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I can’t believe I'm actually writing this! I'm excited and thrilled and oh-so-happy! I'm still in shock that I've been blogging for a year, the time has just gone by so quickly. But then, time flies when you’re having fun, right? And yes, I've had so much fun!!! When I first started, I had no idea just how BIG the book blogging community is and the warmth with which they welcomed me was amazing. So, for my second Blogoversary Celebrations post, I've decided to write about my blogging journey and the highlights.
I can’t believe I'm actually writing this! I'm excited and thrilled and oh-so-happy! I'm still in shock that I've been blogging for a year, the time has just gone by so quickly. But then, time flies when you’re having fun, right? And yes, I've had so much fun!!! When I first started, I had no idea just how BIG the book blogging community is and the warmth with which they welcomed me was amazing. So, for my second Blogoversary Celebrations post, I've decided to write about my blogging journey and the highlights.
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| Chicklish |
I first discovered book blogs in 2010 and loved the concept
of running a blog focused book reviews. A
mixture of procrastination and laziness stopped me from setting one up straight
away and it wasn’t until a year later, in October, when I asked to join the
Chicklish reviewing team. Luisa Plaja
agreed to take me on board – I am forever grateful to her! – and she sent me my
first physical ARC (Sister, Missing by Sophie McKenzie). It was so exciting and after a few months,
with Luisa’s encouragement and support, I took
the plunge and started A Reading Daydreamer on the 4th of January (a year ago yesterday!).
I was a little shy to begin with but I visited the bloggers
I’d already found during my year of blog-stalking admiring
and left comments on their posts and they were wonderfully supportive and lovely.
As I wrote more reviews, joined in with some memes,
discovered more new blogs, I felt myself finally fit in and find my rhythm and voice. Looking back and seeing my review style develop has been really interesting and I think I've really grown since then - my reviews are definitely better than the first several ones!
The best thing about blogging is meeting new friends and getting to chat with them about books and other general things in life. You can’t blog alone without going completely insane and the community is what I love most. The close-knitness is fabulous and I never thought blogging would let me form a whole group of awesome buddies!
Following on the topic of blog buddies... TWITTER! Ohmigosh... I love you Twitter! When I first started out, I didn't really like it and only used it for advertising my reviews but then I started really using it and I've never looked back. It gives you a fantastic way to reach out to fellow bloggers and I've had the pleasure of chatting to lots of bloggy friends! If we've never talked and you don't mind my craziness, please feel free to start a conversation with me, I don't bite and I'd love to meet you!!!
The best thing about blogging is meeting new friends and getting to chat with them about books and other general things in life. You can’t blog alone without going completely insane and the community is what I love most. The close-knitness is fabulous and I never thought blogging would let me form a whole group of awesome buddies!
Following on the topic of blog buddies... TWITTER! Ohmigosh... I love you Twitter! When I first started out, I didn't really like it and only used it for advertising my reviews but then I started really using it and I've never looked back. It gives you a fantastic way to reach out to fellow bloggers and I've had the pleasure of chatting to lots of bloggy friends! If we've never talked and you don't mind my craziness, please feel free to start a conversation with me, I don't bite and I'd love to meet you!!!
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| My first blog design! |
In June, I received my first review book direct from a
publisher! I still remember that warm,
fuzzy feeling I got when the book dropped through my letterbox. I’ll admit… I still do a happy dance whenever
I get sent a book for review ^.^ It’s terribly exciting… and I love the sense of responsibility it gives you!
And this is a big one and definitely one of my best highlights of
the year: in August, this little blog became a co-written blog (Co-authored blog? Co-blogged blog?)! Yes, this is when Jen
jumped on board and became my fabulous co-blogger. I'm so thrilled to
have made such a wonderful, reliable friend who is so supportive and encouraging
in every way. I can't wait for your blogoversary on ARD, Jen!
In September, my parents bought me a Kindle. Before blogging and even when I first started, I turned my nose up on e-readers. Why would you want one of those when you could have a fresh paperback? I just didn't want one... why did society insist on substituting everything we know and love with technology? It wasn't until summer that I seriously began thinking of getting one. Everyone was shouting their praises and when Jen joined, her devotion to her Kindle gave me that push to ask for one for my birthday.
And now I absolutely adore it!!! Without blogging, I would never have discovered the delight of owning this object so that's why it's also a highlight and an important fragment of my journey! I soon realised e-readers aren't out to replace physical books, they are a completely different experience and one which should be appreciated on its own. And with e-books, comes NETGALLEY. Bam, a whole new door opened. My first approval was for Saving June by Hannah Harrington. I'm not even joking, Netgalley is a book blogger's sweet shop O.O I have been really good though and restrained myself from going on crazy requesting sprees *grows a beard, shrinks a few inches, becomes a wise Asian master, rasps in a low voice: 'Today I share with you a nugget of my wisdom: Self-control is key.'* (I'm not crazy... maybe just a little :P)
And now, January 2013. Oh wait - *loses the beard, grows a few inches and returns to teenage Asian girl form* I'm here and telling you about my blogging experiences a day after my One Year Blogoversary. It has been a journey of ups and downs (mostly ups) but I got here! Thank you for joining me and making my year so special and I hope this year will be just as wonderful and crazy as the last for both you and me!
Happy reading,
Beverley xxx
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| My baby Kindle xo |
And now I absolutely adore it!!! Without blogging, I would never have discovered the delight of owning this object so that's why it's also a highlight and an important fragment of my journey! I soon realised e-readers aren't out to replace physical books, they are a completely different experience and one which should be appreciated on its own. And with e-books, comes NETGALLEY. Bam, a whole new door opened. My first approval was for Saving June by Hannah Harrington. I'm not even joking, Netgalley is a book blogger's sweet shop O.O I have been really good though and restrained myself from going on crazy requesting sprees *grows a beard, shrinks a few inches, becomes a wise Asian master, rasps in a low voice: 'Today I share with you a nugget of my wisdom: Self-control is key.'* (I'm not crazy... maybe just a little :P)
And now, January 2013. Oh wait - *loses the beard, grows a few inches and returns to teenage Asian girl form* I'm here and telling you about my blogging experiences a day after my One Year Blogoversary. It has been a journey of ups and downs (mostly ups) but I got here! Thank you for joining me and making my year so special and I hope this year will be just as wonderful and crazy as the last for both you and me!
Happy reading,
Beverley xxx
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