Happy Blogversary to LE!

20 December 2009 Jackie Contests, Uncategorized 58

I didn’t really celebrate last year, but I’m going to this year. LE is two years old and I can hardly believe it. What started out as something to keep my mind occupied while staying home with the monkey (he was 10 months old at the time), has evolved into something I never would have thought possible.

When I first started, I didn’t know anything about the book blogging community and wasn’t really expecting anything to come from my little blog. It was just going to be a place where I could share my thoughts on books without flooding my personal one.  Now two years later, LE has gone through some site changes (Blogger to WordPress, it’s own domain, a couple different designs), I’ve found a ton new friends who love talking about books just as much as I do and people actually want to know what I think.  That’s the part that surprises me the most.  I am one of those people, that after walking into a room, will find the darkest corner to hide in so I can people watch and read my book.  I mean, look at this:

  • Over 500 fans on Facebook
  • Over 700 people following me on Twitter
  • Over 160 email subscribers
  • 312 book reviews (plus I have three more to write)

To say the least, I am completely amazed at the idea of people wanting to see what I have to say about books enough to follow me around the web.

One of the other things that has blown my mind since starting LE is how easy it is to get to know various authors and publicists.  I mean, you never hear about authors in the tabloids or in the entertainment sections; so the idea that they were not hidden away, trapped behind a desk (which I guess is true some of the time), and actually available surprised me.  I’ve met some great authors and a lot of them have stopped by LE over the last two years.  I’ve had 41 authors write posts for LE, and I have had to increase the number of slots I have open because of interests, and I have had 12 different authors suffer through an interview with me.  I am loving the fact that I can connect with these various authors.

So, to show my appreciation, and to thank everyone for sticking with me these last two years, I’m having a contest.  Want to know what I have?  The First prize package involves signed copies of Maria Snyder’s Glass series – Storm Glass and Sea Glass;

and the Second prize package includes TA Pratt’s Marla Mason series – Blood Engines, Poison Sleep, Dead Reign and Spell Games.

Both packages will include some swag, but I’m still working on those, so what they are is going to be a surprise.  So that is what is up for grabs.  I will state one caveat…the Glass novels are brand new, bought when I saw Maria Snyder in Monroe earlier this year; bu the Mason novels are gentle read, so not brand new.

So how do you get your hands on either of these, that’s probably what you’re wanting to know, right.  It’s easy, I simply want to know What is it about book blogs that you enjoy?  Is there anything you would like to see on LE? I’m always looking for ways to improve the site and I love hearing feedback.  International entries are welcome, but shipping may be delayed a little!

As always, there’s more ways of getting your name in the hat:

  • +1 for each place you post about today’s contest on your blog, social network, or anywhere you can. Digg it, stumble it, twit it, share it with the world. Wherever you share it, make sure you add a link to it along with your answer.
  • +1 to any review you comment on, however, comments must be meaningful.  Just give me the title of the review and I’ll be able to figure it out from there.
  • +1 Join the Literary Escapism Facebook page and/or follow LE on Twitter
  • +2 subscribe to Literary Escapism – either via a reader or email (see the RSS button at the bottom of the sidebar)
  • +10 purchase any novel (ebooks not included, sorry guys, I don’t get credit for those) through LE’s Amazon store sometime during this contest and send a copy of the receipt VIA email for your purchase to: myjaxon AT gmail DOT com. Each purchase is worth ten entries and it has to be through the LE Amazon Link.

The contest will stay open until December 31st, at which time I’ll determine the winner with help from the Research Randomizer and the List Randomizer.

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

25 Comments

  1. No need to enter me – just wishing you a happy blogiversary! What I like about book blogs… Hmm. The sense of community, the sense of sharing, the sense of discovery.

  2. I enjoy book blogs, they have introduced me to many new authors and series! I love to read author interviews and also enjoy reading reviews. Contests are awesome too! Would like to get either one of these prize packs as they both would be new series for me to read!

  4. Happy Blogiversary!!!
    This is one of the first sites I found when I got back into reading a little over a year ago.I love all the information you gather.I found quite a few new authors through you.And I enjoy your reviews.

    +1 tweeted http://twitter.com/elaing8/status/6867134099

    +1 follow on twitter @elaing8

    +2 subscribe to newsletter

  5. Happy anniversary, Jackie! No need to enter me, but I want you to know that you bear a major responsibility for my current PNR/UF addiction. I *used* to read historical and contemp romance too, you know….

  7. Congratulations on 2 years!! That’s wonderful! I like reading blogs as I like to read author interviews and book reviews. I also like to read other people’s opinions on things and to connect with people who share my love of reading. It’s so nice to see so many people who love literacy as much as I do. And I love the challenges and contests too.

    +2 email subscriber

  8. Congrats on two years Jackie! I’ve gotta say that I love book blogs as they expand my reading boundaries so much. I would never have found out that I was an urban fantasy fan until I met you and found your site. You add to my TBR list on a constant basis which is always a good thing IMO! I’m not coming up with any suggestions off the top of my head…just keep doing what you are doing!

    BTW- I’m a follower (or a suscriber) but I’m not sure which :)

  9. What is it about book blogs that you enjoy? – I just enjoy talking, even if there is no one listening, i.e., blogging.

    Is there anything you would like to see on LE? – I like to read your views on paranormal books. I like to compare my thoughts to others and to see if a book I have bookmarked to read/buy is any good… and I always keep my eyes and ears open for a good book to read.

    Re-posted your contest at: http://contests-freebies.blogspot.com/2009/12/happy-blogversary-to-le.html

  12. First off, Happy 2nd Anniversay/Birthday to your informative blog site. I love to read book blogs, to find out about new books, and to get a sample on the author’s writing style. Please keep on blogging. I’m also a subscriber.

  13. Happy 2 year Blogiversary!

    What i enjoy about book blog are all the new books i discover. I also like the reviews, guest interviews, and contest :)

    +1 Already joined the Literary Escapism Facebook page
    +2 Literary Escapism email subscriber.

  16. Jackie congratulations on the blogaversary. Two years is a long time in internet years :) and you blog on an amazing range of material. SciFiGuy certainly owes you a debt as you are my number 1 referrer of all time sending me oodles of readers. May there be many more years of urban fantasy goodness.

  19. I love your news posts. I’m kinda nocturnal when it comes to being on the internet due to my work schedule, so it’s always nice to wake up to the latest books deals and cover art. I like having it in one place so I don’t have to track everything down. I used to wait until I found books on Amazon, but since I’ve found the book blogging community, I find out about new authors and series earlier. Plus, I never knew there would be so many giveaways! Lol.

    +1 follower on twitter (@sara_UFblog)

  21. Happy Blogversary!

    I enjoy reading book blogs for the reviews and introduction of books I wouldn’t have thought about reading. I also like reading the interviews with authors and their suggestions on books they like.

    Follow on twitter: @ThuyTNguyen and also fan on Facebook.

  23. Congrats on your blogiversary, that’s awesome! I love book blogs is that they’ve helped make reading a group activity. There is so much that is solitary about reading, so finding a community of people that find as much excitement and happiness in reading and talking about books and sharing what they’re reading is awesome.

  25. I read book review blogs for a couple of reasons… I like it when they make me laugh, introduce me to new authors, and my all time favorite reason for reading book bloggers is…. when I completely agree with their review of a book. Whether loving it or wtfing it. :D

    + 1 added it to my goodreads group for contest
    http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/253681-contest-d

    +1 and I tweeted it

    +1 following on Twitter

    Happy Blogversary!!!

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