Happy 1st Birthday Sky's Book Corner

1st Blogoversary - Facts, competition and giveaway

About 13 months ago I was relaxing on a sunlounger in Ascona, Switzerland, reading One Perfect Summer by Paige Toon. I absolutely loved this book and fell in love with Paige’s writing. As soon as I was home I went into my local bookstores and bought her books, some I had to order as well. I read one after the other and I absolutely loved them. I started writing down my thoughts and the reviews were born, I also started casting the characters, which was so much fun. I had kind of a blog before (about my fanfictions), so I decided to share my reviews and created Sky’s Book Corner. On August 28^th I posted my first blog post and then every second week there was a review. I read more and more and wrote more and more reviews, so I started blogging regularly and also posted other things. I also got more active on Twitter getting to know some lovely book bloggers, who helped me develop my own blog. It was a great feeling getting feedback on my reviews from other bloggers and then also the authors. I got to meet so many wonderful authors and some awesome book bloggers, who are an inspiration and became friends. I’m really grateful for all the support I get on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest ect.

Never would I have imagined receiving ARCs and getting more and more followers, so THANK YOU all so much. Everyday on Twitter or wherever is a learning process and I learnt so many things about blogging from this whole big family. So another THANK YOU lovelies.

Some facts about this year:

-      271 posts

-      114 reviews

.    1632 Twitter Followers
     35000 page views

I’ve hosted many blog tours, cover reveals, guest posts and more and here I’d like to thank some people: The fabulous Gosling Girls (Victoria, Laura, Megan and Kirsty), you ladies rock, thanks for letting me be a host, love you all. 
Charlotte from BestChickLit, Shaz and Samantha as well, thanks for organising so many great tours.

Now I’d like to say thank you to all you amazing blogger friends, some of you have become close friends and I wish we’d all live closer to each other.

A special thanks to my besties: Aven, Ana and Mary, LOVE YOU SO MUCH. 
Then a big HUG and more to my (letter or message) ladies Jenny, Clare, Jess, Hilary, Isabell, Suzanne, Rebecca Raisin and Pat. Last but not least, all others, thank you for being part of this big blogger family: Becca, Sophie, Alba, Erin, Laura L., Laura D., Kirsty, Victoria, Kelly, Charlotte, Agi, Cari, Louise, Megan, Kevin, Tay, Holly, Emma P., Natalie, Sharon, Amanda, Jody, Charlene, Catriona, Kim, Terri, Charlotte, Amanda J., Trish, Rebecca, Jill, Jo, The Girl in the Moonlight, Jennifer Joyce, Dawn, Margret, Jenny_1993, Becky, Abby Louise, Katie, Sheli, Sara-Jade,...

A big extra THANK YOU to the following authors: Aven Ellis, Jenny Hale, Rebecca Raisin, Jennifer Gilby Roberts, Katy Regnery, Pat Elliott, Paige Toon, Karli Perrin, Miranda Dickinson, Holly Martin, Carmel Harrington, Hannah Beckerman, Victoria Browne, Hilary Grossman, Jill Steeples, Rosie Blake, Lisa Dickenson, Elle Field, Erin Emerson, Ellen Faith, Tracie Banister, Rowan Coleman, Lucy Robinson, Tilly Tennant, Kelly Rimmer, Portia MacIntosh.

I'd also like to thank you all, especially the one I forgot up there, it was hard keeping track and not forgetting anyone, so I'm sorry, if you're not up there ;). But you guys all ROCK!!! THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!!!

I really wanted a new blog design and I thought my blogoversary would be a good occasion to reveal it, hope you all like it. Well, we were finished with everything earlier, so the new design went live August 17th ;) Thank you Jen, xxx.

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So here is a little thing to show how grateful I am: a GIVEAWAY. The giveaway is part of this blogoversary, but also my own birthday giveaway (August 15th). The two dates are so close, so I thought I'd combine both. Thank you to all authors offering their books, I have six different bundles for you this time:

BUNDLE 1 - Aven Ellis

Aven kindly offered a copy each of her three books and let me tell you: THESE BOOKS ARE AMAZING!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

BUNDLE 2 - Jennifer Gilby Roberts

Jennifer kindly offered a great box set (ecopies) of books for my giveaway, more details here: Amazon Link

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BUNDLE 3 - Emily Harper

Win Emily's books here, she's such a talented writer!

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BUNDLE 4 - Rebecca Raisin

The Gingerbread Café series by Rebecca Raisin is sweet, wonderful and magical!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


BUNDLE 5 - Book of Choice and Ali Harris

Win a book of your choice and Written in the Stars by Ali Harris, this book is brilliant!

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BUNDLE 6 - Carmel Harrington

Carmel Harrington is one of my fave authors, so talented! Here is your chance to win a signed copy of her latest book.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Last but not least: A little competition. 

Create your own bookmark, take a photo of it and then send it to me until September 14th with the subject "Bookmark Competition" (skydreamer.simi@gmail.com). 
You can choose from two different mottos:

- What does reading mean to you?
- Your favourite author/book

Aven Ellis, Hilary Grossmann, Rebecca Raisin and Pat Elliott will help me judge and choose the best ones. The winner will two bookmarks and a little surprise.

To give you an idea for bookmarks, I made two myself:

GOOD LUCK!!!

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To get to know me a little better, I asked some friends to ask questions, I chose the best ones and answered them:

You are really creative, would you like to write a book or sing professionally or do they bring more joy if they are hobbies? (Suzanne - Librarian Lavender)

Awww, thank you so much sweetie. I actually already have an idea for a whole novel and I'm writing short stories from time to time. I think after a few years of teaching and settling a bit down in the job, I'll definitely plan to write this book (I might need a BETA team then). As for the music, I never thought about singing professionally. There are people out there that are way better than I am, I just enjoy the songwriting, the singing, playing the piano and the dancing so much. I wrote two songs for my Bachelor thesis and another one just for me and I will definitely continue that. I'm dreaming of writing my own children's musical and then also putting it on stage with my class, so will see. These things bring so much joy and happiness into my life whether they are hobbies or would be more some day...

Tell me which female character/characters you'd like to meet at a cafe and linger over coffee with and what would you talk about? (Aven Ellis)

Oh my, that's a difficult one... First of all definitely Kylie (Waiting For Prince Harry) and Mary-Kate (Connectivity). I think I'd have so much fun with them. We would talk about their men ;) (Harrison and William), of course men in general, hockey, books, fashion...

I think Meg (Johnny Be Good, Baby Be Mine) and Daisy (Chasing Daisy) would be fun as well. We could talk about different places in the world, enjoy some drinks. Tess (About A Girl and What A Girl Wants) would have to be there as well. And last but not least, Sarah (Bookshop at the Corner) has to be there as well. She's a book blogger and loves romance books. I think we could talk about books and book boyfriends for days.

Can you tell me IS YOUR WEDDING HAPPENING ANY TIME SOON? (Ananda - thanks for this interesting question hun)

Haha, I don't think so, I first have to find my true love, so a bit of patience here please ;). I will let you know...

I'd love to know what your PERFECT MAN is like (looks & character)?  (Maryline)

Ok, let me start with the looks: tall (not too tall though), nice body (fit), dark hair and blue or green eyes, I'm also okay with brown eyes though. Now the character: funny, honest, caring, creative, musical, confident and a team player.

I love the way you often do a possible cast for book reviews.  Who would you pick for the movie of your life? (Hilary Grossman)

Oh my, that's a difficult question. But I guess for myself I'd either pick Ashley Benson or Brittany Snow (can't really decide). And as for the guy by my side of course Henry Cavill ;).

What I'd love to know, is do you have one favourite attraction in London, that you like to visit, over and over? (Pat Elliott)

Oh well, I love so many sights and attractions in London, so that makes this question really difficult. Let's see I definitely go to Trafalgar Square and Picadilly Circus every time and I love Regent's Street and lunch in Harrods (chicken) is a must every time. I hope that answers your question, I could go on and on here...

Which book do you think sums up how you feel about love? (Rebecca Raisin)

Another difficult one ;) Well, when I think about it, it's not that hard. the first book which comes to mind is One Hundred Proposals by Holly Martin. Where the heroine gets a proposal every day in order to find out what the perfect wedding proposal for her is. However it's not about the proposal, it's about the one who makes the proposal. How does he make you feel? --> genuinely happy, safe and adored. The person you want to spend the rest of your life with...

Have you ever felt like blogging is overtaking your life? Has it ever felt like it's getting too much and you wanted to quit? (Isabell)

No. I've somehow find the right mixture between studies/job, blogging, family, friends and all my other hobbies (singing, playing the piano, traveling...). 

I know we all want to go to Howgarts and be in Gryffindor. But is it really your perfect house? Where do you think you'd fit perfectly? (Alba)

I think I'm partly a Gryffindor, but according to Pottermore I'm in Rawenclaw. When I think more about it I think it's quite fitting with the creativity, the wit, the originality and the acceptance. 

And, what is the book post that made you dance, shout and grin the most? (Alba)

Love your questions Alba, so I'll answer them both ;). This question is really difficult, but I think it was The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson by Paige Toon, it arrived early and I was over the moon when it arrived, dancing, screaming around the whole house. Closely followed by What A Girl Wants by Lindsey Kelk. I've waited for the book for song long and then it finally arrived...

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Of course you can also Tweet about the giveaway or the competition, if you want you can use these hashtags:

#SkysBookmarkCompetition

#SkysBlogoversaryGiveaway

#Happy1stBlogoversarySkysBookCorner