This blog hop is designed to show our readers a more personal side to ourselves. We've been challenged by another author/ blogger (somewhat like the 'ice bucket' challenge) to list seven interesting facts to help cast light onto that tough writer’s/ blogger's persona we all like to project. But we want to show that behind every story is a story, our story, my story, and like everyone else I have dreams, hobbies, problems and goals. This blog hop is a way to share some of them with you, my readers. The rules are that I share 7 Lovely Facts about myself, and links to at least 15 blogs that I enjoy reading. If I’ve nominated your blog (see names below) please don’t feel any obligation to join in but, if you do, please link back to the blog of the person who nominated you (that would be me ClSchneider ), share facts about yourself and nominate 15 blogs (or as many as you can).
I was reading some of the other blogs on this tour. There are some remarkable and gifted writers here and I’m happy to be in their company. Many thanks to DB Nielsen, author of Seed, (the first book in the Keeper of the Genesis series) for adding me to the blog hop! Dee is a huge supporter of the movement #IndieBooksBeSeen and did a tremendous job organizing the Secret Santa Giveaway where winners had a chance at over 70 indie titles. You can learn about Dee on her website and be sure to check out her 5* novel Seed
So, here are 7 fun facts about me.
1) I grew up on old movies. From as far back as I can remember, my mom and I would stay up until all hours watching TV. A good number of the shows were black and white. She introduced me to musicals and mysteries, cowboys and detectives, spies and monsters; Vincent Price, Lon Chaney, Bing Crosby, Clark Gable, Audrey Hepburn, Vivian Leigh, James Cagney, Erroll Flynn. Black and white movies have such a wonderful, warm feel. They’re full of nuance, and glamor, and noir. The shadow play, the overacting, the sense of innocence, the soft close-ups; you can’t create that same level of nostalgia in color. To this day, some of my favorite movies are those old black and whites.
As a bonus, I'm proud to say the 'L' in C. L. stands for Leigh, after the actress Vivian Leigh who played Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind. And since you're pulling it out of me, the 'C' stands for Cynthia.
2) I have read the book Rusalka by C. J. Cherry six times. I’m not sure why. It isn’t her best work. There is just something about that story and those characters that dug into me. Every single read was as enjoyable as the first, and after each one, all I wanted to do was write. The first three times I borrowed it from the library. Certain books though, you just have to own. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a single store that carried it. Years later, when I was feeling the need to read it again, I found it used on Amazon. When Rusalka came in the mail it was like reuniting with an old friend. It’s been a while since I’ve read it, but I still pick it up now and then to flip through the pages or soak in the cover. It’s full of good vibes. Some days you need that.
3) I share a birthplace with Amelia Earhart. We were both born in Atchison, a small Kansas town on the Missouri River. When I was growing up there was one movie theater—and even that was closed half the time. We had no McDonalds until I was in high school. The closest mall was about 40 minutes away. The air in town smelled perpetually of sour bread dough from the Pillsbury plant. In spring and summer we were treated to the relentless blaring of tornado sirens. But the storm clouds were the most majestic and beautiful I’ve ever seen. The smell told me I was home. The mall trips and the movies were special because they weren’t an everyday occurrence (and the lack of McDonalds was most definitely a good thing). And when you drove down Main Street, whether you knew the people passing you or not, they waved. It was a slice of small town America I didn’t appreciate as a kid. Now, I know just how rare it really is.
4) Every story I’ve ever written has started in a notebook. I guess I’m a little old fashioned that way. Or maybe it’s just that, in the beginning, my thoughts are flowing too fast for complete sentences and keyboards. It’s not so much a draft or even an outline at that point. I think of it as the skeleton. Then, when the ink stops flowing, I head to the laptop to put some meat on those bones. A blank piece of paper doesn’t scare me in the least. A blank screen is a completely different animal.
5) I’m not a fan of dolls, especially old ones. They creep me out. I don’t much care for mannequins or ventriloquist dummies, either. Then again, maybe I protest too much, because I love to be scared and every time I see a movie with beat up dolls hanging from a tree, it makes me squeal.
6) I may be a tiny bit of a groupie. About ten years ago I discovered this indie band from Chicago. I fell in love with their music and was so impressed with their drive. It was all about the fans to them, and it showed. Often their lyrics related to my own inner need to keep writing, and I found their persistence despite the odds inspirational. I may or may not have had a slight fan-girl crush on the lead singer, as well. I bought all their CDs and swag, did some low-level street teaming, stalked them online, dragged my friends to their concerts. My first overnight ever away from my husband and kids was when I went to see them in Chicago. Their music made up a good portion of my writing soundtrack for The Crown of Stones.
7) Oatmeal cookie dough is pretty much the best thing ever. I'm not picky though, I'll take any cookie dough I can get my hands on. Cake batter is a close second. If it wasn’t for my family expecting desert, what I’m baking would probably never make it into the oven. A good friend of mine insisted I tell you that I make the best blondies and dirty Girl Scout cookies. I'm fairly certain she puts up with me for my deserts.
I won’t go into any extreme detail here. All I have to say is that those nominated below are simply great people who love to read and/or create worlds for us to enjoy. Don’t believe me? Follow the links to find out more about them.