Happy Book Blogoversary – I cannot believe it’s been 13 years since I first hit publish on my very first blog post.
My first review was for the Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer as all Twi-hards will know is 3.5 in the Twilight Saga.
Those Twilight days were the best, no toxicity in reading or sharing a passion for a book we may have loved or hated. Now, in 2024, things are different in the book world.
A TikTok video and social media can cancel authors and social media doesn’t feel like the warm and fuzzy place it used to be where we openly fangirled over a sparkly vampire or werewolf.
But in the 13 years I’ve been book blogging I’ve had some amazing times, opportunities, and experiences which is why I wanted to write this post celebrating my book blogoversary,
It feels like the end of an era but in fact, it’s a new beginning. I want to reconnect with bloggers and build connections which is why I’m so excited to start moving my blog in the direction I want.
Turning 30 last year almost relaxed me, I felt this pressure as it got closer and when the clock struck midnight on my mobile, I felt the same. A little more determined if anything.
But… let’s go back to the beginning of where it all began… and take a trip down memory lane starting way back when in 2011 to celebrate my Book Blogoversary.
2011 – Reading A Little Bit of Everything is created –
REFLECTION: I was quite naive in thinking I could read a little bit of everything. There was no chance.
INTERVIEW: My first ever Q&A with Paige Toon
BOOK REVIEW: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
2012 – The Year of Blog Tours
REFLECTION: Things started taking off in 2012, Blog tours blew up and I was joining street teams
INTERVIEW: Jane Green
BOOK REVIEW: The Remembrance Trilogy by Kahlen Aymes
2013 – The Year My Books Got Friskier
REFLECTION: Or as the kids say nowadays, spicy. But in reality, I still love saying erotica. It suits the books more I think. I cannot believe it’s been over 10 years since I first read Santa Baby. This is STILL a festive re-read for me every year. 2013 is also the year I first read Jennifer L Armentrout Lux’s series and read them consecutively.
INTERVIEW: Tiffany Reisz
BOOK REVIEW: Santa Baby by Lisa Renee Jones
2014 – My First Bookish Event… The Dublin Author Signing and the Year I started A Fashion Blog
REFLECTION: My blogging became less and less as I got busier and I started blogging on Voluptuous Chatterbox more regularly. I started getting into Fashion and having to blogs meant one was getting more attention. I was still so excited to meet Kahlen Aymes, Abbi Glines, and Cora Carmack at this event.
INTERVIEW: Amanda Jason
BOOK REVIEW: Half-Blood by Jennifer L Armentrout
2015 – The Year of No Book Reviews
REFLECTION: This is the year when I was reading books but not reviewing them, it’s still tough for me to find the time now to write reviews, but it’s something I’m trying to get back into.
INTERVIEW: Stella Newman
2016 – I met Cecelia Ahern and attended Rare16 in Edinburgh
REFLECTION: I met Cecelia Ahern which was an absolute blast in total I think I’ve met her about 4 times and every time she is just so lovely so I can gush about her books. It was also super easy to write those weekly meme posts like Top Ten Tuesday and Waiting on, so when I scheduled those in advance I stopped putting effort into blogging.
Rare16 Edinburgh was such an incredible experience. I cried meeting Jennifer L Armentrout and Samantha Young, especially because (fangirl moment) they recognised me from my blog, and the feeling of everything I had been going through was a pretty special moment. Lauren Rowe was also the sweetest person and I remember how she made me feel meeting her even when I had mascara-torn cheeks with no idea about them.
Anna Todd was also here and it was before my love started for her work which is why I got my sister a book signed by her and me some bookplates. NGL I still regret not getting a book signed LOL
EVENT: Cecelia Ahern Signing
2017 – The Year When Posts Dwindled
REFLECTION: When I transferred over to Lyrical Host in 2022 I got to pick and choose which posts to take over with the move which means for this year, I have a total of 6 posts published but on my old blogger site, it could be more. I tried so hard to keep blogging in 2017.
I missed it and there was a lot of stuff going on away from the screen that made things more difficult but I never lost my love of books and the feeling it gives me.
2018 – Belfast’s First Multi-Author Signing
REFLECTION: This was an exciting year, Belfast had its first multi-author signing and I discovered so many amazing authors, that I got to meet L.A Casey again 4 years on from the Dublin Author Signing was so much fun.
INTERVIEW: KM Lowe
2019 – Nothing But Tumbleweed Here
2020 – Does This Year Even Warrant A Heading?
REFLECTION: The year of baking bread, YOGA, and when Instagram lives made us feel sloppy because some of us were trudging along trying to get by day by day. One thing that kept me going in 2020 was waiting on The Minute I Saw You by Paige Toon. It was like that little bit of sun light during a time when lightness was needed.
BOOK REVIEW: The Minute I Saw You by Paige Toon
2021 – The Year When Tumbleweed Hits Again
REFLECTION: I spent most of my time writing and planning out blogging than I did scheduling or posting anything. I blogged quite a bit over on Voluptuous Chatterbox during 2021 as I was writing more dating and relationships content than bookish.
2022 – The YEar Where Blogging Started (Again)
REFLECTION: I started book blogging (again) and posting more which was great fun although I was still missing my edge, the passion of just creating and writing content.
BOOK REVIEW: Sex, Snow & Mistletoe by Laura Barnard
2023 – The Year I Turned 30… And Got My Mojo Back
REFLECTION: Wow, I met Paige Toon, 15 years after picking up my first book by the author I finally got to meet the woman behind the pages of the books that have made me cry, laugh, panic, believe in love, and inspire a career.
Some readers say, they can’t pick a favourite author but I can, when one has been a monumental presence for half your life, it’s an easy decision to come to.
I cried like I seriously cried and I am not one bit embarrassed by it. This is how books should make us feel, the emotion they should evoke in us readers and it was a dream come true meeting her.
Something I still feel bad about is not telling Milly Johnson and Catherine Isaac how much I love their books as well, but it’s on my bucket list to attend more signings so one day I will.
2023 was also the year for travelling and so many exciting things to celebrate, one was going to Liverpool to watch a match with my boyfriend, I turned 30 and my mum took me away for a relaxing few days to our local seaside town Portrush for my birthday.
I also went to see Black Stone Cherry live as well as meet them which was such an awakening experience.
It was also the year, I felt myself becoming the woman I wanted to be and motivating myself to be her. It felt like now I was 30, I could be myself. Oh.. and I also started my own business and virtual assistant career.
Check out www.virtuallykerryann.com for more information on my services.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Brooks Almy
2024 – The Year Where My Passion Shines and My Book Blogoversary
There have been so many highs, lows, and blogging “re-starts” but one thing that’s remained over the years is my love of books and talking to authors about the inspiration behind their stories and connecting with other readers.
This year I plan on blogging more on A Bookish Redhead about lifestyle topics and interviewing more people in the book world including, book club organisers, editors, fellow virtual assistants, small biz owners, and more. Because there are so many people and avenues that make up the book world.
I’ve also secured my ticket for Rare24 Edinburgh and even have a ticket for Belfast Books and Ballgowns happening in 2025.. but more on that soon.
Thanks for reading and helping me celebrate my Book Blogoversary.
Right now, I’m sitting in a quiet Costa writing this post with so many ideas coming to fruition and waiting for Paige Toon to announce her 2024 tour dates…
What Are your plans for 2024? Are you attending any signings or bookish events in 2024? Do You Celebrate Your Book Blogoversary? Let me know below.
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