an amazing water filled day. We're in Maine for a week with our best friends and collective kids -- three boys and two girls.

Today we went for a picnic at Lily Pond just south of Bar Harbor, or as the locals say 'Bah ha-bah.' After a short walk down a wooded path we found the long expanse of the pond stretched before us -- all 3/4 mile of pristine Maine beauty. Not a single house was in site, nor any man made structure. Simply trees, rocks, and water -- glorious water.

Lily Pond, near Bar Harbor, Maine
My four year old daughter, Shorty, and my friend's three kids wasted no time getting in the water. My son hesitated on shore not sure if he wanted to get his feet wet. Was he related to me? Clearly he did not inherit my love of water. The fourteen year old identical twins were throwing a ball to Shorty and their sister, a 10 year old water bug.

The adults arranged all the paraphernalia on the beach -- chairs, blankets, snacks, and gear for the canoe. I stood there marveling at the view before me -- I had to get my feet in the water. I dumped everything I carried, kicked off my flip flops and squished through the muddy debris strewn bank.
I wiggled my toes in the water. Was it warm enough for me to swim? Warmer than the ocean but not as toasty as my southern roots would have liked. The sun was shining, the air was seventy-five degrees . . . it was possible.

I wiggled my toes in the water.
As I debated I noticed Michael and Cassie, my friend's kids already about 1/4 mile away swimming across the lake. I could see their blue and white life jackets in contrast to the dark water. A pang of jealousy hit me. I wanted to be neck deep in the pond.

Ian, the other twin, was eyeing his brother not wanting to be outdone. "Hey, do you want to swim across with me?" I asked.

His face lit up. "Yes." Including that exchange he'd said maybe four words to me the entire vacation. It was all I needed because I knew no other adult was able do the mile and a half swim. I was his only hope for catching his brother and 'winning' yet another competition.

I grabbed my goggles and steeled myself for the plunge in the cold water. His brother and sister were almost out of sight in the distance, just two small dots in the pond. They didn't know we were coming. I got to the point of no return where your bathing suit is still dry and you've not committed to anything yet. Surely if the 10 year old could swim in this icy water so could I. 

"You're coming right?" Ian asked with a tone of panic in his teenage voice.

In reply I dove in the cold water trying not to to scream like a little girl in a haunted house. After a few minutes of panting I warmed up and settled into the swim. "What if we saw a moose drinking on shore?" He asked."That would be so cool."

"Hopefully we won't see a bear." I am a strong swimmer but no match for a bear, especially if I had to protect Ian in the process. Rather a funny thought since Ian was four inches taller and outweighed me by a good twenty pounds.

This critter could ruin the whole day. Could I out swim it? 
I marveled at the eye level view of the pond surrounded by gorgeous trees on all sides. We continued to swim with Ian excitedly talking about the high school cross country team he was trying out for and his other summer plans. He probably said more words to me on this swim than he had in the 14 years I had known him.

About a half hour into our swim our friends showed up in the canoe. "How are you doing? Do you want to get in the canoe?" His mom asked Ian.

"No. I'm great." He was slightly out of breath but swam with gusto.

Shorty was in the boat too. "Hi Mom." She gave me a tentative high five.

My son looked at me like I'd lost my mind. "Hi Mom. Exactly why are you doing this?"

I laughed and marveled at how different we were. "Because it's amazing. Why don't you jump in and join us?" 

He had spent every second with the boys since our arrival in Maine, but this was one adventure he was going to pass on. "You couldn't pay me enough." He was right. It was just not his thing.

Ian's mom OK'd our progress so we continued on our quest. Our prey was in sight now. Close enough to hear, but not to make out what they were saying. They stuck out of the water with their life jackets making more work for them. The two reached the end of the lake and began swimming towards us and after about ten minutes they passed us. We kept our cool and casually said hello not letting on about the secret race.

After an hour and twenty minutes we were 1/4 mile from where we started and the two kids were about 100 yards ahead. I looked at Ian assessing his reserve. He was a strong swimmer and seemed to have a lot left in him. He reminded me of a race horse waiting for the jockey to let him loose for the finish. Just a few words to release him and win today's round of the endless competition with his brother. "Do you think we can catch him?" I asked.

He reminded me of a race horse waiting for the jockey to let him
loose for the finish.
Clear blue eyes stared back at me. "Go for it! I said. It was on like Donkey Kong with Ian's determination fueling him. His brother, used to their competition, was not going to make it easy for him. But for the moment Ian had the element of surprise.

I pulled my goggles down over my eyes and followed him in a sprint switching to freestyle for speed. I felt the adrenaline kicking in allowing me to push harder despite the hour plus in the water.
It wasn't long until Michael saw Ian splashing towards him and realized he was about to be ambushed. He tried to pull off the life jacket but it took too long. He abandoned it and began sprinting despite the bulk. Another ten minutes and the boys were battling it out near shore.

A few bystanders moved aside and watched them finish the race. Ian beat Michael by a few feet just before the shoreline. Both boys fell to the grass out of breath. Cassie followed close behind and I joined her. Ian looked at his watch. It took Cassie and Michael two hours to leisurely swim the mile and a half. Ian and I conquered Lily Pond in an hour and a half.

The race was on!
The boys talked excitedly as we picnicked on the grassy bank. Shorty hugged me glad to see me again and the canoers told us of their adventures. My son was happy to have the boys back on dry land and on his turf again.

Ian may have won the race but nobody enjoyed the experience more than I did. My thirst for big beautiful trees, and my heaven on earth of being in the water was quenched for the day. Tomorrow we're heading to Cadillac Mountain where the boys' competition will continue and this race will be forgotten. I, however, will cherish this memory for years pulling it out and caressing it as needed through the long cold winter. It will also serve to dampen my torment when I have to return to dirtville at the end of this vacation with no decent body of water for hundreds of miles. I may have finished last in the race but I am without a doubt the winner! 
If you like these Maine pictures check out a few more here: http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/kj-waters.html.

Connect With Me

When I'm not working on Stealing Time you can find me on my social media at the links below. I hope to have my novel completed by spring 2013 with book two close behind.
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Location: Bar Harbor, ME, USA
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