One Year Blogoversary!

Hello everyone!  So, from the title, I'm pretty sure you guys can figure out that today is my one year blogoversary.  What that means is that on this day, one year ago, I published my first post on Emily's Crammed Bookshelf.  I've come so far and learned so much since then, and this post is to celebrate all that has happened, and I'm going to celebrate it with all of you guys; my amazing followers.

I actually have no idea how to structure this post because, needless to say, I haven't done one of these before.  But, I will try my best.  Today I will be:

~Posting random facts and stats
~OMGing about the fact that it's been a year
~Fangirling over some awesome authors and publishing companies
~Going on and on about all the awesome bloggers out there
~Hosting a awesome, fantastic, out-of-this-world GIVEAWAY!


So let's get started!!!!

SOME FIRSTS AND STATS

First Post: Mimi Valentine 300 Followers Giveaway

First Review: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

First Meme Post: Top Ten Tuesday (#1)

First WoW Post: Wow #1: Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

First Cover Reveal Post: Black Dawn & The Savage Grace

First IMM Post: IMM #1

First Giveaway: Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

First ARC: Destined by Jessi Harrell

First Blog Tour: Embrace Blog Tour

First Interview: Jessica Shervington

First Finished Copy for Review: Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder

Total Coments: 1473

Total Followers: 695

Total Pageviews: 47,356

Total Posts: 317

Total Reviews: 90

ABOUT THE BLOG AND ME

I had gotten a Goodreads account in April 2011, and it was because of Goodreads that I started a blog.  I had no idea that review blogs even existed.  Once I started making friends on Goodreads, I noticed that some people had websites.  I clicked on the links and saw there blogs.  I though, "Wow, that is so cool.  I would like to do that."  I asked my mom, and she said no.  So I went about life the same way, only now I had that little thing in the back of my mind that kept on saying, "I want a blog, I want a blog."  My mom had said no.  But I did it anyway.  I can't keep secrets from my parents, but I convinced myself I could keep this secret.  I would switch pages every time she walked by, or pretend I wasn't interested in the screen.  It worked for a while...and then she busted me.  But instead of being mad, she was ok with it.  I think she actually forgot that I had asked her before, and she had said no, and, of course, I wasn't about to remind her.

When I started this blog, I had no idea what I was getting in to.  I didn't know anything about blogging: how to post, how to get followers, how to upload pictures, how to host giveaways, get ARCs and copies for review...nothing.  I had to learn fast. 

In the beginning the only thing I used this blog for was to get extra entries in giveaways other bloggers were hosting.  That's why my first ever post is a giveaway.  Yes, I know that is totally pathetic.  But then I realized...this is a review blog, not an extra entries blog.  So I turned it around, started reviewing, and voila, here I am today.

ARCS AND REVIEW COPIES

I've always had a love of books, but I never though I could actually benefit from it.

I learned about ARCs and Review Books only a few months ago.  I started off by timedly asking authors if they had any copies on Goodreads.  Then I went to not-so-timedly asking for copies on Goodreads.  Then I started stalking them on their websites and emailing them.  Then, finally, once I had gotten a few review copies, it finally to occured to me to email the publishers and publicists.  There are still some companies that don't send me books, but most are very nice and send me tons.

BLOGGING FRIENDS

I've interacted with so many awesome authors and publishers and bloggers in the past year, so this section is a little tribute to them.  

BLOGGERS:

~Giselle @ .Xpresso Reads

~Mimi @ Mimi Valentine

~Jen @ The Starry-Eyed Revue

~Lea @ LC's Adventures in Libraryland

~Haley @ YA-Aholic

~Mackenzie @ Oh, For the Love of Books!

~Fauzen @ Wild Heart Book Reviews

~Wendy @ A Cupcake and a Latte

Mimi was the first ever blog that I followed, and it was awesome, so I wanted my blog to be just like hers.  She was so nice and funny and everyone loved her, and she really helped me, even though she didn't know it.

Lea REALLY helped me.  She tolerated me bombarding her with questions, helped me make my first ever blog button, and showed me how to get the background behind the summeries of the books I review.

Jen, Haley, Mackenzie and Fauzen all helped me in their special way.  Jen and Mackenzie were so nice and commented and made me fell good.  Haley started me off with looking for ARCs with her header on her blog featuring upcoming releases.  And Fauzen is awesome.  Great reviews, great features, and awesome cover reveals!

Wendy is no longer blogging, but she really inspired me.

PUBLISHERS:

~Random House and its imprints

~Bloomsbury and its imprints

~Scholasic and its imprints

Random House if my favortie publisher.  Awesome books, very, very nice, and they send me books.

Bloomsbury and Scholastic are tied for second.  They send me books :P

Authors:

~Maria V. Snyder

~Sara Walsh

These are two of the best authors ever, and the funny thing is their books are both similar.  Maria sent me my first finished copy for review.  And Sara was so nice in a recent blog tour I participated in :)

GIVEAWAY

Today I have a giveaway of epic-ness for you all today.  It's going to rock your face off!!

The Rules:

~There will be two winners.

~Giveaway ends on October 25, 2012 @ 12:01 AM

~This giveaway is INT

~Must be a GFC follower

~Must be 13 years or older.

~Fill out the Rafflecopter

 

The Prizes:

THE FIRST WINNER WILL WIN ARCS OF:

THE SECOND WINNER WILL WIN ARCS OF:

Fill out the form:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THANK YOU EVERYONE!