Inspiring Blogger Award

 I am long overdue in a number of posts but this one is unforgivable. At the beginning of February a blogger I greatly admire kindly nominated me for this lovely award and I am only now responding. So, to Marie Rebelle a huge thank you and my apologies for being so slow to respond! I was also nominated by Rachel Kincaid and am equally grateful for her nomination and to both for their kind words.
The award comes with a number of "rules" for sharing which are:
1) To display the badge you see above.
2) To link back to the person(s) who nominated me. Again, see above.
3) State 7 things about myself.
4) Nominate 15 other bloggers and notify them of the award.

Well, quite a task list! Numbers one and two are already covered. As to number 3, well, I don't really like talking about myself, so consider that covered beyond what you might learn from this blog. Which leaves the most important part; the blogs I admire; the people who inspire me in my writing. I am going to mess with that one as well and ignore the number. I struggle to find time to truly read many blogs regularly. So I have decided to list those I make a point of reading whenever I have a moment of space for myself. I have followed almost all of them since I first arrived here as Muse. And to those I have nominated; there is no obligation to post the award, please simply accept my compliments on your wonderful blogs.
So, here they are; beautiful words, often coupled with stunning images. Each a feast and in no particular order:

Rebel's Notes
@RebelsNotes
How could I not return the award?! Marie's candid writing is a window into the world of a woman who is open about her pleasures and her pain. Her dedication in building the WickedWednesday community of writers has been an encouragement and an inspiration to myself and I don't doubt many others. I have corresponded with Marie for almost a year now. In a little over a week we shall finally have the chance to meet. At last!

The Dirty Romantic
@youmakemeneed
A true story teller exploring thoughts and sensuality. I can lose myself in this man's words. A beautiful space to go and unwind in his caresses. (DR is currently developing a Wordpress site. As soon as it's live I'll update this link).

Carnalis
@carnalis
I love this blog for it's brevity. Sometimes a post might be only a few lines, yet it will make me laugh, think, pause. This is a woman who understands that erotic does not have to be overtly sexual, that sensual exploration is just that, no limits. Her descriptions of food are as delicious as her descriptions of sex.

Molly's Daily Kiss
@mollysdailykiss
I have spoken before about my admiration for Molly and her writing. Always challenging. Always thought provoking. Her site is so much more than a personal blog. Her Sinful Sunday, Pussy Pride and Anonymous projects bring together communities of people who are both supportive, encouraging and welcoming. Much like Molly herself.

Domme Chronicles
@Ferns__
Another woman I admire enormously for her candid and forthright writing. Her sense of humour, zero tolerance of fools and often enlightening posts about kinks beyond my understanding are a joy to read. Being in Australia she is also often the only person in my timeline keeping me amused in the wee small hours when the rest of you have gone to sleep!

My Dissolute Life
@nlikes
Oddly this is a blog which is often not to my taste. Sometimes it makes me angry, sometimes it leaves me cold, often I don't understand. It is also difficult to navigate, frustratingly so. But every so often this man delivers a piece of erotica or an insight which blows me away. And for this I keep reading and I question my own reactions. I wait for those blown away moments and they are always worth the wait.

Quickies in New York
@guynewyork
I discovered this writer long ago in audio before the written word. I have been hooked ever since.
'A Letter' on Sonic Erotica
There is something about hearing a story. I love to be read to. It has not happened in many, many years. So discovering this writer's voice has added a whole level to my experience of his writing. And I love these stories. There is no excess of words. I am immediately drawn in and then involved. For me a short story should be just that, short. It should involve, express, emote and challenge. I want to experience it all in as few words as possible. I find that here. 

 Dom Conlon and also here; Inkology.
@headfirst_dom
I love the way that Dom moulds words. I love the depth and the emotion and the sparseness which is sometimes almost like Haiku in the way that he pares down what he has to say to the absolute minimum. I admire that enormously. He is also self-effacing and modest to a fault. I shall beat him up over that if we ever meet! One of my favourite pieces by Dom, has been recorded by different voices which is fascinating to hear; the differences in rhythm and interpretation of one story. And one of the readings is my own.

Easily Aroused
@EasilyAroused
A writer who is able to set a scene, a sense of place, of scent, of sound; to create a whole space in which a story can come alive. A place to be lost in the moment which, for me at least, is essential to any sensual experience.

Fridayam and FridayamErotica
@Fridayam1
There are two blogs, each as sensual as the other although only one explores the overtly sexual. Steve writes with acute observation, a sparcity of words and often a great deal of wit that can only come from a lifetime of people watching.  His writing is erudite and insightful. I recommend you browse. I hope you find smiles there too.

Call Me Balthazar
@callmebalthazar
For those of you with a visual preference this site is a feast. I can gaze on the pictures here and lose hours. The way he sees, the way he captures intimacy is simply breath-taking. And a quirky character too. Request a letter if you dare.

So, those are my regular inspirations. There are many more I visit. I dip in and out. But these are the ones I return to hoping to never miss a post.

There is one other I would love to have added to my list. I have a copy of all the words which I revisit from time to time. Sadly the blog no longer exists. I miss both the blog and the writer a great deal. He was my inspiration for ever arriving here in the first place and he encouraged me to share my words. I shall always be grateful.

Muse. x