When I was a kid I was horrified at the idea of being weird. The weird kid was the one who was bullied and lost their lunch money all the time. Nope, I wanted to fit in. Not so easy, since I am weird. These days, I’m letting my weirdness hang out. It takes off the pressure and helluva lot more fun.
- I don’t remember learning how to read, but I do remember I was reading before I started kindergarten.
2. In my alternate reality I am a homicide detective and I solve crimes constantly.
3. I wrote my first novel, The Addict, when I was 10. It was 30 pages long and it sucked. But my dad read every word. Bless his heart.
4. I talk to myself. In public. In private. I always have, since I was a kid. Nobody knows why.
5. I love to garden and though I’m not very good at it, my biggest tomato weighed almost 3 pounds. Oh and I talk to my plants – is that weird?
6. My favorite family pet was Rusty, a gorgeous collie who showed up on our porch one summer night and scratched on the screen door. He looked exactly like Lassie and I believed he was my soul mate.
7. My guilty pleasure is binge watching mystery shows (usually British) online. If I watch too many I start talking in a British accent.
8. Motown music will always inspire me to get my freak on.
9. I had two nicknames when I was a kid; Neener and Rodg. I preferred Rodg
10. I’ve had many jobs in my life but the weirdest one was bus buffing. Hard on the back but definitely builds the pecs.
11. My first car was a VW Bug and it had temperamental brakes – meaning, I never knew when or if they would work. Usually, the back wall of the garage stopped the car before the brakes. My nickname for it was “Death Trap.” I nearly gave my dad a stroke when I took him for a spin and ended up in somebody’s front yard. After that, I refused to drive a stick shift ever again.
12. When I was a kid I wanted to be a fireman or a ballerina but was forced to become a writer because I couldn’t stop making stuff up
13. I love dollar stores. It’s an addiction. I will buy anything if it costs a dollar. I’m their ideal customer.
14. If you want to make me cry show me a Hallmark commercial.
15. I really do work in my pajamas. In fact, I pretty much do everything in my pajamas. But you know, I live in California, so it’s allowed.
How about it, are you a weirdie too? Have you given in to your inner weirdness and let it shine in the light of day? Tell me all about your weirdiness in the comments, so we can revel in it together. 
and who doesn’t want the Iamnotapapercup? Made of porcelain and double insulated. Though I have to admit, I won’t be replacing my coffee mugs with one of these any time soon, some people might want the take out look with their coffee? Go figure.
Anita Rodgers Mystery Writer 