HAPPY 8TH ANNIVERSARY TO PRINTEDWORDS&
It really does feel surreal to say that I have had PrintedWords& for 8 years now. I started this blog in 2012 and since then it has been a somewhat turbulent but very memorable journey. So here's a post to reminisce, celebrate and reflect on what blogging means to me now!
I will admit that even though I've reached the 8th year anniversary, there has definitely been stages, long stages, where I didn't post regularly or disappeared altogether. I've written posts before about my lack of commitment, falling out of love with reading and feeling the pressures of posting. The last 3 years I would say was when I really stepped away because I was forgetting why I had started PrintedWords& in the first place.
I had a rather successful time with my blog during 2013 to mid 2015. It was so exciting, connecting with other bloggers, finding my numbers increasing and receiving attention from book publishers and authors. Looking back I think I got swept away with the highs of "success". I put pressure on myself to keep up with the new books, trends and what I thought content should look like to keep seeing increases in numbers rather than what I enjoyed myself. Gradually I began to stop reading books, visiting other book blogs and posting on my blog. I basically pretended like PrintedWords& didn't exist.
So why am I back now? If I'm being honest, it's because I now have the time. As soon as the pandemic happened and we ended up in lockdown, I had to find things to do with my time. So reading it was. The one past time that I grew up with quickly became my saving grace and I learnt to love it again. Sounds dramatic I know, but it's been such a blessing amongst the chaos of the world.
What blogging means to me now is something I'd never thought I'd ask myself 8 years onwards. It's definitely been a lengthy journey and I'm surprised by how much blogging on PrintedWords& has actually become a learning curve for me as well. What I want is to be genuine. If I can't be myself online then how do I stay true to myself in person? I want this blog to really showcase who I am, what I am passionate about and be a place where if people do come and visit, they can feel comfortable and find enjoyment in reading what I have to share.
So here's to 8 years of reading and writing reviews and hopefully many more to come! Thank you to every single reader that has come past PrintedWords& in the last 8 years. And those will see this in the future, welcome!
ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY
Before you go! I want to celebrate by gifting 3 people a copy of my recent 5 star reads.
I've particularly loved
American Street by Ibi Zoboi,
Parachutes by Kelly Yang and
Sister Heart by Sally Morgan. Three winners will be selected at random to win one out of these 3 books!
American Street is set in Detroit, US following a girl name Fabiola Toussaint who migrates from Haiti to the US to live with her Aunt and cousin.
Parachutes explores the lives of two girls, Claire and Dani, from vastly different backgrounds as they navigate through high school life.
Sister Heart is a fictional recount of a young Indigenous Australian girl who is taken from her family by the Government and sent to an institution to have Western values and education instilled in her.
Just some things to keep in mind:
- Must be over 18 to enter
- Make sure Book Depository ships to your country.
- Giveaway ends 10th August, 2020
- You can enter in all 3 giveaways, however should you be randomly selected for more than 1 giveaway, you will get to choose which book you prefer and I will randomly select another person for the other giveaway.
The giveaway is international so get to entering!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank You & Good Luck!
