Liebster Award

The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.  The purpose is to get to know them, since we think they deserve it. The word "Liebster" is German and means favorite. I am honored to have been nominated for the "favorite blog award" three times recently, by K.K. Cook (The Kooky Bookworm), Leti Del Mar (Words With Leti Del Mar), and Carmen Stefanescu (Shadows of the Past). I would absolutely nominate all three ladies for the Liebster Award, but since they beat me to it, I'll nominate eleven others. 

In order to accept and participate there are some steps:

1.    Tell 11 things about yourself.
2.    Answer 11 questions from the blogger who nominated you.
3.    Nominate 11 bloggers who have less than 200 followers.
4.    Post 11 questions for those who will be nominated by you.
5.    Get in contact with those 11 bloggers in order to inform them that you nominated
       them.

So...here we go...

11 
Things About Me:

1.    I collect snowmen, Santas, hearts, and books.
2.    I have two sons, one daughter-in-law, one dog, two granddogs, and two grandcats.
3.    I love trees.
4.    I am addicted to Pinterest.
5.    I would be lost without my iPhone and laptop.
6.    When I was a child, I wanted to be an artist, but I suck at art.
7.    I’m mathematically illiterate.
8.    My most prized possessions are my gazillion photographs of my sons.
9.    I have fibromyalgia.
10.   My biggest phobia is public speaking.
11.    If I were independently wealthy, I would travel, read books, and employ a full-time
       masseuse.

11 questions:

(Disclaimer: Since I was nominated by three ladies, instead of boring everyone and answering 33 questions, I'm answering some from each of them. I hope that isn't cheating.)

1.    What is the funniest book you've ever read?
       
Stupid And Contagious, by Caprice Crane.

2.    What was the best childhood book you read as a kid? 

       From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L.
       Konigsburg.

3.    Who taught you to love books? 

       Charles Hazelrigg, my college English Lit professor.

4.    Which book are you waiting in agony for this year?
      
 The Unexpected List, by Chrissy Anderson.

5.    Favorite movie/TV show based on a book(s)?

       It’s a tie for Pride & Prejudice or Princess Bride.

6.    How did you come up with the name of your blog?

       I love southern sayings, and one of my favorites is “a blue
       million,” meaning a lot of something. I also love books, so
       what could be better than a blue million books?

7.    Who’s your favorite author?

       Robert B. Parker (famous) Dennis Hart (Indie).

8.    If you could swap the place with a famous author who would this be?

       Nora Roberts. I’m in awe of her ability to write so many books with so many
       different characters.

9.    If you are a writer, too, which do you prefer best: writing on the blog or writing
       your book?
       
Definitely writing a book. I can be more creative, and I can talk to my imaginary
       friends.

10.   How do you feel when rejecting a review request from an author who asks you
       nicely?
       
I started my blog intending to do reviews, but I quickly realized I just didn’t
       have the time for it. So when someone requests a review, I feel really bad about
       saying no. As an author, I know how important reviews are, and I hate to turn down
       other writers.

11.   Why did you get into blogging?

       I started my blog with the intention of helping other authors promote their work
       and introducing books to readers.

The blogs I'm nominating:

1.    Tricia at Authors To Watch
2.    Ms. Doran at Broad-minded Books
3.    Cynthia at The Writing Whisperer
4.    Brandi at Twisting Your Mind One Word At A Time
5.    Joss at Joss Landry's Blog
6.    Jennifer at The Relentless Reader
7.    Glenda at Book Reader's Heaven
8.    Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews
9.    John Pretty Sinister
10.   Simone at Better Read Than Dead
11.   As The Crow Flies (And Reads!)

11 Questions for the blogs I'm nominating:

1.    Why did you start blogging?
2.    What is your favorite genre to read?
3.    What fictional character do you most wish were real?
4.    Describe your dream office for writing.
5.    Name one thing you couldn’t live without.
6.    If you could only keep one book, what would it be?
7.    If you could magically transport yourself into any book, which one would you choose,
       and what character would you be?
8.    Do you have any phobias?
9.    What is your biggest pet peeve?
10.   Describe yourself in five words.
11.   Who is your favorite well-known author and your favorite rising star author?

Deborah Brown's Crazy In Paradise

About the book:

Dying in the middle of the summer in the Florida Keys is sweaty business.

 Welcome to Tarpon Cove. Madison Westin has inherited her aunt's beachfront motel in the Florida Keys. Trouble is she's also inherited a slew of colorful tenant's - drunks, ex-cons, and fugitives. Only one problem: First, she has to wrestle control from a conniving lawyer and shady motel manager. With the help of her new best friend, whose motto is never leave home without your Glock, they dive into a world of blackmail, murder, and drugs.

Excerpt from Crazy In Paradise

I tried to speak to Dickie about the arrangements when I first arrived in town. He told me firmly that he only took instructions from Tucker Davis and he wasn’t allowed to discuss any of the final details. I wondered why the secrecy, but he was so nervous I didn’t ask any more questions. He told me not to worry; he had worked hard to make everything memorable.



I appealed to him, “Don’t family members usually participate in the planning?”



But he was very clear; Tucker Davis’ approval was the most important thing to him.



I took a deep breath. Later, our family would create a lasting tribute to Elizabeth showing how much we had loved and respected her, and how we would deeply miss her. But for now, this would have to do, I guess.



I glanced up and saw a man who looked to be in his 60’s walking to the podium. He was well-worn, beer-gutted with dirty looking grey hair, and dressed in jean shorts and a tropical shirt that looked as though he’d worn them for several days.



“Hey, everyone,” he said into the microphone. “My name is…” he paused, “well, all my friends call me Quattro.” He held up both of his hands in a two-handed friendly wave.



He was missing his middle finger on his right hand and his thumb on his left hand. Brad and I glanced at one another and laughed. I mouthed “Quattro” at him and waved four fingers. He turned away, biting his lip.



“I told Dickie I’d speak first because he worried no one would come up and say anything and it wouldn’t look right. I told him don’t worry so much.” Quattro slowly scanned the crowd. “I reassured him there were a few people here who could think of something nice to say.” He ran his fingers through his hair and scratched his scalp.



“Elizabeth was a great old broad. Too damn bad, she died so young. She seemed young to me. Hell, I’m only a few years younger. You know she checked out in her sleep, and in her own bed. How much better does it get than that?”



I looked around. A few people were nodding their heads in agreement.



“Now that she’s kicked the bucket…” He paused. “Well, everyone knows there’s no bucket involved.” He laughed at his own humor. “Have you ever wondered what the reward is?”
He waited as though he expected an answer. “Hmm, I’ve no idea either. Damn, it’s hot in here. You’d think a funeral place would turn on the air conditioning.”



“Yeah, I’ve got sweat in my shorts,” I heard someone say. A few others voiced their agreement.



“Keeps the smell down and all,” Quattro continued. “I know when it was a drive-thru the air worked good and sometimes the place was downright freezing.”



I saw a few people sniffing at the air. Were they sad? Or were they disappointed they couldn’t smell hotdogs and fries?



Dickie Vanderbilt stood off to the side, staring at his shoes, and picking at his rather large tie tack in the shape of a flamingo.



“But back to Elizabeth. I called her Betty once and, boy, she got mad.”



Mother sobbed loudly, which I knew was actually laughter. People turned to stare. 



I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “Mother, please. This funeral is bad enough.”



Her body shook with laughter. I gripped her tightly. “Oww,” she whispered.

“

Behave yourself, or I’ll keep squeezing.” I shifted again on the bench, having a hard time sitting still when my legs kept sticking to the wood.

“

Elizabeth was good to a lot of people,” Quattro continued. “Too bad she won’t be around to do any of us any more favors.” He looked around and rubbed the end of his nose.



I stared wide-eyed at him wondering if he was about to pick his nose.



“The truth is, I’ve run out of stuff to say. I know she wouldn’t have wanted to die so soon, but the problem is we all think we’re going to live forever, and we don’t. So, ‘God Bless’.” He waved and walked away from the podium.




About the author:
Crazy in Paradise, is my debut novel, a Florida Keys mystery, which makes the reader laugh, cry and cheer...

My personal ad would read:

 Since all great journeys start with a single step, I'll have on a cute pair of shoes.

 Crazy. Ice cream loving. Redhead. 5'2", long legs. As an avid exerciser, I get to the gym every five years or so. I hate being tricked by that stinking raisin in the oatmeal cookie when my heart was set on chocolate. And it's totally acceptable for me to be mildly annoying when it makes me laugh. South Florida is my home, with my ungrateful rescue animals, where Mother Nature takes out her bad attitude in the form of hurricanes.

Connect with Deborah:
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This is an amazon exclusive book.