I’ll be honest, when I woke up this morning I didn’t think I’d be delving back into blog creation. I started this poor thing over a year ago, when I was considering getting serious about my photography business. And while, that endeavor, at the time, didn’t work out, it still left me with the shell of a blog, that allowed my sister to nominate me for the Sunshine Blog’s Q&A activity. 

So, while typically, I’d attempt a reintroduction post. Considering, as how I haven’t posted anything in over a year. I’ll just dive right in with this fun post. Introductions can be saved for later.

The rules are simple: 1) Thank the charming individual who nominated you, 2) Answer the 11 questions they’ve given you, 3) And then pose 11 new questions to some other lovely bloggers that you know of.

Let us begin! Thank you dear sister of mine, Erika, over at Rhymes with Crazy for making my morning far more entertaining than I thought it was going to be. 🙂 Here are the 11 very amusing questions, she’s come up with for me to answer.

1) You are feeling sad and think losing yourself in a story will help. What story cheers you up?

So I distinctly remember a time, long ago, when I did this very thing. I had suffered an altercation with some of my cousins. The usual petty disagreements that children occupy their time with. I don’t remember what it was about. But I was feeling very down and decided that I would abandon the play time in the basement and go read more of the book I had started, because that would surely help my mood. Guess what the book was ladies and gents? Call of the Wild. So, for anyone who has ever read this book you know that this was not a good decision on my part. I finished it that evening. And found myself more miserable than when I started. (Shudder) Well written, not very uplifting.

What stories do I turn to? One’s that I’ve visited before. Whether it’s t.v. or books, I usually go back and re-watch or re-read my favorite bits and pieces. They are familiar and I know made me happy when I originally read them, and therefore are the perfect way to boost my mood. Just ask my other sister Andrea, how often we’ve re-watched “The Desert” episode of Star Trek Enterprise. Highly recommended to anyone having a rough day. 🙂

2) You decide to listen to some music for inspiration while writing. What kind of music is this? Alternatively, you decide silence is the best inspiration. What sort of silence do you like best?

My favorite kind of music to listen to for inspiration, would be soundtracks. I know a number of people who enjoy soundtracks only in the context of their respective movies. I for one am fascinated by them and adore them in all contexts. I started a CD collection in high school of soundtracks. They are delicious for inspiration because each note is packed with emotion and emotion is where storytelling begins.

In contrast, inspirational silence. I’m not one that usually goes to silence for inspiration. Ask anyone, I’m not a very quiet person in general. However, if I need silence it has to be the silence that nature offers. The peace of a woods, or the vastness of a night sky. Because, while they don’t make much “noise” per-say, they speak volumes about our Creator and if that’s not inspiring, I’m not sure what is.

3) Who (or what) is your favorite monster?

Werewolves. I have a really soft spot for werewolves, that will probably get me in trouble should I ever meet one someday. Don’t give me that look. It has nothing to do with  Twilight. But rather, Professor Lupin. I realize, this probably goes against hardcore werewolf lore, ect. I don’t care. I adore Professor Lupin and werewolves, by default.

4) What’s something that appears in stories that makes you groan and think, “No, no – not this again“? 

“I hate you, I hate you – I love you. . . . I would die for you!” While I understand all the warm fuzzilies that come with a relationship blossomed out of hatred. I find this particular formula over used. Whether it be romance or bromance, I’m wearied by how often all the story friendships have to start off with the characters despising one another. Let’s scale it back a touch.

5) What’s something that appears in stories that makes you grin and think, “Yes, yes – this! More of this!”?

Trench coats. Trench coats are always a good idea. Okay, here’s my serious answer. Strong family dynamic. Like where the awesome old mentors, to the young stupid kids are the kid’s parents One of my favorite t.v. shows is actually the short lived “Terra Nova”. I enjoyed this show for one reason and one reason only. The main character was a Dad who loved his wife and children. I found it sweet and real and who doesn’t like seeing a Dad barge into a bar to take down the bad-guys, beating the snot out of his son?

6) What is one thing you like or enjoy that you never expected to like or enjoy?

“My Little Pony” I know, I know. But one of my roommates in college introduced me to it during my Junior year, which was very stressful. And while, I don’t watch it often. It’s not as much fun, minus the roommate. It’s a simple cartoon that allows you to just turn your brain off and watch the pretty colors. A visual candy crush if you will. . .. .

7) You get to design your ideal writing-space. What’s it like?

A tree house. Like an amazing, epic, Swiss Family Robinson level, tree house, out in the middle of a forest on the side of a mountain.

8) What’s the last book you couldn’t get through? What made you quit?

The last book I was reading purely for fun, that lost me is probably the 10th or 11th book in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. CALM YOURSELVES DOWN!!!! I really like and appreciate those books. I just needed to take a break for a moment. And then got distracted by other books. Thank you Brandon Sanderson and Terry Brooks.

9) Your television sometimes comes to life and sucks you right through the screen. Which show do you wish you’d end up in?

BBC’s Merlin.

10) On a dark night, you decide to carry something with you for self-defense. What is it?

A wine key. If you’ve ever used one, who know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, trust me, those things have a few different options for causing someone or something pain. Or you know a blaster 🙂

11) The zombie apocalypse everyone jokes about has finally happened. Where do you go?

Sigh. .. North Carolina. This may seem like an odd choice, but anyone who knows me, knows that I’ve considered this question before, and it’s not so much the place as the  person that I’ve thrown my lot in with. This individual currently resides in North Carolina. No one else has stepped up and proven themselves to be a more viable candidate as a zombie slaying buddy. Therefore, I’d make for NC quick as I can. Also it’s warmer, so I won’t be as concerned about not freezing to death in the winter. 🙂

Okey-dokey, there you have it. In return I nominate Decline of Sanity ( http://declineofsanity.blogspot.com/ ) and  We’re The “Neighbors” by Laura Frazee to participate next in this challenge. My questions are:

1) If you could pick one famous photograph, painting or drawing to live in for a day, which one would you choose and why?

2) You find out that your dearest loved one has been kidnapped by mercenaries. You are allowed to choose 5 characters from any story or stories to help rescue them. Who do you choose to make up your team?

3) Do you prefer a brand new box of colored pencils or a brand new box of crayons?

4) You’ve invited your favorite story character, from another world, over for dinner. What do you serve them? Or where do you take them for dinner?

5) You’ve been challenged to a duel. Swords or pistols?

6) Someone has offered to make your current writing project into a movie. Who do you really, really hope they cast as the lead?

7) What is one hobby you’ve never tried, but in your dream world, wish you were an expert at?

8) Who do you want to score, the before mentioned movie that’s being made of your story?

9) You’re Fairy god-mother appears and offers to whisk you away to anywhere in the world. Where do you go and why?

10) What forgotten tradition do you wish would be reintroduced into society?

11) You are faced with a brand new, never before used white-board and are given a brand new package of brightly colored dry erase markers. .. . . what do you do next?