Well I am speechless (I know, call the Paparazzi). Three bloggers nominated me this week for a Kreativ Blog Award. I will talk about them in a moment. However, because it’s me, we need to chill and discuss this whole “Kreativ Blog Award” idea. First I have to admit I am reminded of the Seinfeld episode when Izzy Mandelbaum (played by the incomparable Lloyd Bridges) contests Morty Seinfeld’s “#1 Dad” t-shirt; the next day, Izzy is sporting a “World’s Greatest Dad” shirt and he tells Morty “that’s ‘greatest’…there’s nothing higher than that.” Jerry then says:

“I’m not sure how official any of these rankings are.”

Well I’m not either, but suffice to say that when a peer is asked to think of six others to whom they will give an award, and you end up on their list, it’s a heck of an honor!

The first nomination came earlier in the week from Constance Wallace. Constance is the Fantasy/Horror writer who wrote the Legends of Green Isle fantasy series. I know Constance from the Twitterverse and from her outstanding blog legendsofgreenisle.Receiving an award is always cool, but when you get it from someone who you respect as much as I respect Constance, well, it moves into distinct honor territory!

I next heard from Micheal Rivers, who is a very close writer pal of mine. Micheal writes Paranormal Thrillers (The Black Witch, Moonlight on the Nantahala), but the really cool thing about him (other than the fact that he’s one of those selfless writers who give back to the community) is that he’s an actual ghost hunter! I know, is there anyone better to write great paranormal stories?? I have to tell you, when a people-oriented writer like Micheal thinks of you for any list, it’s a great day. You can read his outstanding blog here.

I next heard from Ashley Barron. Ashley is the author of the Love + Family series (Volumes One and Two), a collection of touching stories that explores how love influences family life—for better or worse! She is also soon to release AVA, first in the Priya series of novels. Now this is one case where I also saved the best for last. Not best as in best of the kick-butt writers who nominated me but rather the best writeup I’ve ever received (you can read it here). Now here’s the deal: we writers, we really know how to put one letter in front (and in back) of the other. When we say “thanks”, it’s generally fairly well-done. It’s what we do—make the ordinary seem fantastic; the cool seem unattainably so. What humbled me so much about Ashley’s nomination of me was her sincerity. I can’t explain it. In each word she wrote I felt the weight of her genuineness. It was clear she really meant it. What a kind person, I thought. How genuine can one writer be? Remarkably so, it turns out. Ashley also interviewed me for a recent promotional activity. Every time she tweets out a quote from the interview, she did so with such aplomb that it makes me want to read my interview again (seriously, there were a couple times I glanced at her tweet without paying enough attention and thought “wow, I need to check out her post”)! She is another one of those completely selfless authors who spends a good portion of her time writing about and helping other writers. I have to tell you, that’s my kind of person. Big time!

Do yourself a favor. If you aren’t following Ashley, DO! You can find her on Twitter here. If you aren’t signed up for her blog, SIGN UP! You can find her blog right here. Seriously, you need to check this woman out. It’s an honor to be her friend; she makes you want to be a better contributor yourself, and that’s never a bad thing.

So, back to the award. My understanding is I need to share ten things you don’t know about me. Shouldn’t be too hard, since most of you don’t know anything about me. (The challenge is trying to make them interesting somethings.) Then I need to nominate my own six Kreativ Bloggers. Well, I’ve only been doing this blog thing since last August, but I promise to do my best.

Ten Things You May Not Know About Rob:

10. He writes under the name “R.S.” The “S” stands for Superman. Just kidding, it’s Samuel. His grandfather’s name.

9. He grew up in the breathtaking Wind River mountains of Northwest Wyoming, jut south of Jackson Hole (most people know where Jackson is, not Pinedale, where Rob grew up).

8. He has no idea why he’s writing this list in the third person.

7. He recently had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy. He won’t make you look it up. It’s a fix for someone who kept eating all the food they did when they played tight end in college but don’t play tight end in college anymore.

6. He played tight end in college.

5. It was only Division III. The school (Grinnell College) was so liberal they literally hated athletes. That’s right. Most NCAA schools, if you are an athlete, you are at least appreciated (if not elevated to ridiculous status). At Grinnell, the hippies protested the games.

4. Rob went to college with a bunch of hippies.

3. In 2002, Rob found out he had cancer. Don’t worry, he survived.

2. In 2008 he lost his son to SIDS. There’s nothing funny to be said about that, unfortunately, but if you want to do something nice, you can donate here in Brody Guthrie’s name.

1. He makes, no kidding, from scratch, the best homemade pizza you’ve ever drooled over. Beer crust. An ancient family marinara recipe. Pineapple. Red pepper. Need he say more?

WHEW. I’m drained. I hope you feel you know me better now! (Actually, I just hope you’re still reading.)

My Six Nominations for the Kreativ Blogger Award (in no particular order):

Scott Morgan: Scott (@Write_hook) is someone with whom I have really connected over the past few months. He and I were either separated at birth or in some weird Mary Shelly-ish plot they split one brain in two, surgically implanted one half in each of us, and these halves grew into the minds Scott and I use today. (Or maybe we just like a lot of the same stuff.) Seriously, though—this man knows about writing chops. For one thing, he’s got ’em. For another, he devotes a large amount of time to producing videos, blog posts, and even a BOOK (Character Development from the Inside Out) sharing his experience with you. His blog is right here. Read it. Rinse. Repeat. You’ll not only be glad you did, you’ll find yourself a better writer.

Dawn Torrens: Dawn (@Torrenstp) is another tweep I met after joining up with the coolest community of characters since Walden Commune in Doonesbury. In fact, she’s officially one of my tweethearts. Don’t worry, there’s nothing untoward about that designation. A couple of the first writers I met on Twitter happen to also be two of the sweetest. This is just how they talk (and yes, they’ve got me talking like that, too—it’s kind of liberating, fellas, you ought to try it)! Dawn started blogging about the everyday trials, joys, and other experiences writing her first book (Amelia’s Story, a necessary, heart-wrenching, true story about a little girl triumphing over a terrifying childhood; a book Dawn wrote for her own precious little angel to read one day.) Dawn’s excellent blog, Dawn’s Daily, is well worth your visits.

Cinta Garcia: Cinta (@Austenite78) is the second of my tweeties, this one from Spain. I met her when she purchased my autographed paperback to support a young man with autism. I knew immediately I’d met someone special. A week or two after sending the book across the ocean, Cinta posted a pic of her holding my book with the caption “Your book in Spain!” That’s just the kind of person she is. She’s also one of the best writers I’ve met online. She is a devoted Jane Austen fan and let me tell you, she’s going to one day give Jane a run for the money! Here is her outstanding blog, Cinta’s Corner, where she posts some of her writing for you to enjoy (as well as other extremely interesting topical items, author bios, etc.).

Trish Gentry: Trish (@VaChicklet) is one of the coolest tweeps I’ve met online. Also one of the most talented. She’s working on her first novel and has been kind enough to allow me to work with her on it as a beta reader, editor, and just basic literary handyman. Seriously, she’s putting together a Contemporary Romance novel you are ALL going to want to snatch up as soon as it’s out. Trish also blogs on writing and (best of all) she, too, shares some of her own writing there! It’s a great place to stop in to see what’s up with Chick Lit and for a great read: ChickletLit.

Scott Bury: Scott (@ScottTheWriter) writes an absolutely necessary blog on the written word called, yep, Written Words. We’re all busy, and I try like heck to read all the interesting blogs that are out there, but when I have to prioritize (and let’s face it, we all must) I always try to hit Scott’s excellent blog on writing. I’ve never been let down. He always has cogent, sage advice for the penman and woman. Scott is also a helluva book reviewer. He calls it like he sees it—one of those reviewers who makes your book feel worthy without doling five-stars capriciously. Check him out!

C.K. Gray: C.K. (@CKGBOOKS) is a unique kind of blogger in that she doesn’t blog all the time. Most of us are filling the ether with our pith, our thoughts, our suggestions, and yes, even our awards—C.K.’s website has a blog section just like all the rest, but that’s where the similarities end. Gray is the talented author behind the blockbuster Eye of the Storm. I say “blockbuster” without hesitation. First, I’ve read it. I’m a man, dear readers, and it HOOKED ME. It’s also under option for film, and let me tell you, it would make a great flick on the big screen (and the sequel After the Storm is due out soon this year)! The reason I am nominating C.K. is simple. She does what I preach (no, not because I preach it—she simply follows the same rule as me): write from the heart. Man, if I could just drill ONE creed into every writer it would be that. For me (and for most readers, whether they know it or not) the point where the words begin to soar is when they come from the center of our being. Heart and soul. C.K. writes from her heart, sharing worthy quotes, poetry, and articles about love, soulmates, tenderness, compassion, kindness—you know, all of those things that make the world a more tolerable place (yet those things that we too often forget about). Check out C.K.’s main site here. You won’t be sorry. And your heart will be that much the better for it.

That’s it dear readers. It was actually really hard to “pick six”. Sincerely. There are SO many great blogs out there. I just couldn’t end this without an Honorable Mention category (Honorable Mention here simply means I would have given all these blogs—and more I will forget—had the missive been to pick more):

Jo VonBargen (Two-Bit Bard)
Russell Blake (Russell Blake)
Johanna K.P. (The Manicheans)
Molly Greene (Molly Greene)
Alan McDermott (Jambalian)
KD Rush (KD Rush)

Check them out, too. You’ll be glad you did!

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The blank page is dead…long live the blank page.

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Author known to use spontaneous satire, sarcasm, and unannounced injections of pith or witticisms which may not be suitable for humorless or otherwise jest-challenged individuals. (Witticisms not guaranteed to be witty, funny, comical, hilarious, clever, scintillating, whimsical, wise, endearing, keen, savvy, sagacious, penetrating, fanciful, or otherwise enjoyable. The Surgeon General has determined through laboratory testing that sarcasm can be dangerous, even in small amounts, and should not be ingested by those who are serious, somber, pensive, weighty, funereal, unsmiling, poker-faced, sober, or pregnant.)