Blog of the Year Award!

I've been nominated for a Blog of the Year award by one of my very favourite authors, Vonnie Davis! My very first award, folks! :) Look at it. Isn't it a thing of beauty - all shiny and new!

Thank you Vonnie, dear. I will proudly display this on my blog and think of you every time I look at it. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of meeting Vonnie, (even if only online) I am very sorry for you. Vonnie is one of those people you fall instantly in love with. Her spirit, warmth, generosity, wisdom and laugh-out-loud humour captivates. Her posts in reply to a fellow writer's plights or pleas on our shared publisher's loops are always encouraging, comforting and uplifting. She knows just the right thing to say - and so beautifully, every time. And her books are filled with the same qualities. If you haven't read any of Vonnie's books yet, you really are missing out. Start with her first novel, Storm's Interlude. Or, if you feel like a novella-sized story, try, Those Violet Eyes. You can't go wrong with either Storm or Win. Hmmm...but then there is Cam (Tumbleweed Letters) and Niko (Mona Lisa's Room). I'm waiting impatiently for her next stories. Her blog is so much fun and she loves visitors. I promise, you'll fall in love with this very special lady too. http://www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com

The ‘rules’ for the award are simple:

1. Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

2. Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.

3. Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/ and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)

4. Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them

5. You can now also join our Facebook page – click the link here ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/BlogoftheYear/ and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience

6. As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…

And now - I'd like to nominate a few blogs for this award.

Vonnie Davis - http://www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com
As I've explained above - one of my very favourite people and authors - and I'd love to help Vonnie reach the coveted six stars. She is a champion in my eyes and totally deserves all the accolades she gets :)

Kelly Matsuura - http://www.blackwingsandwhitepaper.com
Kelly is another online friend of mine - but feels more like a sister. Like I've known her all my life. She is another incredible author who's boundless energy and is infectious. She cheers me on, lets me sulk when I need to and is always there in support in whichever way I need it. She is also the worlds BEST critique partner who can zero in on a snag and sort it out in record time. Watch out for her name in the future, or check out her self-published collection of short stories, Stirring Winds. I predict this lady is going to rock the publishing world :)

Heather Jensen - http://www.heatherj22.wordpress.com
Heather is another wonderful, wonderful online friend. I swear, finding true friends like these ladies is a real blessing. Heather is another powerhouse of a writer. She constantly inspires me to be a better writer, better organized and is one hell of a NaNoWriMo buddy. She is the undisputed NaNoWriMo Queen in my eyes. The year before last, she wrote just over 100,000 words in one month. ONE MONTH! I know - crazy fast isn't it? And the freaky thing is, the writing was GOOD! I can't wait to see Heather's name on the cover of a book. I've a feeling it won't be long at all until we do.

Calisa Rhose - http://www.calisarhose.wordpress.com
Another fellow Wild Rose Press author, Calisa is a busy, productive and generous lady. I want to be like her when I grow up! Not only is she an incredible writer, but an editor for an e-publisher too. Calisa's blog is a wonderful place to visit, learn and be entertained. Her guests are varied and interesting and she's just recently   started a new spot on her blog where readers, writers and aspiring writers can chat to editors! How cool is that? Calisa has already been nominated three other times for this award - but it just goes to show how loved and admired she is.  

Enjoy your awards everyone - and thank you for being with me on this wonderful writing journey. Its been a blast having you girls alongside me. Love you all, xx

The Next Big Thing - Blog Hop

Blog Hop!! What fun J

Thank you to the incomparable Vonnie Davis for tagging me. Check out her answers to the ten questions – I guarantee you will be entertained. And while you’re there – check out her books. I’ve ADORED every one and I know you will too J

http://www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/the-next-big-thing-and-no-im-not.html

The rules for the blog hop are as follows:

****Give credit to the person/blog that tagged you

**** Post the rules for the blog hop

****Answer these ten questions about your current WIP (Work In Progress) on your blog

****Tag five other writers/bloggers and add their links so we can hop over and meet them.

Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:

What is the working title of your book?  The Talisman

Where did the idea come from for the book?  In 1886, in the early morning of a cold winter’s day, one of New Zealand’s dormant volcanoes woke with catastrophic effect. Mt. Tarawera exploded in a fiery display, burying the township of Te Wairoa under a mountain of mud and ash. After visiting this area as a teenager, I was haunted by it and my imagination all too easily painted a picture of how it must have been for the people trapped by such an event. It would have been like hell on earth. Not long after my visit, I came across the images of victims from Pompeii and the beginning of a story started to form in my mind of a body discovered over a century later, an object clutched in his hand.

What genre does your book fall under?  Paranormal with touches of suspense.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?  Ooo – that is a toughie! My heroine is half-Maori and I’ve only ever visualised her in my head. Okay - here is my attempt at Aroha and Jake:

 

 

 

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?  You're joking right?! You're not? *groan* - can I get back to you on that one? :)

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?  I like working with a publishing house too much to go the self-publishing route just yet, but I admire anyone who does. An agent? How cool would that be?! Maybe one day...

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?  I'm still writing it. This poor story was rudely interrupted after I received a great initial rejection from my dream publisher on another story. They wanted me to extend that submission and resend to their suspense line - so I've been working hard on that over the past four months. I'm crossing my toes (my fingers are busy) while I wait to hear about its fate J

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?  I'd never dream of comparing my story to others. I think I'll let my readers do that J

Who or What inspired you to write this book? Being of Maori descent (I know! I'm as far from Maori looking as you can get!), the culture has always fascinated me. They are a story-telling race and relied on word-of-mouth to keep those stories alive from generation to generation. They are also a very spiritual people and I wanted to keep the essence of both of those aspects at the heart of my story. 

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?  This story is set in New Zealand's thermal heart - the central North Island. The land is tempestuous, rugged and strangely beautiful and my characters match the landscape, their relationship as explosive as the slumbering giant of Tarawera. I hope readers find themselves as fascinated by this magical part of the world as I am.

Thank you Vonnie for tagging me! That was fun! 

I tag --

Kelly Matsuura - http://blackwingsandwhitepaper.com/

Cherie Le Clare - http://cherieleclare.com/

Catherine Mede - http://catherinemede.com/

Heather Jensen - http://heatherj22.wordpress.com/

Lilly Gayle - http://lillygayleromance.blogspot.com/