Friday, March 19, 2010

1st Blogoversary and Giveaway.


One year ago today I restarted my blog and I have kept it up regularly since then (and for me that is a major miracle).  So what have I learned in this first year?

  • Blogging is time-consuming.  Once you get to reviewing books for others there are deadlines and special posts and interviews and other things that take a little more time.
  • Even though it is time-consuming, it is well worth it.  I have gotten to know some wonderful authors and had a great time reading books.
  • I have read the big names and I have read new authors.  New authors are so fun to work with because they really want to get their names out there.  The big authors are fun too - they are just much busier.
  • I love blogging to help the lesser-known authors.  There are some wonderful authors out there waiting to be the next big author and each blog that helps put out good reviews help that author get closer and closer to that.
  • Blogging has expanded my reading repertoire quite a bit.  I was pretty much a romance, romantic suspense and suspense kind of girl.  I still am, but I have read self-help, non-fiction, biographies, historical fiction, general fiction, literary fiction, science fiction and my new love young adult.
  • Bloggers are wonderful helpful people.  Even though I don't always have the time to comment on other blogs, know that I am reading and enjoying your reviews and adding to my tbr pile as usual.
  • Read-a-thons are a blast.  I love telling the hubby and kids - I'm doing a read-a-thon, don't bother mommy and then curling up with book and computer all day long!
I'm sure there is much more, but that is enough for now.  I am looking forward to doing even more with the blog in the next year.  I plan on commenting more on other blogs and putting more time into my posts and getting better about posting in advance, for times when life seems to get in the way.

Mostly I am looking forward to interacting with you my followers more and reading more great books!


GIVEAWAY

So how to celebrate?  Well I'll giveaway three choices from my giveaway pile to one commenter for first place.  Two choices for second place and one choice for third place.  Know that the pile may change over time as I use it as my general giveaway pile, and that other titles will be added as I finish them.  I am working hard to clear my shelves and you can benefit.

To enter, simply comment for the first entry.  For an additional entry tell me your favorite thing to see on blogs (reviews, interviews, memes, etc).  For other entries, be a follower (rss, email, blogger, networked blogs, twitter - see my sidebar to follow), tweet about this giveaway (1 entry per day), and post on your blog (sidebar is fine).  Open to international because I know I have readers everywhere!  Giveaway closes on April 1.

Please use separate comments for each entry as it makes it easy for me to pick winners.  I will be randomizing the entries and then drawing so don't worry if you are first or last - the entries will be shuffled up in the computerized hat.

Thanks to all of you who follow me and read my blog - it's been a great first year because of you!

Here's the 20 of my current selection of books (subject to change, but there will always be plenty to choose from, some are arcs, some are hardcovers, paperbacks, etc.  All are in good shape, read once.)












































Link to my complete giveaway shelf:
Crystal's book recommendations, favorite quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (giveaway shelf)

92 comments:

fredamans said...

HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY!!!!!!

fredamans said...

I follow proudly and publicly.

fredamans said...

tweet; http://twitter.com/fredalicious/status/10729434875

chey said...

Happy Blogoversary!

chey127 at hotmail dot com

chey said...

I enjoy the reviews and interviews.

chey127 at hotmail dot com

tetewa said...

I enjoy interviews, Happy Blogoversary! tWarner419@aol.com

cheryl c said...

Happy, happy blogoversary! Has it really only been one year?!

castings at mindspring dot com

cheryl c said...

I enjoy reading book reviews and author interviews.

cheryl c said...

Google follower :-)

wheresmyrain said...

happy happy! congradulations.

wheresmyrain at yahoo dot com

wheresmyrain said...

i am google follower

wheresmyrain at yahoo dot com

wheresmyrain said...

my favorite thing to read is interviews with authors

wheresmyrain at yahoo dot com

rubynreba said...

Happy Blogoversary - enjoy your blog.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

My favorite thing are the reviews. I like to know opinions before I read a book.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I follow on google.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

April (BooksandWine) said...

I totally agree with you about readathons! They are so so so much fun!!

Happy blogoversary :-)

Fiona said...

Congrats on your blogoversary - I completely missed mine!

Bookie said...

Happy Blogoversary! Congrats!!!

dawnpnr(at)aol(dot)com

Fiona said...

I follow.

Bookie said...

My favorite things to see on blogs are interviews, giveaways and reviews.

Fiona said...

My favourite thing to read on blogs is stories from people's lives; I love to learn more about my blogging buddies :)
c_fjones(at)hotmail(dot)com

Bookie said...

I follow on google connect.

Bookie said...

I tweeted.
http://twitter.com/dawnpnr/status/10756124073

Bookie said...

I follow on twitter@dawnpnr

Fire and Ice said...

I follow! Happy Blogaversay! fireandice.heather@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Happy anniversay...

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

i enjoy book reviews...memes...and,of course, giveaways :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

i'm a subscriber :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

throuthehaze said...

Happy Blogiversary!
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

throuthehaze said...

follower in google friend connect
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

throuthehaze said...

One of my fave things is the memes. They are fun :)
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Luanne said...

Happy Blogiversary! I just celebrated my 2nd!

booklover0226 said...

Congrats on you Blogoversary!

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

booklover0226 said...

I'm a subscriber through Google Reader.

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

booklover0226 said...

I follow on Twitter (@bl0226).

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

booklover0226 said...

I'm a follower through Google.

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

booklover0226 said...

What do I enjoy about blogs? I enjoy review and interviews, especailly featuring "new" authors.

I have discovered so many new authors in less than a year, my head is spinning!

How have I missed all of these talented folks? Have I been living under a rock!?!?!?!

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

Carol M said...

Happy Blogoversary!
Thank you for the giveaway!
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Carol M said...

I like the reviews.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Carol M said...

I follow by email.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Bookie said...

daily tweet
http://twitter.com/dawnpnr/status/10825443469

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

Happy Blogoversary to you! Thanks for the giveaway. =O)

miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

What I like to see mostly on blogs are reviews and I enjoy some of the memes. I also enjoy short author interviews and short interviews with other bloggers...and guest posts.

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

I follow you on Twitter @truebookaddict

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

I follow your blog via Google friend connect.

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

I follow you on Networked blogs.

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

I posted this on my right sidebar in my giveaway section: http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

tweeted: http://twitter.com/truebookaddict/status/10862195953

Bookie said...

daily tweet
http://twitter.com/dawnpnr/status/10871759230

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

daily tweet: http://twitter.com/truebookaddict/status/10862195953

Bookie said...

daily tweet
http://twitter.com/dawnpnr/status/10923764687

Bookie said...

daily tweet
http://twitter.com/dawnpnr/status/10979272820

Rebecca Orr said...

So nice of you! They all look really good...especially, A Change in Altitude and The Postmistress. Thanks for the chance! bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

Follower via fb networked blogs: bekki orr bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

Google reader subscriber. bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

Google Friend Connect follower of the blog. bekki1820cb at gmail

Bookie said...

daily tweet
http://twitter.com/dawnpnr/status/11036265365

Anna said...

No need to enter me. Just wanted to wish you a happy blogoversary!

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric

Bookie said...

daily tweet
http://twitter.com/dawnpnr/status/11092214888

Debbie F said...

Congrats!

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Debbie F said...

I follow! thanks

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Debbie Rodgers said...

Happy blogoversary - and thanks for the chance to win.

tatamagouche AT netbundle DOT ca

Debbie Rodgers said...

I follow with Google Friends Connect

tatamagouche AT netbundle DOT ca

Debbie Rodgers said...

I subscribe by e-mail

tatamagouche AT netbundle DOT ca

Debbie Rodgers said...

I most enjoy reviews.

tatamagouche AT netbundle DOT ca

Bookie said...

daily tweet
http://twitter.com/dawnpnr/status/11147341824

Bookie said...

daily tweet
http://twitter.com/dawnpnr/status/11199499558

Aik said...

Thanks for this awesome giveaway! I'd love to enter!

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

I love to read reviews and author interviews.

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

I'm a follower.

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

I tweeted:

http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/11199797003

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Anita Yancey said...

Happy Blogoversary! This is a great giveaway. Thanks so much for having it.

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Anita Yancey said...

My favorite thing to see on your blog is the reviews. I love reading about all the books. Thanks!

I am a follower, and email subscriber!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Bookie said...

daily tweet
http://twitter.com/dawnpnr/status/11255088455

Bookie said...

daily tweet
http://twitter.com/dawnpnr/status/11317160961

rose said...

Thank you so much for the awesome giveaway! And of course, for making it international =)

rose said...

I love reading your reviews. I would want to know what other people think about a book before deciding whether to buy it or not.

rose said...

I'm following this blog with google

rose said...

I'm a twitter follower (@joonieshoney)

rose said...

Tweet: http://twitter.com/joonieshoney/status/11366123571

rose said...

Sidebar: http://jooniesbaby.blogspot.com/

Bookie said...

daily tweet
http://twitter.com/dawnpnr/status/11386461457

rose said...

tweet: http://twitter.com/joonieshoney/status/11419037003

Nancye said...

Happy Blogoversary!!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

My favorite thing on blogs is when the blogger shares about their real life. I also like hearing funny mom, kid, or pet stories. Of course I like the Giveaways, who doesn't?! I like the GA's that have simple entries. I usually skip the ones that require too many things. I like the comment and follower entries the best.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

email subscriber

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

subscribe via RSS

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I follow you on Networked blogs

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I follow you on Twitter
@NancyeDavis

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/11448094043

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Bookie said...

daily tweet
http://twitter.com/dawnpnr/status/11459574578

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