Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Housekeeping Miscellany

Today is not Word Nerd Wednesday. My sincere apologies.

Instead, a few housekeeping duties:

First, an announcement.
In a wild attempt to meet a major deadline, I'll be absent from blogland, Facebook, Twitter, and pretty much all of the Internet except for some minor e-mail checking here and there for the next couple of weeks.

I hope I survive.


Second, well, another announcement.
On Thursday (that would be tomorrow), September 24, I'll be speaking at The Book Academy, a new writing conference sponsored by Utah Valley University.

Check out their site for more information and how to register HERE. (I'm speaking during the 10:10 breakout workshops. The conference bookstore will have copies of There, Their, They're available for purchase).


Third, I've been horribly remiss in acknowledging two bloggy awards I received some time ago.

Time to rectify the matter.

The first was from Amber Lynae:


The second was from
Chas Hathaway:



Aren't those rockin' awesome?! Thanks to both of you! I was sincerely touched by both awards.

The Superior Scribbler Award is to be passed on to bloggers I think are great writers, and the Lemonade Stand goes to bloggers I'm grateful for.

Even though I was majorly negligent in not passing them on when I was awarded them (I plead busyness, forgetfulness, and deadlines . . .), I'm going to cheat by passing them both on in one fell swoop to five bloggers: people I think are both great writers AND whom I'm grateful for.

Frankly, in blog world, those two requirements aren't too tough to find in the same people. I've found tons of great writers and friends I'm grateful for. In fact, there are WAY more than five who have enriched my life in both those ways.

I've given bloggy awards to many friends in the past. This time I'm purposely looking to award bloggers I've "met" relatively recently, ones I'm quite sure I have not awarded something to in the past and who have not received either of these awards (at least to my knowledge) yet:

SHER the Love! Sherrie is not only an incredibly talented musician (remember the music on my book trailer? If not, take a listen HERE), but she's also one of the most real bloggers I know. She just says it like it is. I love that about her. I've had the chance to meet her a few times, and she's just as real and awesome in person as she is on her blog. Check out her music website HERE.

Sarah M. Eden. One of my newer writer buds and easily one of the funniest people I know. I have to be careful not to be drinking anything when I open her e-mails or read her blog, because if I am, there's a good chance I'll be snorting and spewing whatever I'm drinking all over the monitor. Her "I Need Friends Friday" series is nothing short of brilliant and hilarious. Oh, and she's one talented novelist as well. (Plus a very deserving Whitney Award finalist last year. Her next book will be out with Covenant next year. Woot!)

Duck, Duck, Cow. She recently de-lurked on my blog, so I found hers, and then I won a bunch of wowzer-yummy gorgeous cupcakes. How can I not love this woman? Seriously, aside from her serious baking skillz (and obvious skill in picking winners!), she's darn funny, and I love her blog.

Pensievity. While she was living in Brazil, I was fascinated by her life there, which she blogged at The Misplaced Americans. Now she's back in the States with a new blog and a new look, but her writing is still fabulous and insightful. Plus drop-dead funny at times.

Mommy Snark. She's another relatively new bloggy friend but one I've come to really enjoy. Plus, she's an aspiring writer, so, ya know, the kind of person who kinda gets me. Be sure to check her out. (I've discovered her sister recently as well . . . I feel so cool.)

So there you have it. Ladies, consider yourself awarded twice over.

See you all on the flip side of my bloggy break!

I really hope it won't take me too long to reach this deadline. If it does, I'll go through some serious Internet withdrawals, and it won't be pretty. (Picture me shaking with DTs as I click on "mark all as read" on my Google Reader . . .)


15 comments:

Kristina P. said...

We will miss you!

Luisa Perkins said...

I hope you survive, too! Good luck!

Jenny P. said...

Good luck with your deadline! And thank you ever so much! I am honored, flattered, and feeling all kinds of cool right now. :)

I'll miss your presence in blog land. Hurry back!

Carolyn V. said...

Yes, good luck on that deadline! And congrats to all the bloggy winners! =)

Anonymous said...

I'd feel worse about your withdrawals if I didn't know that I'd be suffering from the lack of you and those delicious WNW's. ;)
See you soon! You'll be missed!

Rebecca Irvine said...

Good luck with your deadline!

Lara Neves said...

Get going on the chocolate! We totally understand!

I read some of these you have pointed out, but will check out the other two.

Happy Mom said...

Thanks for the heads up on a couple of new fabulous blogs!!

I will miss you. Come back soon!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Here's to the gift that is having a recipe turn out the first time! Hope it all goes well and quickly, you'll be muchly missed!

InkMom said...

Best of luck on the deadline . . . and you have some pretty cool friends out there in blogland! Of course, I'm decidedly partial to MommySnark. Great choices!

Sherrie said...

You will be missed! I am looking forward to that Chocolate Cookbook. Good Luck!

Shelley said...

I will miss seeing "updated 4 hours ago" next to your blog in my sidebar. Hurry back.

Jillybean said...

We'll be here anxiously awaiting your return, and your chocolate book.

* said...

I love Sher & Mommy Snark, too. Oh, and Pensievity!! Great scotts, there are so many amazing bloggers out there...I have so much blog reading & visiting to catch up on!

Jessica G. said...

So that explains the recent spike in readership...I got a mention from Annette Lyon! And I read it on my birthday so that just makes it all the more special. Thank you!

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