Tuesday 11 May 2010

Seven Things and an Award or Two

A while ago I was given the Beautiful Blogger award by the lovely Wendy over at On ‘n’ On ‘n’ On, and part the fun with this award is sharing seven things about myself. Oo-er.

One. When I was little I wanted to be a cat. I truly and honestly thought that was possible and that one day I would morph from small girl to tabby just by wishing hard enough. To put this in context, I also thought I could fly if I only I could flap my arms for long enough, and would tap the back of my wardrobe looking for Narnia. I also believed me and my friends could call thunder from the sky by chanting ‘We want thunder!’ round and around the playground... we only ever tried this when the skies were already dark and a bit rumbly. So yes, I could call thunder. But I never became a cat, dagnabbit.

Two. I say words like dagnabbit. And gosh. And blimey. And, in times of severe stress, panty-ola’s. I’m really not proud of making that word up. Although I am rather fond of making up stories.

Three. My first story was written in a Brambly Hedge notebook. The story was called ‘Let’s Slink into Space!’ and was about four children who lived in a village with a mad professor (a pre-requisite of villages, I believe). He said he could turn anything into a time machine, so they gave him their toy slinky, and he made it a giant slinky time machine. And where did they want to go – but into space! So off they zoomed in the giant slinky. At the time of writing, I was about seven years old and had a slinky. Not quite aware of ever having a burning desire to go into space, though.

A slinky.

Four. I spoke to the author of Brambly Hedge, Jill Barklem, sixteen years after writing my first story in that notebook. She found that really sweet! We chatted by phone and it was interesting to hear how she came to write Brambly Hedge. You can read more about her here.

Five. I interviewed a few authors and illustrators for my Illustration degree course, but none so warm and friendly as Martin and Tanis Jordan. They are a husband and wife team – Martin is the artist, Tanis the author, and between them have created many marvellous books. They love wildlife, exploring strange uncharted lands, and have always been incredibly encouraging with my dreams. Click here to see some of their books.

Six: As well as being an avid reader of books, I am also an avid collector. My book collection probably wouldn’t make Sotheby’s as it is an eclectic mix of Stuff What I Like, but Agatha Christie books (1920s – 1960s), and children’s books feature highly. Currently the majority of my collection is in boxes from the last flat move, and I really miss them. My books are my friends.

Seven: I am also incredibly lucky and blessed to have some amazing friends of the human variety. I can’t say enough good things about them – they are funny, kind, thoughtful, supremely supportive, wonderful people. My chosen family. I hope you all have such folk in your lives!

So now to the award!



I’d like to give this to the newest followers who have commented on my blog, as I would like to find out more about you! (Only if you want to of course, the award is yours anyway!) So without further adieu (see how I milk speeches!), the Beautiful Blogger award goes to (drum roll)...

Julie at Being Ruby
Lola Sharp at Sharp Pen/Dull Sword
Elegant Snobbery at Elegant Bloggery
Creepy Query Girl
Ange at Signed By Ange

I also have an Awesome Sauce award (which kind of makes me want to check my chin for stray ketchup) from another lovely Wendy, who also goes by the name Quillfeather.



This is for the following folk, as their blogs are all sorts of Awesome!

ChristaCarol Jones, for passing her classes!
Musings of a Palindrome, for it almost being her birthday!
Justine Dell, for having a 100th follower (now at 111) contest!
Elana Johnson, as she is just awesome, let’s face it!

Happy Tuesday!

23 comments:

Anne Gallagher said...

Congratulations on the awards. Well deserved indeed.

I always wanted to be a cat too. A black one. Technically, a witch's cat.

Jayne said...

Hi Anne - thanks! I've got a feeling I also wanted to be a witch's cat - like Gobbolino, or his clever sister Sootica. I'm not sure to be impressed I can remember such things, or worried!

Julie Dao said...

Congratulations on all of your awards! I think it would be pretty interesting to be a witch's cat. Imagine all the things it would see and hear. You should write a story from the point of view of one :)

Aubrie said...

Congrats on your awards! Every village needs a mad professor. Your first book sounds awesome. :)

I never wanted to be a cat. I wanted to be a fairy princess. :)

Laura S. said...

Congrats on your awards! Your seven things were fabulous. I love your space slinky story! I have quite a collection of children's books, too. There's something so comforting about the books loved as a child. :)

Jackee said...

Congrats on the awards--so well deserved! And it was great to get to know more about you. I admit I swear in that weird way too, usually dadgummit is my favorite. (Ha, ha.)

Wendy Ramer, Author said...

Regarding your number two on the list: I have a British friend who I lived with in Italy ages ago. She always used the word Crikey!, which always sent my husband and me into stitches.

Hannah said...

Congratulations on your awards.

I love to make up words all the time. And swear in other languages.

Thanks!! I will do an awards post when all this bday stuff is finished. :)

Lydia Kang said...

Hope your not tired of getting awards because I just gave one to you over at my blog!

Talli Roland said...

I am horrified. Panty-Olas? I will never think of you the same way again.

Al said...

Congratulations on the awards.
I never (or almost never) get rid of books I buy. I suspect it doesn't make me a collector though. More a hoarder.

Julie Musil said...

Love the awesomesauce/ketchup reference. Congrats on the awards.

Unknown said...

Congrats!

Most deserved, indeed :)

Old Kitty said...

Oh I love "Let's Slink Into Space"!!!

What a great idea!!! And what a treat to speak to these fab authors!! Wonderful.

Congratulations on receiving these fun blog awards - yay!!

Take care
x

Covnitkepr1 said...

I’ve enjoyed looking over your blog. I came across it through another blog I follow, and I’m glad I did. I am now a follower of yours as well. Feel free to look over my blog and perhaps become one as well.

Susan Fields said...

Congrats on our awards! I love your childhood stories - you obviously have a very vivid imagination, no wonder you became a writer!

Paul C said...

What an interesting list of things about yourself. The early childhood fascination of flying was part of my imagination too. Congratulations.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I loved reading this. Although I never wished to be a cat, I was convinced I could fly. Resulted in a broken leg, I'm afraid.

Kittie Howard said...

Congratulations on your awards, Jayne. Well-deserved!! And I have the 101 award for you at my blog...you're my 101st Follower...thank you, thank you!! (Isn't blogging fun!!)

Priya Parmar said...

congratulations! i love old fashioned swearing. i am a novelist (my first novel is coming out next year) and i definitely made up words for my book. the copy editor circled them and asked me if i wanted her to check that they were standardized throughout. now i am writing my second and happily making up words left and right!

Private said...

Congrats on the awards, and thanks for all the links:)

Jayne said...

Julie – Thanks, good idea! Although I always think first of Ursula Moray Williams ‘Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat’ – it used to make me cry!

Aubrie – Aw, thank you for the vote of confidence on ‘Let’s Slink Into Space!’ Although I seem to recall the main drama was that Space had a sweet shop.

Laura – Another vote for the space slinky! At this rate I may dust the old thing down again. :) I actually didn’t have a ton of children’s books as a child, although I wanted them so badly – think I am now making up for it!

Jackee – Thank you! I am ashamed to admit when surprised I also swear very occasionally in the more traditional way as well.

Wendy – Crikey! I used to say crikey too. Crikey has been surpassed in favour of blimey. And living in Italy – how lovely!

Palindrome – thank you! Swearing it other languages – impressive! Loving your birthday stuff.

Lydia – Aw thank you! Never tired of receiving them!

Jayne said...

Talli – I’m not proud. I feel a bit grubby, actually.

Al – Haha – actually I suspect I am a hoarder too. I like to dress it up and say collector!

Julie – It was the first thing I thought of, and thanks!

Wendy – Thank you!

Old Kitty – It was such a treat to speak with those authors. Another vote for ‘Let’s Slink Into Space!’ – yeay!

Covnitkepr1 – Thank you for following! Glad you enjoy the blog.

Susan – Aw, thank you!

Paul C – Thank you! I distinctly remember standing on a cupboard and flapping my arms, jumping off onto the bed. It was a serious scientific experiment, as far as I recall.

Pamela – Eek! Oh no, a proper broken leg? None of my experiments with flying ever resulted in breakages... apart from a lamp. Oops.

Kittie – Thank you! And how lovely – will scoot over. Blogging is totally fun!

Priya – Thank you! And how fantastic you have a novel coming out soon – I am very excited for you! Love the anecdote about how you make up words – excellent. There is hope for panty-olas yet!

Alex – Thank you!