Apparently the Sun Shines Out of My...

I'm guessing I now have your attention ;c)

The wonderfully talented, very beautiful, and obviously full of good taste Ms Danielle Ferris has bestowed upon me the 'Ray of Sunshine' award.

Isn't it pretty, gum boots and all!

Yes, it's doing the rounds and just about everyone in my small circle of writing friends already has one. Yes, I could do the same as Aaron and include all you lurkers out there and just nominate everyone. Yes, I could nominate Anton as we all get a great kick out of his responses to such things.

But I won't.

I'm going to award it to two people who have supported me for a long time in my writing. Neither have a blog so they will not be able to pass this award on but both give me supportive comments on a regular basis.

I call to the stage my wonderful wife, Jodi. The amount of hours she puts up with me being secluded in a fantasy setting of my own creation, my deteriorating memory of what I'm supposed to be doing in the 'real world', my odd way of looking at things, and my continual gazing at passersby while we're out shopping - among all manner of other odd writerly things. In all this she remains confident that one day I'll get it right and we'll be able to retire to the country due to my writing (ah, the dream).

Secondly, I call to the stage my daughter, Tyarna. The first thing I had published by an editor I didn't know was because of her encouragement that it was good - and funny. Mind you, she was only seven at the time but her good taste was already blossoming. She continues to be proud that her dad is a writer, and has begun to take up the pen/keyboard in an effort to write her own fantasy tales. The fact that she's started writing long fiction thirty years before I decided to may mean she'll get that book deal well before me - which is okay, because then she'll be able to afford to look after her mum and dad in their twilight years (and who knows, maybe I'll get the inside track to my own publishing contract through her agent...)

Awards x 2

There is a conspiracy afoot. Women of the web have decided male blogs are crying out for their feminine touch, their certain flair, to make them a little more female friendly.

Or maybe some women I know have decided to be very nice and just award me with a very much needed ego boost.

Either way, the result is more pink on a decidedly unpink blog.

Now, I'm not against a man wearing pink - as long as he stays way over there on the other side of the room. Just kidding. I once owned a pink shirt and know some trendy individuals who actually wear one in public. I'm not against snags, or Korean boyband members, I just don't want to be 'against' one. ;c) I'm just not built that way.

As for the awards...you knew I'd get there eventually - right?

The beautiful and wonderfully talented Ms Danielle Ferries awarded me the 'One Lovely Blog Award, pictured right.

Aspersions of me doing strange and wonderful things to the award badge have been cast (and to be honest, considered), but I have come to the conclusion it would down play the thoughtfulness of those who have bestowed it on me - and that just wouldn't do.

So here is the badge in all it's pink glory with tea cup intact.

And now, as these things inevitably go, I must pass the torch (or tea cup in this case) to another worthy recipient. As I have in times gone past, I look for somebody who hasn't received many awards, someone whose star needs to be acknowledged and brought to the attention of others. And preferably someone who has never had a tea cup on their blog before. I give you L. R Bonehill. You think a pretty pink cup looks out of place on my blog, let's see what the Bonehill does with it ;c)

Next cab off the rank is from the talented, and strangely feline looking, Laura Eno with yet another wonderfully pink award, but this one has a bit of work attached to it. I'm guessing it also inspired her latest #FridayFlash piece titled The Teacup.

First, I'm supposed to nominate the next seven recipients of the award, so, in no particular order:

Talie Helene; Jodi Lee; Jason Fischer; K V Taylor; K C Shaw; Alan Baxter - hang on, how many is that? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - I need to pick one more...

And the final recipient can be none other than Anton Gully! You didn't really think you'd get away with that excuse on Laura's blog...did you? ;c)

As I said, this award takes some work as there is also a second bit which I'm going to admit to struggling with, which may sound strange coming from a writer and someone who reviews all sorts of books. My problem is I rarely remember author's names or the titles of books. I know, throw stones and other hard and sharp objects as you see fit. Anyway, the second part requires me to list seven favourite mystery writers. Naturally, I'm going with mainly dark mystery type titles. In no particular order:

David Wellington; Alexandra Sokoloff; John Saul; Thomas Harris; William Peter Blatty; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Alfred Hitchcock.

Not a bad list of old, not so old, and fairly new authors.

Shock Horror

A newly compiled list for the Top 50 Australian Writing Blogs has been released. When it was first published, lots of people jumped up and down about not being included, or other blogs they thought should have gotten a nod, etc, etc. In short, Jonathan (hopefully I spelled his name right this time) did a huge amount of work - voluntarily - to provide, what he thought was a good list of Australian based writers who other writers could learn from or use as an excellent resource, and he got flamed for it from all sorts of quarters.

So he announced he would redo the list when the new page rankings came out. He requested everyone who had issues with the first list (and anyone else who wanted to), to send in all their nominations.

Apparently, he received a lot of suggestions. Lots of new sites were registered with Technorati and the other places where Jonathan collects his numbers from to compile his list. To me, it seemed some people were a little desperate to get on this list.

Me - I did nothing. I was stoked to be included on the first list at #23. If the big influx of interest caused me to drop off - so be it. I'm not in this for acclaim.

So the new list comes out and I've somehow manged to move up two spots on the list by doing nothing different. I haven't even found the time yet to check out, and possibly interact with, all of the other 49 people on the list. Some I already do, but not because of this list. I really must make the time to set this right one day.

So - it's a nice little boost to my ego. Thank you Jonathan.

Honest (S)crap Award

Bend me over and strike me pink, the wonderful Catherine J Gardner (the classy lady I've placed on the pedestal as the caring overseer of our little writing group of friends - who anyone is welcome to join) has nominated me for an Honest Scrap award.

The Award and Rules:

This award is bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog content or design is, in the giver’s opinion, brilliant.

The rules are as follows:

1. When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to the said person so everyone knows she/he is real.

2. Choose a minimum of 5 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have seven friends. Show the seven random victims’ names and links and leave a harassing comment informing them that they were prized with Honest Weblog. Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon.

3. List at least ten (10) honest things about yourself. Then pass it on!

The Honest Scrap Award goes to....

The following nominees are all part of our growing online group of writers and friends who I have come to love and adore for their support and kindness.

Jamie Eyberg - has become a good friend even though we are separated by miles and miles of ocean. Any writer who is also a stay at home dad, can rebuild his own house, and shoot wild animals from distance - oh, and he can write, is good in my books and deserves all the honours he can get.

Danielle Ferries - I'm a sucker for a pretty face and an emerging talent. D is both of those, and an Australian writer to watch in the not-too-distant-future. I'm all for supporting young writers who write exceptional weird stuff.

Aaron Polson - writer, teacher, and editor extraordinaire. This guy has written some truly awesome stories that make the skin crawl and the hairs stand on end - and he's a friend of mine. It just keeps getting better and better...

Natalie L Sin - A lady I'm sure was born a man inside a woman's body. When we are all famous, Nat will be the one at our yearly get together in Aspen who keeps the party going for days on end. And who could go past a blog which regularly highlights the world's need for Korean boy bands - err, maybe I should take this award back...

Jameson T Caine - A truck driver with a latin named blog who writes wonderful prose and has an awesome writing space, who seems very down to earth and an all around nice guy. I'm more than happy to count him among my writing friends.

10 Honest things about me (that I haven't already divulged on this blog...)

1. I prefer to write than to watch my kids play sport. I don't, but I wish I could.

2. I only drink alcohol during summer and then only at the cricket club, and usually only a couple of cans on a Saturday night. I can't remember the last time I got really drunk.

3. If given the choice, I will drive. I consider myself an excellent driver and have faith in my ability to get out of trouble and protect those travelling with me. I have varying levels of faith in other drivers I travel with.

4. I can live on turkey and mayo sandwiches.

5. I drink Farmers Union Iced Coffee by the gallon. It is normal for me to have two or three 600ml cartons a day.

6. I am a leader in my sporting club, I am not shy in coming forward with suggestions at work, but I am extremely insecure about my writing.

7. I would kill to protect my kids and my wife - and I know how it can be done in many ways - some untraceable by pathology.

8. I rarely get a fit of the giggles, but when I do, I can't stop. I carry on well past the point where it hurts, and it's very easy to set me off again once I get started - which my wife has great pleasure in using against me.

9. I love Formula One racing and was a big Schumacher fan. I still support Ferrari.

10. At the completion of writing my first manuscript, "Tigers Eye", I found an article claiming some writers got paid nearly 80 cents a word. I began planning my retirement as I packaged up my manuscript, a synopsis, and query and sent it to a reputable Australian agency with the greeting of "Hi from a nervous new writer" - I shit you not - If you take nothing else from this post, never do this. Never tell any agent you're a new anything. You're a writer, be professional, or at least try to portray an air of a professionalism.

More Good News

Does that look cool? I was blown away and totally not expecting this - number 23!

I like to thank my mum, the academy and all the little people I stepped over to get here.

Seriously - who dobbed me into this?

Go and click on the badge and check out the other blogs - but please come back...

Superior Scribbler Award

I've been double teamed by Aaron Polson and Jamie Eyberg. And it was kind of nice.

They have both awarded me a 'Superior Scribbler' award!

The "rules": Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends. See below

Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award. See above

Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award. See above

Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor! Done - I'm number 666!

Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog. Done

My five choices (in no particular order)

1. David Such: For being the only wine maker I know who is a qualified engineer and a writer of excellent flash fiction.

2. Danielle Ferries: For being a weird type of twin sister to me through a symbiotic connection across the ether.

3. Natalie L. Sin: For having as warped a sense of humour as I do.

4. Alexandra Sokoloff: For taking the time and having the patience to give back to other scribblers still attempting to gain some sort of mastery over the craft.

5. Jameson T. Caine: Another kindred spirit who very much seems to be going down a similar stretch of highway as I am in my writing journey - although he is in a bloody big truck half the time.

I would have loved to throw it back at Cate, Jamie, Aaron, Flick and some of the other 665 people who have added their names to the Mr Linky list, but many writers who have been blogging for less than a couple of years, seem to be sadly neglected when these meme things do the rounds. Writers have a solitary life as it is without feeling left out by silly little chain letter type things. Alex and Nat are my only exceptions to my selection criteria. Nat had already been awarded, but she just kills me with her sense of humour, and Alex deserves the award for everything she's putting back into emerging talent.

So there you go - feel honoured you have been so awarded and pass on the good feelings to someone you care about.