Sunshine Award for Shells . . .

One of the pleasant surprises in the blogging experience are the occasional awards that bloggers give to each other. The Sunshine Award gives a lift and a smile to one's day and I couldn't think of a better blog gift on a cold spring day. We had snow in Eastern Washington today!

Thank-you SO much, Jai (And then . . .), for sending sunshine my way. I wish you flowers and bright sunshine in return! Be sure to check out Jai's interesting Writer's blog if you have never visited. She was my faithful 'constant' in the A-Z challenge. 

So here are the rules:

--Feature a picture of this award in a post on your blog.

--Answer 10 random questions about yourself.

--Nominate 10 other bloggers. Be sure to link to their blogs and let them know. 

Ten Questions:

1. What inspired you to start blogging?

• I like playing with words and expressing myself, but I was hesitant to jump into something that had all the appearances of a time waster. I was trying to write a novel, and not doing a great job maintaining a writing schedule. But Cathy Ensley at http://wordsworldandwings.blogspot.com/ convinced me I needed to learn more about social media if I was serious about writing and being published one day. It began to make good sense. I jumped into 2013 April A-Z Challenge and never looked back. I discovered a world of like-minded bloggers and it's also been a lot of fun. Definitely not a time waster!

2. How did you come up with the name of your blog?

• This was so much fun to figure out, but here's basically what it means. Shells---the things we collect that bring joy and give meaning to our lives. Tales---the stories we tell in life that define who we are. Sails---the journeys we take in life that show where we have been and where we are headed.

 3. What is your favorite blog to read?

• I can't answer this. My interests vary: writing, gardening, crafts, travel and family history to name a few. I do love to peek in and visit now and then and chat with bloggers. Others I discover randomly. Random blogs tend to be sites related to the writing field that offer something I need at the time, for instance, information regarding agents and publishers or writing software.

4. Tell us about your dream job:

• To have several published novels on the market that are doing really well, and another one in the process. God willing, I plan to write for the rest of my life. 

5. Is your glass half-full or half-empty?

• Definitely half-full. Life is too short to be negative.

6. If you could go anywhere for a week's vacation, where would you go?

•  A week really isn't long enough for a vacation, but if I had a month, I would go somewhere I've never been before. India, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Vietnam, China, Paris, London......the list is endless. Stateside, I would travel up the east coast. I want to see U.S. historical sites.

7. What food can you positively not eat? 

•  Sushi. Something about 'raw' really bothers me. (I once ate a raw oyster on a dare. I've never recovered.)

 8. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

• I prefer the taste of milk chocolate, but eat dark for my health.

 9. How much time do you spend blogging?

•  I'm a new blogger, so probably more than I should. The A-Z Challenge was crazy. I spent hours a day. I have no idea how much. My husband threatened to turn me into 'bloggers anonymous' (do they exist?). Now around two hours a day, but I'm starting to ease back. I really need to finish my novel.

10. Do you watch TV and if so, what are your favorite shows?

• Sure. I like Public TV. I sometimes watch the news, business reports, Charlie Rose, and documentaries. I also watch TV series on Netflix (without commercials). Some of my favorites have been Doc Martin, Downton Abbey, Life Unexpected, Eureka, Warehouse 13, Lost, and Gifted Man. Right now I'm watching Star Trek's Next Generation and Flying Alaska.

Here are the 10 bloggers I have nominated:
(Check out their wonderful blogs :) 

Warning to nominees below. This is a time-consuming post. I understand if it takes awhile or if you are simply too busy. Just wanted you to know you are on my 'good' list and I thought the award fit  :-) 

Fe -  http://felicityburnett.blogspot.com/ 
Mary - http://mary-anderingcreatively.blogspot.com/
Liz - http://lawsofgravity.blogspot.com/
Diana - http://dianawilder.blogspot.com/
M.J. - http://mjjoachim.blogspot.com/
Kim - http://kimharristhacker.com/
Maria - http://delightdirectedliving.blogspot.com/
Sally - http://breaking-cover.blogspot.com/
Rhonda - http://www.laugh-quotes.com/
Jenn - http://j-scribbles.blogspot.com/

(same questions as above)