Friday Round-Up - #148

'Tis the season for awards! My friend, Nancy, over at Boomers, Scribblers & Saints, bestowed this lovely one on me. Thanks, Nancy! I'm honored.

I'm supposed to tell you seven things about myself. After over 500 posts, I think you know me pretty well, but for all the new folks, here goes:

1) I love chocolate. Oops, I can't use that one. It's a given for writers. :)

2) Bargain hunting and couponing are my new passion. Although born out of necessity (a.k.a. unemployment), I've discovered I can save a TON of money by using coupons, combining them with sales, and the special savings programs of stores like Rite Aid and CVS. Besides that, it's fun.

3) I started writing for publication in 2004. Non-fiction is my first love, and I still do some work in that area. All of my publishing credits have come from that side of the writing world.

4) My husband encouraged me to pursue writing a novel back in 2005. Oh.my.goodness. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. My first efforts...let's just say, "they'll never see the light of day." After many workshops, reading books, and blogs, I've improved. As writers, there's always something new to learn.

5) I'm working on a futuristic fiction trilogy. Unfortunately, the limited demand for this genre has forced the project to the back burner. As of last week, I am throwing ingredients into a fresh pot and cooking up a new story. Shh, don't tell anyone. Let's keep it between us.

6) My birthstone is amethyst for February. Maybe that has something to do with my preference for purple.

7) Italian food and good ol' American are my favorite cuisines. I can't imagine life without pasta.

I'm passing this award on to:
1) Wendy Paine Miller, of Thoughts That Move. A gifted writer, she knows how to dig deep and examine motivations.

2) Alisa Hope Wagner, of Faith Imagined.  She's a regular stop on my Internet trail. I know I'll always find a good word when I arrive.

3) Rita Gerlach, of Inspire Writer. A published, historical fiction writer, Rita shares her journey and gives valuable writing advice.

4) Angela Ackerman & Becky, at the Bookshelf Muse. If you're having difficulty describing something or want to improve your abilities in this area, go see these writers. You'll want to devote some time to exploring their site.

5) Jan Cline is the Director of the Inland Northwest Writers Conference, in Washington state. The conference is March 19, 2011. Jim Rubart, author of Rooms, is the keynote speaker, and our very own Terri Tiffany will be presenting a workshop on how to write a Chicken Soup for the Soul story.

6) Jill Kemerer, Inspirational Romance Author, writes excellent posts sprinkled with amazing photos.

7) Katie Ganshert is a newly contracted author. If you want to follow someone's road to publication, she's a good choice. Her posts are fresh and honest.

Thanks to all these bloggers for many hours of inspirational and educational reading. In case you haven't noticed, all of these sites are on my blogroll. I hope you'll get to know their authors and visit them as often as your schedule allows.

Have a great weekend!