One-Year Blogoversary Celebration and Giveaway!

IT'S MY ONE-YEAR BLOGOVERSARY!










YAY! Can you believe it!? One year ago, I decided to switch from Webs to Blogger, and start blogging and reviewing for real. I've survived college applications, AP exams, moving out, starting a new life and school, FINALS WEEK... all while never missing a single day of blogging. All while so so so SO many people were supporting me, and my blog.





Before I do my Grammys/Oscars/Academy Awards Thank You Speech, let me share with you some blogging milestones/achievements that I have hit over this year of blogging:

- 600+ published posts
- 150,000 pageviews
- Nearly 3000 total blog followeres
- Almost 200 reviews published
- Harper, Harlequin, Harlequin TEEN auto-approval on Edelweiss
- Macmillan auto-approval on NetGalley
- My first requested ARCs from Disney, Amazon (Skyscape), Harlequin TEEN, Harper, Simon and Schuster, Scholastic, Penguin Teen, Macmillan (mailing list for Macmillan)
- Have not missed a day of posting... at all. Ever. 


Squee!


And, as with everything, there are some people that went the extra mile for me, that helped and supported me in so many ways, that gave my blog some love even when they were too busy with their own life, or that just rock.



Bloggers:

- Jess of Lovin Los Libros: it's funny, because we met because she started blogging and I gave some advice about blogging. Jess started blogging a few months after me, and even though I had only been blogging for a few months, she took my advice. She's a fabulous blogger now (though in no way can I take credit for that). She lets me borrow books, and she even went to a C.J. Redwine event, and bought and shipped to me a signed hardcover copy of Deception! WHO DOES THAT FOR RANDOM STRANGERS ON THE INTERNET?! Jess did. And I will never, ever forget it.

- Nereyda of Mostly YA Obsessed: if you all haven't heard of Nereyda or her blog, then you are MISSING OUT. Nereyda is flat-out talented. Her Book Looks posts are genius! And Nereyda is a blogger that is super dedicated. She let me borrow (and have) ARCs of hers! HUGGLES!

- The Team at The YA Bookcase: I've never met such a nice team of young adults who are wild about books! Most of the teens are younger than me, which is awesome because I love following their college admissions :D Shout out to Rachel and all the other seniors - you got this! And everyone, follow them on Twitter, because they like to give away pre-pub ARCs. Very, VERY pre-pub ARCs.

- Jessica of Step Into Fiction: I've never met this Maryland blogger, but she ROCKS! She's always commenting on my blog, or replying to my tweets on Twitter! And she sees and follows my Goodreads updates! SHE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT I KNOW THAT DOES THAT! :D

- Meredith of Pandora's Books: for letting me give her advice, whenever she asked questions. Meredith is about half my "blogging age", but she is already a terrific blogger. She's also a wonderful person. You need some nice in your day? Hit her up on Twitter :D

- Christina of Ensconced in Lit: this lady is a very successful blogger, and she is a fellow math/science nerd YAY! There are like, ZERO math/science bloggers out there, so when I find one, I get excited. Most of you all are teachers and English majors and whatnot. NOT that there is anything wrong with that. Anyway! Christina is fabulous, and she is writing a novel! She helped me with my first Twitter party, which was a huge success. I hope we can do that again sometime! :)

- Jessica of Read My Breath Away: my lovely Canadian friend! This girl is awesome. She's a fellow college student, so I feel extra bonded to her because she knows all about blogging and college and THE STRUGGLE OF STUDENT LOANS. Also, we both love historical fiction. *fist bumps*

- Alexis of Alexis Adores Books: another college blogger who is simply fantastic! I'm not sure when she started following me on Twitter, but she did, and she would always reply to my tweets. Shame on me for not following her sooner. The persistence pays off, Alexis! Thank you :)

- Rachel of Paper Cuts: a third college blogger! This girl is awesomesauce! I love commenting on her blog, because I know that she will always reply with a sassy and terrific and unique comment. Also, she is one of the few people that followed MY college admission process, and was excited with me when I got into JHU, and when I was moving in, and when finals week came around, and so on. Rock on, girl!

- Nikki of Fiction Freak: there's only one way to describe this girl: A GIANT BALL OF ENERGY :D Seriously though, Nikki is one of the most energetic and excitable bloggers I know. She and I both have an eye for detail and organization - something that I don't find often. I love knowing someone younger than me, even if she has over a year of blogging and experience on me. More power to her!

- Eileen of Singing and Reading in the Rain: this girl was one of two bloggers that answered the like, two questions I had when I started my blog. The other was Annabelle of Sparkles and Lightning. I was shy and didn't ask much, but both ladies did not hesitate to answer my questions and help me. *squishes*

- Hannah of The Irish Banana: HANNAH BANANA IS SO NICE! I *finally* met her (and Jen) at the Baltimore Book Festival this year. Hannah gave me books! And hugs! She's an incredible person and a wonderful blogger - check out her ARC Essentials posts sometime!

- Jen of Jenuine Cupcakes: CUPCAKES. That is all you need to know ;D But in all seriousness, Jen is one of the kindest bloggers I know. All that time and money and effort she spends making cupcakes is much appreciated! And somehow, she STILL has time to blog, do YABC editor things, and have a family. Rock on, lady!

Authors:

- Paula Stokes/Fiona Paul: this lady is probably one of my favorite authors out there, and it has very little to do with me loving her books. Granted, I DO love her books. But I didn't love Venom, Fiona's debut. In my review, I kind of ripped apart the book. BUT. Fiona read my review, and contacted me personally to tell me that she saw some of the things I pointed out, and thanked me for reading and reviewing. She sent me the first ARC of Starling, and I believe I was the first blogger reviewer. You bet I felt special. Anyway, my point is, Fiona/Paula didn't just get mad about my review and shun me. She thanked me for the review AND enlisted my help with the third book. That's incredible, people. I don't know many (if any at all) authors that would do that.

- Livia Blackburne: my favorite debut author of 2014! No offense to the authors. I've been squeeing over Midnight Thief for many, many long months (way early this year). I've also being squeeing over Livia herself, because she is like, my role model. She went to Harvard and MIT, she studied neuroscience, and she writes fantasy novels. I'm going to Johns Hopkins, I'm studying environmental engineering, and I would love to write fantasy books. Score! Plus, she sent me her novella, Poison Dance, and I believe I was the first blogger reviewer to read and review it. Special feels!

- Kathleen Peacock: she's putting my name in the acknowledgements of Hemlock book three. Because I recommended Radioactive (Imagine Dragons). WOW! That's so nice, right?! Also, I believe I won the first ARC of Thornhill, from Kathleen. I was NOT the first blogger reviewer, but hey, I read and reviewed the book eventually! :D

- Amy Butler Greenfield: AMY IS SO SUPER SWEET! I feel like I bug her a lot about Chantress and things, but she takes it all in stride. *thumbs up*

- Patty Blount: one of the nicest authors I know! Her books are definitely under appreciated - meaning, I think more people should read her books. Tough issues, real characters, beautiful writing. She let me beta-read TMI last year around this time! I was supposed to beta-read Some Boys around this time as well... I can't even come up with a good excuse for not reading it. Finals, maybe? Mushy brain? Shoot. ***EDIT: she sent me the final version and I read it and OMG NOBODY MISS THIS BOOK IT IS AMAZING!!!***

- Ellen Oh: she is a Maryland author! WOOHOO! Also, Ellen crossed all of her fingers and toes and joints for me on Regular Decision Day (March 28th). When I told her I didn't get into UPenn, she was like, there is still your Hopkins decision! And then I got into Hopkins, and she was so proud of me. LOVE YOU, LADY!

- Sara Walsh: another Maryland blogger, and a lovely person! When The Dark Light was released, I believe I won a signed copy from her. I was totally going for a poster, but a signed book is great too! But I had been entering so many poster contests, and I didn't win any, and Sara saw this. She saw just how much I wanted one, and you know what she did? She contacted me personally, and sent me not only a giant poster, but a mini-sized poster as well. *dies* SO NICE! I'll never forget that kindness done to me - it made me tear up. And Sara has worked with me here on the blog before, and she is a joy to work with. Seriously, there is no one cooler than Sara!

- J.R. Johansson: one of my favorite debut authors of 2013! She's a Friday the Thirteener (my favorite thirteen debut authors of 2013), and she is fantastic! I won a prize package that included her book, and I read and LOVED Insomnia. Apparently, I gushed over it so much, Jen remembered this, and enlisted me to help reveal the cover of Paranoia (which was revealed on only a select few blogs)! I was touched, because try as I might, I never get to do exclusive (or semi-exclusive) cover reveals! Just group ones. So, thank you, Jen!

- Maurissa Guibord: this lady is sweet and oh-so talented! I LOVED her 2011 release, Warped, and when I found out that she had another book coming out in 2013 (Revel), I was all over the promotion for that book. I contacted Maurissa, and she worked with me on a post and giveaway on my blog. She is so giving and inspiring - I really appreciate her :)


And finally... all of you. Every single person clicked on a link to my blog, or read a review on my blog or Goodreads or Amazon or Barnes & Noble, or commented on my blog, or entered a giveaway, or tweeted at me, or retweeted my promotional tweets, or did SOMETHING for me... thank you. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you, and hope that one day, your kind deeds will be repaid. Blogging is NEVER easy when you don't have an audience. And I may not be the most popular blogger out there, but I love all of you who read and support my blog. *huggles*

The Giveaway:

You've survived my Thank You speech! Not too bad, right?! ;D

Anyway, the giveaway prize is a giant box of finished copies of books, or a giant box of ARCs. The finished copies box has about 20-30 books in it, and the ARCs box has around 20 books in it. Most of the ARCs are recent.

Two winners, INT welcome! Read the GIVEAWAYS page and/or the Terms and Conditions in the Rafflecopter. Good luck! And THANK YOU!

a Rafflecopter giveaway