The fabulous Holly Jahangiri, who is not the Godzilla of NYC, though not through any lack of trying, nominated me to carry on this meme. So here I go.
Here are the My 7 Links rules, and here is a list of some of the already-nominated bloggers. I say “some”, because I wasn’t on there, the last time I looked. I’m a ninja! Imbizibal!
– Your most beautiful post
This one, on the term Sky-blue pink, because it’s about my late grandfather and has a picture of a sky-blue pink sky.
– Your most popular post
The one on how I self published.
– Your most controversial post
That would probably be Bejection Dancing. A publisher felt I was unfair to publishers in it, and decided he didn’t want to be my publisher, if that was my opinion. Either that one, or this one about okra. My commenters, by the way, convinced me to try okra in soup and I’m a total okra convert. I can be taught.
– Your most helpful post
Has to be the one on formatting for Smashwords and Kindle.
– A post whose success surprised you
For years, I got masses of hits on this short story. I’m vain, but I’m not that vain, and I couldn’t figure out why this story was so popular. Then I looked at the title, looked at the flood of hits coming all together, and looked at the origins of the hits. People taking English as a Second Language were ripping it off for assignments with the same title. So I changed the name of the page, and the hits stopped. Boo-hoo for me.
– A post you feel didn’t get the attention it deserved
The Friday Recommends post with the link to Spec the Halls, the winter-holiday speculative fiction anthology benefiting Heifer International. There were very few click-throughs, and that was disappointing. Yes, it’s pricey for an eBook–more than I generally pay–but ALL the proceeds go to buying animals/birds/bees for people in third-world countries. A milk cow or a flock of chickens can lift a whole village out of poverty.
– The post that you are most proud of
This review of a two-fisted Kentucky Opera Association production of Madama Butterfly. It was a wicked good production, and I think the review nailed it. If I didn’t like opera, that review would make me want to go see one.
Now, I need to pass the torch. Here are five bloggers I read every day, or should:
Well, Holly, obviously, but I can’t tag her back.
- Marion Driessen’s Figments of a Dutchess. I met Marion on Twitter, which illustrates one reason I love the interwebs. How else would I become friends with this wonderful woman in Holland?
- Jennifer Burke’s Jen’s Bookshelf. Again, how else would I have met a woman in Australia who shares my detestation for possums? At an I Hate Possums worldwide convention?
- Leah Porter’s On Capitol Avenue. In contrast to the first two, Leah is a face-to-face friend who lives right here in my own beloved town, but she’s a citizen of the world in the best possible sense.
- Bodie Parkhurst’s Magic Dog Press. Bodie is another long-distance friend. We met in Dani Greer’s blog book tour class. We’ve read each other’s blogs, guested on each other’s blogs, read each other’s books and reviewed them. She’s extraordinary.
- Steve Saus’s Ideatrash, with its essays, reviews and information on writing. Great reading for writers, readers and/or thinkers. I’ve actually been lucky enough to meet Steve a few times at conventions (speculative fiction ones, not I Hate Possums ones), and he’s the publisher of the Spec the Halls anthology. 🙂
There are SO many more, but I’m following the rules or I’d be rummaging around forever.
WRITING PROMPT: What animal or insect does your main character hate, and why?
MA
Red Tash
November 26, 2011 at 9:08amI am lost as to how the Bejection post was offensive in any way!
Marian Allen
November 26, 2011 at 9:25amIt was that, coupled with the standard rants all writers indulge in on one another’s posts about those traditional publishers who behaved badly toward their authors. I suppose I wasn’t specific enough in my railery. I was very sorry he took it personally, only partly because I wanted him to publish me. Mostly, I was sorry he thought I had negative thoughts about HIS business model, because everyone I know who works with him speaks very highly of the experience. 🙁
Bodie P
November 26, 2011 at 12:41pmThank you, Marian–I’m honored to be among your seven links. I was interested to read about your experience with the publisher. It kind of goes to show that if you’re a writer, everyone you know will look for their face in your books–and they’ll find it, whether or not you put it there. It’s sad, because it means that if you both write and would like to keep your Nearest and Dearest happy you can never, ever, allow them to see your work.
Marian Allen
November 26, 2011 at 1:53pmThat’s why any autobiographical material in my work is so deeply embedded and encoded it looks like original material.
Marion Driessen
November 27, 2011 at 11:22amYour seven links are very interesting. And thank you so very much for passing the torch to me Marian, I am honored. And smiling all over the place. THANK YOU!
The internet is truly an amazing and limitless space, with even new suns cruising the universe. A sun like you are.
Love,
Mar
Marian Allen
November 27, 2011 at 12:44pmSo happy to have “met” you! It amazes me when people who don’t participate in the internet claim it’s impersonal and narcissistic. It’s sort of like walking into what looks like an empty room and saying, “Hello? Is anybody there? Does anybody know how to [knit Felix The Cat dolls, cook puttanesca sauce, teach a kid how to ride a bike],” and having people pop out from behind the drapes and furniture, shake your hand, introduce themselves and become your friends. 🙂
Holly Jahangiri
November 27, 2011 at 1:55pmI’m “imbizibal” too – I didn’t even see that post. I just followed Peter Wright’s post and prompt, and read the rules. That’s a lot of bloggers – and I recognized many of them!
Yes, I didn’t get to eat New York, more’s the pity. But now I get to run around in a skimpy grass skirt, carrying a torch, and painting my face with tribal designs in mud as I attempt to “Survive the Blog”! (“Survive the @#$% Blog” is how it’s generally pronounced, after six weeks of slugging it out on the island over there… but it’s still fun, and I’m very grateful for your help and support!)
I’m loving your choices, here. (Have read some, but not all – off to do that, now!)
Marian Allen
November 27, 2011 at 2:58pmOh. The thoughts. The thoughts. You have a story due, you know. Hmmmm…. A cop and a librarian walk into a bar….
Jen
November 29, 2011 at 12:14amThanks so much, Marian!
I agree with you about the internet – the writing community at least – being warm and welcoming. I haven’t had a negative experience since starting blogging, and I’ve met so many fantastic people, yourself included! Although, I’m expecting PETA to get on my case any day soon with some of the things I’ve said about possums! 🙂
Marian Allen
November 29, 2011 at 10:14amBwa-ha-haaa, Jen! If the PETA people come after you, just toss a possum at them and see if they don’t change their tune!
My 7 Links
December 27, 2011 at 2:31pm[…] and writer Marian Allen – author of Eel’s Reverence – nominated me for participation in My 7 Links. THANKS Marian! We met online last year and have been in touch ever […]