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On December 9, 2013 I received a Super Blogger Award from the lovely Alexandra Caselle. I met Alexandra on She Writes. There are strings attached. I have to reveal a secret and and pass the award along to a deserving someone I consider a super blogger. These are my instructions:

Alexandra Caselle

Take the award for yourself, then pass it along to someone who inspires you or you just think is “super” in one way or another. Tell us why you think that person is super and deserving. Now, all the recipient has to do is reveal (as in one) small secret about themselves (super people always tend to have a secret or two, right?) and pass the reward on to someone they think is deserving.

My secret

The day I received this award I had just read a blog post about book marketing in 2014 that concluded by telling authors to crank it out faster. I closed my eyes and prayed God have mercy. Sure, I’d like to rise to a five-digit ranking from a six-digit ranking on the Amazon charts, and I’m willing to work hard to get there,  but I’m not willing to go through the meat grinder.

As I prayed, God reminded me of why I do this: to touch hearts and help others grow. “Like who?” I muttered. Alexandra was His answer. 

Sydney Avey writes a weekly blog in which she features a list of published short stories that center around a theme or topic.  Her blog has introduced me to different works that have impacted me as a reader and a writer. As a writer and a teacher of writing, I always felt that models of professional writing were the best teachers.  You learn so much about technique and other literary elements by reading.  Sydney also features short stories that are examples of literary devices such as point-of-view.

I also think that those who teach literature in secondary and postsecondary schools would find her weekly list of stories to be a wonderful resource.

At the end of the day, isn’t that what a lot of writers really want–to be a resource and  have an impact?

My nomination

Charise Olson

I like blogs that challenge my thinking, like seminarian Zack Hunt’s The American Jesus. I like blogs that teach me to market my writing with grace, like Dan Blank’s We Grow Media. I like artistic, emotionally honest blogs like Tana’s World.  I really like courageous blogs, and that is why I nominate  Prayers and Cocktails with Charise Olson for a Super Blogger Award.

To put those words together takes courage. I know. The Sheep Walker’s Daughter and the sequel, The Lyre and The Lamb are set in California in the fifties and the sixties. Nuff said.

I met Charise at a meeting of the Bay Area American Christian Fiction Writers very soon after my book was accepted by an ACFW listed publisher. I went in with a stereotype of Christian authors–lots of sugar, no spice, everything  nice. Charise put me at ease with her solid faith and saucy sense of humor.

And now it’s time to drop another secret. In 2014, I won’t be continuing the 365 Short Stories on my blog.  Instead, I’m going to focus on California as a setting and culture in writing.