Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Help! I've been tagged!

Okay, so I was actually tagged a while ago and have only just got around to answering the questions. I kept putting it off because felt a bit like homework. But then I got to include some cheesy music vids and a pic of Clint Eastwood, so I have decided it was fun after all :) Please go and visit Rossandra White and say Hi.

Here are her 11 questions that she posed:


1) What book have you always wanted to read, but still haven’t gotten around to it?

Hmmm, let me see ... I've never read War and Peace, and only parts of The Karma Sutra.

2) What classic book do you feel is overrated? Why?

Jane Eyre - I was forced to dissect it at school and I hate it!


3) What is your favorite movie adaptation of a book?  Least favorite?

Favourite(s): The first Harry Potter film - just magical. Pride and Prejudice the BBC series (Colin Firth emerging from the lake - yum)

Least favourite: Eat, Pray, Love - so disappointing.

4) Where is your favorite place to write?

My bedroom when the house is empty or the library (just need some peace and quiet and NO interruptions - yes, that means you, kids!)

5) Pen, pencil or computer?

Computer (only because it saves having to type it later).



6) What was your favorite toy as a child?

Cowboy and indian outfit (watched too many Spaghetti Westerns)
And a cuddly dog pyjama case (which I still have, btw).

7) What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

Having kids and not killing them ... yet!



8)  If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one ability or quality, what would it be?

Oooh this is a hard one - just so many things I'd like. But if I can only choose one, it would be ... to have the ability to fly. How much fun would that be?  It might even prevent me getting any more bloody speeding tickets (yep, just got another one.)



9) What are five songs you hate to admit you love?
  • 'Bye Bye Baby' by The Bay City Rollers (can't believe I've just admitted to this)
  • 'Evergreen' by Barbara Streisand
  • 'Careless Whisper' by George Michael
  • 'Ain't No Stopping us Now' by McFadden & Whitehead.
  • There are better videos of this song, but this just makes me smile every time I watch it - the larger one (no idea whether he's McFadden or Whitehead) does this hilarious, happy dance and everyone seems to be having such a great time!




  • 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' by Kylie Minogue.
  • Just love this song - like McFadden & Whitehead, it makes me want to jump up and dance :)



10) Where is your dream destination, (or place you’ve always wanted to go)?

Omg there are so many - Italy definitely, but also Australia, New Zealand, Africa, China.


11) What are the top five things on your bucket list?

Swim with the dolpins (prefereably somewhere hot and beautiful, like Hawaii).

Publish my book.

Drive across America with my hubby, just stopping and staying wherever we felt like it.

Go on a weekend silent retreat (my sister, the Buddhist nun) is currently on a month long silent retreat. The thought of not speaking for an hour is scary so I can't imagine how terrifying a weekend would be, let alone a month!

Drive a Jaguar E-type convertible - fast (so obviously nowhere in California!).

Okey dokey - now for me to come up with 11 questions for 11 other bloggers:

1. What is your earliest childhood memory?
2. Tell us about a funny/embarrassing incident that happened to you?
3. What was the name of your first boyfriend/girlfriend?
4. What is the name of your current WIP (and, briefly, what is it about)?
5. Who is your funniest book character?
6. Which hero/heroine would you most like to go on a date with (and why)?
7. Would you rather have your book win the Booker Prize but not sell many copies, or top the
NY Times best-sellers list and make you millions?
8. How often do you blog and why?
9. Which is your favourite blog?
10. What is the last music CD/download you bought?
11. List 5 things you are grateful for today.

Here are the 11 blogs I've tagged. Please go and say Hi and see what their answers were.

First Draft Cafe   Bridget Straub   Deanna Barnhart   Raviolos & Waterworks  
Jenny's Imaginary World   Kirsten Pelfrey Writes   An Alleged Author  
Katie Gates: Stories and Opinions   Sarah Ahiers Writes   Randy Lindsay - Author In Training  
Aloha! Mark Koopmans say hi from HI

Now for you. Don't think you've got away scot-free. Please pick one of my 11 questions and answer it in the comments. Oooh wonder which one you're going to choose ...

45 comments:

  1. So many of those answers are what I would have said, especially not liking Jane Eyre, loving Colin Firth and not killing the kids! Not sure I could stay silent for an hour, let alone a weekend - even when I'm home alone I sing out loud or talk to the mirror (actually, forget I just said that lol)

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  2. I love that your greatest accomplishment is having kids and not killing them. SO TRUE. Hehe. Thanks for tagging me. I'll have to do a tag/award day next week.

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  3. I picked question #5 - Who is your funniest book character.

    That would be Dave from Exit Stage Left. He is an ex-surfer turned used-car salesman that helps his best friend solve mysteries in Hollywood. He has an optimistic view of the entertainment industry that plays off well against his friend's jaded outlook on life.

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  4. Annalisa - yeah, Colin Firth! But talking to the mirror ... oh dear, sounds kinda crazy!!
    Jenny - looking forward to reading your answers.
    Randy - you have to answer ALL the questions as I tagged you!! LOL

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  5. Awesome! Thanks for the tag! Love your dream destination list. I've always wanted to visit all those places, with Italy and Paris as #1!!

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    1. Paris is fab - just busy and expensive and don't EVER try and drive there!

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  6. Lots of great answers, not killing the kids is a good thing..hahaha...driving across the country would surely be an experience to be had and yep the Harry Potter films were grand

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    1. Just think of all the daft things I could write about driving across America!

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  7. Hehe. I was looking at your post when I got a notification you'd left a comment on MY post. Clearly, we need to see *your* writing places too, Claire! Maybe I could feature you in May? (Taking April off in order to handle A-Z of course...)

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    1. And to answer one of your questions: 6. Which hero/heroine would you most like to go on a date with (and why)?

      I always liked Marak the goblin king from Clare Dunkle's "The Hollow Kingdom." He's surprisingly gentlemanly although not perfect by any means, even if he is unattractive, by all counts.

      Of course, I was fascinated by Erik from "The Phantom of the Opera." He would be interesting to go on a date with, if you could prevent him from becoming obsessed with you -- which would be bad because he's totally insane.

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    2. Callie, how funny. And I would love to be featured, thank you. I don't know either of your heroes but thinking that Erik sounds a fun choice!

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  8. Aloha Claire,

    LOVE your voice... you're hilarious and I am most def. a new follower... and you've cursed, er I mean *tagged* me, too :)

    Will work on that one next week and use some if not all of your questions as I strive to catch up on several Taggings :)

    Cheers, and PS... with a name like yours, you belong in my Got Green? Blog O'hop on Paddy's Day :)

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    1. And aloha to you too, Mark. Would love to join your o'hop so will wander over and take a look :)

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  9. Having kids and not killing them, LOL, amen!

    Sweet car, Claire :)

    "Which hero/heroine would you most like to go on a date with (and why)?" 1) Erik from the Phantom of the Opera because he is the most tragically romantic hero I can think of and that story has stayed with me for decades. 2) Gregor from Joely Sue Burkhart's Shanhasson series because he's the closest to a Phantom type hero I've read.

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    1. Yeah, car's beautiful, isn't it? Oooh another Erik from Phantom.

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  10. Love your answers. I'm happy I haven't killed my kids, too, although I threaten all the time. lol

    I've always wanted to swim with the dolphins, too. You would think living in South Florida, I would have, but alas, it hasn't happened.

    Glad to be following you now. I look forward to your posts.

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    1. Thanks for commenting - take your kids and go find them dolphins!

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  11. As a native Californian, I know all about the speeding tickets. THEY WILL CATCH YOU! You know you can swim with the dolphins at Sea World in San Diego, right? That's on my bucket list, too. I didn't enjoy Jane Eyre, either - so annoying, LOL. Loved your answers, Claire:)

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    1. Yes bloody CHP! Ggggrrrrrrr. Oooh I didn't know that, and my friends have just moved to San Diego :) Thanks

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  12. Ha! Thank you for the tag. Love all of your answers because they made me LOL. :)

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  13. Yay thanks! I hope to get to these next week!

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    1. You're welcome and I look forward to reading your answers.

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  14. Great answers! I loved (still love) spaghetti westerns, too. And one of my embarrassed-to-admit-songs is George Michael's Father Figure. There's something so wrong about that one, it's right!

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  15. I love reading about you! The book I've always wanted to read is Lolita - and I just started it yesterday. Oh, wait, I'm supposed to answer one of your questions - I last downloaded the Twilight Breaking Dawn album because I LOVE IT. That is all.

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    1. Thank you, Laura. I love reading your blog. Still trying to implement all your suggestions! Will have to take a look at the Breaking Dawn albus - can't remember the songs now.

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  16. Great post! I haven't heard the Bay City Rollers in yonks. Oh hunni thanx for reminding me about these blokes

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    1. Thanks. I used to be obsessed with them - dressed up in tartan and everything!

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  17. I have yet to watch the whole of Eat, Pray, Love. From what I've heard, though, I'm not missing much!

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    1. Definitely one to miss. I loved the book and hated the film. Such a waste.

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  18. I liked your answer to number 7. And I HATE interruptions - just a quick phone call throws me right off!

    I'll answer number 10 of your questions. I bought my wife the newest albums by Snow Patrol, My Chemical Romance and Will Young for her birthday/Xmas (they're close together) - yep, she has eclectic taste!

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    1. Excellent choices. I just bought tickets to see Snow Patrol in Oakland and I'm somehow related to Will Young in the very distant past LOL

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  19. It was fun to read your answers!


    Would you rather have your book win the Booker Prize but not sell many copies, or top the NY Times best-sellers list and make you millions?

    Wow, that's a tough question. But, you know, I think I'd have to go with topping the NYT best-seller list. I'd love to write something that other people enjoy. :)

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    1. Yes, I think I agree with you. And also because there is not a hope in hell that my book would win the Booker Prize anyway!

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  20. Hi Claire! Oh, I so hear you on Jane Eyre - glad I'm not alone. What a disappointment.

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  21. Hi Claire, Thanks so much for the tag and pardon my delay in responding. I've been a bit lax in the blogosphere lately! I appreciate the shout-out, and I enjoyed reading your answers.

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    1. My pleasure, Katie, and I shall eagerly await your answers like an over-enthusiastic puppy!

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  22. Wonderful answers and I loved the videos. I would like to have the ability to heal. I think that would be a cool ability.

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  23. These answers are so fun. Oh and how awesome would that be to fly ;)

    I loved Pride and Prejudice too ;)

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    1. Thanks for commenting and good luck with your book launch :)

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  24. Love all your movie adaptions, never read eat, pray love so nothing to compare it too!
    Anytime you want to come to NZ, be more than happy to show you round. Would love to do a weekend silent retreat maybe I can send the family away and just not answer the phone for a weekend?
    My earliest childhood memory is coming downstairs when I was about 3 or 4 and find a Tiny Tears Doll waiting for me, so must ahve been Christmas or birthday. I still have her today.

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  25. Oh thank you for NZ offer, how kind :) Tiny Tears - wow, blast from the past.

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