the mystery blogger award

In my attempt to catch up on all the tags I’ve been tagged for, I found this one. True @ True-Story tagged me for it (thanks, my friend!).

the rules

1. Put the award logo/image on your blog.
2. Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
3. Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well. (This award was created by Okoto Enigma.)
4. Answer the 5 questions you were asked.
5. Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.
6. Nominate 10-20 people.
7. Notify your nominees by commenting on their blogs. (I decided to link to each of my nominees’ most recent posts instead.)
8. Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question.
9. Share a link to your best post(s).

the questions + my answers

What was the first blog post you ever wrote?

When I was eleven, I wrote a blog post about the three dance recitals I was in that year. (I had a private blog which was then called “inkling.” When I created this blog, I moved my favorite posts from the previous one over. My first post ever didn’t make it.)

What is your favorite song/artist at the moment?

I’ve been listening to BYU Vocal Point a lot lately. Some of my favorite of their songs are “Nearer My God To Thee,” “Homeward Bound,” and “Be Still My Soul.”

Some other songs I really like just now:

• “Be Thou My Vision” by BYU Noteworthy
• “How Great Thou Art” by Eclipse 6
• “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” by Collabro
• “This My Soul,” “Sirens,” and “Diamonds and Gold” by The Gray Havens
• “The Wizard and I,” “Popular,” “Defying Gravity,” and “For Good” from Wicked

If you could meet any fictional character, who would you meet and why?

I think I’d like to meet Eanrin and/or Imraldera from The Tales of Goldstone Wood. Eanrin is the most hilarious bard in the history of fantasy, and Imraldera is wise and kind and caring. Of course, their Prince would be on this list as well, but He’s not entirely fictional 😉

Beyond the Final Water falling
The Songs of Spheres recalling
Won’t you return to me?

If you have no idea who those characters are, please check out the series! I promise you won’t regret it.

What is your favorite book quote?

I decided to go with a quote from a fictional book, because if we included nonfiction this past would go on for thousands of words.

To love is to be selfless. To be selfless is to be fearless. To be fearless is to strip your enemies of their greatest weapon. Even if they break our bodes and drain our blood, we are unvanquished. Our goal was never to live; our goal is to love. It is the goal of all truly noble men and women. Give all that can be given. Give even life itself….

Walk… the boneyard path, following in the steps of the one Mortal from whom even the Reaper fled in fear. That path runs between headstones, down through the lightless cold of lonely loss, through the dark valleys where death was borne down to the black soul river and the final battle line. Only love can set a man’s feet on such a path. Only love can see him through, into rest and the hot light of the sun.

~ N.D. Wilson, Empire of Bones

That particular quote is said by a large, red-haired Irish monk called Niffy. It is one of the most emotional scenes I’ve ever read.

Make the best thing you can, and love it as hard as you can, and let it go loose in the world, and watch what happens… Let it be beautiful and adventurous and even terrifying. Let it go free. Don’t be afraid.

~ Jennifer Trafton, Henry and the Chalk Dragon

And this one is from a delightful book about a chalk dragon that comes alive, which is the best book about creativity and sharing your work.

You know, there are whole volumes of stories about the terrible things that children can find in the woods. Most people see those stories as warnings to stay away, to stay safe. I don’t. Because if you think about it, all those stories that are supposedly meant to keep children out of the woods tell them something else, too. They tell them that’s where the magic is. So you see… I don’t think those stories are a warning at all. I think they’re a message. They tell you that you can’t have magic without monsters. Now, some people spend their whole lives trying to hide from the monsters because they can make the world a frightening place. And the world can be frightening. It can be terrifying. That’s the truth. But that’s not the entire truth. There’s a difference…. The entire truth is that anything is possible… not just the awful things…. here’s so much to see and explore, if only we’re open to it. If only we’re willing to risk being unsafe and unsure… I’ll never tell you that there aren’t monsters out there. And I can’t promise you’ll always be safe from them. This is what I can tell you…. There are things out there that are worth braving the monsters for.

~ Adam Shaughnessy, The Entirely True Story of the Unbelievable FIB

From a hilarious story about Russian house spirits, a house with chicken feet, and Norse gods. I find that the most laughable premises often make the best books.

If you had to carry three items around in a bag for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Assuming that I’d still have access to other things…

• A notebook with unlimited pages
• An erasable pen with unlimited ink
• A hair tie or scrunchie

three things about me

1. My Hogwarts house is either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, I’m an Enneagram 4, and I’m not sure what my MBTI type is but my best guess currently is ENFJ (and yes, that was more than 1 thing, but I consider them all related).
2. The first story I ever wrote was a Narnia fanfiction about Susan. I wrote it when I was 6.
3. I have never been to Disneyland or Disney World, and I have no desire to go to either.

I nominate…

Megan @ A Barefoot Gal

Ellie @ Blue Jeans Summer

Madi @ Adventure in the Air

Clara @ midnight mind

Madeleine @ The Introverted Raconteur

Emily @ Altogether Unexpected

Christina @ Christina and Camera

Sarah @ Paraphernalia

Arabella @ Sparks of Ara

Weez @ Caught Daydreaming

If you don’t do tags or are insanely busy, don’t worry about it! But if you do the tag, here are my questions for you:

1. Have you ever watched a movie adaptation that was better than its book counterpart? If so, what was it, and why was it better?
2. What is your least favorite color to wear, and why?
3. What is your favorite restaurant?
4. What is your favorite quote from a nonfiction book?
5. Have you been to Disneyland and/or Disney World? If yes, did you enjoy it? If not, do you want to?

I think that at least two of those count as weird or funny.

my best posts

Obviously “best” is a subjective word. But here are some of my favorite posts I’ve written.

• God is enough. Sincerely, me (a letter to my readers)
• I choose to rejoice (nonfiction/reflective)
• I am no dude (a short script)
• admission (a poem)
• Walk Around the Pasture (another poem)
• 10 things that make me happy (a tag I created)

And that’s all for today! I’ve completed another tag and now I’m going to write my novel.

Until next time!