Thank you universe; awards!!!!

Well hello again,

I have some things to settle. Alright, firstly, I was given the Versatile Blogger Award by Taylor, which I’m very grateful for, so thanks a bunch, girl! ;)

And in the mean time, I also just got the award from 7ladybugz, so thank you ladybug, as well :).

I think I’m making everyone happy in skipping the boring speeches... Once I’m on a role, I just can’t stop myself (for an illustration, see the ‘about me’ page, LOL).

Alright, this award comes with a few requirements, so let’s get to it then:

- Thank the person who gave you the award  [check, :D]

- Share 7 things about yourself

- Pass the award to up to 10 other versatile bloggers

- Let those other bloggers know you gave them the award

I guess I’ll need to share things about me... Actually, I was glad I already had something scheduled for yesterday, so I had an extra day to think about this, but here goes (yes, I spnd two things considering this and only came up with that :S):

1)      I have terrible difficulty sleeping at night. Mornings make me extremely drowsy, which is no good to me since my falling asleep moment practically coincides with my frigging alarm clock.

2)      My star sign is Virgo.

3)      I have a shark phobia – except to me it isn’t a phobia, but a fully rational fear – because of which I haven’t been more than knee-deep in the sea in many years. I also think twice about going near rivers and lakes, just in case...

4)      Oh, I don’t like spiders very much either. I don’t want them anywhere near me and since I don’t want them dead for my sake either, will take desperate measures to avoid any collision with them whatsoever.

5)      I dislike book covers where the author’s name is printed larger than the title.

6)      I really hate the cold and am seriously considering running off someplace hot for the winters if I can afford it one day.

7)      Though nobody knows about it and I don’t have them by the dozens in my room or anything, I have a thing for snow globes. I think they’re absolutely brilliant.

There. And yes I spent all night thinking about this...

And now, last but not least, my nominees (at least the ones still left that haven’t already gotten it from someone else after putting this off for so long) for the Versatile Blogger Award are... *drum roll, spot lights start roaming about the room and the ‘20th century fox’ theme starts playing*:

Hannah, the queen of social ranting.

Drachma, who is an author here who actually managed to get his book published, so go and give him a big applause for that!

Marie Viaud, a great French-Irish writer and poetess.

Nina, who not only writes compelling stories but also very useful metafiction.

Trickie, who is new and writes very good, though mostly adult, stories.

Congratulations to all of you, you deserved the award fair and square! (I sure hope you haven’t already gotten one...)

Apart from that, I owe a special thank you to K Marie for honouring me with this lovely award earlier:

 

So thank you, K Marie! ;-)

All is right with the world... :D

Writing Competition - And the winner is... (drum roll) 3rd edition

Hey guys!

As those of you who entered the in-thread contest probably already know, the third edition was won by the talented, the twisted, the downright mentally ill:

Caymantime!

So go give him a great big shout-out on his blog or in the thread.

This was his winning entry:

Stories business had improved since helping Drachma with his "little problem".  She began to grind more meat, noticing an eye she'd missed.  She picked it out and threw it in the fire.  She'd found mixing it with pork best.  Best seller, as well.

Business had been declining since the supermarket moved in a year ago.  Butcher shops just couldn't compete with their pricing, unless butchers could offer something they couldn't.  Stories' "special" blend of ground pork was just the something they couldn't offer. 

When Drachma first proposed Stories help with his "disposal" problem, she didn't know if she could do it.   "How do I do it?" she thought.  "Where do I hide bodies?"  Well, she figured hiding bones was much easier than whole bodies.  And so much more profitable. 
Looking at the blend, she had the urge to taste it.  Scooping with her finger, she brought it to her lips...

And this is Cayman’s well-deserved (virtual) competition trophy:

He did a great sketch of my daily life there, even though we’ve never met, amazing, isn’t he? Sausage, anyone? My treat.

For obvious reasons, I decided to award him another award, by popular consensus, I reckon:

Cayman will now host the fourth edition (how time flies) of the in-thread writing competition. I’ll give you the what and where asap.

In the future, there may be more extra awards, based on the general reactions of the public to a particular story.

All best wishes, everyone.

Stories Inc.

P.S.: sorry Cayman, no cash, but would you take a lifetime supply of meat products? I’ve got some fine recipes lying around, Cayman flavour. You do have to come collect them personally do. *grins in anticipation, rubs hands and sharpens knifes* Want me to give you my address? It’s just down the street, just follow the screaming.

Announcement: I got an award! (Well, a tiny one, but still...)

I got an award, I got an award! Fellow-hubber (as in: active on HubPages.com) Kirutaye in her New Year’s post, ‘The Kirutaye Online Awards’, awarded me ‘One to Watch’. I’m so psyched... *wipes tears away and burst into an emotional speech that has too much stammering to be well-understood and is therefore better left omitted*

I guess I’m going to have to step up to the title now though. Well, after exams, that is.

Thanks to the universe and everybody in it.

Writing Competition - And the winner is... (drum roll)

And the winner of the first Blogger Coffee Shop Writing Competition has been revealed:

Hannah

Hannah wins, apart from all our awe and respect, this fabulous award, which she can show off in her virtual trophy case.

To see Hannah’s blog or to go and congratulate her yourself: www.scornfulprose.blogspot.com

This is her winning entry:

"I closed my eyes and thought hard. What could I do to remedy the situation? I didn’t want her to leave, of course I didn’t. But I couldn’t just let her wave her monopoly over my emotions right in my face, could I? I had to maintain some pride, some dignity. If only she hadn’t been such a bitch, such discipline wouldn’t have been necessary.

She could report me. I hadn’t thought about that. I’d be in a whole heap of trouble then. Shit.

Breathe, Hannah.

I didn’t think I could subject myself to that train of thought any longer without doubling over in panicked nausea, so I turned my mind to more pragmatic concerns. What now?

There was nothing else for it. I raised my weapon-wielding arm, and brought it down, hard. The crunch of bone, and the crimson spray on my face told me that it was done."

And I have to say the competition was great for this first edition (click to see the other fabulous entries) and will no doubt be greater still for the next edition, which will be hosted by our talented winner. Keep an eye on the forum for the challenge.

All best wishes,

Stories Inc.