It’s officially been one year since I started Literary Escapism, however I’ve been reviewing novels since April 2006, and it’s kind of odd really. I originally started this site as a way to exercise my brain since I wasn’t working. My son was 10 months old and I was starting to miss the idea of a job (a year prior to this, I was used to working 70+ hour work weeks as a litigation paralegal), but I was no where near ready to actually go back to work. I wanted to stay home with Ian, but I still needed, no craved, that extra mental exercise of a job. I had started reviewing novels with American Bibliophile back in 2006, but they ended up going on a short hiatus and so I continued reviewing novels on my own blog. After a while, that was all I was posting and that’s when it clicked…start a book blog. That was all I was going to do…write a few reviews and share my love of the written word. Now look where I am. In barely a year, I evolved the site to what it is today. I would have never dreamed that I would get to post interviews with authors or even receive ARCs for advance review. I didn’t even think that was possible. Now I know it is and it’s amazing.
In the last year, I’ve met some amazing people who love to review and read just as much as I do. Between all the different challenges that are out there, Weekly Geeks and the Bookworms Carnival, I’ve found a whole community of avid readers that get me. Maybe not me personally, but get the idea of a true bookworm. Because of this community, I started keeping track of my novels and I would never have guessed that I had read 134 novels, 53 of them being new authors, in 2008. I haven’t changed my reading habits at all and so I never would have guessed that I would read this much. The fact that I tried 53 new authors, authors of novels I was actually interested in, would never have happened either.
With that in mind, it’s time again for those challenges to appear. Last year, I participated in 5 different challenges and completed 4 of those. This year, I’m joining 6 different challenges and hosting my own for the first time.
- New Authors, which is hosted by me and runs Jan 1st – Dec 31st
- Support Your Local Library, which is hosted by J. Kaye’s Book Blog and runs Jan 1st – Dec 31st
- Themed Reading Challenge, which is hosted by Caribou Mom and runs Feb. 1st to July 31st
- 1st in a Series, which is hosted by J. Kaye’s Book Blog and runs Jan 1st – Dec 31st
- 2nds Challenge, which is hosted by J. Kaye’s Book Blog and runs Jan 1st – Dec 31st
- Paranormal 999 Challenge, which is hosted by LibraryThing and runs Jan 1st – Sept 9th
- R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril IV Challenge, which is hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings and runs Sept 1st – Oct 31st (as you can see, this one won’t start for awhile)
Weekly Geeks is going to be back next week and I can’t wait to see what the new managing team has planned for it. As for the Bookworms Carnival, I’m on that managing team and I know it’s still just as popular as when I first signed up.
I’m going to try and put together more interviews for this coming year. Last year, I conducted 4 of them and I’m hoping to do at least one a month this year. No promises though. I still haven’t figured out one for this month, but I do have someone in mind. As for guests posts, I will never turn one away and have 5 scheduled already. They’ll be coming up between now and March, so keep a lookout for them.
Congratulations, Jackie! you run a great blog with tons of information and great links. Good Job!
Hello, I just recently discovered your blog and look forward to reading it this year. I would love to join your New Author Challenge. As I only read about 50 book in ’08, a low number for me, I think I will try for at least 25 New Authors. Good Luck and Happy New Year!
It’s amazing how fun it is, and that there is a true community for book lovers online.
Congratulations, your blog is doing great!
I want to go back to school SO BADLY to become an attorney…. a paralegal would be just fine with me! I’m not quite a “year old” at ANM, but I really am loving it!
I subscribe to your feed and really enjoy your posts!
Happy New Year.
I would love to join your New Authors Challenge. Any chance that my name could be added to your list. I have just started blogging, so I am still finding my feet. My main reason for setting one up, was because of my love of books. I love the challenges you have set up.
Viv
Happy sort of blog birthday. :D
It’s amazing all that can happen in a year and just imagine all the wonderful things that will happen over the next year.
And good luck with the challenges; you truly are a brave soul. LOL Seriously though, I need to participate in a few reading challenges this year and I really appreciate your list. Makes my job of hunting them down so much easier. :D
Jackie, it sounds like you had a really great reading year in 2008. I’m so thankful that you began your blog because you add to my TBR list tenfold. LOL!
Hi there! I just found out about your new author challenge, and I’d like to join in. Here’s the link to my own post about it: http://shelflove.wordpress.com/2009/01/04/new-author-challenge/
I just stumbled onto your New Authors Challenge, and I would like to join! Here’s the link to my post:
http://literarymenagerie.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-authors-challenge.html
I’d like to join as well. I have a lot of new authors on my TBR list. Here’s my link:
http://creativitygone.blogspot.com/2009/01/day-29-new-author-challenge-2009.html
you seem to be very optimistic on 09..
im stumble-ing you..@!