Awards for Me=Awards for You

Friendlies! As I am want to do, I've stored up a couple awards/whatevers and now it's time to unload.

#1 To the AMAZING and so personable Janie Junebug, thank you for the Versatile Blogger!

I'm supposed nominate 15 bloggers I've discovered recently or follow, and then tell seven random things about myself. (To come.) Nominations are hard when I've got so many AMAZING bloggy pals, but even if I didn't nominate you, I wanted to. Congrats to:

1. S.P. Bowers who relaxes me with her laid back background every time I visit. (And her great words too.)
2. Michelle! Who is easily one of the nicest, wittiest people I know. (Check out her A to Z Challenge!)
3. Meradeth Houston who not only inspires me with her amazing book reviews, but that woman is unstoppable. Seriously. She's a brain and a go-getter.
4. Liz Blocker, who must the be the most tolerant person in the world to let me butt heads with her, and still call me a friend.
5. River Fairchild. I totally die over her amazing book covers, and she's such a gracious blogger. 
6. H.R. Sinclair. Her posts are fascinating, bursting with great info, and always worth dropping in for. 
7. Keith, my optimistic buddy who muses about this strange world and always brings a smile to my face. 
8. Jennifer L. Hawes--one of my favorite newer blogging buddies. She admits a fear of technology, but she's doing awesome where blogging is concerned. 
9. Stephanie Faris, who writes to influence young minds for the best. She's amazing.  
10. Kristin Smith. *squeal* She's probably new newest blogging bestie, and not just because she raved about my book. (Although that might have some sway... Love you, Kristin!) From her sense of design to the words she types, this gal is epic.
11. Krystal Jane. I seriously want to high five this woman after every post. She's a writer after my own heart.
12. Jenni Enzor. I just love Jenni, and that's all there is to say. She's awesome. Like cheese.
13. Kathy Combs who must be THE most supportive blogger I've ever met. This woman shares EVERYTHING with the world. You rock, Kathy!
14. Juliette who has me busting a gut every time I stop by. Unless she's got me crying. I wonder why this woman isn't pursuing a career because she sure knows how to make you feel through the written word.
15. Sia Mckye who must be the MOST professional looking blogger I know, yet she always condescends to visit me.

I was also tagged in the My Writing Process hop thinger by S.A. Larsen (thank you, lady of awesomeness!) and so I'm going to mix the two up a bit by sharing 4 answers about my writing process, then adding 3 random things about me--to finish off the Versatile Blogger.

My Writing Process:

What am I working on now?
BELLEZZA: a serial story. TIMELESS: book 3 in the Maiden of Time trilogy.

How does my book differ from others within its genre?
You've never met the Soulless or Passionate before, and you've certainly never met them in the 1760's of England--not unless you've read Moonless. I wanted a modern feel or voice (for paranormal) mixed into a time period that oppressed women's rights, importance, and value. How else could a female protagonist truly shine?

Why do I write what I do?
Initially, I started writing because I was suffering. I'd torture my characters and make their lives ten times more miserable than mine--so I could count my blessings. My stories have always been about people in unfair circumstances, societies or plagued with tragedy, who eventually overcoming.

How does my writing process work? 
I start with a dream, pen what I dreamed, then leave it. While the story is sitting, my subconscious works through plot, character, etc, and when I come back to it, I plot loosely, followed by steady writing over the course of one to three months (to orchestral music), then months and months of editing, critique partners, beta readers, and finally my editor.

What's your writing process like?

NEXT UP ON THE WRITING PROCESS TOUR: Misha Gericke, Robyn Elana Engle, & Madeline Jane.

My 3 additional random facts...

1. I can quote Serenity almost as fluently as The Princess Bride.
2. We don't have pets, but we do have a pet ficus tree--that we've named Benjamin.
3. I got my first patch of white hair--stress induced--when I was 23 from coordinating Girl's Camp.

Ready to guess the lie and win a book? 

Last week, the fabulous Melissa Maygrove shared COME BACK with us, along with two truths and one lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win her either a signed print or ebook.

Melissa's game:

1. Melissa has touched a real piranha--even its sharp little teeth.

2. Somewhere out there in the world, there's an orchid named after her.

3. She absolutely, totally and completely hates broccoli.

And the lie is: 

#3. Melissa loves broccoli, especially lightly steamed. She likes brussel sprouts, too. She actually touched a piranha, but it was a stuffed one her dad brought back from one of his trips to South America, and her dad used to raise and crossbreed orchids. The name 'Melissa Ann' was taken, so he registered his prized hybrid as 'Phalaenopsis Prissy Missy.'

Way to guess those of you who got it right! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Carol Kilgore!

Congrats Carol! 

And now to today's feature:

Gabe is an average fifteen-year-old goblin. He’s in the marching band, breezes through calculus, and gets picked on daily by the other kids at school, especially the ogres. He's tired of being a goblin – he’d like to try other things. And he has his eye on the new ogress at school. It’s against all beastly rules, but there’s just something about her.

When a prank goes wrong, Gabe is forced to join the football team as punishment, but finds a way to make it work. Soon the whole school is getting in on the fad of mingling with other species. Too bad the adults decide to step in and ruin things, threatening to destroy the school and split up Broken Branch Falls. And Gabe is their scapegoat. With help from other outcast friends, Gabe sets out on a quest hoping to saving Broken Branch Falls. After all this trouble, it better work.

Get your copy HERE.

Tara Tyler has had a hand at everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After living up and down the Eastern US, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. Currently, she has two series, The Cooper Chronicles (techno-thriller detective capers) and Beast World (MG fantasy) She's an adventure writer who believes every good story should have action, a moral, and a few laughs!

Her favorite cheese is baby swiss and I like to eat it rolled up with roast beef - a great low-carb/hi-protein snack!

Also by Tara Tyler, techno-thriller detective series:

The Cooper Chronicles, Book One: POP TRAVEL

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tara gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win an eBook of BROKEN BRANCH FALLS. 

You have until Tuesday, July 1, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on July 2.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. When Tara was young, she and her classmates would have recess in the snow and once made a dragon as long as the school.
2. When she was growing up, she and her family were the victims of burglars two times in two different houses.

3. When she was young, a huge St Bernard tackled her, causing her to be afraid of dogs.

Which is the lie? What's your writing process like? Have you ever dealt with bullies?