ONE GOOD RAT BLOG AWARDS!!! YAY!

I love blog awards! I think they are encouraging to all writers/bloggers to keep on blogging, keep on writing and gives us that much needed push to keep going!

So, I decided it's time for me to give out my own version of a blog award. As writers, our own work is near and dear to our hearts. My debut novel, Nightshade City, is about rats (as you may have noticed), but it's also very much about family and not letting a few decide the fate of many. It's about standing up for yourself and deciding you can make a difference, you can succeed even when the odds all point to failure.

Therefore, in the spirit of Nightshade City, I've created my own blog award, which I'm very excited about! The One Good Rat Award! I thought of the heroes of my book and what they had to accomplish and the monumental odds they were up against to do so. These writers I've named for this award are on the road to publishing or already there and just life loving writers who deserve to be blogged about! If you don't already, please check out their blogs and follow, follow, follow, you'll be so glad you did!

As for the receivers of this award, please pass it along to whoever you feel has inspired you or others or keep it only to yourselves! So, without further ado, here are the winners of the 2010 ONE GOOD RAT AWARD!

Sharon Mayhew Sharon is a former teacher, turned children's writer, and someone who clearly wants to make a difference in the world, and as far as I can read from her wonderful blog, is!

Sara McClung Sara is inspirational. She is one of those happy bloggers that makes you feel good after you read her thoughts! Can't wait to see this girl in print!

Anita Saxena Anita is funny and clever. She has a wit about her that I just love to read! Stop by her blog if only to read her ode to 2010!

Casey McCormick Casey is a priceless blogger! Her blog is a wealth of information regarding major agents and what they are looking for. No matter how many more followers she gets (and it's a lot) she continues to be warm, open and truly a helping hand to all writers. I found Casey's blog just after I signed with my agent. Man, I wish I'd have found it 13 months earlier!

Natalie Murphy Natalie is an up and coming writer full of sizzle and energy. As this lovely lady makes her way through school, I see big things coming her way! She is a slave to writing and reading her blog is like having a great cup of coffee! It wakes you up and you just want more!

Tartitude Ah, where do I begin with this feisty, blogging wonder? The Tart (as I like to call her) is, well, how do I describe The Tart? She is spirited, fiery, funny, impertinent (in a good way), sweet, genuine and positively dear to my heart! She a fantastic writer and smart as a whip, I highly recommend the Tart! Someday when I brave the journey to Canada I will hopefully meet The Tart and revel in all her Tartitude, which by the way, is a great word!

Jen K Blom Although my dear friend Jen is now in Germany, the moment we met we hit it off like two warped peas in a warped little pod! In other words, she's just as weird as me! Jen is just a fantastic writer and this summer I may be going to Berlin to finally give my friend and her soon to be daughter a long overdue hug, while our husbands go out and "taste test" some German beer, all for quality control purposes of course!

Teresa Frohock Last, but certainly not least I must bring Teresa to your attention. Teresa is a mild mannered librarian by day and a super cool, dark fantasy & horror writing, boot wearing, author interviewing, novelist by night! Her and The Tart, also serve as moderators for the rat vs. possum wars going on between myself and Jen Blom! Don't ask! They may have to go to Berlin too, if only to referee the vermin throw down!

I hope to give more of these out in the coming months, once I get to know my new blogging friends better! Please take a moment to check out all these wonderful writers who blog! They are amazing individuals and all GOOD RATS!

xoxo -- Hilary