You are welcome for the Inspiration

A huge thank you to Amanda’s Nose in a Book  and AlenasLife for nominating me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award! This is my second award and I’m really excited to receive it. I mean, really, look how awesome that award image is!

I’m touched and I’ll be adding this to my blog awards list very soon. If you haven’t seen Amanda’s blog yet, please go check it out. She’s a fellow reader/writer who’s ventured into booktube! I’m very intimidated by cameras and have the utmost respect for her because of this. Alena and I have connected more recently through the WWW meme due to our similar interests. She blogs about books, love, and life!

The rules for the award are quite simple:

1. Thank and link the amazing person who nominated you.
2. List the rules and display the award.
3. Share seven facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 other amazing blogs and comment on their posts to let them know they have been nominated.
5. Optional: Proudly display the award logo on your blog and follow the blogger who nominated you.

# 1 and #2= Done!

Seven facts about me!

1. I completed a triathlon in May. It was the first one I’ve done since I was 15 (9 years ago) and even though my knees started killing me, I finished in under 2 hours. I’m going to do another one in September and my goal is to drop time.
2. I will be moving soon! Not far, but to a nicer apartment and a bit closer to work. My husband got a job (HUGE CELEBRATION) so we can afford a bigger place. We’re looking and it’s wonderful to dream when I know it will soon be a reality.
3. I had hip surgery when I was 20. I tore the cartilage inside the hip-joint because of a bone spur and had it sewn up. I’m considered 100% recovered.
4. I’ve finished two manuscripts and am working on a third. My first one is my baby and I’m determined to see that one traditionally published, even if the others never are. It’s very dear to me.
5. My mom got me my current job. Call it nepotism or networking, but it’s true. I’ve kept it from my skill, but she got me the interview and I took it from there. Now I go to the company functions as an employee instead of family.
6. I’m at the library as I write this. Are you jealous?
7. I’m lactose intolerant but love cheese. It’s terrible.

Fifteen nominations are a lot! Here’s the ones I can provide:

• Jen’s Pen Den: I started following Jen recently and I love her GIFs for humor and the messages she sends out.
• Living on Borrowed Days: Claudia and I connected through my Read-Along and it’s been great to follow her blog and get to know her.
• Lovely Literature: Anne and Ashley have two different styles and always contribute equally to their Top Ten Tuesday meme and I love seeing the different opinions.
• Wrote Some Things: Yet again, I’ll nominate my friends. Katherine is a very talented writer and will soon be pursuing her MFA so I’m curious to see where this blog will go!
• Bitches With Books: Another tag-team blog where I enjoy the voices of both writers. Claire is studying at Oxford and shares her experiences.
• Heart of Sultana: Another friend of mine! Sultana blogs about books, fashion, and her battle with Thyroid Cancer.
• Cooking with the book club: Do I need to elaborate why food and books are a great combination?
• Blogs-Of-A-Bookaholic.: A fellow book-blogger with similar tastes and a love for good quotes.
• Jodie Llewellyn: Jodie is a fellow aspiring YA writer who share her troubles and motivations. It’s good to know there are more of us out there struggling!
• Scribbles & Wanderlust: It’s good to find a book blogger with similar tastes who can point me in the direction of some good books!
• Life {Faith} Tea: Ashlee and I met during NaNoWriMo and connected again through my Read-Along. I adore her blogging about books, life, and God.
• Book Rhapsody: Someone who loves his book club as much as I love mine!
• Shannon A Thompson: Shannon is a YA author who connects with readers through a ton of interaction on her blog. I love hearing about her story.
• Out Where the Buses Don’t Run: Gus is one of the first blogs I followed and I’ve been rewarded by winning a giveaway and getting to read his posts as he works through his first novel.

Yes, I know that’s fourteen. I can’t pick someone to fill the final spot, so I’ll stop while I’m ahead. Thank you again to Amanda and Alena for the nominations, I’m very honored.

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!