Family Reunion Keepsake Book by Suzanne Blazier: Liebster Blog Award

1. The selected bloggers must post 11 facts about themselves.

2. They must also answer 11 questions the tagger has asked, and then ask 11 questions of 11 other bloggers with less than 200 followers. Be sure to tell them they've been tagged.

3. Remember, no tag backs.

Here are my 11 facts about myself:

1. I kept a diary, a few notes every single day for four years, during my pre-teen years.

2. During my childhood, every Friday evening my parents took us to the library while they were banking and shopping, and my sisters and I checked out several books to read during the week.

3. It was in 1994 that I first had the inspiration to write, sitting in my apartment in Prescott, AZ, working on cross-stitch, listening to music.

4. I’ve lived in five States: Wisconsin, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and New Mexico. And hung out in California for a while too.

5. Attending my first semester of college at 25, I got straight A’s.

6. I received a Master’s degree in counseling psychology in 1989.

7. I am not good at any crafts or sewing really. But I can tell a story.

8. My favorite authors are Barbara Kingsolver, Terry Tempest Williams, and Nevada Barr. All deep into nature and the ecosystem. But I also love Jackie Collins, Candace Bushnell and Terry McMillan. They write about relationships.

9. I grew up on 12 acres in the country in Wisconsin.

10. I love movies as much as I love books.

11. My day job is essentially an editor position (and supervisor).

The answers to Valerie's 11 questions:

1. Where was the last place you went on vacation?

Estes Park, Colorado (Plein Air Rockies with my artist husband Tom)

2. What is your favorite board game?

Clue (Alfred Hitchcock edition)

3. If you could travel anywhere in the world—money no object—where would it be?

The South Pacific

4. Which three literary characters would you like to invite for dinner?

Anna Pigeon from the Nevada Barr novels; Lucky Santangelo from Jackie Collins’ books; and Harriet the Spy

5. What would the menu be?

Wine, soup, salad, bison, baked potato, a fancy dessert, all gluten-free.

6. What’s the next book to read in your TBR pile?

The Descendants

7. What’s your favorite piece of clothing and why?

A wildly outrageous shift of a dress my sister bought me in Cancun; it’s orange and I wear it only at home. I don’t look good in orange.

8. What made you start blogging?

My friend Marianne Powers (Doing the Right Thing) got me started blogging. She was starting a blog and introduced me to it; thus, the creation of my other blog, A Movie for Every Mood.

9. Do you have a ritual before you start writing or creating? If so, what is it? Not really. I do like prompts though, like cutting out phrases or photos from a magazine to help inspire ideas, or using Polyvore.com

10. Who is your favorite artist, and why?

Tom Blazier. He is an excellent landscape artist (and also my husband).

11. What’s your guilty pleasure TV show?

So You Think You Can Dance

11 Questions for my Blogger Friends to Answer:

1. What was the best meal you’ve experienced recently?

2. What country would you visit to do all your favorite things?

3. If your life was made into a movie, who would you choose to direct it?

4. If you weren’t doing what your blog is about, what would be your next favorite activity?

5. What was the best risk you’ve ever taken?

6. What was your favorite job?

7. You walk up to a restaurant/bar and hear your favorite music. What kind of music is it?