Friday, January 15, 2010

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

27 comments:

  1. Very cool, Hilary. I'll have to read your book sometime. My first picture book is about a rat named Dilly. :) Congrats to the winners!

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  2. Wow, Hilary! One Good Rat! What a wonderful award. I love the meaning and thoughts behind it, and I'm touched by your kind words.

    I'll definitely be checking out the other blogs you've honored.

    Thank you!!!

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  3. Betty Parnell1/15/2010

    These sound like you really put a lot of thought into them. Makes me sad I didn't get one, even though I don't have a blog! Must start so I can earn a good rat award too! Very sweet gesture, Hilary.

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  4. HILARY! Thank you SO much :-) For the award... For your ridiculously kind words... For your awesome blog!

    I'm grinning from ear to ear right now!!

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  5. Anonymous1/15/2010

    Love rats, can't wait to read your book. Good luck with it.

    sid rompel (UK)

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  6. What a great way to select a group of people and share them with the rest of us! I can tell you, your selections have certainly provided me with some great new resources and specifically liked Tartitude. As a new blogger, there is an overwhelming number of things to strive for this year and your choices reflect the cream of the crop!

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  7. Oh my, I am really, truly honored Hilary, and that’s no joke! You are a doll (a lovely rat doll, of course!). I love how you take rats, give them an adventure, and make them friendly and fun for the kids who will read Nightshade City.

    I will proudly display this award on my blog with a link back to you!

    Meanwhile, I’d like to thank my public, my agent (whoever you are – I’m stalking a few of you now . . . well, stalking is such an ugly word . . . I’m reading your submission guidelines now), and of course the divine Hilary Wagner, Jen K. Blom, and my newest blogging and Twitter bud, the Tart!

    I will be swinging around to visit all the other award winners soon!

    Thanks, Hilary!
    Teresa

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  8. Nice award! Thanks fro sharing these blogs, I will have to check them out.

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  9. Tony K1/15/2010

    These are worthy blogs to follow! Thank you kindly!

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  10. Very cool idea. I follow a few of those blogs already. I'll have to look at the others.

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  11. Hee. I'm growing quite fond of the nickname "Tart" and all the feistiness you seem to attribute to it...er, me.

    Hilary, true story: I was at the doctor's this morning and saw you stirring things up on Twitter, using my name. "Self", I said, "you better check this out now." So there I was, reading your uber kind and generous words, sniffing and tearing up, and in general, alarming the lady next to me.

    "Bad news?"

    I shook my head. "No. The best. I've just been called a rat by the sweetest, the kindest, the--"

    Okay. I'll stop there because your head will grow too large if I continue; which means you won't be permitted to board the plane this summer for security reasons; which means the possum-rat smackdown will be delayed YET AGAIN. (And we all want to know how the PRS turns out.)

    In conclusion: thank you! I know some of the peeps who share the award with me and their caliber of personhood and writing. I am truly honored.

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  12. Casey, Sara, Tart & Teresa,

    You guys give me that warm, squishy feeling! I really do love your bloggity blogs! Ol'Possum lover, she's warm and squishy too! This is the only place where it's a good thing to be some sort of vermin or another!!! :)

    Okay, your kind words have made me inspired!

    *scurries off to write about bad whit rat, Billycan, who may or may not eat a possum in his book...still deciding* ;)

    xoxo -- GG

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  13. What a cool award! Great idea, and congrats to the winners!

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  14. Haha, Congrats to the Rats :)

    Good stuff.

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  15. Wow.
    Hilary I am floored. Funny and clever? Really?!?! You think so?
    This award absolutely made my day. You are incredibly kind and thoughtful and I am honored to be a decorated rat!
    Have an awesome weekend!

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  16. Hilary--Thank you so much for the awesome honor bestowed upon me; The One Good Rat Award. It's really sweet of you to group me in with such a talented group of blog friends. I know several of these writers already and will have to pop in and check out the others, plus some of your readers who commented today. :)

    Very cool idea, creating an award based on your upcoming book...Let me say that again...very cool idea! I'm going to have to post about it...

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  17. That is so cute! I hope I'll be a recipient one day :)

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  18. Very cool award! I'll check out your winners:)

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  19. Love it! Great idea creating your own personal award. So much fun!

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  20. What an awesome reward! CongRats to the winners. ;)

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  21. I want a One Good Rat Award! :(

    Congrats winners!

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  22. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!

    *blows kisses to Hil*

    This is the coolest thing EVER!!!!! I am putting this award in PRIDE OF PLACE on my blog!!

    I adore you, I really do. Even with your unseemly love of rats. But I'm certain you'll come around to the possum side at some point! LOL!

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  23. Congratulations to all the winners! I'm looking forward to visiting everyone's blog!

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  24. rats! those are some good bloggers :)

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  25. If you're a friend of Jen's, you're a friend of mine :)

    And your intelligent rats have thoroughly creeped me out, thanks a lot!!

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  26. Cute award. Fitting, too. I left something for you on my blog. Check it out.

    Lynnette Labelle
    http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com

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  27. Hilary! I haven't passed your award on yet but I just gave you one. Hehe. I'm looking forward to choosing some good ratties, but in the mean time, go check out your new award! : )

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