Well, it's been just over a week, so I'll go ahead and answer the questions from the Q&A. Some of these are really fun! Some are similar, too, so I'll combine them.
What made you/inspired you to start a blog?
Well, it sounded fun, for one. Also, I was reading some other blogs at that point and thought, "Why not me?" Plus it's a fun way to get my thoughts/reviews out there.
What's your favorite thing about having a blog?
Probably being in the blogosphere. It has enabled me to make friends, meet famous(ish) authors, and participate in blog events (like book releases and Christmas blog parties).
What is your favorite blog post/series of related posts that you've done?
Oooh. That would probably be the Ten Days of Christmas series I did. Such fun, and a privilege to do it with other bloggers, including the host of Five Fall Favorites (Rebekah Morris)! My favorite out of that series was definitely the one about Scripture. It was probably the longest post I've ever written on this blog.
What is the biggest thing having a blog has taught you?
Hmm. Well, I would have to say that it has taught me that sometimes God can use little things (like my posts) to bless/encourage others. And that knowledge in and of itself is a real encouragement!
How many siblings do you have?
Ten, besides myself. Eleven kids total. And guess who's the middle child? *raises my hand*
Have you finished writing Going Ballistic yet?
Sadly, I have not. I hit the dreaded writer's slump a while back, and lost a lot of my enthusiasm for it. But never fear! These slumps are only temporary, and I plan to finish it someday. In fact, I went back and worked on it a bit more a little while ago. And I'm pleased with how it's turning out so far. So rest assured, I haven't abandoned it! The progress is just limping right now. It shouldn't be too long before it recovers and is up and running again (I hope)!
Can you listen to music when you write? Do you like to?
Okay. I do like to listen to music when I write. But I usually don't. Simply because I tend to just get to writing before I even get my music. However, sometimes I will remember, and when I do, I usually listen to instrumental. I like songs with words, but they distract me when I'm writing. Then my brain is trying to focus on the song's words and the story's words at the same time. So I usually go with instrumental (*ahem* often Piano Guys).
Favorite TV show?
Oh goodness. I'll have to go with two of my favorite BBC period dramas: Little Women and North and South. Yes. Yes, I'm a period drama person.
What's one meal you could eat every day for a straight week and not grow tired of it?
Honestly? Salad. I know because some years ago, I ate salad for lunch practically every day during the summer. Plus, you can switch around the toppings and dressings for variety, but it'd still be the same meal.
When/how did you discover you liked to write?
I honestly have no idea when. I've been making up stories for forever, I guess. Although when I was really young, they were too horribly written to be called stories. Mostly just these embarrassing little tales of giant blue worms and getting lost in the woods and families with 15+ biological kids & multiple sets of twins and triplets. Not that the huge families were bad in my stories, but they were extremely unrealistic. Oh, and that one story I wrote a long time ago that I was so proud of. *shudders* In it, this guy proposes to a girl without dating her/talking to her/courting her first . . . also the girl's dad had just died. Oh, and her mom already died earlier in the story. Yeah. I think I might take the liberty of saying I have improved some in my writing since then!
Favorite Bible verse?
Okay, right off the top of my head, there's one verse I've loved and have had memorized for literally as long as I can remember: John 3:16. And Isaiah 53. If you haven't read Isaiah 53 yet, go read it.
I also like Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (NASB)
Also Isaiah 55:7: Let the wicked abandon his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. (NASB)
Favorite color?
Basically any shade of blue, purple, and petal pink specifically. I am very particular about this. I'm not much of a "pinky" person. But I love petal pink. And peach.
Favorite book of all time?
You did not just ask this question.
Okay, I guess you did.
I'm thinking.
So many options.
Help!
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Okay, off the top of my head, I'd say The Raider's Promise by Lois Walfrid Johnson. Go here to see my review of it. I absolutely love this book. And yes, I will admit to skipping to the end and reading and re-reading the ending sometimes.
Paper or computer?
Computer. Then I don't have to worry about my handwriting, or using up my eraser, or my fingers cramping (which they do). Also, I tend to type faster than I write. It's more efficient.
Least favorite food of all-time?
Okay, out of the foods I've never tasted and am merely prejudiced against, I despise caviar and chicken feet. Out of the foods I have tasted and still don't like, I would have to say that braunschweiger is one of the worst. Though I will concede it does smell worse than it tastes.
Favorite font to use?
Anything flowing and beautiful but still easy to read. For my favorite common-use one, that would be Verdana, which is the font I am using right now. It's my blog font.
Thank you so much for the fun questions!