The Sunshine Blogger Award #2

I don't think I've ever been this late to a tag. Joelle over at The Pen Inspired nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger award back in September. September, people. Y'all know what month is it now? November.

Yeesh. Time flies. That, or else school saps it away.

ANYWAY. Y'all may remember the first time I did this tag/award back in May, when I respectfully borrowed it from Maya Joelle (I know, two Joelles, right?). (And, yes, I did return it in pristine condition, don't you worry. *wink*) Now, for the first time, I was officially nominated for this award, and I am so excited to do it again!

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The Rules

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog. (Thank you so much, Joelle!)

2. Answer all the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.

3. Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.

4. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your blog post.

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The Questions

#1 If you could visit any world/place, where would it be?

Easy. Scotland. Not only is it the homeland of my ancestors, it’s also so beautiful. The moors...the cliffs...the lush grass...the rivers...the little tiny villages. *sighs* My second dream destination is Cornwall. Seriously, have y’all seen that place? It’s a reflection of Heaven, I swear.

#2 What’s the best dream you’ve ever had?

Um, to be honest, most of my dreams are not suitable to repeat (lots of my family turning into serial killers and whatnot)…so the best dream is a tie between all those flying dreams I used to have when I was a wee lass and that one dream where I could literally taste the pizza I was eating. So cool.

#3 What’s your favorite story, and why?

Favorite story? Boy, that’s vague. I mean, we could be talking books here. Or movies, TV shows, fairytales, poems, songs, art, dance...there are so many forms of stories! And so many that I enjoy!

Well, instead of boring y’all with my favorite books and movies, why don’t I share my favorite orally-delivered classic children’s story? Break up the monotony some, eh?

My favorite story...is probably The Three Billy Goats Gruff. I know, y’all were probably expecting some sappy love story or something, weren’t y’all? Or Gone with the Wind. *winks* Well, as much as I love those stories, and as many stories filled my childhood, this one will always hold a special place in my heart.

You see, I was one of those kids who always wanted to sleep over at my grandparents but could never actually sleep away from home. So whenever I couldn’t sleep, I would crawl into bed with my grandparents (my dad’s mother and father), and my grandpa would tell me a story. Guess which one. Mmhmm. You got it. Anyway, Grandpa would make all the right character voices and use his fingers to act out the story, and it was such an experience for me. I’ve tried to imitate him in the past, but nothing compares to his long, bony fingers dancing over the covers as the goats cross the bridge.

#4 Do you have a favorite quote(s)?

Dude, we’re gonna be here forever, and I’m not even gonna go with Bible verses and Pride and Prejudice quotes this time!

“Dying is the day worth living for.” Captain Barbossa, At World’s End.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves.

“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.” St. Francis of Assisi.

“Who is more foolish, the child afraid of the dark, or the man afraid of the light?” Maurice Freehill.

“Forgiveness is really just another word for freedom.” Julie Lessman.

“There comes a point in your life when you need to stop reading other people's books and write your own.” Albert Einstein.

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship.

“Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship.

“He can whisper the future to His prophets. He can send and heal plagues. He can raise the dead.” Roseanna M. White, The Nature of a Lady.

“Because, my dear, God is love. Not just maternal or fraternal love but romantic love as well. Song of Solomon was written to show what the love between a husband and a wife should be, but it was also written to emulate the depth of feeling and love God has for each of us. As intense and wonderful as this young man’s kiss made you feel, more so is the passion and love God has for you. No, your feelings aren’t wrong, but perhaps the timing is.” Julie Lessman, A Passion Most Pure.

As I said. Forever. If y’all are interested in more of my favorite quotes, then you should consult my Goodreads quotes list here.

#5 If you could meet any person, be they dead or alive, fictional or real, who would it be (your own characters excluded)?

Oh my. This is a tough one. Let’s see… Jane Austen, Donald Trump, Julie Lessman, Henry Morgan, Rhett Butler, Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Jack Sparrow, Iron Man, Indiana Jones, Sylvester Stallone. *gasps* ROCKY BALBOA.

Yes, there are simple too many people to count.

#6 What’s your favorite and least favorite part about writing?

Favorite part? Ooh, boy, this is impossible. I tell y’all what. Instead of going on about all my many, many favorite parts of writing, I’m just going to pick one.

Right now, at this stage in my writing, one of my favorite parts of writing is weaving in messages that have the power to speak to readers, to change their perspective, to open their eyes to God’s truth.

As for my least favorite? Yeesh, probably the actual writing. As terrible as that sounds...it’s tough. I don’t write fast. I don’t think fast. I’m a procrastinating perfectionist, and putting words on paper—er, my laptop screen—can often be a painstaking process.

But it’s worth it.

#7 If you could live as any person for one day, who would it be?

Oy. That’s tough. Let me think...like a real person? Or a fictional person? Or just like any kind of person?

Y’know what, we’ll go any kind of person.

For one day, I’d be a billionaire. Then I could go ahead and pay for everything I’d ever need before I went back to my life as a low low income individual.

Okay, seriously, though. Probably my character Marina. No spoilers, but she leads a pretty interesting life with some pretty interesting parents (who may be pirates) and encounters some pretty interesting people (one of whom may be a super hot pirate).

#8 Why are you writing/blogging?

Let’s see...I’m writing because (1) God has called me to it and (2) I couldn’t not write even if I wanted to! I’m blogging because I’ve always wanted a blog or vlog of some sort—in fact, I used to narrate my everyday actions as if I were in front of the camera—and because it allows me to connect with y’all wonderful peeps and share news and updates with readers!

#9 Why did you start writing/blogging?

I started writing because I had ideas I wanted to put on paper...stories that couldn’t wait to be told. And I started blogging because, one day, I had the idea for a short little thing (this short little thing, actually) and realized that I could write and post it on Goodreads as a blog post. The rest, as they say, is history!

#10 What’s your current WIP about (if you have one)?

My current WIP is about piratical mayhem, unfathomable grace, and true love.

I know, so vague, right? Lemme be a little more specific...

Bound and Determined tells the tale of an ex-pirate who encounters temptation—and the risks that follow—when she is forced to choose between pirating again or letting a young girl be sold off to the highest bidder. On top of that, I weave in four other stories to provide readers with enough drama to make them claw their eyeballs out.

#11 If you could have one superpower, what would it be? (Yes, I stole this from Sisters Three. But it’s a great question!!)

That is a great question! But I have a better one...are we talking conventional superpowers (flying, invisibility, super strength) here or any kind of supernatural ability? Because if I had the superpower to write a thousand words in a minute, I would want for nothing out of life.

Not even the ability to turn anything into chocolate.

Although, let’s face it. That would be epic.

As for conventional superpowers, though, I would love to have a tele-something. Telepathy, telekinesis, whatever other teles out there that aren’t plugged into the wall (*glances at the television and telephone in the corner*)—any of those would be so awesome.

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Questions + Nominations

Now, I've been tasked with tagging eleven bloggers. I'm going to try to tag bloggers who I know haven't done this tag before, but I can't guarantee there won't be any repeats.

• Iris @ Elfwing's Wanderings

• Libby @ Thoughts from a Stumbling Saint

• Maribeth @ A Writer's Tale

• Megan @ Not So Perfect

• Kristina Hall

• Kads @ Your Writerly Friend Kads

• Issabelle @ Into My Writing Journey

• Kristianne @ Whimsical Wanderings

• Daisy @ Writing Daisies

• Em @ Quill of Hope

• Victoria @ Soli Deo Gloria

• And YOU! Feel free to answer any of my crazy questions in the comments!

Now, for the questions!

#1 If you could change your name to anything you wanted, what new name would you choose? Or would you stick with what you’ve got?

#2 What is your most favorite genre of music?

#3 You’re stuck on a not-so-deserted island, but instead of choosing what to have with you, which one of the following would you relinquish when you’re discovered by the curious island natives: your favorite book, your water bottle, or your phone? (I know, that’s really tough, but you’ll figure it out. No pressure. It’s just that it’s either one of those things or you that’s handed over to the natives...who may be cannibals.)

#4 You’re a superhero and you get to choose your new sidekick. Who do you pick—the quiet, tech-savvy college kid; the sarcastic martial arts master; or the kinda freaky-looking guy who can pick a lock in two seconds flat and wrestle an elephant to the ground?

#5 If you could star in a major motion picture, would you rather be in a sweeping historical drama, a quirky contemporary musical, or a fast-paced action and adventure?

#6 What is your ideal cake flavor—icing and all? On top of that (pun intended), sprinkles or no sprinkles?

#7 Would you rather have an older brother or a baby sister?

#8 What is something that you’ve learned in the last eleven months? Could be important or could be along the lines of don’t hold the nail the entire time you’re hammering it.

#9 Since it is November, what are three things you’re most grateful for this year?

#10 How do you think you’ve changed or grown since Covid hit?

#11 Do you prefer these deep, reflective questions or the fun, playful ones? Why?

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Thank y'all for joining me today and thank you again, Joelle, for tagging me! I've loved hanging out with y'all today...even if I ought to be writing! (Don't tell them I said this, but y'all are a lot nicer than my charries. *wink*)

#thesunshinebloggeraward #blogtag #aboutme #iknowishouldhaveusedapicofsunflowers #butiwasadvisedtostickwithatheme #sohereweare #ilikeitebetteranyway #yellowisoneofmyleastfavoritecolors #whataboutyou

Bookishly Yours,

Grace