Thursday, January 17, 2013

15 Day Blogger Challenge ~ Getting to Know the Blogger ~ Day 13

15 Day blogger Challenge

15 Day Blogger Challenge - Getting to Know the Blogger

This challenge is open to any and everyone who wants to get to know each other a little better in the blogosphere. I encourage you all to make this challenge your own. There is no special format to follow or rules on posting. Do your challenge in 1 day by answering all the questions at once or do it in 90 days. Just have fun!

Challenge Questions:

13. Blogs you visit and read enthusiastically.


Who Do I Read?

I read a lot, and by a lot, I really mean A  L O T  of blogs, and I enjoy reading most of them. If I don't enjoy a blog, I normally will not return to it. However, I return to more than I have time to keep up with. If I had to chose my top 10, they would be as follows:

10. Bizarre Stuff

The writer's description is:

This blog is about bizarre stuff, including people, events, activities, strange occurrences, cataclysmic upheavals,men jumping on cops's backs and demanding free public transport to Cuba, penis and vagina festivals in Japan, abandoned and barbecued grandmothers, men having sex with their patio tables, severed arms being thrown out with the trash, feces falling from the sky, and banana ripening machines that explode in the night. No warranties, express or implied, are made as to the originality, truthfulness, or authenticity of these materials. Not suitable for young children, unless accompanied by a very open-minded parent or guardian, not under a restraining order issued by any competent court of law.

I came across this blog by accident. I was just looking for more information on a ranch that I found, and the writer had a blog posted on the ranch. After I read about the ranch, I continued reading the posts; and I have become hooked. The most bizarre thing about the entire situation, is that I would never know the crazy stuff that goes on in the world had I never come across this blog.

9. Mama's Losin' It

The writer's description is:

I’m Kathy. A sarcastic mother of three with a busy home daycare that clashes with my desire to do nothing all day. I’m a has-been English teacher who secretly enjoys fragmented sentences. My rebellious side. I’m an attention craving poodle and I have an affinity for aprons. In blog land I go by Mama Kat. Because I’m a mama and I’m Kat and it just felt right putting the two together. I started blogging privately in August of 2007 as a way to share pictures and stories with family. When I didn’t get enough attention from them I made my blog public and officially became addicted to this world. I love that it gives me purpose. I love that it gives me friends. And I love that it gives my kids an account of their childhoods so they can look back and see just how and when Mama lost it all. If they ever learn to read.

I found this blog while looking for creative writing prompts. I enjoy Mama Kat's posts, which take you through the life of a young American mom. Reading her posts always brings back memories of when my boys were younger and all of the fun/crazy times we always have had.

8. Joy Harjo's Poetic Adventures in the Last World Blog

The writer's description is:

This is Joy Harjo's ongoing journal of dreams, stories, poems,music, photographs, and assorted reports from her inner and outer travels about Indian country and the rest of the world.

I found this blog while researching my heritage. Joy is a Creek Indian, which is also my grandmother's ethnicity. I have found through my years in college and since that learning about the history and culture of people, it is far easier to gain understanding through the literature of the people than looking in history books. I enjoy reading Joy's adventures; and through reading her blog, I am getting a better sense of my own identity.

7. Jesse Petersen ~ Urban Fantasy Author and Proud Geek

The writer's description is:

Jesse’s life as a writer began when her husband made the brilliant observation that she was much happier writing than doing anything else. So she took the plunge and decided to do that full-time. After many years and many books in different sub-genres, she was bitten by the zombie bug (not a zombie, but the bug) and took off on a zany adventure into the world of Urban Fantasy. Soon zombies were not enough and now she is poised to take over the world with her not-so-normal paranormal stories which inject dark humor into uncommon circumstances.

When not coming up with stories about the weird and wonderful she lives in Tucson, AZ, with her high school sweetheart husband and two cats. She plays video games, hangs out with her favorite nephews, hikes in the beautiful mountains, watches wayyyyy too much reality TV (and some really good scripted TV), ponders all things geekish and madly scribbles notes on her next idea while she laughs at people who still have to shovel snow.

Oh and from time to time she even writes, which is still what she likes to do best. She loves chatting with fans of her stories and lovers of geeky things. She encourages you to contact her at the various places listed on this fabulous website (keep scrolling, you’ll see it).

I found this blog after reading Married With Zombies by Jesse Petersen. I enjoy reading her blog because she provides her fans with challenges and writing prompts, also because I can keep up with the release dates for new books that Jesse has published.

6. Mental Notes

The writer's description is:

I am a sucker for love and a sob story, I am definitely for the under dog. I am a little weird but very loving, I am perfectly imperfect but shhhh don’t tell anyone (: I am also a recovering heroin addict my clean date is September 24 2010, although I don’t like labels, I understand I can not use drugs in moderation under any circumstances. I stay clean no matter how bad or good I feel that’s it that’s all no compromise! I wrote a poetry book called mental notes about addiction and all the insanity associated with it, I have randomly been posting pieces of the book to my blog. Here is the kindle link. I am so grateful for the road I am traveling!

There is way too much I can say about me but I won’t bore u with my way to boring bio. We all have one common bond, we love to write.

I am still trying to figure all this out (life) in the mean time I will do what the universe has called me to do…write.

I found this blog via a comment on one of my posts. Latoya is such a talented poet. I have respect for people like Latoya, who use their writing as a way to reach out to people who have been in similar situations as she has. She evokes emotion from the deepest recesses of the soul.

5. DUDE, I'M AN ASPIE.

The writer's description is:

This blog promotes a greater understanding of people on the autism spectrum. All deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion. My goal is to give you a window into my everyday life, its highs and lows, with both honesty and humor.

I found this blog while looking for blogs on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Matt Friedman is a talented cartoonists, whose cartoons provide the reader with a vision of what the world is like to someone with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. I am interested in the blog for two reasons. First and foremost, my son, Damien, is a child with autism. He was diagnosed at 16 months of age. Every since, I have been researching Autism Spectrum disorders. Damien is now 17 years of age. Second, my uncle, who is only 11 years older than me, is a person with autism. Finding blogs like these often gives me an insight into both my son and uncle that I may not otherwise have.

4. Red Willow Voices/ in assn. with mirabal.com

The writer's description is:

My world-writing is an art; it is simple if you open your heart yet in all the simplicity is the complexity...tell me your thoughts; however don't hurt others on my time. Life is too short to be disguised in demise. So be a member, thank you and enjoy.

Like with Joy Harjo's blog, I found this blog researching my ancestry. Robert Mirabal is a talented writer, recording artist, and visual artist. He, too, is Creek Indian, but lives on a Navajo reservation. I enjoy reading Mirabal's blog for the same reason as Harjo's. Also, I have learned from his blog that the stories my grandmother told me as a child, which were stories her mother told her, are actually Creek Indian Folklore. I am glad to know that what I thought was missing has been with me all along, my heritage.

3. A spiritual journey through illness and autism

The writer's description is:

A path through life's difficulties exploring beliefs, signs, nature, synchronicities and dreams ~ Walking the spiritual path through life's trials hoping I can learn, share and support along the way!

I enjoy reading this blog because I can feel a connection to the author. The blog covers the difficulties in dealing with illness as well as autism. The author is the mother of a child with autism.

2. seyisandradavid ~ A Writer With A Difference

The writer's description is:

Born in Nigeria on October 14, 1975, Seyi Sandra began dabbling into writing from an early age. Her first novel at the age of 13 was consider too ‘grown up’ by publishers but instead of that to dampen her spirit, she shrugged it off and completed her secondary school and she was promptly admitted to the University of Ilorin where she studied English Language.

At the completion of her degree, she got a job with the state’s local newspaper, ”People’s Advocate” where she quickly rose through the ranks to the post of a senior correspondent attached to the state house of assembly.

She is the bestselling author of ”The Impossible President” the novel gripped readers like storm in 2002 and it was released by Regency publishers.

The novel explores the possibility of a woman becoming the first female president in a country like Nigeria where men have failed woefully and politicians cannot be trusted due to their corruption and greed, a country where women are relegated to the background when it comes to governance. It’s a novel which celebrates womanhood and the ability to dream big and work hard towards achieving it.

She has established herself as a literary force with the publication of ”The Feet Of Darkness,” the novel sheds light on the struggles of a British scientist who finds himself embroiled in a plot that will not only change his life forever but the world as a whole, it was published in UK in 2007.

However, the second edition will be out shortly.

The Paperback and Kindle Edition of her new book, a short story, ”Tales Of Five Lies” is out now and can be purchased on Amazon websites.

However this link can take you directly to buy the book.

She is a columnist for ”Black Heritage Today,” a london based magazine and a Reviewer for Bookpleasures.

I found this blog via a comment on one of my posts left by Seyi Sandra. I enjoy reading this blog because of the uplifting message in just about every post: PRIDE. This blog touches the spiritual blogger in me.

1. Cherie Priest

The writer's description is:

I was born in Tampa, Florida, down the street from the stadium in 1975 — the same year that gave us Saturday Night Live and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, so I consider myself in good company. I have a B.A. in English from Southern Adventist University, here noted because it embarrasses them to share a paragraph with Tim Curry in drag; and I have an M.A. in Rhetoric (composition/critical theory) from the University of Tennessee, which couldn’t care less.

I write novels. To date, I’ve had thirteen published, and another one’s in the queue. My most recent books are The Inexplicables and Hellbent. My best-known book is probably Boneshaker (2009) – which was nominated for a Nebula Award and a Hugo Award. Boneshaker also won the PNBA Award, as well as the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, so yes, my resume is starting to look a little lop-sided. (Not that I’m complaining.)

[Edited to add: Speaking of Boneshaker ... ]

You can find a mostly proper bibliography over here.

In March of 2006 I married my long-time significant other, Aric; and together with our fat black cat named Spain (as in, “I claim this land for–”), we moved from Chattanooga to Seattle shortly after the wedding.

In January of 2012, we bought a lovely old house. In Tennessee.

In May, we moved back.

[Edited yet further to add: And now our family has grown by one fluffy black dog! Amazing Greyson, oversized puppy monster and neighborhood welcome wagon.]

Cherie Priest is my favorite author. I enjoy reading her posts, which help me keep up with her new work. I love how Cherie blends historical events with her imagination. Furthermore, Cherie's books often have women of strength and character throughout. My favorite of her books are her Clockwork Series, which are a series of Steampunk books. I do, however, enjoy reading her other work as well.

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