One Lovely Blog Hop

This blog hop is designed to show our readers a more personal side. We list seven interesting facts to help cast light onto that tough writer’s persona we all like to project. But I am human and like everyone else I have dreams, hobbies, problems and goals. I see this as 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 other blogs that I enjoy reading. If I’ve nominated your blog, 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), share 7 facts about yourself and nominate 15 blogs (or as many as you can).

Once again, I have been tagged by the super talented Chess Desalls. As I have said about a million times, I want to one day be the powerhouse of pay it forward promotions for the indie author world. Chess is already there. Seriously, she is simply amazing in her support for fellow authors! Her next book, Insight Kindling, the follow up to Travel Glasses, will be coming out early next year, so if you haven't started the series, get on that right now! Her blog is fantastic and you should definitely be following her.

So, here are my seven lovely facts about me:

1. My secret ambition is to be a stunt driver. I'm typically a pretty cautious person and I am a very mindful driver. I've successfully driven myself out of situations that could have taken a dangerous turn because I have great respect for the tons of metal flying down the highway, occasionally manned by folks who are a little less than cautious. One day I'd like to get on a closed track and strap myself into something with a little more horsepower than my Pontiac and see exactly what I am capable of.

2. I am turning 40 this week and I still want superpowers. Ideally, Wolverine's indestructible awesomeness, but honestly, I'm not picky.

3. Growing up, I thought my only career options were astronaut or the president. As I have mentioned before, I was a very literal child. I don't know how many times I heard: "You could be an astronaut!" and "You may just be the president one day!" In my mind, these were not negotiable. I assumed the people telling me this were giving me a heads up as to what job I was going to be assigned on the day I became a grown up. I felt a little smug about becoming the president, but I have to admit, the astronaut option kind of terrified me. I wouldn't decide space was cool until I was old enough to realize I probably wouldn't be the president.

4. If I am posting my opinions in a public forum, I read my comments in the voice of Richard Harris' Dumbledore before submitting. If my words sound foreign in his voice, I know I am straying into heated, rude, or otherwise irrational territory and I revise. Honestly, if everyone did this, we may have less arguments.

5. Speaking of voices, I am so sorry, internet, but James Earl Jones > Morgan Freeman. That's right, I know the real way to break the internet! Also, the most underrated and awesome female voice actor is Katey Sagal. You know I'm right.

6. As you know from reading this blog, I am an incurable introvert. But... I'm getting past the anxiety and have joined several groups for authors. In doing so, I have met many wonderful writers who are also fantastic people. I'm not ready for speaking engagements or anything crazy just yet, but life is far more bearable when there are others who know your ups and downs.

7. I beat diabetes. No really. In 2009 I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and within three months managed to get my a1c (a number that tells the amount of sugar in the blood) down from dangerous to manageable. In the next five years I lost more than fifty pounds and brought that number back into the normal, nondiabetic range. How? Diet and exercise mostly, but I did have one 'weird' trick as the scammer sites would say. My love of cooking. Seriously. It is possible to make delicious and filling food that is also healthy, but it is nowhere near as convenient or cheap as fast food and prepackaged meals. This needs to change, but that is another post for another day. I still love cupcakes, but now they are an occasional treat, not an every day occurrence.

And here are the blogs I like to read. Please check them out. You may find something you love as well!

Shoshanah Marohn is the author of Exhaust(ed) and the upcoming children's book A Murder of Crows and Other Woes. Her blog showcases her books and art, as well as the crazy s and downs of living on a farm. Her blog can be found here.

Gary Abbott is the author of The Dimension Scales and other stories. His blog is currently in a transitional state as he decides what direction he will be taking in the future, but every Thursday he still runs an Admin Cat comic, which I am fond of. His blog can be found here.

Doug Schwartz is the author of Checkered Scissors and Pickled Bananas. His blog is a mix of game development updates, author interviews, a serialized story, and other insights. His blog can be found here.

Kara Jorgensen is the author of The Earl of Brass and the upcoming The Winter Garden. Her blog is an entertaining mix of insights as a writer and grad student. She has just posted her own seven lovely facts, so go get to know more about this author. Her blog can be found here.

S. Usher Evans is the author of Double Life, the first book in the Razia series. She is a cross promotion powerhouse and often has guest posts from other talented authors. Her own posts are quite fascinating and even a bit humorous with her use of reaction gifs to drive home her points. Her blog can be found here.

Belart Wright is an up and coming author. His blog includes book and game reviews as well as character profiles and information on his upcoming book, Average Joe and the Extraordinaires. His blog can be found here.

Sue Perry is the author of Nica of Los Angeles, the first book in the Frames series. She has been participating in a weekly photo challenge, so each post has been something of a study in individual perspective that I find very cool. Her blog can be found here.