Letter posts are an interesting and intriguing way for bloggers to learn more about each other. They’re also entertaining.

Recently, travel blogger and WANA alum <a href="http://tamiclayton.wordpress.com/">Tami Clayton</a> shared her list of 10 things she loved that began with the letter “A.” Her post was fascinating. Her word choices and the accompanying pictures and graphics wonderful. I left a comment telling her so. She gifted with me with a letter to share about myself. Introducing…
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xIRY3ZuNIU&amp;w=420&amp;h=315]

It’s Monday. It’s May. I’ve already done a post about the whole month. But couldn’t resist choose <strong>MOTHER'S DAY</strong> for my word list. Here’s a picture of the clan minus two granddaughters who gathered to celebrate.

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/all-of-us-perdue-visit2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-671" title="Hixson clan" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/all-of-us-perdue-visit2.jpg?w=150" alt="" width="150" height="112" /></a>

I write as Judythe <strong>MORGAN. </strong>It's a pseudonym combining my first name and my husband's middle name. My latest novel, <em>THE PENDANT’S PROMISE</em>, is available. Click <a href="http://judythewriter.wordpress.com/my-books/" target="_blank">here</a>  to read more about Lily and Alex's love story or buy a copy with a click <a href="http://amzn.to/KCnFRl" target="_blank">Kindle</a> or <a href="http://amzn.to/L5pswq" target="_blank">Nook</a>

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/aspens2.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-663" title="aspens2" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/aspens2.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="168" /></a>I love <strong>MOUNTAINS</strong>. Soon we’ll be leaving the rising heat and humidity of the Gulf coast and head for the San Juan Mountains and the Rio Grande National Forest of Colorado.

<strong><a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/560-mad-men-cast1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-672" title="560 Mad Men cast" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/560-mad-men-cast1.jpg?w=150" alt="" width="150" height="88" /></a>MAD MEN</strong> As a writer I find this TV series  fascinating. I thought it too edgy at first, but now I’m so hooked. I even read the <a href="http://blogs.amctv.com/mad-men/" target="_blank">blog</a>  for inside info. The script writing is excellent. Don Draper makes an intriguing main character. Not a particularly likeable hero, leading a double life and yet still flourishing. The show represents well the era.

<strong>MR. MAROO </strong>My high school mascot. It’s crazy, but it’s true. My high school mascot is a fuzzy little maroon ball.<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/68581461.png"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-673 alignleft" title="Mr. Maroon" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/68581461.png?w=150" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>

The first published cartoon featuring the modern mascot was in the September 20, 1957 Austin Maroon Newspaper, where the Mascot (about 1.3 meters tall and hairy) is attacking the football mascot of one foe or another. Mr. Maroo doesn’t speak - you have to look him in the eye to see if he's your friend or your foe. And he wears the beanie because beanies at one time were the traditional headwear for a freshman. Since Maroo never goes to class, he’s still a freshman, more than 50 years later.

I’m including Mr. Maroon for <strong>MARY</strong>Buckham. Her recent BREAK INTO FICTION workshop in my hometown of Austin coincided with my high school reunion. We met and I shared about the school's history. I think she’s still laughing over our school sport teams being Maroons.

Btw, if you’re a writer and you don’t have a copy of her book <em>BREAK INTO FICTION</em> you should get one. Plotter, or not, the templates in this book will help you nail down your story. Click <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Break-Into-Fiction-Steps-Building/dp/160550015" target="_blank">here</a> to order.

<strong>MAJOLICA</strong> is any earthenware with an opaque glaze of tin oxide. I collect pitchers and love the majolica glaze. The colors are vivid and the designs have intricate details. All of these pitchers are examples of 19th century Majolica.
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/majolica.jpg"><img class="wp-image-667 aligncenter" title="Majolica pitchers" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/majolica.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="283" /></a></p>
<strong><a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/mm-dispenser2.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-668" title="M&amp;M dispenser" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/mm-dispenser2.jpg?w=101" alt="" width="101" height="150" /></a>M&amp;M</strong> This was the very first M word that popped into my head. I count the little chocolate candies as a major dietary component. M&amp;Ms first appeared in 1941 as a treat for the G.I. Before my time, but I’ve certainly eaten my fair share since my birth. We keep my dispenser on the kitchen counter. I count walking downstairs as exercise that entitles me to an extra handful. As you can see g-kids were here over the weekend and the dispenser is empty!

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/muse.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-675 alignleft" title="muse" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/muse.jpg?w=150" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>

<strong>MUSE </strong> No writer’s list of M words would be complete without including this word. Muse is a writer’s awareness of our environment beyond the level of most people. Anything and everything can be a source of story ideas, no matter how large or small. I hear a fragment of a conversation and have a story starter, the way the light falls on a rose petal gives me a description to use, how a wine tastes or the caress of a fabric provides sensory feeling that translates into a character’s emotional reaction. It’s quite true what my tee-shirt says: <em>Careful or you’ll end up in my next novel.</em>

Thanks, Tami for selecting the letter M for me. It worked so well. You’ve stirred my muse. I didn’t realize I used so many M words.

Do you have M word favorites? Make a comment and request a letter to join the Word List blog challenge fun.