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The Liebster Blogger Award: and the winners are ...

Taking a break from movies based on books for a fun announcement. Allison at Allison's Book Bag nominated me for a Liebster Blogger Award! Thanks so much Allison! And as many an actor has gushed "It's an honor just to be nominated" or "You like me, you really, really like me!" 
Er, not exactly, but it was still super nice of Allison to include me. Allison is a lovely Canadian - living in Nebraska - who writes childrens' book reviews on her Allison's Book Bag blog. 

I'm new to the Liebster but according to Allison and blogger Sopphey Says the award is more of 'an internet hug' that you pass on, if you wish, to fellow bloggers whose blogs you enjoy, than an "award".  I don't know about you but I can use all the hugs, virtual or otherwise, that I can get.
Allison herself was nominated by writer John Hall. I'm one of several bloggers Allison nominated; I'll be sending my shout outs too. I hope the bloggers I nominate won't mind my embrace - one woman's internet hug is another woman's dreaded chain letter! Sorry it took me a few days Allison; it was fun!

The Rules dictate Liebster Award nominees answer a few questions posed by the nominator. And as I see it, a nomination, is actually a win, so ... In for a penny, in for a pound. Here are my answers ...

Have you ever met anyone famous? Yes! MLH works in the biz and every once in awhile I'll visit him on set or go to a wrap party - which I mostly hate. One of my favorite wrap parties though, was for the movie Drive which starred Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan. The party was held at a funky bowling alley in the valley, with a ton of karaoke fun. I met both Ryan and Carey, but it was the hug from Ryan Gosling that had me blushing and giggling like a school girl. So mortifying. 

Where is the farthest you have traveled from your home? Perth, Australia. A quick 20 hour hop from L.A.!

What is your greatest phobia? Answering questions about phobias.

What is the most unusual thing you’ve eaten? I grew up with a pretty bland palate, eating comfort food like roast beef and yorkshire pudding; I'm a total anomaly in Hollywood - I HATE sushi. Mexican and Chinese are about as adventurous as I get. I blame my British mother didn't put a lot of emphasis on adventurous meals even though we lived in more exotic locales like Libya, Turkey and Puerto Rico for a time.  

What is your goal in life? To stop blaming my parents.

If you could be only one of the following, which would you be? Rich, famous, young, beautiful, or smart? Why?  Young, definitely! At my age the idea of doing it all over again is thrilling.

What are you best at? Not cooking, that's certain. 

E-books or print books? Both. Although right now my Nook is on the fritz,it's eaten up my Gone Girl which I decided to reread, and I feel like throwing it out the window. Permanently. I'm sure I'll calm down, call Nook customer service or walk over to B&N later today and they'll take care of it. It's so convenient ... except when it's not.

What is your greatest weakness? Oh crap. Let me count the ways ... but seriously, I know this sounds like a cop-out but since I'm not running for anything I'll keep my weaknesses to myself. I'm pretty sure that my friends and family have them all figured out.

Should the toilet paper hang over or under? 20 years ago I used to care - definitely under - these days I'm grateful if whoever used the last piece remembers to leave a new roll in the bathroom at all. 

At this point The RULES say I'm supposed to 
List eleven random facts about myself
Nominate eleven other bloggers for the Liebster Award
Notify these bloggers
Ask eleven questions that your nominees may choose to answer upon accepting the Liebster Award

Man, this is harder than I thought! 
Okay, 11 random facts
1    Russell and I are, along with star Tom Evert Scott,(that's the three of us above) the first people you see in the movie That Thing You Do,Tom Hank's directorial debut. Yes, MLH worked on it too. Yes, that's how we got the job:)
2  I love a good fried egg sandwich and a cup of tea in the middle of the afternoon. PG Tips English Breakfast with milk and sugar. MLH does it best.
3  Any shade of sea green; teal, turquoise, aqua, aquamarine, cyan really floats my boat.
4  Honey nut Cheerios with sliced bananas and milk is my favorite breakfast.
5  I was born at home, over a fish and chip shop in Richmond, on the outskirts of London.
6  My son Russell is named after my father-in-law and my brother; both are named Russell, as is my best friend's husband. How many Russell's do you know?
7  My first kiss sucked. I was seven and a boy my age named David shoved me up against the wall, and pressed his wet, smelly mouth against me. (And I thought I'd forgotten)
8   We have a thirteen year old beagle named Charlie
9  Growing up I lived in six different countries: England, Libya, Turkey, Canada, Puerto Rico and the good ol' US of A. Technically Puerto Rico is actually a commonwealth and a U.S. territory but I still count it.
My older brotheer Russell and me on a camel in Tripoli. I think I was three-ish.
10 I consider myself a Brit by birth with a huge chunk of Canadian thrown in; I spent some very formative years in Canada; age 5 through 14.
11  My middle name is Elizabeth, I was born a few days before Queen Elizabeth's coronation. Yes, that old.


HERE ARE MY LIEBSTER AWARD NOMINEES/WINNERS; some fellow bloggers I love. They're readers, writers and generally all around good people whose posts & comments usually make me think and/or smile.

Paulita at An Accidental Blog. Paulita is a writer living in Ohio who so loves France she wrote the book Summer of France and hosts the Dreaming of France meme every Monday. It's one of my favorites and this week she's got a super giveaway too.

Emily at As the Crowe Reads and Flies is the smart and lucky lady who has the best job in the world - manages a bookstore - and manages to post book reviews as well as travel and tell us all about it in delicious and delectable detail. Like the fact that she and her DH have been to Anguilla six or seven times since 2009. So jealous!

Arti is a Canadian blogger over at Ripple Effects - or should I say up north at Ripple Effects? ; I always enjoy her really insightful posts on both books and movies. 

Louise, like my nominator, Allison, occasionally blogs about childrens' books but what I love about Louise is that she's Australian; it is so much fun when she shares about Aussie book festivals and places. Right now she's in Paris but you can find her at A Strong Belief in Wicker

Kathy at Bermuda Onion does a ton of reviewing on her site. She also hosts the popular Wondrous Words Wednesday meme and is currently hosting some great giveaways.

Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea is another busy reader/reviewer. Her meme First Paragraph First Chapter Tuesday Intros where I've discovered many a good read.

Cipriano at Book Puddle is another Canadian. His posts tend to be pithy quotations like this one from Martin Amis. "Don't I ever do anything else but take soulful walks down the Bayswater Road, I thought, as I walked soulfully down the Bayswater Road.
-- Martin Amis, The Rachel Papers --

Esme at Chocolates and Croissants is Paris-based and a super photojournalist. Take a look at her picture of a French priest texting. Sacre bleu!

Nise at Under the Boardwalk is a beachloving, bookloving mom. My childrearing downs are done - Russell is 20 - so her blog takes me back.

OKAY, nominees, IF you accept this mission and this award, (I'll contact you) please:
answer the 11 questions at the end of this post - I promise you'll get there eventually!
nominate 11 other bloggers (I cheated and stopped at 8)
post 11 random facts about yourself
and
DON'T FEEL BAD IF YOU DON'T WANT TO PLAY ALONG ... :) I won't take it personally, at least I'll try not to.

My Questions for the Liebster Winners

What's at the top of your bucket list?

If you could be any literary character, who would you be?

City mouse or country mouse?

Best vacation ever?

What do you love most, besides reading and the people in your life?

What book is on your nightstand right now?

If you could be reincarnated as either sex, which would you choose?

What's the worst dish you've ever made?

What's the bravest thing you've ever done?

What's your secret to happiness?

Coke or Pepsi?