Friday

Blogoversary Day 5 : Highlights of the Past Year + Giveaway

It's already Day 5 of my Blogoversary, and I'm yet to share my highlights of the past year with you! There are so many things I have loved about the past year, from getting my first ARC's and getting to know other bloggers to going to book signings and meeting authors.


Receiving my first ARCs - I was so excited when my first ARCs came through the post. When I realised some of them hadn't even been published yet, I couldn't believe I was getting the chance to read them. They were Perfectly Reflected and Scattering Like Light by S.C Ransom(The final two books in the Small Blue Thing Trilogy along with Twelve Minutes to Midnight by Christopher Edge and My Best Friend and Other Enemies by Catherine Wilkins. It also showcased my email skills, when I put 'Being Your ARC' in the subject line. Which really, shows how new I was to blogging! I can't help looking back on it know and laughing. Thank you Nosy Crow for providing me with them!

My first Manuscript & piece of 'Mail' - I received my first Manuscript in January, and it was Geek Girl by Holly Smale. I still have it on my shelf, and I'm really happy to have had such an amazing book as my first manuscript. Also, I had my first piece of 'Mail'(Post from the US) and I've still got the envelope it came on with the stamps. I admit, I may be starting to hoard things!

Getting to chat to authors - It's such a surreal experience when you get a tweet from an author, or they offer you some advice. I've gotten to know authors as well and a lesson I've learnt is that they are just normal people, but with extra-ordinary talents. People like Kate Maryon, Siobhan Curham and Holly Smale are regular people on my twitter-feed and when Marianne Curley commented on my review of Hidden, I freaked out! It was amazing - as Hidden had quickly become one of my favourite books!

My first author interview - The first author I interviewed on this blog was the wonderful Kate Maryon, who I am lucky enough to have met(Which counts as another highlight, as I had such a fantastic day!) and to still be in touch with now. I remember how I felt when she said yes, and I spent hours pondering over the questions to send. I was ecstatic. Me, Sophie, was going to interview an author. I was going to get to ask an author - an author - some of my own questions. I couldn't believe it! You can check out the interview here !

Getting to know other Bloggers - As you may already know from my previous posts, I've loved getting to know other bloggers and finding people who have the same interests as me. It's been amazing to get to chat on Twitter, read your posts and comments, and receive emails from you. I've loved our fan-girling, excitement and constant discussions over book boyfriends - along with knowing I am not the only one with an unhealthy chocolate addiction.  DFTBA!

Discovering VlogBrothers, Dystopia & Goodreads - These are just some of the things have made this blogging experience so much fun! I don't believe I had never watched Vlogbrothers and laughed over John & Hank, or read The Hunger Games and used Goodreads - which has helped me keep so much more organised.

Attending my first Conference - Earlier this year, I got to attend my first conference, which was absolutely amazing. From authors, to publishers and illustrators, I got to learn so much and pick up tips to help my own writing. I got the chance to meet and talk to Catherine Fisher, who wrote The Obsidian Mirror, which I will always remember and got her writing advice. I also got to sit through one of her talks, where I found myself scrawling notes throughout. It was really interesting to get an insight into the world of publishing, and to get a chance to be amongst people who I aspire to be. Although, it was nice to see some young girls who were also taking notes - I felt so out-of-place!

Starting this blog - It sounds cheesy, but this has to be included in the list. If this blog had never been opened, the other things that have made this year would have never happened. I honestly don't know what I was thinking when I opened my blog, maybe that it would be a place to voice-my-thoughts. Somehow, I never thought about it lasting to a year but of course, it shaped the year for me.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my highlights. It's been awesome! To celebrate, here is another giveaway. Sadly, this is also UK ONLY because of the P&P costs.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

6 comments:

  1. Happy blogoversary!

    I remember my first review book and ARC! Nothing could beat that feeling! And the first interview! I was so nervous my questions would appear really dull... but I loved every minute of it!

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  2. I remember when in very early stages of blogging I did my first author interview and how happy I felt. And then the excitement of hunting down your package of new books. Blogging has been such a great experience and I've gained much more then I thought from it. Too think I didn't know who John and Hank Green were before blogging is just plain sad. Congratz on all your milestones, wishing you many more.

    And sorry for writing "A Reading Daydreamer" instead of "A Daydreamer's World". So embarrasing but it's all fixed now. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  3. Wow, you've done so much in the space of a year!
    -DP :) thedramatispersona.blogpsot.com

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  4. Congrats on all the stuff you've done in the past year!!! I remember being SO happy when I got my first ARC! It was The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan, and it was absolutely FANTABULOUSLYAMAZEBALLS! (:

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  5. I need to catch up with your Blogoversary posts! I have been on a hiatus for the past week - stupid exams! >.< I'm so glad that you have had such an amazing year, congratulations!

    Doing all of these things is such an awesome feeling, I agree :) I remember receiving my first ARC and feeling so lucky :') I am so happy that I have discovered Vlog Brothers and dystopia too.. where would we be without our blogs?!

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  6. You've had such an amazing blogging year! Lucky you for attending your first conference, I haven't done so yet but would love to. Great post :D

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read - and comment on - this blog post! I read and reply to every comment, so feel free to ask any questions and I'll answer!

See you soon!

Sophie Louise