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!


 

The Bookaholic's Two Year Blogoversary Giveaway!

Welcome to the celebration! I've been blogging now for two years, and the only best way I can think of to celebrate this wonderful milestone is to give away some books. ^_^  This is probably one of my favorite giveaways to date, because it's going to include choices from many of my favorites from the time I started blogging. I just thought that this was the best way I could do this...I've shared my loves through reviews, and I want to give you all the chance to experience one of my faves for yourselves. I also have to say that I've read many amazing books in the last two years. There were a lot more I wanted to put on this list, but I had to shorten it. It still ended up a bit long. :p

As an added bonus: I'm including choices for a chance to win a pre-order of an upcoming summer release. The choices are some of my most anticipated as well, and when I place the order, I'm placing mine too. :P

Here's the rundown....

There's going to be TWO winners! The Grandprize gets one book (of their choice) from my list of faves/much-loved books AND a pre-order of an upcoming summer release of their choice from the options below. Second place can choose to either pick one book from my list of much-loved books or a pre-order.

So let's get to the books, shall we? (and this is going to be a list!)

Much-loved books-- Choice of one, or if it's from a series and they prefer to have book one, two, etc. may choose that---



Masque of Red Death
Warm Bodies
Ultraviolet (or Quicksilver)
Touch of Power (or Scent of Magic)
Under the Never Sky or Through the Ever Night *I have not read TTEN yet, but UTNS is one of my faves!*
The Indigo Spell (or any of the previous Bloodlines books)
The Fault in Our Stars
The Archived
Stormdancer
Shadows
Days of Blood & Starlight
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vol. 1
Pandemonium
Vortex
Just One Day
Scarlet

Pre-Order Choices**:


    In The After
Gameboard of the Gods
The 5th Wave
Dance of the Red Death
Born of Illusion
Ashes on the Waves


**If pre-order is not available at time of giveaway closing, please be aware that I would still definitely get your choice title ordered at least within the date of release this summer, or you could choose a different title in exchange.**

*All links lead to the book's Goodreads page.*

You don't have to be a follower to enter. Though it's nice! ;)
One email per household (in other words, no cheating the system for more entries).
It's international! Wherever The Book Depository ships. So yes, my international friends, you can enter! <3
Winner(s) must contact me back within 48 hours in order to claim prize. If not, I reserve the right to pick a new winner. Ends March 26th, so plenty of time to enter!


Have fun! And thanks so much for a great two years!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Two Years.

Two years. You all have dealt with me that long? Seriously? Wow. I'm sorry... No, not really.

I'd like to make a big speech but I'm not good at those. To be honest, in the last couple of weeks I almost considered quitting the blogging community due to some personal inner demon lately nagging at me, trying to tell me how much I suck. That sounds like such a downer, right? I don't want to be that way! I'm here for fun! And I love the friends I've made so I'm not going anywhere. :) You're stuck with me... BAHAHAHA!

I want to thank Rachel at Parajunkee's View -- probably the first blog I'd ever started following, and what got my interest into blogging. I don't really have any IRL friends to talk books with so reviewing and discussing books in this wonderful community is exactly what I need. I'm so thankful to have stumbled upon it when I did.

My love and thanks to some other special bloggers that I find inspiring (and if you don't follow them, you should):

Kara and Lyn at Great Imaginations
Christina at A Reader of Fictions
Steph & Kat at Cuddlebuggery
Lea at LC's Adventures in Libraryland
Taylor at Thoughts of An Endless Dreamer
Blythe at Finding Bliss in Books
Books Are Wonderful
The Midnight Garden
Xpresso Reads
Sharon at Obsession With Books
Two Chicks on Books


I wish I could name everyone, but it's late...and I'm sure I'm forgetting people. Which will make me feel bad later on... but I'm sorry ahead of time if I talk to you on a regular basis and I forgot to mention you. On a sidenote, I appreciate ALL of my followers and I thank you everyone. I've also made so many new friends in the last year (Janice, Stephanie, Laura... Holla! <3), it's just hard to list everyone. :P Know that I love you all, though. And THANK YOU.

Here's to another two years.

 




P.S. Because I'm sure you're curious...yes, there's a planned giveaway. That post will be coming in the next 12-24 hours with all of the information. I'm spending a bit of time putting it together. :P

Blog Makeover!

As you can see, I've recently undergone some changes. New header image, new button... new layout/background...Well, let's just say a wonderful blog makeover. This was all done by the talented and fabulous Lea at LC's Adventures in Libraryland! *squee* <3

She is starting her own design business and I lucked out on getting the opportunity to work with her. I hope you all will consider her in the future for your design needs as well!

A Blogger's Thank-You

I want to take a moment in honor of Thanksgiving and heartfelt gratitude for this post to be solely about my appreciation to these wonderful bloggers and friends through the last several months.

You’ve not only made me feel welcome to the blogging community this year (it’s been almost a full year of blogging for me, wow!), but I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and hope to continue building great friendships with many more as time goes on. Some of you have stuck by since the very beginning and I can't even begin to describe how much that means to me! Thanks so much!


Lea at LC’s Adventures in Libraryland

Shanella at Books are Wonderful

Taylor at Thoughts of an Endless Dreamer (hey I knew this chick before blogging, she’s one of my besties. :P hehe)

Parajunkee

Alison at Alison Can Read

Sharon at Obsession with Books

Kristen at BetterReadThanDead

Kara at Great Imaginations



The year is already coming to an end. Can you believe it? I've met some wonderful people, and if I forgot to mention you on my list, I'm sorry. A lot of you have been great friends and I hope to continue building that great online friendship. :)
I like to think the blogging community is one of the most solid online communities you can be a part of-- and for that, I'm proud. I love sharing my joy and love of books with others, something I can't do so easily around at home because I don't know many people personally (I know, it's sad and I'm a bit of loner to be honest) but this is such a wonderful platform to just get my geeky side out.

I hope everyone is having a great holiday week (for those that celebrate Thanksgiving) and thank you again. I look forward to the coming year of new starts on the blog--reading challenges, giveaways galore, and the upcoming one year blogoversary!!

*hugs to all*

Vacation Over!

So, I guess that means it's time to get back to work, huh? Well of course! :P I have a lot of editing to catch up on, because vacation had me slacking in that department, but luckily vacation did have a lot of reading time. I will have a lot of reviews to be sharing very soon once I get some things organized. :) It's good to be back. I missed my lovely little laptop and blogging world. ^^

Happy weekend everyone and will get back to my regular posting very soon!

What are you reading this weekend?

Challenges

This year is about reading challenges for me. I'm trying to read more outside my usual boundaries. Of course, I'm still enjoying a lot of my favorite genres as well, but at the same time, I'm planning on delving into others that I normally wouldn't find myself picking up, too.

While planning through my lists of to-reads, it got me to thinking. There are some classics that I've been meaning to read for a long time, that I've just never got around to read. You know, those types that we all say, "Oh, I've heard so much about that, but honestly I've never read that." Then the person standing there looks at you in shock because of it. haha. Well, I've decided to start my own reading challenge because of this.

There's the 50 book challenge where everyone participating reads 50 books in a year. That's a challenge I've been active in since hearing of it last year. There's the e-book challenge if you're a participator in that (and I'd like to add that I'm not- I don't own an e-reader and in no rush to get one). I honestly don't know of many of these challenges at the moment because I'm just an obsessed reader for myself mostly.

So here's the stitch. My apologies ahead of time if there's already a challenge out there somewhere in the networld like this. My challenge, for myself, and for anyone else who is interested in participating is to read FIVE classic books that you have never read before, but have been meaning to read, by December 31st. That's right, I'm only saying FIVE.

Mostly I'm only saying five because it's already about the end of March, so a bit of a late start for the challenge. I also didn't want to tack on a high number to anyone who's participating in other reading challenges as well. Five is reasonable- and it adds to your reading count if you're doing the 50 book challenge.

So, what will your five be?

Mine will be:

1. True Grit by Charles Portis
2. 1984 by George Orwell
3. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinback
4. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
5. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

------------------------------------------------------------------


Challenge # 2 that I've decided on as well:

I call it "The Shakespeare Challenge".

As of April 23, it marks the anniversary of William Shakespeare's death. I am a very BIG Shakespeare dork... and well, it's been quite some time since I've picked up any of his work, sadly. I own every piece. :) Quite a collection... like I said, I'm a dork. :P

So, my challenge for this is to read FOUR Shakespeare plays of your choice by December 31st. With this challenge, it can be a re-read, seeing as how I understand that it may have been some time since someone has read something, and may want to re-read one of their favorites. But I'd recommend reading something you haven't, if you haven't read all of his work yet, too. :)

Anyways, enjoy! Drop some comments here if you're participating in the challenges. I'd love to see any reviews you may post on your own blogs!

And if you want me to, I can make some buttons for these two challenges if you want buttons for your blogs or anything. Just let me know. :)

<3