Red Stripes On My Face

Erotica author Wylie Kinson gave me an award, I am so flattered and embarassed because I admire Wylie and I don't think I deserve it...but it makes me feel good that someone enjoys my ramblings. And here is what Wylie said...Candy Minx - a blogger, a writer, an artist, a film-maker -- a true Renaissance woman. I'll be honest... I mostly don't comment on her blog because she intimidates the hell out of me. People - she's really really smart. Savvy. In-the-know. Go there. You might learn something.

As part of the award, recipients are asked to cite three elements of powerful writing. Here are three things that make a book a keeper in my world:

1) Interspecies relationships in outdoor adventure settings. I like animals and humans in my fiction. I am a massive animal lover...grew up with many pets and reading about animals all my life. I believe that a story is much more interesting when it is including other animals...even if it's just the family pet...as John Irving often explores in his novels all the way to Jack London. when I was reading as a kid I loved Jack London and Robert Louis Stevenson and James Fennimore Cooper who wrote massive out-of-doors stories. I like adventure which expanded to novels like Moby Dick, Life of Pi (obviously the animal version was my fave), All The Pretty Horses, His Dark Materials, The Hotel New Hampshire, The Accidental Tourist...

2) Life and Death. I don't know how you can explore the human condition without some loss and some love. Or at least the fear of both! Maybe it's a little bit like what Chekov said, if there is a gun in the first act, it should go off by the end of the play.

3) Reality is over rated. Although I read all kinds of books and genres, fiction and non-fiction one thing I really like...is when a book twists my head around. It could be a theory or science book or it could be a novel. I think imagination and transformative thinking processes are what makes a book really zing for me. If a book puts forth a way of thinking or a premise that makes me stop and go WHAT!?-I am hooked! It is more important to me than genre or writing expertise. I suppose what I mean is what is called a "paradigm shift". That a character or line of study or a theme shakes up my thinking. I am a little like those people who like parachuting, or extreme sports and look for the rush. I like that in my books and it is what makes a book outstanding for me.


Three writers I love reading and who I pass this award to are: Bulit To Be Destoyed writes about reverie and memories. I relax and think after reading his blog thoughts. Malcolm at Pop Culture dish because he writes about tv shows and pop culture with a lot of love. I feel happy after I take one of his quizes or read about Bootsy Collins and classic programs. Her Lofty Perch and this is cheating...I was trying to nominate people who I didn't really "know" and I consider Gardenia a new friend. But she writes about struggles and health and her family without bitterness or companing. So many blogs talk about the same things...but they whinge. Gardenia always has hope and will to carry on. Despite some tragic challenges she is one of the most graceful writers about emotions.

Visitors who shared what makes a book readable: 1) Mister Anchovy 2) Wylie Kinson 3) Malcolm