A new blog, RWA Flooded Communities Book Appeal, Life is good award...

Hello everyone! This is my bits and pieces  post - (Very Important Bits and Pieces though!)

The Publication Party with guest speaker Clarissa Draper continues in the next post.
My new #fridayflash fiction story is up - 'I Talk to Dead People.' Ghosts and bikers this week. Read it here on my flashquake blog.


NEW BOOK REVIEW BLOG: I'd like you to check out a new blog, Reading at Dawn. This is a blog started by Dawn Embers in her quest to read more and you've got to encourage that. I am collaborating with Dawn and Writers Block NZ on this blog. We will be reviewing books of all different genres (between the three of us we have it pretty much covered.) Guest reviews will also be encouraged. Dawn has posted her first review on the zombie novel, The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Check it out here...and follow us to read some ripping reviews.

RWA Flooded Communities Book Appeal

I first saw this post over at A Writer's Rush, the home of blogger Rula Sinara.and it has been making its way around the writing community. Please take a few moments to read it and pass it on. Small acts can mean so much in times of need.

We've all seen the devastation the recent Queensland floods have wrought and have wondered how we can help. We know that for many affected families, books will not be high on their priorities list for some time to come.


But...


We also know how valuable books can be in providing time out when reality gets tough.


So…


With the aid of some wonderful volunteers, we've put together a Romance Writers of Australia Flooded Communities Book Appeal.


What we need?


FICTION BOOKS! Romance books, children's books, young adult books, genre books, whatever – either new or in sparkling condition.


Please send them to:


RWA Flooded Communities Book Appeal
PO Box 1717
Noosaville Post Office
Noosaville BC
Queensland  Australia 4566


When to send them?


Now! And any time over the next few months. The books will be boxed and delivered to the appropriate libraries/schools/neighbourhood centres/community centres in batches as soon as the communities are ready to receive them. We’ll be liaising with councils, libraries and schools to ensure this is done appropriately. Feel free to pop a note inside, or if you're an author, sign it.


All languages welcome - please repost.


Now,an award.
Thanks to Patricia Timms over at Simplicity in Volumes for this award. It captures what I feel perfectly.

Well as you know in Queensland we have been through disastrous floods, but the clean up is ongoing and I'm feeling pretty good about it all. 'Life wasn't meant to be easy,' but life can be good no matter what we are going through. Isn't it great to be alive? Better than the alternative. Yeah!

The requirements for the Life is Good Award:


1. First, thank and link back to the person that gave the award. (Thank you Patricia!)
2. Answer the 10 survey questions.
3. Pass the award along to other bloggers whom you think are fantastic.
4. Contact the bloggers you have chosen to let them know about the award.


10 Questions:


1. If you blog anonymously, are you happy doing this? If you are not anonymous, do you wish that you had started out anonymously, so that you could be anonymous now?


I don’t wish I was anonymous because I feel in the end that lacks credibility. I've read posts where bloggers say they are aghast at people using their own names, or telling everyone about their family - husbands, children, grandparents. Well, that is a personal choice. Some blogs are based around people's day-to-day lives. I get that some bloggers create a ficticious name. That's their choice. I am who I am and feel quite safe as long as I don't publish things like birthdays and other salient facts that could lead to identity theft.


2. Describe an incident that shows your inner stubborn side.


Sorry. I'm never stubborn and I'll never change my opinion on that.


3. What do you see when you really look at yourself in the mirror?


Ooh, how personal can you get. If I were anonymous I could say I see Meg Ryan before the botox, ahem, but seeing I'm a real person I see someone who likes to laugh and needs to get to the hairdresser pronto.


4. What is your favorite summer cold drink?


Hmm. Telling again. Well, I could be virtuous and say iced water and lime (which I love) but really just hand me another gin and tonic or glass of Asti.


5. When you take time for yourself, what do you do?


People are supposed to be really surprised at this question and say, 'Ooh? Time for myself? What a radical concept!' But, sorry all you mums and dads and students out there, I manage to grab some time for myself regularly which I spend reading, checking out book stores or libraries or going out for coffee and cake.


6. Is there something that you still want to accomplish in your life? What is it?


I feel really happy with what I've accomplished so far, but it would be nice to get a novel or two published and tons of short stories in magazines. I'm sure I can achieve these things if I focus some more and stop looking in the mirror.


7. When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever, the shy person, or always ditching?


I was the first three at different times. I loved school and always did well, but deep down I was a shy person although most people never knew it.


8. If you close your eyes and want to visualize a very poignant moment in your life, what would you see?


I was blessed to be at my father's bedside when he passed away. It was the most poignant moment in my life so far. I can still see him and the silent rapport we shared.


9. Is it easy for you to share your true self in your blog or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people or events?


I don't find it hard to honestly share my true self. Hey, I'm zooming through these questions like you wouldn't believe. What other way is there to share?


10. If you had the choice to sit down and read a book or talk on the phone, which would you do and why?


I don’t really enjoy talking on the phone so I’m going to pick reading a book. I love to read. I don't like the phone much. It always rings at night when I'd rather be reading.






I’ve comprised a list of awesome bloggers that I think more than deserve this award. Some are new to follow me, some have been following me for yonks. Thank you for that. Life IS good, isn’t it? Don't fret if you don't have time to pass this on, I understand.

I am passing this award onto:


Christine Bell who has just released a new book and is celebrating in Florida
ABSOLUTELY *KATE whose life is so good there In the Bijou she is jumping out of her hide
Tony Benson who recently began following me and is very supportive
Margo Benson who is a wonderful new follower and great commenter
Nas Dean, new follower full of enthusiasm
Joanna St James who inspires me with her philosophy on life
N R Williams whose life has been overtaken by her blog tour, but is still smiling
Grandpa who I want to convince that even though he has suffered the ultimate sadness, life is good even if at the moment it doesn't seem so!


I would like to keep going. There are so many I could have passed this award onto...if some of you pass them on to others life will indeed be good!