The Mystery Blogger Award II

Salutations once again! I recently got nominated for a second time for The Mystery Blogger Award by the one and only Emer at A Little Haze Book Blog! You can find my first article for this award right HERE as the questions and answers will be different this time around! I say this all the time, but let me tell you all again, Emer is one of my lovely friends, fellow blogger, and just a beautiful ray of light in the book community! Emer has amazing articles on her blog that are fun like The Bedtime Book Tag and more serious topics/discussions like The Relationship Between Reviewer and Author, either way I adore Emer with my whole heart and soul so please make sure you check out her blog!

❄️ What is The Mystery Blogger Award? ❄️

The Mystery Blogger Award is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion.

❄️ The Rules ❄️

❄️ Put the award logo/image on your blog.

❄️ List the rules.

❄️ Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.

❄️ Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well.

❄️ Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.

❄️ You have to nominate 10 – 20 people.

❄️ Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.

❄️ Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice.

❄️ Share a link to your best post(s).

Also, a huge thanks to Okoto from Okoto Enigma’s Blog for creating this award to bring light to wonderful bloggers!

❄️ Three Facts About Me ❄️

❄️ There are a few times that I mention this, but my mother provided new information for me and I wanted to do something that reflected my acknowledgement and appreciation for that information. I have this listed on all my social media and I have talked about my Native American heritage in a few posts. I always say very proudly that I am Apache and proud to be half Apache. However, the second week of December when I took a vacation, some of my family was visiting and I found out from my mother that I am also Cherokee on her side of the family. She had been tracing through our family tree and genetics (and still is) when she made this discovery. So I can now say that I am a proud Cherokee as well as Apache. And I say this all the time because I’m fully aware of my privilege compared to my family members who live on the reservations; even though I am very white passing I am very proud of my heritage, I am eternally grateful and blessed for the opportunities that I am given by living the life that I have, and (gosh I’m getting a bit emotional) I love my family and I’m extremely grateful that they remind me all the time how much they love me and that I don’t need to have darker skin for them to love me (because I agonize over this so much and so often), that they accept me just the way I am. This is a part of me that I’m very proud of, but it’s so bitter sweet at times as well. I like to keep my doors open and this is a part of me, a very soft and vulnerable part of me that agonize and love with an incredible force. And I really wanted to say this for the longest time and really honor the information my mother passed on to me.

❄️ I can officially announce this as well! If you have been following my Instagram then you may already know this, but in case you haven’t then let me officially announce the arrival of little Cresswell! Cresswell is my rescue kitten that my coworker has recently bestowed upon me. This has been in motion since December 2019 and this wasn’t a decision I made lightly or impulsively. I had to really analyze my home life, the dynamic with all my other fur babies, his age and the ages of my other pets, my spouse, and many other factors. I just recently agreed to bring this little guy home and for a while I wasn’t sure if I was going to get him (my coworker was pretty attached to him). However, things have all worked itself out and Cresswell has officially been brought home. As for right now, he is currently kept in my Spouse’s personal cave so he can build trust with us, not get overwhelmed by all the sights and smells, get his confidence, and take his time before we let him to his curiosity and explore our home. So you may see photos or videos of him surfacing on my social media in upcoming weeks!

❄️ That last one was more like an update, but I still think it counts. Anyway, this last fact about me is about my reading habits and that habit is I love listening to music while I read. While I do like ASMR, I find that ASMR relaxes me too much to the point of falling asleep doing whatever I’m doing. So as of recently I’ve been listening to a lot of instrumental mixes and most recently stumbled upon BLUME and Chillout Deer. Both of these creators have amazing mixes and they have been helping me focus on reading, taking notes, typing up articles, and just getting stuff done around the house. I will always love ASMR, but these two amazing channels have been killing it for me in 2020!

❄️ Questions by Emer ❄️

❄️ Do you think there is a place for one star reviews in the blogging community?

Well damn, jumping into the hard stuff right off the bat huh? I will always be honest and upfront about everything especially my own opinions. So I’m just going to say this now, if this offends anyone, I’m sorry.
Absolutely, one hundred percent, yes a million times. This is such a polarizing question and everyone and their mother has an opinion on this topic, including the creators, authors, or whoever is involved with the product. If we’re looking at just the book community, my answer still won’t change because a book can be just as bad as a product you buy in a store. The part that bothers me the most are those who feel the need (whether you’re someone in the community or you’re the creator of the product) to attack the people who give the one star reviews. I’m sorry, I must have missed the memo that said we’re all robots instead of human beings with souls, emotions, and feelings and that it’s a free for all to attack someone over their own opinions. Their own opinions. We all have opinions and we all perceive things differently. On that note, I also believe there is a way of writing a one star review without completely dragging the creator or being cruel to the creator to the point of emotionally or mentally hurting them. There is always a fine line to walk and it can be done. However, everyone involved in the outcome is responsible with their actions and the things they say.

❄️How do you feel about audiobooks?

I don’t hate them, but I don’t love them. I’m a sentimental soul and I love the feel , the weight, the smell of a physical book in my hand. However, I’m slowly adapting and trying to branch out into the more virtual format of books just to save of space and to try new things.

❄️ Have you ever emotionally identified with a character or plot in a book that you felt the author was writing the words that are etched on your soul?

Funny you should ask. I just had a moment like this with The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum. This has also happened with a few other books as well. With these type of books I will either get emotional or I’ll get emotional. And there is a difference between the two. The first one is usually a book that pulls on my heart strings, reminds me of something I’ve experienced, etc… The second one is full blown factory melt down, sobbing with snot dipping everywhere, flapping my hands around, flailing or shaking the book relentlessly, usually animals are fleeing the scene and my spouse looking in bewilderment of what just happened. So yeah, it happens every once in a blue moon.

❄️ What was the last book (or film) that made you cry?

Oh look, The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum…AGAIN!

❄️ What ice cream flavour do you think best represents your personality? E.g. are you vanilla with sprinkles? Maybe you’re a decadent salted caramel? Or maybe you’re a scoop of rocky road?

Mint chocolate chip trio’politan. It’s not just my favorite ice cream, it’s something I felt personally attached to since I was a child, something that just represents my soul and so many wonderful memories.

❄️ The People I’m Tagging ❄️

❄️ Donna

❄️ Kayla

❄️ Lauren

❄️ Robin

❄️ Marie

❄️ Kat

❄️ Amanda

❄️ Blair

❄️ Sabreena

❄️ Emer

It’s okay if tags and awards aren’t your thing. No one should feel obligated to do this tag unless they want to. Also, if you weren’t tagged then feel free to tag yourself!

❄️ My Questions for Those Tagged ❄️

❄️ As a reader, what is the biggest challenge you face when you’re reading and why?

❄️ What are your five favorite things to keep you out of a reading slump?

❄️ 2019 went by so fast, so what are your top five books you believe are five star predictions that you want to read before the end of 2020 that you didn’t get to read in 2019?!

❄️ You finally get the chance to design your dream reading nook! How would you design it and what would you include?

❄️ Your TBR has gotten so large that it’s out of control, what are some fun ways to help encourage you to read the books on your TBR or build your TBR for the month?

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Okay, friends! Those are all the questions Emer has asked and once again, please check out Emer because she is a delight and I love her to pieces! As always, I’m incredibly grateful Emer thought about me to tag me in this for my second round of the Mystery Blogger Award. It means so, so much and it makes my heart so full. Anyway, until next time Chapterlings, may the end of January bring you many new additions to your shelves, I love you! 💙

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