Toward the end of 2011, I celebrated the launch of my new website – the handiwork of Grain & Mortar – with a special giveaway. It was the first time I hosted something like this on my website, and the response was great! I heard from many of you far and wide about your resolutions for the new year.

After a random drawing from those responses, one reader walked away the winner: Courtney Gill Zurcher of Omaha. Courtney won a $10 Starbucks gift card, a Temp-tations ceramic travel mug, and a signed copy of Nerdy Thirty. Courtney also received a lovely little Q&A on this very website. (Isn’t she adorable?)

Name and age.
Courtney Gill Zurcher, 22.

Tell me a little bit about yourself, both personally and professionally.
I live in downtown Omaha and I spend most of my days working on my online clothing company, InezGill. In my spare time I love reading and I’m currently in the middle of Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. So far Shadow of the Wind is turning out to be one of my favorite books.

What lights your creative fire and gets those juices flowing?
That is a tough question. Some of my best work has come from periods where my creative fire was non-existent but I just kept working. Creativity is defined by me as when I enjoy my work and my possibilities are limitless. To get to this place I take vacations, drink caffeine, watch good movies, meditate, and spend time with friends. Balancing work and play is a must to keeping the creative juices flowing.