Today marks my two year anniversary blogging! How awesome is that? In honor of this auspicious occasion, I’m excited to brag just a little bit about some of my biggest blog accomplishments over the last year, plus share some exciting upcoming life changes. Then, a big thank you… read on!
Blog Accomplishments
- In September 2009 was shortlisted for Best Nonfiction Review Blog for Book Blogger Appreciation Week 2009. That’s amazing, and I am so honored.
- Earlier this year I was invited to be a panelist at the 2010 Book Blogger Convention coming up in just a couple of weeks. I’ll be speaking on the Writing and Building Content panel moderated by Rebecca from The Book Lady’s Blog with Amanda from The Zen Leaf, Betsy Bird from A Fuse 8 Production and Christina from Stacked. Again, what a huge honor.
- Last fall I moved my blog from WordPress to being self-hosted. That was a step I’d been wanting to make, and finally this year I got to do it. So far, so good.
- Last summer I did some book reviews with my little sister, Jenny. We took turns making the other read some books out of our comfort zone. We did The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, The Truth About Forever, and The Time Traveler’s Wife and did a vlog (with a special guest, little brother Kevin)! I also read Infinite Jest. That was a huge book.
- I hosted the Blog Improvement Project here at the blog for most of the year, then moved it to it’s own space and started co-hosting with the awesome Jackie from Farm Lane Books. If you haven’t joined, feel free to start at any time — we always welcome newcomers!
- I also started getting a lot more review copies of books. The most exciting one so far was an ARC of Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. It’s been tricky learning to balance review copies with trying to read my own books, but it’s the good sort of tricky.
- I started a semi-regular feature called Narrative Nonfiction 5, which I’ve been woefully lax in working on but that I’m still excited about. I also recently ranted about Nicholas Sparks, a fun and different type of post for me.
Life Changes
I started this blog in May 2008 right as I was finishing up my undergrad career. I’ve blogged all the way through grad school and soon will have a master’s in journalism and mass communication from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Also, even more excitingly, I’ve been offered a full time job as an associate editor at a trade magazine based here in Madison. I don’t plan to blog about my job much, but getting the job is a big deal to me and I wanted to share with all of you. I’ve been very anxious about the prospect of unemployment (which for people my age is far, far from uncommon), so getting this job is awesome.
I also got a cat, Hannah. She’s pretty awesome too.
And A Big Thank You
I know everyone says this, but really one of the best parts of blogging is the chance to connect with other readers and friends. You all have kept me reading and writing when I felt alone, connected me with books and experiences I would have never found myself, and shared some of my most exciting moments over the last two years. I can’t thank you all enough for that. I can’t wait to see how this blog transitions as I do, and I’m glad you all will be part of that journey.
Doing giveaways tends to stress me out, and since it’s my blogiversary I don’t need the stress 🙂 But suffice it to say, if we met in person I’d give each and every one of you a huge hug and say thanks, for everything.
In the spirit of always improving, do you have any suggestions for how I can keep improving? Any favorite parts of the blog I should be sure not to mess with?
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Congrats on the job! That’s awesome!
Happy Blogiversary and congratulations on the job!! I know that’s a huge relief for you in this economy.
Happy blogiversary, and congrats on the job! Keep up the good work!
Happy two years! I’m glad to have found your blog as you have a lot of great reviews here. The only suggestion I can give is keep going 🙂 I love what you do! Also, looking forward to meeting you at the Book Blogger Convention!
Amy: Yes, I’m looking forward to meeting you at the Convention as well. I’m getting more and more excited about the whole experience!
Happy blogiversary, Kim! 😀 Two years of blogging through grad school is AMAZING. (And congrats on the job, too!)
Congratulations on your blogiversary and the new job! You have a fantastic blog and the blog improvement project was the most helpful thing I did last year. It is a pleasure to run it with you!
Jackie: I’m so glad to have found a co-host for the BIP — that’s made it so much more fun for me.
Congrats on two years, Kim! I’m very impressed you’ve managed to blog through grad school as I’m struggling with doing so through undergrad. It’s certainly a balancing act. And congrats on the job!
Congratulations on the blogiversary! (I always have to double check how to spel it, the word blogiversary looks so weird to me).
And congratulations on the job!
And I have to admit that hearing that you blogger through grad school makes me a little hopeful that I’ll be able to keep it up as well.
And I wouldn’t change a thing about your blog 🙂
Iris: “Blogiversary” is a weird word, no matter how you spell it. I think it’s possible to blog and do grad school, it’s just a matter of knowing your limits and setting some for yourself. I did a post a few weeks ago with some tips on the topic if you’re interested.
Happy blogiversary, Kim! I love your blog just the way it is, and always think you pick really interesting books to review.
Steph: Thanks! I try to choose books outside what lots of other people are reading, but it’s tough as there are so many good reviews out there that make me want to read books 🙂 You read a ton of interesting and unique books too, which I enjoy as well.
Congrats on your blogiversary and your job! It sounds like it’s been a busy but rewarding year.
Happy blogiversary, and congratulations on the job!! That’s so exciting! I hope it’s wonderful. 🙂
Congratulations on your blogiversary.
Congratulations on job, degree, and blog anniversary! I look forward to more Narrative Non-Fiction 5.
I’m always so happy to hear that someone from the academic world has gotten a real, paying job! I would say one of my favorite things here is that you share your personal point of view on the books you talk about, so I hope you won’t change that. And more photos of Hannah would be nice!
Jeanne: Thanks for mentioning that. I always have a hard time deciding how to balance the person with the more objective reviewing. I think I’ve been tending more personal lately, which is fun. I’ll try to get some more pictures of Hannah soon — my camera hasn’t been cooperating with computer lately so they’re stuck at the moment… boo!
congrats on EVERYTHING! I am so excited (and honored) to be your roomie for bookblogcon – we’re gonna have some fun.
Care: Thanks! I’m excited about being roomies too, so much fun!
Congratulations on your new job, your new degree, AND your blogiversary! One of the things I like about your blog is that you’ve carved out your own niche – emphasizing nonfiction doesn’t seem quite so popular, but I’m really glad you do it :-).
Keep it up, and good luck in Year 3!
Florinda: I like doing nonfiction as a niche too. I hadn’t really thought about it before being nominated during BBAW last year, but since then it’s felt more defined.
Congrats on the job, the degree and the cat!
Wow, congratulations on 2 years!! AND the job, it sounds awesome. I can’t believe you maintained this blog so well through grad school, that is impressive.
Happy blogiversary and congrats on the new job. That is freakin’ AWESOME!!
Congratulations on the anniversary and the JOB!
I don’t comment much, but I do read.
Congrats! Don’t mess with anything… it’s all wonderful! 🙂
Happy blog anniversary – and I’m so happy for you about the job!
Happy blogiversary, and congrats on your new job! You will do well.
I can’t think of any suggestions for change with your blog — I like it as it is 🙂 !
Congrats on graduation soon and your job! And for two years. Time flies when we’re having fun, huh!
congrats on your two years!
Happy Blogaversary! So many great things in 2 years.
I am reaching that tipping point with review copies and getting to read my own choices, so you bringing that up strikes a chord.
If you don’t mind telling…who did you decide to host with? I have been thinking of doing that, but there are so many companies out there that it is hard to decide or which reviews to trust.
Hey Gwen! I decided to go with BlueHost for the blog. They have a good install with Wordpress, so moving it over and installing the background Wordpress platform was easy. It’s a little more expensive than some programs, but not so much that it seems unreasonable. Send me an e-mail and I can pass along some more details.
WOOO Two Years!!! Congrats Kim…
I love my e-mail updates and I love the sister reviews 😀
PS. See you Saturday or maybe Friday ( I bought the dress hopefully it gets here… and you can meet all of my friends, if you come to the pre-party)
YAY for your blogiversary AND a job 🙂 Exciting times.
Happy blogiversary and congrats on the new job! I’m so glad that I’ve found your blog!
Thanks so much everyone! It’s so great to get support celebrating something exciting like a blogiversary. You’re all awesome 🙂
Happy blogiversay (sorry it’s late have been so off the pace at commenting lately). I love that you would ahnd out hugs as a giveaway. I was so excited for you, to see you on the panel list for BEA (even though I won’t be there) and congratulations on the new job – v prestiguous.
Happy blogiversary, and congrats on all of your accomplishments!
Happy blogiversary. Congrats on all the wonderful things you’ve done and are doing.
I am sorry I missed your anniversary – what a great year you have had and what an honor to be on the Book Blogger Convention panel!
I just sent you an email with my cell phone info for BEA and plans. So excited to meet you! 🙂 Have a great day!