Blogging Update: I'm back!!

Well I just wanted to make a short little post here to update y'all on a few things. It certainly has been a long hiatus for me from the blogging world but I'm very happy to say that, "I'm baaaaaaacccccckkk!" 

It's been a crazy time and life definitely got in the way causing me to take a semi permanent break from blogging. Between work and some family things going on I just couldn't find the time and had gotten pretty down on myself about it. Suffice it to say I was in quite a funk, I really wasn't even reading much at all *gasp* I know,  I know, very poor life choice on my part.

But don't worry I've come to my senses and gotten back to my old ways! Once I started planning and getting my blogging schedule figured out it was obvious that I missed it more than I initially realized, so I'm super pumped to be back in the groove! 

However I do feel rather out of the loop, so bear with me these next few weeks while I get caught back up on all the latest info as far as new books, authors, events, and all the other bookish news that's floating around goes. I'll be updating my Goodreads account which has been severely neglected, and tweeting it up to let y'all know what's new on the blog!

I'm hoping to have some fun stuff here for y'all to read, possibly some guest posts from some of my favorite bloggers as well as discussions and whatnot. So stay tuned for lots to come!

Love and bookish wishes,

Announcing Big Changes For The New Year

The last year, The Bookaholic has seen its fair share of changes including picking up a co-blogger, a new look, and a bit of neglect (sadly). The blog has also grown quite a bit when it comes to followers and views--and I appreciate that--and I've met some wonderful people through my last four years of blogging. I also absolutely had a blast going to BEA 2014 in NYC for my first time and meeting so many people in person (and traveling to NYC for my very first time, also flying in a plane for my first time ever--which was AMAZEBALLS). But okay, I'm starting to get off topic and I tend to do that when I get super excited and I'm writing out this post as I go along straight from the page instead of writing it out first and posting later when it's actually ready like I normally do. Ha!

Back to the topic: Over the last several months, I've been under a lot of stress. I'm a writer, too. Some of you don't know that because I don't really advertise much. I'm only a small-time gal. And I'm not some fantastic piece of work, trust me. I just love what I do, and I'm trying to get better. The only way to get better? Write, right? I can't do a lot of that, and then blog and read as much as I want without some help. I had a book releasing, another in the works for NaNo, another I'm trying to get finished and polished for later this spring. The stress was eating me alive. I got into a lot of reading slumps. And blogging slumps. That's why The Bookaholic became neglected. It got to a point where I almost thought I was going to have to quit entirely... My passion of blogging and sharing my love of books had died. It became more of a chore than a love. That's a terrible thing, and I was afraid to admit it to anyone.

I didn't want to quit though. The thought only nagged me. I mean, all the hard work I'd done through the years? It broke my heart mostly to think I could just let it go like that. So, when Lyn of Great Imaginations made an offer, I began to consider some things. Then, well, more encouragement came (and maybe some begging... Lol...) and now I can make this announcement:

As of now, I'm going to be guest blogging at Great Imaginations! You can read more about it at this post.

What does it mean for The Bookaholic?

For now, The Bookaholic is still in operation. I will still be posting here, though maybe not as regularly as I'd intended for the year. I haven't yet decided if I'm going to somehow share the same reviews that I do share there when I post (or if I just share a link where you all can go read the reviews I post when I'm putting a guest review up). I'm not considered a co-blogger (yet) at Great Imaginations, but if/when I make the permanent move over to blog there, I'll be sure to definitely let you all know.

What does it mean for Taylor (my co-blogger)?

Taylor is still my co-blogger. I've had a discussion with her over this decision already as we do text when we can. Taylor also has a very busy schedule with two jobs so I understand that life gets in her way and she's not capable of keeping a steady schedule. She's welcome to post when she can and I'm sad that things didn't work as planned for us to blog together the way we wanted. We did come to agree that even if I leave the blog at any point, I don't mind her taking it over as a single individual to use for a place to share her reviews if she wants... otherwise, she can just rebuild her old blog again. Solely her decision.
For now, like I said above, as long as I'm still around, Taylor is still around also when she's available. 

Will The Bookaholic still do any challenges/features?

I'll participate in what I can. I hadn't really planned on hosting anything. If I get any ideas to host something, I might... depending on the timeframe. It may be something I run by the others first though to see if they want to feature first. :)

Are you excited?

YESSSSS!!

I really am. I feel the passion for blogging and reading again. I'm just so happy!


Here's to an awesome year!!!

Say Hello to the New Co-Blogger of The Bookaholic!

As you all know, I recently put out a call for a co-blogger when I realized I needed the additional help here at The Bookaholic. While the interest and response was pretty overwhelming on Twitter with the first announcement, only one caught my attention by the end in the application. It was such a DUH moment on why I hadn't just asked her straight out instead of going through all of the process I did.

The new co-blogger is:

Taylor! (from Thoughts of an Endless Dreamer )

I've known Taylor for several years after first meeting through an online book club, and then through texts and phone calls and chatting pretty much on a daily basis. Though I haven't met her in person, I'd consider her to be one of my best friends. We have a lot of the same reading tastes, but have also differed enough to have some varying opinions. I see this being a great match for the blog. :D

So, what does this mean for The Bookaholic? Double the bookaholicism. But don't worry: the name is remaining the same. After all, it's been here for nearly three years. :P I think it still works fine as The Bookaholic, despite that there's more than one of us here now.

And PLEASE be patient with us as we get all situated and organized with each other over the next week or two. It's going to be an adjustment after blogging on my own for so long, but I'm so so so happy to have this wonderful person a part of the page to make it her home now also!

Okay, I've believe I've stalled long enough. Let me just let her take over and introduce herself so you can meet her! :P





 

Hi there everyone! My name is Taylor and some of you may already know me from my blog Thoughts Of An Endless Dreamer. I started blogging back in 2011 and have loved every bit of it, although here recently I've been kind of MIA from the blogging world for several months. Between the process of moving, getting and starting two new jobs, and trying to keep up with everything else I was a just a bit overwhelmed and had to just step away for awhile. But I had really missed it all so much and had been planning to start out again this year since I've gotten into a routine with work and have been able to balance things a bit better now.

I happened to see Pixie tweet that she was going to be looking for a co-blogger and I was really excited about the prospect of that! For one thing she's one of my favorite bloggers and part of the reason why I started blogging in the first place, plus she's one of my really close friends and we've known each other for about 6 years now (even though we have yet to meet in person lol). So naturally I'm beyond excited to start blogging together and seeing what kinds of mischief the two of us can get into! ;)

For those of you that don't know me I'm a coffee addict, faerie obsessed, bookworm and a constant dreamer. I have a love for photography, graphic design, owls, history, tattoos, shoes, and nail polish. My favorite colors are Green, Blue, and Purple. I'm deathly afraid of spiders and clowns, and just recently have come to find that I've got pretty darn good aim when it comes to shooting, the credit for that goes to my good old Southern roots ;) So anyways..... if you'd be interested to see more of my rambling feel free to look me up on Twitter! I'm so happy to be able to start posting and sharing all kinds of bookish things with everyone here, let the fun begin!!

The Bookaholic... Now Open?? -- Read On For An Announcement & News

I'm exhausted y'all. Just like this bunny.


So here is the info and news and an announcement:

Next month I celebrate 3 full years of blogging. WHOOP WHOOP. It’s been a long journey, and I’ve met some wonderful people along the way that I’m so proud to call close friends now. <3

However, as many of you know, I’m a semi-author too. Well, self-published for the most part at the moment as I work my way around the whole scene (And I just totally imagined Will Ferrell doing that SNL skit with whatshisname Chris Kataan --sure I spelled that all wrong or whatever, WHATEVER-- but I giggle-snorted thinking of that dance scene. I’m living on very little sleep right now as you can tell.). I’m actually working on THREE--yes you read that correctly--novels at the moment, and trying to run two separate kind of blogs. The other blog I run doesn’t have anything much to do with books, or this news, and it’s really new still but I encourage visits/follows if you love movies, television and music! :D (http://adventuresinremoteland.blogspot.com in case you need the link!)

Anyways. You can say that the last few months have been a bit hectic for me. That’s likely an understatement. I’ve been terribly sick on and off the last month with a cold. Some days I just want to sleep because of that alone, and some days when I’m feeling great, I was finding myself crazy busy. By the time I was able to wind down--I didn’t have the desire to do any blogging.

2014 is a new year though! This first portion of it will continue to be somewhat busy until toward the start of March when softball season is over for one of my kids. But I can say that things will be winding down enough for me throughout the year for me to be more active with my reading and posting schedule.

Here’s the news: To lighten the workload even more, I’ve put a lot of consideration into this recently and have decided I’m more than willing to take on a co-blogger here at The Bookaholic finally just in time for my 3 year anniversary! When I made this little statement on Twitter the other evening, I was pleasantly surprised to find more interest than I thought there would be. Seriously… I thought NO ONE would want to step up and join me, and instead I had tweets and re-tweets and responses coming at me from all angles that I couldn’t possible know where to go from there!

So I have to just make things fair and ask that anyone interested in this position to please apply using this FORM. It’s completely private. I will be the only one to see your response. My decision is going to be based on who I think I will work with best, as well as best for keeping The Bookaholic the bookish home it’s been for the last three years. I want it to be a comfort place for the co-blogger as well, and for them to be able to make many wonderful friends I have with their own journey as well. <3

Applicants need not apply if you’re only looking for:

--ARCs, auto-access to any publishers, publicists, etc.

--Boost in book sales by spamming followers (I don’t have a prob at all with any authors applying, but don’t if you think you’re going to use The Bookaholic as your ‘marketing’ platform)

--A temporary blog/A place to blog at for less than two-three months. I want the co-blogger to have intentions of staying around with me for a while, pleeeaaseee. :)

As an added note, I’d like to also say to anyone that may not be picked as co-blogger, there may be an additional one or two applicants I’d contact to consider as regular guest bloggers for reviews and/or features. And their name would be listed on the blog as such. Exciting, right? I hope!

　

Thanks! Here is the link to the FORM again. This application process will end Saturday. I will let my new co-blogger (and possible additional guest bloggers) know the news by Sunday morning, and make the announcement next week!


 

New Blog Feature: Midnight Rendezvous

On occasion I like to read adult titles (some erotica included, especially J.R. Ward, Charlaine Harris, and Richelle Mead's adult series), and when I do, I like to share my thoughts. This is primarily a YA reviewing blog, but I didn't want to start a separate one just to share my other half of enjoyment. Instead, I've come up with a solution--also thanks to ideas from seeing other bloggers do the same thing (one in particular being Parajunkee with her After Dark feature) and will be starting a side feature for these particular adult titles.


Anytime I go to review, discuss, or host anything adult/erotica related, the above image will be placed at the start so that you're aware it's not YA/not recommended for anyone under a certain age group due to content.


Just wanted to put up the quick announcement! Thanks! :)

Sadly, contest is cancelled.

Sometimes we all have our bad days, right? This may even run into the blogging world in which case a contest/giveaway just may simply fail.

Contest Cancellation- My apologies!

I'm dreadfully sorry to the two who did enter, but obviously there just wasn't enough interest with this one that I am cancelling the giveaway this time around. My sincerest apologies and best of luck to the next giveaway in the near future. I hope you come back and enter!

That's right, you read that correctly. There is an upcoming giveaway in the near future. A BIG one I might say now so be prepared- and I'm making this announcement to all of my followers.

I happened to casually glance over at my follower count the other evening and noticed that increasing number. Wow.. I'm pushing almost 200! It feels so wonderful to have you all following me and meeting everyone. :)

Of course, to celebrate this milestone, I will host a giveaway when/if I reach the 200 mark. Stay tuned!
And thank you so much for all your continued support and following. The book blogging community is absolutely fantastic!