Thursday 27 July 2017

Liebster Award

So I'm back to collect the second of the blog awards for which I was recently nominated. Another honour!

But before we get to that, an important reminder that today is the day of the IWSG's first ever Twitter Pitch Party. It's not too late to join in! Get crafting that perfect Tweet-length pitch and hook an agent or publisher for your next masterpiece. The event runs until 8pm Eastern Time. Check out the full details here.

In other news, there are still a few days left to contribute to the IWSG's next free anthology, Guide to Writing for Profit. The only requirement is that you are a member of the IWSG bloghop, Facebook group or Goodreads Book Club. Details here.

So I was nominated for another award. This time, my thanks go to Sarah Zama of The Old Shelter. Her blog is well worth a visit - steeped in history, her knowledge of 1920s culture is second to none!

The rules for this award are simple:


  • Say thank you to the person who nominated you.
  • Answer the 11 questions they asked.
  • Nominate 11 people and ask them 11 questions of your own.
So here we go with Sarah's questions:

1. What is the one reason why you like that author so much that when a book of his/hers comes out you automatically buy it?


Terry Pratchett was that author for me, but sadly there aren't more books forthcoming for obvious reasons. His characterisation and humour was always spot on and that's what kept me hooked!

2. Do you read in just your mother tongue?

At the moment, yeah, I don't read in any other language than English. As a kid, though, I was quite obsessed with learning French (just don't ask me to speak it now!) and picked up a few French editions of Tintin and Asterix books, reading them alongside the English versions to pick up all the nuances. Because of the puns, comedy names and bizarre insults that were rampant, the translators often had to deconstruct the original version entirely and come up with something that would work in a different language.

3. Do you think reading in the language a story was written in is the best thing? If yes, why? If not, why?

Well, I don't know if it's the best thing unless you're proficient in that language. But assuming that you are, it's probably the closest you can get to the original author's intentions (see above).

4. Do you read in a preferred genre? Which one? Why you prefer it?

At the moment, I really love reading books about worlds that may be very different from our own, but to which we can relate because of the characters that exist there. So that could be sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian... I'll give most things a go, though. I'm not much of one for pure romance but I have read a few. 

5. Do you ever go exploring genres you don’t normally read?

Again, see above. I don't really actively go looking for them, though, I just go with what comes up that sounds interesting based on the premise.

6. Have you ever being part of a reading group? If yes, how was the experience?

I've never done anything like this, but I wouldn't rule it out. I like the idea of comparing notes because two people can interpret the same thing in wildly different ways.

7. How do you feel about all the new formats available to readers?

I think they're great. I've only got experience with Kindle, and there's nothing quite like the feeling of turning the pages of a physical book, but having as many options as possible for people to read can only be a good thing.

8. I’ve meet people who basically only read in one format (for example only ebooks) Do you? Would you?

No, I don't, but the number of books I read on my Kindle now far outweighs those I read in physical form. The latter tend to be books I win in a giveaway or receive for Christmas, for example. It just offers so much more convenience, not to mention the fact that my bookshelves are overflowing, but I couldn't imagine restricting myself to just ebooks.

9. Today, getting in touch with our favourite authors is a lot easier than before. Have you ever taken advantage of it?

No, this isn't something I've participated in. I'd feel a bit nervous about bothering them if it was a big name, although I'm sure some welcome it. Having said that, some of my favourite authors are fellow bloggers, so technically the answer is yes. 

10. Turning books into movies. This most upsetting practice.

It can be upsetting sometimes, yes. There are occasions when the movie outdoes the book, though I'm drawing a blank on that right now! 

11. Would you ever write the novel you want to read?

Here are the questions for my nominees:

1. If you were to write a historical novel, which time period would you pick and why?
2. Have you ever taken a creative writing class and what did you learn? If not, would you consider it?
3. Describe one thing from your everyday life that inspires you.
4. What's your social media outlet of choice and why do you enjoy it?
5. What's the maddest thing you've done when researching a story?
6. Pick a favourite book character and give one question you'd like to ask them.
7. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
8. Describe one ambition you would still like to achieve.
9. What was the last book to make a big impression on you?
10. Name one musical artist that inspires you and say why.
11. Have you ever been lost and what was the outcome of the situation?

Don't forget to check out the #IWSGPit if you have a book to pitch. It really is a fantastic opportunity!

18 comments:

Rachna Chhabria said...

Congrats on the Liebster award Nick.

Ann Bennett said...

I read short stuff on my Kindle but my preference is a printed book. Congratulations on your award.

Liz A. said...

Congrats on the award. Life is too short to limit one's reading to one genre ;)

JeffO said...

Inflation comes to the Liebster. I'm pretty sure it used to be just 5 questions! Interesting questions, interesting answers, thanks for sharing!

DRC said...

Congrats on the award. My friend ended up contacting one of her favourite authors in Glasgow (can't remember who) and she's now taking tutorial lessons from him. Just goes to show, contacting authors can sometimes pay off. I wonder if I can get tutorials from Stephen King...

The Cynical Sailor said...

Nice twist on the Liebster Award - I love all of the reading and writing questions. I remember reading a Tintin book in French once. I needed to have my dictionary close to hand, but it was a fun exercise.

Yvonne Ventresca said...

Loved reading your answers and thanks for the nominations!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nick - congratulations on the award. Ebooks v real books ... I still prefer to read a book - though do put others on my Kindle/ipad ... Asterix and Tin Tin were great favourites of ours too ... but like you my only ability to speak in another language is my home tongue! Cheers Hilary

Anonymous said...

I got one for #10: Warm Bodies. I loved the book and the movie equally.

PJ said...

Great answers. I have been part of two book clubs in the past - one was a good experience, the other the participants tried to outdo each other in choosing the most pretentious book they could find rather than something that people actually want to read. I didn't think I would ever want an e-reader but now I love it - it's especially good for travelling.

Shah Wharton said...

Congrats and thanks for thinking of me, Nick. I'll sort out my post asap. Loving the questions and your answers shed a little light, too! I'm too slow a reader to join a book club. Plus, I'm too picky, and I tend to read a chapter of one book and a chapter of another and mix up fiction with writing books. :)

Random Musings said...

Thanks for the nomination. Love your answer to the movie question - I'm not going to say which movie I think was better than the book here because I'll get lynched haha
Debbie

Trisha said...

Aw, I remember the Liebster award from back in the day! Good times ;)

I approached one of my fave Australian authors last time I was at one of our comic-cons here. She was very happy to be approached, particularly as I was so excited that her trilogy is finally going to be finished sometime in the next few years (I've been waiting for Book #3 since 2002 ;) ).

Shah Wharton said...

I've added mine to the IWSG post for this month. :) X

Nilanjana Bose said...

Hi Nick, Congrats on the award, very interesting questions and equally interesting answers! and thank you for the nomination too. Sorry it's taken me so long to get here. Was away on vacation and just got back. Catching up now.

Best always,
Nilanjana.

Emily in Ecuador said...

Congratulations Nick! (I just realized I had not congratulated you yet.) Thank you for nominating me! I am working on my acceptance post and it will be published on Monday.

Emily in Ecuador said...

Hi Nick - Here is my acceptance post. Thank you again! https://emilbloo.blogspot.com/2017/09/liebster-award.html

Unknown said...

Congratulations on your award.


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