Tales of the Unexpected…

Katie Fogarty by Benjamin Kanarek for Harper's Bazaar HK, Oct. 2010

All my readers know of my passionate love affair with Benjamin Kanarek and his amazing design team’s truly epic PHOTOGRAPHY. (What did you think I was going to say?! Get your minds out of the gutter, people!)

This world famous fashion photographer recently asked writers to send him short fairytales based on his inspired ‘Tales of the Unexpected‘ layout for October 2010 Harper’s BAZAAR Hong-Kong.

This isn’t an opportunity that comes along every day.

Soooooo…

My limerick, “Conjuring Katie” was one of only three pieces selected, and posted on his blog!

Thank you very much, I am genuinely honoured.

(Now where’s my tiara?!)

ModernDayStoryTeller has been Questioning me…

I’m very honored to be invited to participate in ModernDayStoryTeller Blog’s 1st Birthday Bash!! The lovely Karen Quah really knows how to stir things up, isn’t the least bit shy with her printed self, but always makes her visitors feel not only welcome but free to disagree.

Not that I would know first hand, not being the disagreeable sort, myself… *cough* … see below:

ModernDayStoryTeller Has Been Questioning Me…

Witty and irreverent writer, Kristi Thompson, is one of ModernDayStoryTeller’s dearest and most frequent readers.

She is famous for leaving a comment just seconds after a blog is posted, which is one of the things I love about her.

Another thing I love about Kristi is her part blog/ part sitcom – How Did You Get There?.

Not only is it certifiably insane, Kristi, a gifted interviewer, has a knack of unhinging her victims – er, I mean interviewees – in the most humorous and unexpected of ways.

How Did You Get There has been short-listed for the 2010 Irish Blog Awards (Humour) and Kristi’s first novel, Can’t Get You Out of My Mind,  is “completed and house hunting–any Random House will do.”

Here, she shares her thoughts on Twitter and why the aliens need a movie like Elf to learn a thing or two about us.

Thanks for the laughs and encouragement, Kristi. Wonderful to have you!

To See this interview PLEASE CLICK HERE!!

Irish Blog Awards Short List

I made the Irish Blog Awards Short List in the Best Humour Blog category!

Thank you to Maximise, sponsor of the Best Humour Blog category. I’m thrilled to be in the running.

My feelings are best expressed in song and 70s dance movements: A Chorus Line, “God I Hope I Get It”

Kristi vs. the Kreativ Blogger Award

Kristi: Is my tiara on straight?

How Did You Get There: It’s MY tiara, and why are you wearing it without asking?

Kristi: (adjusts gold lame gown) Sally Clements nominated me for my 2^nd Kreativ Blogger Award!

How Did You Get There: I believe she nominated ME!

Kristi: (practices surprised smile) Her blog is Love and Chocolate—with a name like that you can only imagine how much fun it is!

How Did You Get There: I know, but it’s MY friend so I should receive the Award.

Kristi: Right – like last time, when you let the Award get drunk on the couch? This time I’m ready with my list of “7 Little Known Facts” you’re going to reveal about me.

How Did You Get There: About you?! But–I’m the blog!

Kristi: (unrolls gold edged paper) Shut up and listen. I’ll read them as soon as the Award arrives—is the whiskey locked up?

How Did You Get There: Yes.

Kristi: (clears throat) #1 I was born and raised in Texas, but have also lived in Rochester, NY; Boston, Paris and now Dublin.

How Did You Get There: (under breath) #1 Obnoxious Braggart.

Kristi: What did you say?

How Did You Get There: (unlocks whiskey cabinet, pours shot) Nothing.

Kristi: #2 At the tender age of 4, no – 2, it sounds better – I wanted to be Shirley Temple and sang ‘On the Good Ship Lollypop’ for my parents…daily.

How Did You Get There: (drinks) #2 Extremely annoying as a child.

Kristi: What are you muttering about?

How Did You Get There: (pours 2^nd shot) Just writing down what you said, for journalistic accuracy…

Kristi: Right! (beams in self admiration) #3 I was painfully shy growing up.

How Did You Get There: (sloshes back drink) #3 Thankfully parents had a few quiet years.

Kristi: #4 Had lead in High School Musical: Bye, Bye Birdie.

How Did You Get There: #4 Even more annoying as a teenager.

Kristi: #5 Was unofficially voted by the tenor and baritone sections of the University of Texas choir, as having the Best Butt. Get it? They stood behind the soprano and mezzo-soprano sections!

How Did You Get There: Oh, I get it. (mutters) #5 Had biggest Butt in choir, all the guys said so.

Kristi: Maybe I shouldn’t say that last one…it sounds like I’m bragging.

How Did You Get There: (drinks 3^rd shot, giggles) Oh, Pshaw!

Kristi: #6 Family legend has it that a distant relative on my mother’s side held the horses for the James Gang once during a robbery.

How Did You Get There: #6 Blah blah blah

Kristi: #7 I love dogs.

How Did You Get There: #7 I love my blog – it’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me…*kiss* kiss* kiss*

Kristi: What are you doing over there?

(doorbell)

How Did You Get There: (runs to door, holding empty bottle) Hey there big guy! Common in, wanna drinkie-poo?

Kreativ Blogger Award: No, thanks. I don’t drink any more, and it looks like you shouldn’t either. Say, I know a really great 12-Step group—you wanna go?

How Did You Get There: A party? I’m there!

(both hop into hot pink mini, drive off into orange and purple sunset)

Kristi: (runs after them, waving list) But you forgot my list!

How Did You Get There: (shouts back) Don’t worry – I gotcha covered!

Kristi: And now to nominate a cyberspace friend, whose blog I enjoy:

Mariblaser: Randomities for her lovely thoughts and musings on a wide variety of topics, anything from the meaning of Steampunk, which I never realized I was a fan of, to stunning photos from National Geographic.

Here are the rules, Mariana:

1- Thank the person who awarded you

2- Copy the logo and paste it on your blog

3- Link to the person who nominated you for the award

4- Name up to 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting

5- Nominate another Kreativ Blogger to pass the award to

6- Post links to the blog you nominate

7- Leave a comment on the blog to let them know they’ve been nominated

Award: Kreativ Blogger

I am all a flutter right now. I have just had a visitor, and not any ordinary visitor. It wasn’t even human!

No, not Robert Pattinson.

The Kreativ Blogger Award came by to say that my blog, How Did You Get There, is its next recipient! Just a warning: my Blog was not at all cool, calm or collected at the good news, but…give a blog a break, she was excited. She wanted to make sure I write a big thank you to the lovely and immensely talented Laura Jane Cassidy, who passed the award along. Laura’s a writer of teenage fiction—the supernatural variety—keep your eyes open for her debut novel, coming out next year.  Thank you Laura!!

So here’s how the conversation went …

Kreativ Blogger:     Hello, I hope I’m at the right address? I’m looking for the How Did You Get Here blog?

HDYGT: There.

Kreativ Blogger: Where?

HDYGT: No, over here! Yoo-hoo! My name is How Did You Get THERE.

Kreativ Blogger: Right. Well, I’ve been sent HERE by Laura Jane Cassidy’s Blog, because you’ve been chosen as my next recipient.

HDYGT: Me? An Award!? Are you sure?

Kreativ Blogger:     Is that your name on this envelop?

HDYGT: Yes! That’s me!

Kreativ Blogger:     Hey, lady, watch it with the hugs. I crease easily.

HDYGT:                      I’m so sorry.

Kreativ Blogger:     Stop pressing me.

HDYGT:                      I’m just nervous. So what do I do now? Will there be a ceremony? I have so much to do. I need a formal dress, long gloves, I think a tiara is definitely in order—

Kreativ Blogger:     Ceremony? I usually just sit here on your sofa for a while, then you tell me where to go next, a writing related blog.

HDYGT:                      Oh.

Kreativ Blogger:     Mind if I stretch out a bit? Long day.

HDYGT:                      Not at all. Would you like something to drink? Tea, coffee?

Kreativ Blogger:     Hmm, you have anything stronger? An award gets thirsty going from blog to blog you know.

HDYGT:                      Oh, of course! Where are my manners. Wine, beer…

Kreativ Blogger: That whiskey looks smooth.

HDYGT:                      Oh, yes. I’ll get a glass.

Kreativ Blogger: That’s alright, I don’t need one.

HDYGT: Right…so…is there anything I’m supposed to do? An awards speech or anything?

Kreativ Blogger:   I almost forgot. You’re supposed to list seven things you like, in no particular order.

HDYGT:                     Ooh, this will be fun! Let’s see…

Kreativ Blogger:     Like Whiskey…you like whiskey?

HDYGT:                      Me? No, I prefer something sparkly, like Prosecco or champagne on special occasions. But that’s not one of my seven things.

Kreativ Blogger:     Got it: Whiskey, Prosecco, champagne on special occasions…

HDYGT:                      No– please don’t write those down–I haven’t started yet. What I really like is lying in the sun, and staring at a gorgeous sky that has just the right mixture of blue, sunshine, and clouds. The fluffy kind, like on the opening shot of The Simpson’s.

Kreativ Blogger:      Cartoons…

HDYGT:                      What? No. I don’t want The Simpson’s as one of my seven things. It was just an example of the kind of fluffy clouds I like—

Kreativ Blogger:     So we’ve got Whiskey, Prosecco, Champagne, and Cartoons.

HDYGT: But—

Kreativ Blogger:     Come on, I haven’t got all day.

HDYGT: I adore dogs and children—they make me laugh.

Kreative Blogger:   One more.

HDYGT:                      What do you mean only one more?

Kreativ Blogger:     Whiskey, Prosecco, Champagne, Cartoons, Laughing at kids AND dogs. That’s six in my book.

HDYGT:                      But what about the perfect blue sky with the puffy clouds.

Kreativ Blogger:     You’re right! So that’s Whiskey, Prosecco, Champagne, Cartoons, Laughing at kids, Laughing at dogs, and Staring into Space. Some list. You might want to see a therapist about that.

HDYGT:                      But those weren’t—

Kreativ Blogger:     I gotta go. Can I take this bottle with me? (foot steps leaving, door slams shut)

HDYGT: But—(door opens again, footsteps running down the gravel path) I wanted to mention my wonderful husband and daughter…(car engine starts) and all my dear, dear friends both near and far— they mean the world to me…(hot pink Mini drives into a lovely orange and purple sunset) …and sunsets…

Oh well, I’d like to pass this Kreativ Blogger Award on to Elizabeth Rose Murray at Serendipity Poetry You may remember her from a previous interview. Not only are her poetry and fiction mesmerizing but, as the 2009 official Blogger for both the Dublin Theatre Festival and the Dublin Writer’s Festival, her informative posts go way beyond what’s happening in Dublin. In fairness, they border on what might someday be called historical documentation!

Elizabeth—you might have to go pick up your award. Last I saw, it was being held in the Garda station for Driving under the Influence.