Sunday, August 26, 2012

Giveaway Winners and Other Miscellaneous News!

If you're a regular follower on my blog, you'll have no doubt noticed that I hosted a plethora of giveaways which all happened to end this month. Thus, after much deliberation and excellent advice from my fellow bloggers who have had far more blogging experience than I have, I've decided to post a short, concise, and quick follow-up of all my winners and the novels they won! I would like to thank everyone for participating in all my giveaways - your enthusiasm is infectious!
Kristie won a signed paperback copy of Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren as well as three signed bookmarks! :)  
Elizabeth picked Such a Rush out of all the options I had offered, so she has hopefully received her copy by now. 
Laura wound up winning my most recent giveaway, so Jody Gehrman, the author of Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft, will be sending her a copy of this book in the mail soon! 
Finally, Sarah from Catching Books won my 150 Followers Giveaway! I had a lot of entries for this one, so after confirming (nearly) all of them, she was the winner! Sarah picked to win a pre-ordered copy of Crewel by Gennifer Albin from the Book Depository, so that should reach her in October! 
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I, personally, find Giveaway Winner Posts really boring, so I thought I'd just go ahead and share some blog news with you all that I probably wouldn't get an opportunity to do otherwise.

First and foremost, September is looming ahead which means...school! What does this mean for the blog? Well, nothing much except for the fact that my posts will be less frequent. I have a ton of reviews I haven't posted as of yet, so I'm not too worried about the month of September, but following that, my posts will definitely become more sporadic. Also, my reading time is going to be reduced by nearly...well, 90% really. It's a tough and crucial school year ahead for me, so I'm going to do my best to keep up with everything and continue to blog as much as possible as it's something I truly love doing. Plus, I couldn't stop reading even if I tried! I'd either drop dead or go insane, so my blog will definitely be up and running despite the new school year! :)

So, with the news of school and classes, I've been thinking about requesting for a co-blogger. I know a lot of blogs have co-bloggers and some of these work really well such as The ReadventurerThe Reader's Den, CuddlebuggeryThe Nocturnal Library, The Midnight GardenVegan YA Nerds, and Young Adults Anonymous to name a few. All of these blogs are extremely successful and manage to co-blog with an ease that I envy and admire. I am actually a very solitary person, so I'm not sure how well co-blogging would work for me, but I would love to have a co-blogger to help out during the upcoming year. For me, co-blogging isn't a necessity so I may not even pick a co-blogger. I want to find someone who I can get along with very well, understand, and who shares a similar passion of books and reviewing like me. I tend to be the 'black sheep' of reviewing just about 85% of the time, so I definitely want a co-blogger who shares similar opinions and writes ridiculously long reviews like me. So, if you know anyone who would be interested to co-blog with me or you yourself want to co-blog with me on Ivy Book Bindings, send me an e-mail at ivybookbindings@gmail.com with the following information:
- Name
- Blogging/Reviewing Experience as well as Preferred Genre
- 3-5 Sample Reviews
- Why you want to join Ivy Book Bindings
- Short paragraph about yourself, hobbies, favorite books, maybe even some favorite movies/TV Shows/music...anything to make me get to know you better
Once again, I have to re-iterate: a co-blogger is not a necessity to me. I don't know if I'll get any entries for co-blogging and even if I do, that doesn't necessarily mean I'll pick one. I really want to find a co-blogger who is just right for my blog. I'd love to have one, but it has to be someone I can get along with, trust, respect, and who I know will write reviews that are similar to what you expect from my blog. It's a delicate process and I admire all bloggers who have managed without a co-blogger and those who have made it with one as well, so let's see what category I fall into soon! ;)

Hmm...that's about it! If you have any thoughts/suggestions/comments on co-blogging or managing a blog during the school/work year, please do leave me comments! I'd love to know what you think! For me, both blogging and co-blogging are new ventures and I'd love any and all input you all have to provide, so thank you! :) 

16 comments:

  1. Damn Keertena, why didn't you suggest co-blogging months ago?! haha. It would make life soooo much easier!!

    Still, I wish you the best of luck!

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    1. LOL! Thanks Olivia, that's sweet! :) I hope I'm able to find a good co-blogger though - I definitely want one!

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    2. Yeah. I know the feeling! I'm not even sure if I'll be blogging by the end of the year with exams. Still, best of luck! :)

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  2. Good luck in the school year coming. I know classes can be so much work, I understand why you'd want to try out a co-blogger. I think it's worked out well for Jasprit and I. I think the key is finding the right person and good communication.

    Wow you had a lot of giveaways! Congrats to all the winners! :)

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    1. I think co-blogging works out so well for you and Jasprit - you're like the Dream Team! :) I really do agree though that the key is just finding the right person, so hopefully I can find someone! :D

      Yeah, I did! Gosh, it was a busy month - one that definitely wiped out a lot of cash from my pockets! ;)

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  3. Congrats to the winners. :) Funny how the winner of my 150 followers giveaway also chose a pre-ordered copy of Crewel !

    Anyways, I wish you tremendous luck in finding a compatiable co-blogger, Keertana. :) I was actually considering getting a co-blogger for MY blog a few weeks ago, but decided against it since I'm so difficult to collaborate with, lol. Spontaneous hiatuses, obsessed with small, unimportant details, leaving everything to the last minute issues and all. ;)

    I wish you all the best in your school year. :) I'm going to be fairly busy this year for school as well, so I completely understand..

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    1. Thanks Leanne!(: Yup, I'm hoping I can find a co-blogger although it will be tough...I'm very meticulous and neat and I schedule my posts head of time, but I really want to find just the right person, so hopefully I can find someone! :D

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  4. Good luck with finding a co-blogger, Keertana! I have a key year at school coming up as well - actually, my final year before uni - so I completely understand what you're feeling. I hope you manage to find someone who's just right. I agree with what you said to Rachel, her and Jasprit are exactly like the Dream Team. ;)

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    1. I have two more years before uni, so I'm taking all my exams to get in this year which sucks! I hope I can find someone and if not, at least continue posting regularly! :)

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  5. Aww I'm going to miss seeing you around here, but I understand that you'll need to focus on school, like so many of the other bloggers have said if you decide to take on a co-blogger definitely get one that you'll be able to work with, Rachel and me sort of just clicked and so everything seems to be working great on the blog. But I hooe it works out for you, you may find that it's easier just working on your own! Good luck! :)

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    1. Thanks Jasprit! I think you and Rachel make such a fantastic team, so I hope I'm able to find someone with whom I can click with like that as well! :) But, as you said, I might just find it easier working by myself...I am a rather solitary person anyway, so we'll see! Thanks for all the helpful advice though, Jasprit! :D

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  6. oh dear, I totally feel you re: school. Mine started last week and I am already heaps behind on book blogging. I feel like I'm doing everything at once! Good luck on finding a co-blogger. :)

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    1. Thanks Elena! Aah, I can imagine how that must feel! I'm trying to schedule as many posts as I can before classes start so I don't have to worry too much, but blogging isn't just posting reviews - it's commenting too which I'm worried I won't be able to do as much too! Gosh, why can't it be summer alll year? ;) Anyway, I hope I can find someone! :D

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  7. I'm actually thinking about getting a co-blogger as well or even a contributor. It's just that uni is so unpredictable and my reading really suffers along with it. But I don't really know if I work well with others. I want my blog to be my own but I keep on thinking that it would be much easier if I have someone that could help me. Although that really depends on the person I'm going to work with.

    Anyway, I wish you find the ONE or if not I hope everything works out 'cause I really love your reviews! :)

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    1. Thanks Sarah!(: I think I'm going to wind up sticking to blogging alone, simply because I don't think I'm cut out for co-blogging. It's such a difficult decision and I don't think it works for everyone unfortunately. I hope you find someone though or are at least able to make up a decision soon! I also hope I'm able to keep blogging prolifically! *fingers crossed* I'm so glad you enjoy my reviews, so thank you SO much for your kind words! =D

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