Liebster Award

Erika of Geeky Mythology nominated me for my first ever Liebster Award! In case you haven’t met her already, Erika runs a blog with reviews of books and movies plus more general pieces on media and personal reflection. One of her recent posts uses lessons from Princess Mononoke to consider the current pandemic situation. All topics are handled with a sharp wit and a thoughtful heart. Thank you, Erika! You are awesome!

Rules

• Thank the blogger who nominated you, and provide a link to their blog.
• Answer the 11 questions given to you.
• Share 11 facts about yourself.
• Nominate 5-11 other bloggers.
• Ask your nominees 11 questions.
• Notify your nominees once you have uploaded your post.

Questions from Erika

1. What shows are on your Netflix (or any streaming site) “My List”?
I’m mostly just relying on the “Continue Watching” feature to keep my shows available. I do still have the BBC show Merlin on My List in case I want to rewatch it someday. Yes, it takes lots of liberties with traditional Arthurian narrative and history, but I love how it brings up other aspects that are often forgotten.

2. What is the most recent show on your Netflix (or any streaming site) “Continue Watching”?

3Below: Tales of Arcadia. Seeing Guillermo del Toro’s name on this made me curious, although it’s clearly very different from Pan’s Labyrinth. The story and characters aren’t super deep, but the idea of aliens who are essentially holographic information-based lifeforms transforming into biological forms to hide on Earth blows my mind!

3. If you were to have a/another child, what name would you give him/her?

That would depend greatly on the child and honestly, I might let my partner in parenting have the honor. One of my favorite things about creative writing is naming characters. It’s an intense process for me. With made-up names, I focus on finding the right sound to express that character and if I’m using a real-world name, I almost always look into the meaning behind the name. Thing is, I know who those characters are on a level that I will not know any new child for years, and it’s a lot easier to change the character’s name if the first try wasn’t quite right.

4. What ‘other-language’ dramas or shows have you seen? (Example: shows in Japanese, Spanish, etc.)

Ha, to answer that, I’d have to give you almost my entire watch history from the last five years. I have often been disappointed by TV shows from my own country, so I am more likely to watch a show from a different country and I especially seek out those in languages other than English because I get to learn new words while having fun. Here are some examples from each language I’ve seen a complete show in, two for languages where I’ve seen multiple shows:

Japanese: Parasyte, Noragami

Korean: Gu Family Book, Mama Fairy and the Woodcutter/Tale of a Fairy

Mandarin: Ice Fantasy, The Legend of White Snake

Norweigan: Ragnorak

Colombian Spanish: Sempre Bruja/Always a Witch

I also started a show in Hindi and one in Thai, but the plots didn’t hold my attention. I’m still debating whether to watch The Protector because it doesn’t really look like my type of show, but it’s in Turkish and that would be a first.

5. What book would you like to be turned into a movie?

After Dark, by Haruki Murakami. The aspects that make it an innovative read would likely translate well into film. For instance, the main perspective is a camera-like “we” who follows and observes characters undetected, reading their emotions and thoughts mostly from their faces. “We” gets emotionally involved with the characters, at one point shouting directions to someone who can’t hear “us.” After Dark also has some sharp social commentary on immigrant poverty leading to criminal undergrounds and the objectification and exploitation of women’s bodies. And it all takes place during one night.

6. What book would you like to be turned into a series?

I can’t think of any stand-alone novels that I want to see as a series enough that I’m still thinking about it. The book that comes to mind with that question is actually the last book in the Swords and Fire trilogy by Melissa Caruso. First off, the world and characters Caruso creates are just so fascinating I want more. It’s a world where those with magical abilities can be identified by a mage-mark in their eyes, leading them to be harnessed as a national defensive resource in the Venice-like Serene Empire of Raverra. In neighboring Vaskandar, meanwhile, the mage-marked dominate as often absolute dictators. I would love to see this world expanded and maybe add more nations with different answers to the question of where people with magic might fit into a largely non-magical society.

The biggest reason I want more, however, is that the last book ended with one major character irreparably changed and not much time to see him adjust, not to mention a controversial law passed, and protagonist Amalia ended up with a new level of political responsibility and power. The main villain was finally defeated, but to me it felt more like the beginning of a new story instead of a happily-ever-after. I want to see at least one more book or a sequel trilogy to explore how these changes affect the characters. I might get my wish. It looks like Caruso has another trilogy in the works set in the same world. I just hope it doesn’t focus on entirely different characters because I really want to find out how Marcello adjusts to his new life!

7. What is/was your least favorite subject in school?

Math. I can actually handle formulas and calculations all right, but I hate every second of it.

8. Describe your phone lockscreen.

Two unicorns crossing horns rear up before Stonehenge. They glow under a star-filled sky, misty tendrils curling over the ground with a blazing light coming from the horizon.

9. Which book or movie character do you think most accurately reflects your own personality?

Wow, that’s a tough one. Some people who know me might expect me to say Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series. She and I do share some things, like love of learning, practical clothing, and preferring to date Ron over Harry, but she’s also much more outspoken, energetic, and physically violent than I am.

I actually think Ursula in Kiki’s Delivery Service comes closer. She lives out in the woods where she sketches her crow friends. Unlike so many “recluse” types, she isn’t hostile to people and is actually quite friendly with those who visit. She leads a mostly quiet life, not really seeking adventure but ready to connect with and support those who are adventuring. Substitute writing for drawing and add in those Hermione traits I mentioned, and she’s a pretty close match.

10. Who was your childhood celebrity crush?

Uh…Maybe Jackie Chan? To be honest, I’m not sure I’ve really ever had a true crush on anyone. Jackie Chan was just the first male actor whose mere presence in a film made me want to see it because that meant I’d get to see his humorous take on action. Yes, his bright smile and his flying hair are fun to watch, but if you gave me the option of dating him versus attending his stunt school, I’d take the school. I really, really wanted to attend that school when I was younger.

11. Who is your celebrity crush now?

David Tennent probably comes the closest. I enjoy his energy and the way he can flip in an instant from goofball to deadly serious as an actor. And his hair is kind of cool. Then again, I actually went to a con where he presented a panel and gave autographs. I missed both opportunities and was disappointed but I got over it pretty quick.

11 Facts About Me

1. I’m right-handed but I can write legibly with my left hand.
2. I have no tattoos.
3. I have watched a chicken lay an egg.
4. A doll of Edna from The Incredibles sits on my desk to keep me motivated.
5. I can read and write musical notation.
6. I once grew my hair out until it reached my knees. After I got tired of wrapping it around door handles to braid it, I cut it back to lower-back-length.
7. I can’t roll my tongue or my R’s.
8. My favorite way to swim is diving to the bottom of the deep end of a pool and then letting buoyancy lift me back to the surface.
9. I love snakes. The only reason I don’t keep a pet snake is because I enjoy watching them in the wild more.
10. I name my laptops. The current one is Perhonen after a sentient spaceship in Hannu Rajaniemi’s Jean le Flambeur series.
    
11. I’ve found several four-leafed clovers around my home, the last being around when I started my blog.

My four-leaf clover.

My Nominees

Food.for.Thoughts

Amelia Writes

Old Bird Travels Solo

This Experi-“mental” Life

Adventures of a Chicken “Tender”

My questions

1. What’s one dessert or candy that you don’t like?
2. What do you bring with you on a walk?
3. What is your favorite season?
4. Spiders: kill, catch and release, or ignore?
5. Do you have a favorite color?
6. What is your least favorite color?
7. What is a food that makes you feel nostalgic?
8. What sound soothes you?
9. Who makes you laugh?
10. Name something you have been told brings good luck.
11. Name something magical in your life.