Liebster Award Nomination

Thank you, Haven Malone, for nominating Writing in the Modern Age!

I am pleased to announce that we have won an award for this blog.  After receiving the Liebster Award, Haven Malone of Musings of A Writer passed it onto us.  This award is normally given to bloggers by other bloggers, and we are honored to be part of this tradition. To learn more about the Liebster Award, check out this post by Lorraine Reguly.


The Rules

1.  Link back and thank the blogger who nominated you in your post.

2.  List 11 facts about yourself.

3.  Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.

4.  Pick 5 - 10 new bloggers (must have less than 300 followers) to nominate and ask them 11 new questions. Do not re-nominate the blogger that nominated you.

5.  Go to each new blogger’s site and inform them of their nomination.

Wow, okay!  I don't often blog on my own on Writing in the Modern Age.  I have two other blogs for that purpose, Marie Lavender's Books! and I Love Romance Blog.  But, I'll give it a shot.  :)

 

11 Random Facts about Myself

1.  I used to be rather shy.
2.  I love gel pens.
3.  I love all animals and I don't understand animal abuse.
4.  I love dark chocolate.
5.  I have green eyes.
6.  My night vision is pretty good.
7.  I write a lot of suspense in my books.
8.  Someday, I think I would like to start my own publishing company.
9.  I am only 5'4", but I am in denial so I usually say 5'5" on most forms.  LOL.
10.  I love historical romance and paranormal romance.
11.  My favorite bands are OneRepublic, Fireflight and Paramore.




Questions Asked by Haven

1.  Name three secrets that you never told anyone.

1)  There are a lot of fruits I don't like, but I will eat them if I have to.

2)  I sing in the shower.

3)  I messed up a solo one time because I forgot the words so I sang the first verse over again.  LOL.

2. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would do?  

1) I would pay off my bills.  2) I would help my family with theirs too.

3. Looking over the last ten years, what is one goal you have achieved and one that you have not achieved?  

Well, I have definitely been published.  I can say that.  The other is really close to my heart.  I am not married yet, but I plan to be very soon.

4. What are your plans for retirement? And will you travel, if so where and why?  

Retirement?  I don't think a writer can actually retire.  I think for me, that would be a nightmare.  But, traveling?  I would do that in a heartbeat.  I have always wanted to go to Ireland.  There is something so beautiful about that place, and I have some Irish roots as well as some other stuff mixed in.  LOL. 

5. Favorite drink on a Friday night?

Well, I don't drink alcohol, but I love chocolate shakes!

6. What do you think the secret is to a good marriage or relationship with a significant other is?  

I think honesty and patience are paramount.  Without honesty, you don't have a foundation.  Without patience, you're going to have a lot of unnecessary conflict.  You won't always agree with your partner on everything, but patience is the key to understanding your significant other.  Plus, we're all human.  We make mistakes.  Don't be afraid to admit it.

7. Name three words that describe your personality.  

Stubborn, honest and easily hurt.  

8. Home-cooked meal or take-out? 

Both.  It really depends on my mood and how much time I have.  I prefer take-out if I can't stop and make anything.  But, cooking a meal helps me de-stress and it always nice to sit down with my fiance and have a nice meal together. 

9. When was the last time you blogged and what was the topic? 

My last official blog post on Marie Lavender's Books! was about Twitter, and the best ways to use it in order to gain followers and market your books. 

10. What do you think the key is to happiness? 

I think the key to happiness is to try to keep the pressure in your life down.  Be kind to yourself.  Take a break when you can, and don't be so hard on yourself if something doesn't work out right.  How many tries did it take Thomas Edison to figure out the light bulb?  A thousand?  When asked about it, he said, "It just meant that I was that many times closer to success."  We should all be so patient. 

11. Who is your favorite poet and why?

As for my favorite poet, that is tough.  I think it is a cross between T.S. Eliot and Max Ehrmann.  Although, I think they still can't decide if "Desiderata" is a poem or a short essay.  In any case, those are some very wise words . 

My Liebster Nominations 

In keeping with our theme, I have decided to nominate some of our Writing in the Modern Age authors' blogs:


1.  K.C. Sprayberry - http://outofcontrolcharacters.blogspot.com/
2.  KateMarie Collins - http://katemariecollins.wordpress.com/
3.  CJ Heck - http://knowingwhispers.blogspot.com/
4.  T.J. Banks - http://www.tjbanks927.blogspot.com/
5.  Robin Leigh Morgan - http://www.mypennameonly.blogspot.com/
6.  Robert Fanshaw - http://fanshawrobert.blogspot.co.uk/
7.  Penny Estelle - http://pennyestelle.blogspot.com/
8.  Lance Sheridan - http://darkroastedpoetry.wordpress.com/
9.  Shannon MacLeod - http://themacleod.wordpress.com/
10.  Devika Fernando - http://www.devikafernando.com/blog.html

POETRY SPOTLIGHT: Devika Fernando on Love

Hi, readers!  In these poetry spotlights today and in the future, we will be showcasing poetry by some very talented poets.  These poets have graced us with their presence.  

With us today is poet Devika Fernando.  Here is a little taste of her poetry and an explanation on her style.

Love is Love

Love is two people respecting each other

But love is also two people blaming one another

Love is expecting wonderful things

But love is also an eagle without wings

Love is kissing the whole day

But love is also not finding the right way

Love is everything you desire

But love is also an aggressive fire

Love is two people holding each other

But love is also screaming at one another

Love is growing grass

But love is also splitting glass

Love is a protecting shield

But you know love is also a battle field.

Love is…

When people say they’re happy

When people say they’re just not happy

When you could embrace the whole world

When you want to be embraced by the world

When you want to sing with the birds through the ages

When the mute birds are caught in golden cages

When the sun is shining only for you

When the moon is crying with you

When you forget all your fears

When you’re washed away by tears

When you’re watching your soul grow

When the flowers are covered by snow

When four eyes are shining bright

When two hearts are open wide.

Love is…

The only thing you want to escape

Love is…

The only thing you cannot escape

Love is…

A thousand red roses on the floor

Love is…

A thousand people walking over them

Love is…

Swimming against the current

Love is…

Standing with the back against the wall

Love is…

A tamed animal

Love is…

Wild creatures of the dark

Love is…

The bullet everybody wants to be hit by.

The pencil to write your own story.

A little ray of light that gets you through the day.

The path to success

And the path to failure.

Love is Love

Huntress

I’ve caught and captured you

I’ve got you trapped and tangled

You’re on the tip of my tongue

You’re beneath my finger nails

When I lick and scratch… hunt

I’ve taught and tortured you

I’ve got you dazed and confused

You’re in the hollow of my neck

You’re in the small of my back

When I nuzzle and cuddle… hunt

I’ve fought and fondled you

I’ve got you willing and weary

You’re underneath my skin

You’re eating out of my hand

When I embrace and lead… hunt

I’ve amazed and abused you

I’ve got you mingled and mangled

You’re on the edge of a dream

You’re on the verge of giving in

When I seduce and induce… hunt

I’ve caught and captured you

I’ve sought and raptured you

As I’m a huntress par excellence

Always on the prowl for prey

I’m your most persistent predator

Flashing a smile, wiggling a hip

I’m not hunting with bow and arrow

But I penetrate your very marrow

It’s not a hide-and-seek game

Instead almost a devil’s bargain

Beware when I’m out on the hunt

‘Cause once I’ve caught and captured you

You’ll be trapped and tangled forever

In too deep, too deeply in love

With a huntress

Let me decorate you

Let me decorate you with dedication

Let me adorn you with adoration

Gorgeous garlands out of compliments

Ostentatious ornaments out of smiles

Let me glorify you with generosity

Let me lavish you with love

Playful patterns out of kisses

Soaring structures out of caresses

Let me decorate you with devotion

Let me adorn you with affection

Enchanting emblems out of compliments

Never-ending necklaces out of smiles

Let me glorify you with gratitude

Let me lavish you with light

Beautiful bangles out of kisses

Captivating clothes out of caresses

Let me decorate you with determination

Let me adorn you with appreciation

Magnificent medals out of compliments

Fantastic features out of smiles

Let me glorify you with gracefulness

Let me lavish you with longing

Resplendent riches out of kisses

Triumphant titles out of caresses

Let me decorate you with delicacy

Let me adorn you with affirmation

Astounding armor out of compliments

Dazzling décor out of smiles

Let me glorify you with gentleness

Let me lavish you with luxury

Iridescent invention out of kisses

Marvelous memorial out of caresses

Comments:

Poetry is actually my first love, although I mostly dedicate my time to prose nowadays. I already wrote short poems when I was barely able to spell, obsessed with finding the right rhyme. Much earlier than with stories, I switched from German to English poems because I felt that I could express myself better that way. While my first poems were mostly about love, about letting my own feelings out and about dealing with various situations in life, my later works also circle(d) around nature or various social issues, or can even be viewed as mini-stories.

I believe that poetry is perfect for anything and everything connected to love. When inspiration hits me, I enjoy exploring the myriad aspects of this vast and varied topic, from the sweet romance to the emotional downside of it, from the physical and philosophical side of it to related topics like jealousy, betrayal, friendship and loving oneself.

The first poem, "Love is Love", is a take on how differently people define love, and on how much baggage comes with it.

The second poem, "Huntress", plays with desire and with the ladies being in charge.

The third poem, "Let me decorate you", is supposed to show to what great lengths people in love will go to please their partners.

 

Poet Bio   

Almost as soon as Devika Fernando could write, she imagined stories and poems. After finishing her education in Germany and returning to her roots in Sri Lanka, she got a chance to turn her passion into her profession. Having lived in Germany and in Sri Lanka with her husband has made her experience the best (and the worst) of two totally different worlds – something that influences her writing. Besides being a romance novel author, she works as a German web content writer and as a translator. When she’s not writing, she’s reading or thinking about writing.

Links: 

http://www.devikafernando.com

http://www.facebook.com/devika.fernando.18

http://www.pinterest.com/devikafernando1/

 

Book:  

  

 Other Books:

Saved in Sri Lanka - Book 1 in the Romance Round the World Series

Playing with Fire - Book 1 in the 4 Elements of Love Series