25 Feb 2019 Leave a comment
in Giveaway Tags: blogiversary, giveaway, giveaway winners
After a month long giveaway the time has come to draw the winner from my blogiversary celebrations. Thank you every one who entered, it was amazing to see the number of entries for my giveaway and how many wonderful and supportive comments you all left. đ
The winner was drawn via Rafflecopter and I’m very pleased to announce that the winner is
The winner has been notified by email.
Congratulations!
07 Feb 2019 Leave a comment
in Giveaway Tags: australia day, australia day book giveaway, giveaway, giveaway winners
Thank you to all who told me their favourite Australia Day memories and past times, I loved hearing about your plans.
I have drawn the winner and I am very pleased to announce that the winner is
The winner has been notified. Congratulations!
26 Jan 2019 4 Comments
in Giveaway Tags: australia, australia day, australia day book giveaway, giveaway, jessica townsend
It is so hot in Australia right now and this Australia Day long weekend is no exception. With temperatures going to be 36 degrees (97F) all weekend at my place I have grand plans to do nothing except sit under a fan and read because anything besides that sounds like a lot of effort. I hope however you chose to spend today it is somewhere cool and enjoyable. We’ve got the new lamb ad to enjoy, but I actually haven’t bought a single lamington which in itself is a small disaster, but I am not going to make any or go out and buy some because obvious combustion will occur is I go outside. Instead, I will stick with my reading plan and maybe try to incorporate a Vegemite sandwich into my lunch.
Alongside this plan, I am also going to giveaway an awesome Aussie book which is much more interesting! The joy of having a blogiversary so close to Australia Day means that I will have two giveaways running so if you want some more variety, have a sticky beak over at my blogiversary post where I am running an international giveaway and maybe one of those will tickle your fancy.
Today though, in order to celebrate Australia Day and Aussie authors, I am giving away a copy of Jessica Townsendâs new book Wundersmith, the second book in her Nevermoor series.
Wunder is gathering in Nevermoor …
Morrigan Crow may have defeated her deadly curse, passed the dangerous trials and joined the mystical Wundrous Society, but her journey into Nevermoor and all its secrets has only just begun. And she is fast learning that not all magic is used for good.
Morrigan Crow has been invited to join the prestigious Wundrous Society, a place that promised her friendship, protection and belonging for life. She’s hoping for an education full of wunder, imagination and discovery – but all the Society want to teach her is how evil Wundersmiths are. And someone is blackmailing Morrigan’s unit, turning her last few loyal friends against her. Has Morrigan escaped from being the cursed child of Wintersea only to become the most hated figure in Nevermoor?Â
Worst of all, people have started to go missing. The fantastical city of Nevermoor, once a place of magic and safety, is now riddled with fear and suspicion…Â
To enter: Leave a comment on this post telling me your favourite thing to do on Australia Day, or maybe a favourite thing you used to do as a kid that had great memories for you.
Entries close on 11:59pm 2nd February and due to shipping costs it is for Australian residents only.
Good Luck!
23 Jan 2019 21 Comments
in Giveaway Tags: blogiversary, giveaway
Lost in a Good Book is turning 6! Where does the time go? I feel so in charge of this blog finally. It’s been a long and hard road but I am glad I’ve found a system that works for me. I have stopped trying to make my blog run like others. After reading so many advice posts over the years on how to blog, after trying to mimic other blogs and tying myself into knots over scheduling and features and stressing myself out I have found my own path.
On top of feeling impressed with myself, I’m also feeling reflective and bureaucratic this blogiversary so I’ve taking up the challenge to see how my stats are fairing. I used to look at these religiously but the past few years I have only given them a cursory glance.
I’ve poured through 6 years of statistics to find the best, the most, the detailed numbers surrounding my blog. I’ve looked at the genre breakdown and the star ratings, I’ve looked at my most popular posts and the countries who come to visit. What I would have loved to do is compare the Australian authors to international that I’ve reviewed, but that will need a lot more planning because my tags aren’t nearly as organised in those early years regarding Aussie authors (they aren’t the best now if I’m honest). and there was no way I was sorting through that mess right now. Maybe next year.
It was quite a fascinating trip in all honestly. I was amazed at the numbers and at how many of each genre I had read, not to mention my generosity of stars. It also made me realise just how far I have come in 6 years. As I enter my 7th I am looking at my followers grow all the time and the visitors to my blog increase. I had more people visit my blog in the first 11 days of January this year than I had in the entirety of 2013 which is unfathomable. I can’t help but feel a little proud.
Let’s break it down. I’ve created a handy infograph because who doesn’t love a good infograph?
All of these stats are amazing, and surprising in their own way. For someone who didn’t think she liked fantasy I have reviewed it A LOT. But no doubt I’ve missed some reviews, and certainly if I’ve messed up some genre tagging the numbers may be a smidge off but honestly, they mean so little; community engagement and just having people read and like what I review and ramble about is so wonderful. I remember loving the one person who would read every single post I posted back in 2013. They were often the only stat on my blog. I loved this one person and I loved that they took the time to read the words I’d carefully thought about.
In the past 6 years I have seen so many changes. I have tried and failed many blog features. Let’s salute the forgotten such as Weekly Wrap Up, From the Shelf, Birthday Book Bonanza, not to mention Library Loot! Gosh, can you imagine if I kept that up it would be a daily post about all the things I bring home from work? It would publicise the very real problem I have. But it’s not all forgotten features, I’ve also introduced The Picture Book Corner which I adore, have Bookish Bites to help me write those quick reviews, plus started participating in Long Lost Reviews, who knows what else I will create or even bring back!
Looking back I have also halved my review lengths, which I think we’re all thankful for. I know I can go on a lot now but in the beginning, I used to go on A LOT. My reviewing has improved which I can tell just by reading some older posts. It’s amazing to see how I ran the blog back in the early years. Every year I did things a little bit differently and I have finally found my groove and I am happy to settle into this rhythm and power on.
Today is not all about my blog statistics, it is also a chance to share some of the amazing books I have read this past year. I have chosen my Top Five of 2018 plus a few other amazing books to include in my giveaway this year. As per usual, the giveaway is open internationally.
The Selection
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
A Thousand Perfect Notes by C. G. Drews
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Soulless by Gail Garriger
Loving Lakyn by Charlotte Reagan
To enter: For a chance to win one of the pictured books simply enter here and complete the Rafflecopter form.
Please note: This giveaway is international on the basis the Book Depository ships to your country. To see if you are eligible you can check their website.
Thank you for helping me celebrate six wonderful years of blogging and if you enter the draw I wish you the best of luck!
15 Mar 2018 Leave a comment
in Giveaway Tags: blogiversary, giveaway, giveaway winners
The time has come to announce the winners of my blogiversary giveaway! Thank you to everyone who entered, I was amazed by the number of entries I had for my humble little anniversary. Thank you too to all the people who left me some amazing books in the comments on my post. I will definitely have to read all the ones I haven’t read, a fair few have been sitting on my TBR list for far too long. But enough of that, back to the reason why we’re here!
Both winners were drawn via Rafflecopter and I’m very pleased to announce that the winners are
and
Winners have been notified by email. Congratulations!
