The Liebster Award

I'm utterly thrilled to announce that I have been nominated for a Liebster Award! 

This is a prize awarded to bloggers by bloggers, to show appreciation for their efforts, and to encourage others to read their work.

The rules are as follows:

• Say thank you to the person who has nominated you for the award.
• Answer the 11 questions the person has asked you.
• Nominate people (comment on their blog to let them know).
• Ask the people you have nominated 11 questions.

Thus, allow me to begin by thanking my nominator, the incredibly talented Lillielove! I truly am grateful for this honour. If you haven't already, please go and read her amazing work: her stories are complex and enthralling, with some of the most stunning Sims screengrabs I've ever seen.

Congratulations also to my fellow nominee, cynicalbadger!

Anyway, on to the questions!

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1: What was the thing/event that made you decide to write? 

I can't really recall a pinpoint moment - I've been scribbling stuff ever since I was a wee nipper. I've dabbled in many different mediums, and you can read some of my non-Sims works here, should you wish to. 

In terms of The Sims, I've always created plotlines and tales which I previously kept to myself, but I started sharing my work after discovering Boolprop - cynicalbadger (Fionerd Plays) mentioned it in one of her YouTube videos. After seeing a few stories and legacies, I decided to give writing some of my own a whirl - and since then, they've become some of my most widely read pieces. Feedback is a massive motivator for me, but I also love playing the games and exploring all of their features, so in short, I intend to carry on!


2: Do you have a favorite character/creation/storyline? If so, who/what and why?

The Miskins. I adore them all for different reasons. I loved playing and writing for Montague because his joyful comedian career contrasts with the troubles of his dark bargain, and he can seem so harsh and uncaring, when deep down, you know he only wants what's best. Mordecai was an interesting one as he was such a radical departure from the nobility idea that the Miskins started as, and having a Sim with no conventional employment provided an interesting challenge. 

My personal favourite so far, though, has to be Mac. My intent with him was to make him the embodiment of pure goodness and love, as well as to introduce a romance story that didn't run as smoothly as his predecessors' ones did. His main arc was a bit trickier to write, and even I wondered if the confrontation event might be a step too far, but the effort seems to have paid off, and hopefully, it resulted in a more powerful storyline.


3. What's one of the things that makes you tick? 

Having the fidgets. I love to keep myself and my mind busy, and both playing and writing are good ways for me to do so. I also like to finish a job I begin, which is another motivation for me to continue my legacies and plotlines whenever I can.


4. What is your least favorite story/movie/TV show? 

I wasn't keen on the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie. I loved the books and almost every other adaptation - radio, TV, etc. - but something about the movie just felt wrong. Too much was changed. It just didn't have the same air, that same spirit, that je ne sais quoi, that the others did. As a fan of them, therefore, it was rather a letdown.


5. What is something you "need" in order to function each day?

Tea. A world without tea is chaos.


6. What is the thing that makes you happy every time you see/hear it?

At the risk of sounding even more pretentious than I probably alrady do... the little notifcation I get whenever someone comments on or responds to my work. Knowing people are enjoying it, and that they feel able to remark on it, is a truly amazing feeling that never fades away.


7. If you could live anywhere in the world - money and distance not being an issue - where would it be and why?

Probably Lake Garda in Italy. I went on a holiday there and fell in love with it. Lakes, mountains, towns, beaches... it has it all. It is truly one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. I could just sit beside the lake all day and write. One particular highlight was the town of Limone sul Garda: if you take the Italian meaning of its name into account, I can assure you it's very fitting!


8. What's your Sims confession? 

Thank plumbob for the Motherlode cheat.


9. Describe your ideal "perfect" day?

I wake up, get a cup of tea and a Nutella toastie, and play The Sims for a while. Then I get some lunch, have a nice walk somewhere, and then come home and do some writing - stopping for dinner and a nice bubble bath at some point.


10. If you could trade places with any of the fictional (maybe nonfictional?) characters you have read/written/seen, who would it be and why?

One I've written: I'd love to be Roxy Rhodes for a day. Kick ass, take names, and basically be one cool customer.

One I've seen: I'd love to be the test subject on the Satellite of Love (Mystery Science Theater 3000) and hang out with the Bots. It would be a great experience, and I'd get to poke fun at a bad movie!

One I've read: Maybe Dr. Susan Calvin from Isaac Asimov's "Robot" stories. It would be fascinating to see a futuristic world and the advances in robot technology.


11: To carry on the wonderful theme: can I have a hug?

Nah, I don't do hugs.

...

Aah, who am I kidding? COME HERE, YOU!

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Before I reveal my nominations, I have a couple of honourable mentions from the deviantART community.

The first is dave-llamaman, a wonderful real-world friend and a very funny writer.
The other is Steve-C2, another great writer, and one who has been very supportive of my non-Sims works, which I'm highly grateful for.

I also highly reccomend the works of both Lillielove and cynicalbadger - I am not formally nominating them, though, as they've already recieved this award! As have three other of my original intended nominees, the amazing Second Chances by orangeplumbob, The Dysfunkshinul Legacy by Gryffindork and Pixel Perfect Redux by KimiKatastrophe!

In addition, do check out the story threads on Boolprop and Carl's Sims Forums - there are some great writers there who use the boards as opposed to blogs.

And now, at long last, here are my choices for the Liebster Award. I know I don't have many, but it seems a lot of my favourites have won this prize already! 
(For real, this is like the sixth edit!)

• The Charming Family Legacy by Kipper123
• The Alien Invasion by Taube 
• The New Pokémon Legacy by Pony
• Sim State Megahood
• Strangetown, Here We Come 

My questions for you are:

1. How are you today?
2. What's the weather like? (I'm British - it is a national pastime to discuss weather.)
3. What came first for you - Sims or writing?
4. How do you maintain movitation?
5. You can only play one game out of the entire Sims franchise for the rest of your life: base only, no expansions. Which do you pick and why?
6. Your legacy is being made into a movie. Choose a few key characters: who would be your dream casting?
7. What are your non-Simming hobbies?
8. Ideal snack whilst writing/Simming?
9. Plan the legacy's story, or let the game lead the way?
10. What would you like to say to your readers?
11. Lastly... can I have a hug?

Thank you all for reading! I look forward to seeing my nominees' responses!