Showing posts with label 1st blogiversary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1st blogiversary. Show all posts
For the celebrations, you've heard from two of my favourite authors and friends, and you've heard from me, so I want to end the celebrations by letting my blog be taken over for the day by a book loving, always reading friend of mine, Pixie Allen.
I have known Pixie for quite a few years now, in fact it's to remember not knowing her and not being friends. We instantly clicked and have been double trouble ever since. :) We both love books and I know that we each share many books we both love, but we also have books that aren't in each other's niche... but then we have more to talk about and well, I think by combining us both together we could open a bookstore that would be somewhere in between "You've Got Mail's" Bookshop Around the Corner and Fox's Books... although our ethos would very much be "Around the Corner style"!
Anyway, without further ado, here is the beautiful Pixie Allen telling you why she loves reading chick lit, her dreams, and why her beautiful boys love reading too!
I always feel a tad
awkward starting a guest blog off, for many reasons really but mainly just
because I never know where to start.
Dawn was lovely enough to ask me to write about my love of chick lit
books and, well, I’m going to try my very best to make it legible.
I guess I should
start by telling you about me, my name’s Pixie, I’m a business owner and mom of
two tremendous children and wife to one amazing husband, we are, for the moment
city dwellers but dream of living out in the English countryside, surrounded by
green hills and chirping birds and that unmistakable smell of.... well.....
fresh air (I know where you thought I was going!)
For as long as I
can remember I’ve been a book worm, since picking up my first book which I
believe was Meg and Mog by Helen Nicholl and Jan Pienkowski I was hooked, back
then I was drawn in by the big flashes of colour and cool illustrations, and
not to mention that Meg was a pretty lousy witch! I soon progressed through to older books; my
teachers could always find me in the library section of the classroom lay on
the carpet surrounded by books. They
used to test me to see if I understood what I was reading because I could read
fast and therefore was finishing books ahead of time, much to the annoyance of
my peer’s lol But they were always
pleasantly surprised that I could explain each step of the story and even hand
in book reviews (I told you I was a book geek).
As I grew up my
love for literature only grew and I was never too far away from the world of
fiction. I had secret aspirations to
become a writer but that’s still something I’ve not yet pursued. What I used to love about chick lit, and
still love about it to this day, is the talent that the writer has, I know from
the first paragraph whether that book is for me. I want the author to pull me in to the story
so much so that I feel like I’m actually in that story with them, that I can
see the characters as if I was on a film set and I was watching the story
unfold through my very own eyes.
The thing is with
chick lit, for me at least, I can totally chill out when I’m reading it, I know
it’s going to relax me, and give me some down time, or escape time, without
actually having to leave the house. I
love delving into other peoples worlds and fiction always always gives me that
‘coming home’ feeling. A good book is
more valuable to me than any other item I own, because a book can continue to
inspire me for moths after I’ve read the last page.
My grandma always
used to say, a good book will live in your soul for all eternity, I sometimes
think I’m one of the few who actually still feels this way about books, loosing
yourself in a book is almost like meditation, you know the endings going to
give you goose bumps, it will keep you focused on the highest good and it will
continue to make you happy just by thinking about it.
Few authors have
managed to fully take me in, but a few of my favourite authors have never
failed, I love the writings of Jenny Colgan, Ali McNamara, Sophie Kinsella, Jane
Green, Miranda Dickinson, Debbie Macomber and Lindsey Kelk they just get it
right with each new publication. I’ve
also fallen in love with Giovanna Fletcher who wrote ‘Billy and Me’ her writing
style is so easy to read. One book that
really stayed with me this year, and my favourite book of the year was The
Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I
realised that I was late to the party with this one, but what this author did
with this story was beyond anything I have ever felt reading a book before, I
won’t go into detail about the book in case you haven’t read it, but all I can
say is, John Green wrote a book that will make you see life through very
different eyes once you read this.
I’ve passed my love
of books on to my children too who love to read, they are huge Roald Dahl and David
Walliams Fans, I see so much of myself in them, especially when I walk into
their rooms and they are lay on the floor surrounded by books... gives me happy
squishes to see it.
Every few years a
debate hits the news about how outdated books are and how everything should be
in e-book format. I have to touch on
this and say... the thought of not actually being able to hold a book in my
hands is terrifying, I can’t imagine what a terrible impact that would have, it
would close down so many book shops, and I know a lot of people like the e-book
thing, but for me I’m not a fan, I want to be able to hold an actual book, not
a tablet, with a glaring back light, I remember the years of reading my books
in bed under the covers with a torch so I wouldn’t get caught after lights out!
I’ll leave you
today with this question ... What do you get from a book that you can’t get
from anywhere else?
Oh and one last
thing before I go, a BIG Thank You to
Dawn, for asking me to join in on her Blogiversary celebrations, I’m so very
proud of this little niche you’ve created, keep it up, it’s amazing.
Bright Blessings
& Moonbeams
Pixie
It's time for my Second special guest who has kindly agreed to stop by A Page of Love, and tell us all why 2014 has been exciting for her as an author.
This year Kerry Fisher published the amazing "The School Gate Survival Guide" which I have raved about so much that I was worried that people would get annoyed with me. Luckily, people didn't and they read Kerry's book and discovered just why I absolutely LOVE it so much.
Kerry, has become a very special friend to me, and we regularly chat through social media, and I knew that as part of my blogiversary celebrations, I wanted Kerry to be a part of my celebrations and I really wanted you all to get to know Kerry more, discover why I absolutely love her to pieces, and get the urge to read her book if you haven't... if you have - High fives to you! - But how about gifting it this year for Christmas to someone you know who has to do the school run... or maybe a teacher!
So, without further ado, I hand the Page of Love reigns over to the delightful Kerry :)
***
Thank you very much, Dawn, for inviting me
to celebrate your first year blog anniversary…a fantastic opportunity to say a
huge thank you for supporting me by tweeting, reviewing and generally helping
me feel like I haven’t been writing into a big echoing hole!
It’s been an exciting time for me with Avon
publishing my debut novel, The School
Gate Survival Guide in September. I wasn’t in the overnight success
category (more pushing a big fat elephant up the hill
with my ankles tied together) - so the
‘wow’ moment of 2014 was taking my old dad to see the book coming off the
presses. One push of a button and the whole printing factory turned into a sea
of red covers – yet another step in my whole learning process about the
publishing industry.
 |
| Kerry and her Dad |
I feel like a whole decade of knowledge has been distilled
into twelve months.
In no particular order…
I’m more amusing than my
husband gave me credit for…he showed no interest in reading ‘that romantic
stuff’ until he heard me practising for a library talk and suddenly piped up,
‘That’s actually quite funny.’ You’ll know him if you meet him, he’s the one
with the saucepan stuck on his head.
The dog is an excellent marketing
tool - her penchant for rushing up to befriend everyone has introduced me to
more potential readers than I’ve met at book signings. Though I’ve probably
spent more in replacing stolen squeaky balls than I’ve made in book sales.
Book signings are excruciating
unless you are famous and customers are queuing up to see you. Otherwise you’re
stuck there smiling hopefully at people who suddenly develop an interest in
books about road signs or terrapins to avoid you.
It’s no easier to write the
next book. I was in the unusual position of getting a two-book deal and having
two books ready to hand over. Writing book three was like typing with a trolley
of expectations veering out of control and crashing into the keyboard on a
regular basis.
Despite me telling my kids not
to meet anyone from social media under
any circumstances, I’ve met lots of people from Twitter in real life. And
I’ve loved them…there are some great big generous-hearted people out there that
I probably wouldn’t come across in my normal life, but who have become ‘proper’
friends.
Receiving a Christmas card from my 80-year-old aunt (who has never uttered anything stronger than ‘fiddlesticks’), in which she said she couldn’t put my book down, makes me dread the next family gathering. I can feel a swearing explanation coming on.
Receiving a Christmas card from my 80-year-old aunt (who has never uttered anything stronger than ‘fiddlesticks’), in which she said she couldn’t put my book down, makes me dread the next family gathering. I can feel a swearing explanation coming on.
Bad reviews lose the power to
ruin my day the more I get (please don’t feel obliged to help me out with this
aversion therapy!). On the other hand, a five-star review NEVER fails to
brighten my day.
I find it mortifying and
gratifying in equal measure when people tell me they are reading my book. My
next novel has real sex rather than hinted at sex in it. No-one I know must ever
read it. Especially not the husband. Or
the aunt. Or my mother, who already tells her friends that The School Gate Survival Guide is a bit ‘spicy’.
I’d never heard of book
bloggers before this year…or been so grateful to a community who work so hard
for free!
Merry Christmas!
You can find out more about Kerry, get in contact with her, and of course buy her amazing book by following these links:
The School Gate Survival Guide (Avon, HarperCollins) - a funny novel about school gate snobbery
And you can read my review of it here! The School Gate Survival Guide - A Page of Love Review
Thanks for coming back for another day of blogiversary celebration. Yesterday I shared my thanks for all the support I've had over the past year, and I even shared with you my plans for the coming year.
Today, a special friend of mine an author, Rebecca Raisin has taken over my blog and is going to share with you why she loves writing chick lit, why she does what she does. Rebecca is someone that is so friendly, helpful, supportive and totally fun! I don't think I've ever met an author who you instantly relax in the presence of, and can literally sit down with a cup of tea, a biscuit or two and chat! So, this is Rebecca spending time with you, hosting a little blogiversary celebration, I'm sure you will love reading it, and you should absolutely go check Rebecca out and read ALL her books - I've reviewed them on A Page of Love!
Today, a special friend of mine an author, Rebecca Raisin has taken over my blog and is going to share with you why she loves writing chick lit, why she does what she does. Rebecca is someone that is so friendly, helpful, supportive and totally fun! I don't think I've ever met an author who you instantly relax in the presence of, and can literally sit down with a cup of tea, a biscuit or two and chat! So, this is Rebecca spending time with you, hosting a little blogiversary celebration, I'm sure you will love reading it, and you should absolutely go check Rebecca out and read ALL her books - I've reviewed them on A Page of Love!
Thank you so much for asking me here
today, Dawn! And a big, happy blog-birthday to you!
I’ve been writing now for about six
years! It seems crazy to think it’s been that long! Like a lot of writers, I
finally put pen to paper when I had my twin boys and was at home full time
looking after them. Between their naps, I would snatch some writing time. I
also took some creative writing classes, which really inspired me, and helped
me progress when I was a total newbie!
I guess I’ve always been caught up in my
own imagination, so when it came to writing short stories at first, it felt
like I was finally letting that creativity out and putting it to good use!
I started writing short because I felt
like otherwise I’d get lost in thousands of words, and it might’ve killed my
enthusiasm. I think writing short helps as a writer long term because you learn
to be economical with words, but still get a story out there that has all the
elements of a long one. Like hook, conflict resolution all in a thousand words.
As the years have progressed (way, WAY
too fast!) I’ve managed to write longer pieces, and now full length novels. I
enjoy the process pretty much each step of the way, though I’m not a plotter, I
now have to submit my story ideas to my editor, so that has helped when it
comes to nailing down an idea and sticking to it.
It is easier in the long run to have a
plan for most of the book, and then when you do run off into a tangent, at
least you can find your way back to the main goal of the novel.
I’ve written the Gingerbread Café
series, and am now adding to that with stories that will
be linked. For example, the characters all live in the same small town in
Ashford, Connecticut so they run into each other as you do in places like that.
And thank goodness, because in my crazy mind, the girls from the Gingerbread
Café are real, and I miss them!
Writing is my go-to place, and I
couldn’t live without it. Even if I wasn’t published I’d still write. I get
these ideas, usually at the most inconvenient times, like when I’m almost
asleep, or at the doctor, and I must write them. For an addiction I guess it’s
a good one to have!
Thank you for having me here today! And
I hope you all have a safe a happy Christmas!
I can't believe that I'm sat here in bed, with my glamour santa duvet, just after 7am in the morning, on the 9th December 2014 writing my first blogiversary post for A Page of Love!!! :D
OMG, A year of blogging about chick lit and sharing my love for the books that I adore reading!
I need to get plenty of THANK YOUs done before I can move on, so I am firstly just so humbled and grateful to the publishers who believed in me, my little quiet blog in the corner of the webiverse, who supported me, sent me so many fabulous books, e-books and opportunities my way, without you, this would have been harder to do.
The readers of my blog, I am so grateful to you, because without a readership, there would be no point to this blog, I LOVE that you come here, read the reviews, look out for the news, and you have helped me remain consistent throughout this year. It's bringing you the LATEST news and reviews on chick lit that keeps me going! (And my sheer love of books and reading!!)
Authors, my golly gosh, I have met so many amazing authors via the webiverse this year, and your openness, willingness to chat, and really connect with me has humbled my heart so much that it could explode! I love that we are friends and it all started because I had a dream to write a chick lit blog, switch my genre of book reviews, and fully immerse myself in the books! I want to say a special THANK YOU to; Rebecca Raisin - The Gingerbread Queen who I adore!!, and Kerry Fisher - The School Survival Expert, who could give Ray Mears a run for his money when it comes to survival... I love you!!!
Blogging friends!!! Wow there are so many of you and you all have made me feel so welcome in the chick lit blogging world! I was scared when I first started, worried I wouldn't be able to do it, fit in, and would muck up, but you all became my friends, and inspire each and every day. Special shout outs to; Tay - Chicks that Read , Abbey - Miss BookWorm Reviews, Dr. Ananda - This Chick Reads I love you ladies!!!
I know that there are so many more people I could thank, so this THANK YOU is dedicated to anyone I've missed, all my Facebook supporters, Tweeters!!
So did I mention that today is my;
Oh I did? Right well I best tell you how my second year here at A Page of Love is going to go...
Firstly, the books, They can only get better and already 2015 is looking like a fabulous year for chick lit with 2 Carole Matthews books out, Alexandra Potter has an exciting new read, ........... all the details for upcoming releases in 2015 can be found on the 2015 releases page
I cant wait to bring you the reviews and news about them! And will be doing giveaways, competitions ....
Secondly, The Authors, I plan to bring you more author Interviews because trust me, they are not just names on a book, they are awesome people whom you really should get to know and it's just fun to sit down with tea, cake and have a chat... very British right?
Thirdly, I'm hoping to expand slightly... I have discovered a real love for knitting and crochet... so I really hope you don't mind me bringing you posts full of my knitting, crochet and arty adventures... it's all love and that's what were about here...
As a special celebration for my blogiversry, which I organised as little late due to illness, ( I promise ill be more organised for next year!), some fabulous friends of mine have kindly agreed to share their LOVE of chick lit in celebration of my 1st year. We have fellow book bloggers, authors, and a chick lit reader or two! So check back every day over the coming week to see who's celebrating with me!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING A PART OF MY JOURNEY, I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT YEAR TOGETHER,
OODLES OF LOVE,
Dawn xxxx
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