The Bookwyrm Turns Six!

July 6, 2015 Events, Giveaway 40

Blogoversary_Bookwyrm-with-cake-and-hat

The Bookwyrm’s Hoard is six years old!

Hard as it is for me to believe, I’ve been blogging for six whole years now. I started July 6, 2009, with a post on “Why on Earth Am I Doing This?”  The first year or two, I had no idea where I was going or how to do much of anything. All I knew was that I loved books, and wanted to share that love and excitement with other people somehow. Slowly, I began to figure out how to use the Blogger platform, played around with the blog’s design, began to interact with other blogs and bloggers, and discovered Goodreads, NetGalley, and Edelweiss (otherwise known as the candy shops.) And I realized that blogging about books was nearly as much fun as reading them.

Fast-forward six years, and here’s where I am today:

  • I’ve made a number of friends in the book blogging community – and I treasure each and every one of you!
  • I’ve had the fun of meeting several authors face-to-face, and others via social media or email. I’ve even gotten to interview some of them, thanks to book tours!
  • I have as many review books as I can handle (and sometimes more!)
  • As of last fall, I’m now on self-hosted WordPress and beginning to learn my way around html.
  • The blog has a fun new design incorporating my little bookwyrm/dragon, thanks to Ashley from Noze Graze (theme and conversion to WordPress), Christin Jaynes (artwork), and Michelle at Because Reading (who turned Christin’s drawing into a header.)
  • I have a regular Saturday feature (News & Notes) and participate in several weekly memes (Sunday Post, Top Ten Tuesday, and sometimes Tough Travels and Waiting on Wednesday.)
  • I’ve discovered social media in a big way; I’m now on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and Pinterest. (Yes I know there are other social media sites. Hush! I only have so many hours in the day, you know!)

I still have a relatively small number of followers and page views. But fame and popularity weren’t why I started blogging in the first place, and they’re certainly not why I’ve kept going.  I worried about the numbers for a little while a few years back, but I’m really comfortable and happy with where the blog is now – enjoying the people who come and not worrying about stats. I get the fun of reading and then writing and talking about the books I’ve read, and the joy of being part of such a terrific community of people who share my passion!

Winnie-the-Pooh party GIF

 

So please help me celebrate with a comment party, complete with door prizes! I’ve got a hardcover copy of a reading journal for book lovers and an $10 Amazon gift certificate, so I’ll be choosing two winners. The Amazon gift certificate is open to anyone who can use Amazon; the reading journal is only open to people with a U.S. mailing address (due to shipping costs.) Just enter the giveaway form below!

And thank you all for making the past six years so much fun!

 

Related Posts

40 Responses to “The Bookwyrm Turns Six!”

    • Lark_Bookwyrm

      Thank you, Bea! I wish I’d found you sooner, too! The giveaway tool should be open now; for some reason, I couldn’t get it to start any sooner than 1:00 am.

      I love the details in the picture, too! Christin, the artist, asked me what my favorite books/authors were when she was drawing it.

  2. Kaja

    I had no idea you’ve been blogging for six whole years! Congratulations and happy birthday! 🙂 I feel like such a junior now.
    It’s great, isn’t it, how many things you learn spontaneously while blogging? 🙂
    Kaja recently posted…Author Addiction: Tessa DareMy Profile

    • Lark_Bookwyrm

      It is indeed! I still feel like a junior, though, when I look around at some of the really prolific, polished blogs I read. 🙂

  3. RO

    Wow! Doing this for 6 years and still going strong is quite an accomplishment and one to be proud of. You’ve picked up a lot of stuff and the Blog is fun. Always cool to share news about the books we love. Congrats and BIG Hugs…Ro
    RO recently posted…STRESS-FREE SUNDAY & SUPER SUMMER SALADSMy Profile

    • Lark_Bookwyrm

      Thank you, Lory! I feel the same way about your blog – I always enjoy your recommendations and thoughtful posts!

  6. Lola

    Wow 6 years, that’s quite an achievement! Congrats on your blogoversary!
    I switched to self hosted wordpress a year ago and am still glad I did, although it certainly took some getting used to at first. And I think that’s a good mind set to have to not look at the stats to closely and blog because you enjoy it. Here’s to another 6 years!
    Lola recently posted…Review: Bride on the Run by Catherine Mann and Joanne RockMy Profile

    • Lark_Bookwyrm

      Thank you, Lola! I had the same experience with switching to WordPress – it took some getting used to and I’m still learning to do stuff. But it was worth it!

  7. Jan

    Happy, Happy 6th Blogoversary, Lark. Wow! You are doing great with your blog. I love your new header and other graphics and, of course, your content. And I agree about stats–not important.

    So, hope you enjoy your day and the next six years and that we’ll still both be blogging about books!
    Jan recently posted…Sunday Post: Jul 5My Profile

    • Lark_Bookwyrm

      Thank you, Katherine! I had fun figuring out how to add the cake and the party hat to the picture (well, a copy of the file – I’m not messing with the original!) PicMonkey is quite useful. 🙂

  10. Alleyne Dickens

    Happy Blogaversary!

    I wish I could figure out the knack of blogging. I need to do it, but I can’t seem to think of anything to say and I admire you for making it work. Six years! WOW!

    • Lark_Bookwyrm

      Well, it sure helps that what I mostly post are book reviews, and I never seem to run out of books! Sometimes I can’t think of what to say about a book, though. OTOH, you, my friend, can write books – and very good ones at that. I wish I could do that!

  11. daniela ark

    Happy blogaversary! I really liked this post and getting to know more about you! I loved your first post! 🙂 it gave me a great idea (Can’t believe I never thought of that before!). I especially liked learning about your header (I’ve always loved your dragon) and that you enjoy blogging so much :). Glad you like social media now. Following you everywhere 🙂
    daniela ark recently posted…Book Review Tour: Sleepless (Narrowdale #1) , by Michael OmerMy Profile

  13. Joanne Kocourek

    Congratulations on 6years! I agree, it is a blessing to read books you love and having the opportunity to connect with wonderful authors.

  14. R_Hunt @ View From My Home

    Six years! Amazing and wonderful, and we are all so glad you’ve been around this long. I just love to read your Saturday News Post and also check in on Tuesdays for your TTT and when I see a review posted. I love your dragon and all the artwork (yay for JRRT)! I’ve learned a lot from you and your selections in books and have asked for and received much advice for you on genres and series. You are one of the reasons I have stepped out of my tight little genre cubby and gone exploring so thanks again! Many, many more 🙂
    R_Hunt @ View From My Home recently posted…Mellow Mondays- Inward ReflectionMy Profile

    • Lark_Bookwyrm

      Thank you, Rita! That is high praise – you’re making me blush! You are one of the people I’m so glad I’ve met through blogging, even though we’ve never met face-to-face.

    • Lark_Bookwyrm

      Thank you, Kimba! You’re one of those friends I mentioned – the ones I’m so happy I’ve met through blogging!

    • Lark_Bookwyrm

      Thank you, Lindsay! The time does go fast; I didn’t blog a lot in the first year and a half or two, but I’ve been pretty steady for the last four, and it doesn’t seem like that long to me, either. Congratulations on your four years! And I’m glad you like my little bookwyrm; I’m rather fond of him myself! 🙂 He’s based on an actual shelf-sitter I have; a young acquaintance of mine drew him for me.

  20. Melissa (My World...in words and pages)

    Oh happy blog birthday!! It’s great to have you around all these years. 🙂