Two New Blogs, a Surprise GIVEAWAY and DRAWING!
Oh my, I’m crazy, crazy, crazy! What have I gotten myself into? First off, the easy one. I’ve set up a new blog where I will be tracking my challenges and my “life reading goals.” This blog was getting too messy for the likes of me, so that one should keep me fairly organized. Check out Challenges at Maw Books if interested!
Some of you are aware and some are not that I putting up a new list of book bloggers book reviews. The reason? At first, I was feeling guilty because I don’t have a blogroll on this site (only way to get there is to be a top ten commentator – so start commenting!). And then I thought I should have one because I’ve been enjoying so many blogs (by the way – check out what posts I’m reading in the left sidebar). And then I thought wouldn’t it be great if I not only had the blogroll but listed everybody’s book reviews from around the blogosphere. So then this crazy idea was born. I haven’t read anything this month because I’ve been hiding up in the office all hours of the day and night getting this new blog ready for the big reveal.
So without further ado (drum roll please), I introduce to you . . .
Okay, so honestly, this has been exhausting. Seriously, what was I thinking? How did I do it? First, I’ve been collecting tons of blogs into my Google Reader. I currently have 381 blogs in my reader. Yes, you read right! Three hundred and eighty one! Seriously, if you have more blogs than that I want to know. In fact, I’ll give you a free book if you do (of course, as long as I’m in it). As a side note, when you comment on my blog, I switch your blog over to the commentators folder, that way you don’t get lost in the crowd, and I make sure that I pay special attention to you. If your not familiar with Google Reader, Trish at Hey Lady! Watcha Reading? has written up a great post on how to get started. If your not using it or some other type of feed reader, you’re wasting your precious time. Use one!
So what I do is put the author’s name in the search box, select all items, and just like that, I’ve got hits on all the blogs with that keyword. I switch over to list view, where I can view the titles and the first few words of each post. First off, I have to say a few things. Titles, people, titles! Why do people not share in their title what their post is about? I have seen so many “a review” or “I can’t think of anything today” titles that it’s crazy! Titles are attention grabbers and if it didn’t grab my attention, chances are I didn’t catch it. Something to keep in mind for your readers reading your blog through a feed. Also, a major no-no as far as search engines go. It’s all about keywords! Also, wow, we people make a lot of lists! Lists, lists, lists. Challenges, challenges, challenges! Me included.
I tried my very best to make sure I caught most of the reviews, so I apologize if I missed yours. Mostly, I’m starting out with the books/authors I’ve reviewed, books on my TBR and books I have in my personal library. After all, selfishly, this list is my list so why can’t I choose what to put up? I also kept discovering new blogs along the way, so your blog may have been added to my reader midway so I have the last half of the list with your reviews but not the first half. Just email me your reviews so I can add them.
By the way, another great resource for book reviews by bloggers is the Children’s Book Reviews wiki, an online database of reviews of children’s books written by bloggers. Visit Kelly at Big A Little a for more information on how to contribute your reviews there. It’s awesome! Also, Sherry at Semicolon has a list of book reviews from bloggers participating in the Saturday Review of Books. I don’t think it’s been updated for awhile, but it’s well worth checking out as well.
A SURPRISE GIVEAWAY!
Wow, this is getting to be one long post! Made it to the good part? First, a surprise giveaway! I wanted to reward those who responded to my call for book review links! So I wanted to thank Christine at Reasons Not to Blog, Jamie at jmadigen, Diane at Book in Hand, Tarie at Into the Wardrobe, Les at Lesley’s Book Nook, Heather at Book Addiction, Rebecca at The Inside Cover, Ann-Marie at My Readable Feast, Jeane at Dog Ear Diary, Marg at Reading Adventures. I hope I didn’t forget anybody! You’re all entered in a surprise giveaway. The winner chooses ANY book from the photo below.
Okay, you’re each getting a number, they’re going in a hat, and the winner is . . . Diane at Book in Hand!! Congrats Diane! Let me know by email what book you want and a mailing address and I’ll mail it out to you right away.
ANOTHER DRAWING!
Is anybody still reading this, because this is the really, really good part. In celebration of the new Book Bloggers Book Reviews blog and to help spread the word, I’m giving away free books! Here’s the scoop. I will be choosing not one, but TWO winners to pick any FOUR books of their choosing from the photo above (minus Diane’s pick), plus other titles revealed when I draw the name. Actually, I’ll list in a separate post the book titles because you may not be able to read them. Here’s how to get entered:
- You must write a post about the new Book Bloggers Book Reviews blog and this contest.
- When you do, you must reference this post of the Maw Books Blog and the new Book Bloggers Book Reviews blog using that anchor text exactly (pretty much link exactly like I did, I’ll even give you the url’s: http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/03/31/new-blog/ and http://bookreviews.mawbooks.com ).
- Leave a comment here with the link to your post to make sure I see it.
- To get your name entered twice, leave a comment with the answer to the following question, whoever guesses right, will get their name entered twice. Which author do you think came up with the most hits in my Google reader? Shannon Hale, Marcus Zusak, Jodi Picoult, or Stephenie Meyer?
I’ll reveal the winners on Tuesday, April 8th. It’s that easy!
I’m so excited!!! This was a lot of work. Keep checking back because I’ll be adding new reviews all the time. My husband really misses me, as soon as he gets home from work, I rush up to the computer to enter book reviews. I now have 5 websites under the domain mawbooks. Crazy! Check out my links in the sidebar for all of them. It’s been like a full time job this week! Have fun perusing the book reviews!
P.S. Now, that I’ve got a huge blogroll, can I pretty please be added to yours (if you have one)? With a cherry on top?
Update: I only ask because I have spent hours, hours and hours putting up this new database. It’s a lot of work that should drive a lot of traffic to your site, I just ask for a little in return. Thanks!
Hey you! Yes. You! I've noticed that you've stopped by to visit a few times! But I don't know who you are. Why don't you take a moment and introduce yourself. Don't be scared. I try not to bite. I know you're a lurker but I'd love to hear your thoughts about what's been bringing you here. And if you haven't done so already, don't forget to never miss a post by subscribing to my feed or receiving updates by email. Thanks for visiting!
Category: Giveaways
Tags: Book Reviews Database, challenges, giveaway, Stephenie Meyer
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Holy Torpedo! You are crazy! And I don’t even know how you dealt with 300+ feed subscriptions. I’m trying to keep up with 156 subscriptions (it doesn’t help when you go away for a weekend with no computer access).
on March 31st, 2008 at 10:15 pmTrish – I know. I’m a self-proclaimed crazy nut! As for the feeds, that’s why I put my commentators and bloggers I really like in a separate folder otherwise they get lost. As for the others I view it through list view quickly and if nothing catches my eye, I hit mark all as read. Nothing like the satisfaction of having a clean slate (for about a minute!).
on March 31st, 2008 at 10:20 pmHa! Man, I second Trish because I’ve been doing a project like yours since January and I’m about, oh, 300 bookmarks behind and I’m convinced I am a complete freakshow. I constantly go, “Renay, you are crazy!” but then I remember why I’m doing it and go, “never give up!”
Your version is notably less anal than mine. I think I’m way more strict but that also means less fun since mine is meant for me more than anyone else! SAD TIMES.
But let me express here my adoration at your feed reader promotion. HEARTS.
on March 31st, 2008 at 11:04 pmHi, Natasha.
) Thank you so much for inviting me to be part of your new website! By the way, you were on my blogroll even before I read this post. ;o)
on April 1st, 2008 at 6:02 amNatasha,
Just when I was embarrassed enough adding this awesome blog to my blog roll next to mine I have to add two more by you. Sheesh! Get a life will you so I can catch up?
Great job Natasha! Keep up the good work!
on April 1st, 2008 at 5:51 pm[...] resource for readers, Natasha is going one step further and doing an amazing book giveaway. Read this post to learn more about how you can [...]
on April 1st, 2008 at 6:39 pmWell I see above on #6 you picked up my post
Yes, I posted about your new blog and your giveaway AND I put you on my blog roll. You’re amazing 
Glad I found you. By the way, I tried to subscribe to the Book Bloggers Review Blog through google and it told me there was no feed. Just thought you should know 
on April 1st, 2008 at 7:44 pmWow! I’m glad I asked you how you keep up with that many feeds…I think I’ll follow your lead.
By the way, I forgot to thank you for mentioning my post on Google Reader. Much appreciated!
on April 1st, 2008 at 8:14 pmI have more feeds than that – some of them are book feeds, others are authors, and craft and just bits and pieces! Some days it seems like too much but most of the time I keep it under control!
I have posted about your new venture here and you are on my blogroll!
on April 2nd, 2008 at 3:45 amWow–what a post!
I can’t imagine having so many blogs in my reader. I have 30 and can barely manage that. But, I like being able to read *most* posts for each blog rather than one or two here and there. A lot of these blogs I’ve been reading since I started blogging (I just discovered yours recently).
Now, Natasha, when is the deadline for the giveaway? Finding a spare moment for me to post is almost as painful as pulling teeth. Ha! But I’m interested…in all of it.
Was Picoult the number 1 hit? Oh way, I bet Zusak had a lot also. Are there any bookbloggers left who haven’t read The Book Thief??
on April 2nd, 2008 at 6:47 am[...] Trish is offering Word Freak or any book under $25 at Amazon, Natasha of Maw Books Blog is offering four winners picks from a big bookshelf to celebrate the opening of her new blog Book Bloggers Book Reviews, a ‘directory’ of [...]
on April 2nd, 2008 at 2:30 pmRenay – I’m glad you’ve found your way over here. I got your email as well!
Tarie – I noticed the blogroll! You’re so sweet!
Michelle- You are seriously too complimentary for my own good! It just might go to my head!
Wendy – I actually don’t think a feed would do anything for the new blog because I actually haven’t written any posts and I don’t think I plan too. Everything is pages and I don’t think updates to those come through on a feed? Or do they?
Trish – You’re welcome. Why repeat the work when you already did it so brilliantly?
Marg – Congrats!! You win a book! Take a pick from the photo above, if you can’t read them, let me know and I’ll write up the titles. That is a lot of blogs!
Trish- I probably have about 30 as well in my commentators folder, which are the ones that I pay particular attention to. I’ll draw the names on Tuesday, so I guess that means that you need in by Monday. If I don’t have a lot of submissions by then I may extend it. Seriously, how do people get like 20+ people in their giveways! I guess I have a long ways to go. I know, it’s really mean of me to make people post about the new Book Bloggers Book Reviews to enter the contest. Heaven knows, if you look at my blog, I’ve never posted anybody else’s contest (shh . . don’t tell!). But I put so much time and work into this database that I really want people to know about it and that’s the only way I could come up with to spread the news.
I’ll let you know which author had the most hits when we draw the names. Don’t forget to make your guess for two entries if you guess correctly!
on April 2nd, 2008 at 5:48 pmOk, my post about your post will be up tomorrow, and you’re on my lazy-person half-assed blogroll (I really should keep that up to date) and I’m guessing Picoult, because she’s written LOADS of books. LOADS!
Awesome new site, by the bye, and great contest.
on April 2nd, 2008 at 5:49 pmWhat a cool idea!! I’m going to enjoy using this site in the future.
on April 2nd, 2008 at 6:13 pmI posted on my blog and I’m sending out good vibes so that I’ll win the drawing.;) The blog looks great and I just wish I had found you sooner so some of my reviews could be up already.
on April 2nd, 2008 at 8:18 pmMy guess is going to be…Shannon Hale.
raych- Awesome name by the way! Hmm . . good guess. I’ll let you know!
Samantha – Thanks! And thanks again, because I know I’ve been on your blogroll for a while!
Kim – Take a look through the reviews I’ve already posted and send (contact page above) me all the links that you have and I’ll get them up. I’ve got you in my reader now so I should catch the ones that you do from here on out.
on April 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 pmHi Natasha, Wow! What a project! What a site
I’ve blogged about your blogs and contest here. Plus, I’ve added both blogs to my blogroll
As for the author in your google reader, I wanna say Shannon Hale, but I think it’s Jodi Picoult.
Psst… 381 blogs?! My-oh-my… I’ve got only less a hundred than you and I can’t keep up sometimes!
on April 3rd, 2008 at 2:06 amWow, thanks for what you have done with your new website, what a wonderful idea. Such a treasure chest of resources all in one place, I appreciate you efforts!
on April 3rd, 2008 at 2:12 amI have added you to my blogroll and posted the giveaway here!
And yes, I have another blog rooted where I post my poetry.
And my guess is Picoult!
on April 3rd, 2008 at 2:41 amWow, I have had a VERY similar idea brewing in my head for the last six months, but didn’t act on it because it seemed so unwieldy. But the way you’re doing it eliminates all the unwieldiness in ways I never would have thought of. So great work!
I have to agree, mentioning book titles in post titles is essential.
I will definitely put your new project in my blogroll, and since my blog is all books all the time, I hope I’ll be added to your project.
on April 3rd, 2008 at 10:22 amBunny B – Welcome to my blog! Make yourself at home and thanks for entering the contest.
Jane – Thanks for saying thanks! So worth it.
Quatami – Thanks for posting! I’ll take a look at your poetry blog, sounds great, and good guess!
Dewey Looks like I beat you to it! I’d be curious to how you would do it. And of course, you’re already added to the project. I don’t know how many times I typed out your blog name, but it was tons!! Very prolific reader and blogger.
on April 3rd, 2008 at 10:03 pmAlright here’s my post: http://trishsbooks.blogspot.com/2008/04/giveaways-galore.html
I’m gonna go ahead and guess Mark Zusak.
on April 4th, 2008 at 5:18 am[...] Two New Blogs, a Surprise GIVEAWAY and DRAWING! [...]
on April 4th, 2008 at 9:11 pmI linked to both the links I’m supposed to http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/sticky-post/.
And I’m guessing Jodi Picoult.
on April 5th, 2008 at 11:36 pmTrish and Eva – You’re in! Thanks!!
on April 6th, 2008 at 3:33 pmSorry I missed out on this one, but I did join Book Bloggers
on April 27th, 2008 at 5:16 am