In the months since I started blogging, I have received various awards from fellow bloggers, to whom I am very grateful. One of my latest came a few days ago, both unexpected and delightful. Time for me to make an exception and brag about it 
Mariam Kobras, a marvellous Contemporary Romance author, whose debut The Distant Shore has been published recently and widely claimed, has kindly honoured me with the Leibster Blog Award. Thank you so much, Mariam. Please visit her lovely blog at: http://mariamkobras.blogspot.com. You are also invited to check out my review of her book here, if you have not done so already.
The Liebster Blog Award originated in Germany. Liebster means “favourite” or “dearest” The recipient of this award agrees to the following:
1. Show your gratitude to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks for the award, and let them know.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people in the blogsphere
5. And last, have fun and spread the karma!
With no particular order, below are my special picks for this lovely award:
http://edenbaylee.wordpress.com/; Have you met Eden Baylee yet on Twitter? If not, go and follow her NOW. A fabulous erotica writer, a most supportive friend and a truly special, inspirational person. I can’t say enough great things about her, and neither can you, if you know her.
http://www.wonderfulreadofthemonth.blogspot.com/; This wonderful author support network has been created by Eri Nelson, a dear friend, a creative, giving and gentle soul whom many of us come to adore. Eri has devoted her time and efforts to constantly improve the look of this fab monthly magazine, which has now attracted over 70 authors, including myself.
http://www.carlylelabuschagne.com; Take a tour of Carlyle Labuschagne’s amazing blog and you’d know why I adore her and her site so much. She featured me in one of her ‘character interviews’ and it was so much fun ! She lives in Johnnesburg in South Africa, and her debut novel The Broken Destiny will be launched this year. I’m so excited for her.
http://ssbookfanatics.blogspot.com/; Fantastic book blogger and gorgeous friend, also from South Africa, whom I have had the fortune to meet not long ago. Sandra Valente and I enjoy hopping to each other’s sites simultaneously and leaving encouraging comments. We share the love for books, music, food, and most of all, people. Sandra has a YUM selection of recipes on her site. Check them out and try one or two at home.
http://pyjamaclub.blogspot.com/; Another brilliant blog, which I have recently become a contributor, with 15 other regular first–class bloggers from all over the world, including Chiaki Fujita (Japan), Jane Isaac (UK) and Tammy (USA), Angie Richmond (Canada), and others in this funky, fleece-filled Pyjamas Club. Proud of be part of this exciting blog, whose motto is for fun, food and friendship!
As I was drafting this post, I received two more awards, TWICE, and two days in a row! The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award, and The Versatile Blogger Award, bestowed by the sweetest friend and fellow author Dannie Hill, http://danniehill.wordpress.com/. On his blog, you’d find fascinating insights into living and writing in Thailand. Catch him on A Date with Dashing Dare-devil Dannie Hill to learn more about him.
Sandra from the SSBookFanatics, made my day AGAIN by showering me the same two fabulous awards. I understand that I am supposed to share seven facts about myself, however, I’m going to break the rule and spare you that boredom today. If you’re a regular visitor to my blog, or if you have read one or both my books, you would have known a great deal about me already One kind friend has recently cautioned me at how much I have revealed my personal life on-line and warned me against identity theft. I assured him that if anyone wanted to be me instead of themselves, it would be a honour Anyway, if you happen to stumble upon this blog by sheer chance, and would like to learn a little more about me, I encourage you to browse through my site, or even better, get your hands on one of my e-books on Amazon. They will most definitely satisfy your curiosity, and learn a few things about China and UK, which you do not know before.
So here I am, before I hand out all three blog awards to all the bloggers above, I add one more for good measure: http://www.amberrisme.com/. Amberr Meadows writes 7 blogs a week and I have no idea how she does it. So on top of the three awards so far, I am tempted to create an award The Most Dedicated Blog Award, especially for her :)
My most sincere appreciation towards all of you, and those who are part of the above 8 blog sites, for your recognition and support, and for being part of my amazing journey as a blogger, fiction author and an all consuming lover of life!
Junying, how absolutely wonderful. Congratulations my friend, you so deserve them.
I now feel totally overwhelmed as both you and Dannie have also spoiled me rotten. I just published a new blog post yesterday, where I mentioned winning my first book via Twitter, and in it wrote that February is turning out to be my month! And you went and topped it off with these! To receive two awards from Dannie and now another two from you is just mind boggling.
I truly am fortunate and grateful to have met you in this vast internet universe filled with versatile people, and I believe I have been lucky enough to connect with exactly the right ones
. I love your blog as it always makes me smile, makes me want to read further and more often than not, makes me hungry! lol
You’re a truly awesome person and may we continue to blog hop for many years to come. You will always have my best wishes.
Sandra,
I just visited your blog and read your reply to my earlier comments there, and I thought: she must be on my site right now, and guess what? I was right
!
February must be your month indeed, and I’m glad to play a very small part in making it special for you. Thanks for all your kind words and you deserve to be spoilt
!
Yes, we don’t know who we are going to meet and truly connect on these many and varied SM, but thank God we met and clicked, and as you put it perfectly, may we continue blogging hopping and sharing fun times for a very long time to come!
Likewise, you are constantly in my thoughts and in my heart, sweet Sandra
Junying. I have to be honest. Just to be named with this group you have chosen gives me goosebumps. Thank you so much. This has been a week I will always remember.
Dannie, there is reward for being a ladies man
See what you get when you love beautiful women? You get to spend time with them and be the only gentleman who stands among them and be their guardian angel 
!
You deserve the shower of Accolades coming your way, and enjoy!
Haha, how can Dannie be getting goosebumps when he’s in a hot climate! Junying , thanks so much for the award – it’s really generous of you, and your kind words that go along with it mean even more.
You’ve done a wonderful job of acknowledging everyone … and you can never bore me with facts about your life!
Have a super Sunday!
eden
Eden, you’re right about Dannie
As I said in my tweet to you – you deserve all the credit your friends ever gave you and more.
Have a wonderful week!
Thank you so much! You deserved your award, too. Love coming to visit your website!
Amberr, as I said, truly admire what you do hence the multiple awards to you
Always lovely to see you here and elsewhere
Thanks for being such a supportive friend.
Junying,
You are so deserving of such a distinguished award. You deserve it and much much more.
Thank you for mentioning the http://www.wonderfulreadofthemonth.blogspot.com/ It truly warms my heart!! Much gratitude and love sent your way.
Best Wishes
Eri Nelson
Eri,
Your continued efforts to support fellow authors and your selfness devotion in helping others are truly an inspiration. You deserve all the Awards that come your way and more.
Thank YOU for being part of my wonderful experience of being an Indie author