6 Years of Book Blogging? Time to Give Back!

POSTED ON January 3, 2017 BY Austine IN Giveaway

It’s January 3rd. On this day in 2011, I started up my very first book blog – The Magick Pen. To be fair, it was more of a writing blog where I posted book reviews but quickly changed to Red Reader Reviews within the first couple months and became a TRUE book blog. And this past year in late December/early January, I finally moved to a my own domain and everything. With that came a big change. Like MAJOR. Like a whole new blog everything change.

This last year, a lot happened in my life. I finished my undergraduate years of college. I loved and lost many times over. I struggled and I thrived. And my blog joined me on this adventurous ride. So when I moved, I decided that I wanted — needed — a fresh start. NovelKnight was born that day and here we are a year later.

So I can’t really say NovelKnight is 6 years old in true blogiversary fashion. But I’ve been book blogging for that long and I’m pretty proud of that.

Over the last 6 years I’ve met a lot of wonderful people in this community and can’t possibly single out a select few, but without y’all I wouldn’t be here. This community has enriched my life in so many ways and continues to do so every day. To you I wish the happiest of new years and hope you succeed at every dream you pursue.

I wanted to do something a bit different this year for my “blogiversary.” In the past I’ve done small giveaways when I could but this year…. something’s different. This community has been through a lot. As an individual, I’ve been through a lot. Especially in 2016 when the world has seemed as if it planned to end at any moment.

But the one thing that’s remained relatively unchanged and true is blogging. It’s there day and night, a hobby, a task, a job without pay but infinitely rewarding. And I want to honor these last 6 years.

Let the Giveaway Commence!

This box of bookish goodies is filled with items that represent significant points in my blogging career, both serious and silly. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy being a part of this community. 🙂

2011

Barnes & Noble classics edition of Fairy Tales from Around the World

My first blog, Red Reader Reviews, had a fairy tale theme. I’m obsessed, and on that blog me and my guest reviewers all had names from fairy tales (Red for Red Riding Hood, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, etc). Fairy tales have played a big role in what I read and where I started.

2012

a leather journal

This is the year when I wrote my first novel. It consumed so much of my life, especially for the first half of the year, and really influenced my activity in all other aspects of my life. It wasn’t a blogging accomplishment but around this time I started being more critical of what I was reading which has led to the development of my reviews to what they are today.

2013

a candle of chocolate cake deliciousness

The year I almost gave up completely. Most of us have been there, when blogging becomes difficult, more of a chore than an enjoyment. It was the first and second years of college for me. I had a lot of work for classes, my job, and friends (which in high school I was short on so far less to go out and do with people). I finally came into myself, which I’d suppressed for so long. But the blog fell to the wayside while I lived. But the spark never died. That flame continued to burn and I didn’t give it up because books had become so integral in my life that I couldn’t let them go.

(As for the particular scent of this candle, one of my favorite series has a character who quite enjoys chocolate cake…)

2014

a bookish mug

We’re getting into the end of my sophomore year of college and first part of junior year. I started drinking coffee. A lot. I hadn’t before because it made me shaky but the more I drank it the less that happened and now I’m a full-blown coffee addict. Each morning while I attempted to wake up before my early classes, I’d have a cup and would either read or prep a blog post as a way to start the day.

2015

Drogon Funko POP figure

The year I developed a terrible funko addiction. It was more toward the end but it’s gotten far worse this year thanks to that initial start. I’m also obsessed with dragons. One of the reasons I love reading fantasy so much. And also Game of Thrones. Started watching that before and this year’s season was just SO EPIC (I mean they all were to a degree but this one…). Now I hope to start someone else’s Funko addiction (or at least feed it because I’m already long gone) >.<

2016

a Pusheen plush

This. Year. Was. Rough. New name, same content. I rejoined the community after being on a semi-hiatus throughout college and it was an experience. A lot of love. A lot of hate. A lot of good, critical discussion. Blogging has been at its most productive but the community needs some help. There’s a toxicity to it that wasn’t there before. Not from the discussions but from those handful of individuals who have deemed hate to be their main goal. And to them I just want to give a stuffed animal to hug and comfort them while they have these strong feelings. I think everyone could use a stuffed animal in their life no matter their age. In this case it’s a Pusheen!

A Few Rules

There are 2 giveaways you can enter.
- US ONLY – a box filled with all the goodies mentioned above
- INTERNATIONAL – a book worth up to $15 from The Book Depository (as long as it ships to you)
This giveaway ends January 17 @ 11:59pm EST
No duplicate entries or giveaway accounts. You WILL be disqualified.
You MUST be willing to provide your mailing address if you win. It will not be kept for any purpose other than to ship your prize.
The winner has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.
You cannot win both giveaways.

US ONLY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

INTERNATIONAL