BLoggeista Update #1

Hey guys this is my first bloggeista update.. I haven't gotten to do anything yet but I do have a list of the things that I would like to get done, and I thought that once they were done I could mark them off :P

1. Work on Author Interviews
2. Template Posts
3. Write a Review Policy
4. Write a Privacy Policy
5. Anything else that I can think of....
   

Bloggiesta

Some of you may be asking what is Bloggiesta? In short, it’s a blogging marathon. A opportunity to cross those nagging items off of your to-do list and improve your blog while in the good company of other awesome bloggers doing the same thing. Break out the nachos, enchiladas, drinks, mariachi music and whack a pinata or two!

What to do during the Bloggiesta?

• Write reviews.
• Write backup posts for a rainy day.
• Write that great post idea from three months back.
• Work on series posts.
• Write guest posts.
• Put out invitations for guest posts.
• Conduct and edit author interviews.
• Create template posts for your future reads (ie: title, images, linking, tags, etc,) so you can open up, write review and post without being bogged down with technicalities
• Clean up your tags, archives, books reviewed list, etc.
• Create a text file (or Google Doc) of cheat sheets (html codes, post url’s, etc)
• Improve your blog template, clean up sidebars, add a favicon, install those plugins that you’ve been meaning to do.
• Add or edit your about me page, review policy, disclosure policy, privacy policy, create landing pages (for example – an about me for Twitter readers page) or any other pages you might have.
• Any bloggy type housekeeping that you’ve been neglecting.
• Clean up and update your challenge lists. Link up your posts with hosts.
• Make sure all of your social network profiles are up to date. Brand yourself through those profiles with color scheme, images, etc.
• Go get a gravatar.
• Visit the Blogging Tips group on the Book Blogs Ning and find ways to improve your blog.
• Work on any specialized projects that you may have going.
• Clean out and organize your feed reader and blog subscriptions.
• Create an elevator pitch.
• Make business cards.
• Find a blogging buddy.
• The sky’s the limit!

How to play:

1. The date is Friday, January 8th, Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th. You can really start whenever you want within that time but official hours are 8am to 8am (wherever you are). That is a total of 76 hours, of which you should aim high for a total of 18-24 hours spent on the challenge. (I chose both a weekday and a weekend to hopefully accommodate different needs. The hours spent on the challenge do NOT need to be in a row. Use the entire 76 hour time frame and see what you can do with it. (I say aim for 24 hours but really if you can only do six, twelve or eighteen that’s fine too. I just like to have something to aim for.)
2. It’s your call as to how much you want to put into it. But you have to put something into it or it’s not a challenge. So stay up all night or sleep and take care of kids when you need to.
3. When you start the challenge, come to this blog and to the “starting line” post and link to your specific post about beginning the challenge which is posted on your blog. That way I’ll be able to track participants and know who’s really at the party.
4. How many updates (if any) you want to do is up to you. Make it work for you. Personally, I plan on making a to do list and then crossing off items as I accomplish them. There will be bloggers hosting mini-challenges as well. These are great to learn new information. To get an idea of the mini-challenges last time, check out the list.
5. If you are on Twitter, use the hashtag #bloggiesta to join the chatter.
6. Your final summary post needs to be posted no later than Monday, January 11th. Come back to the finish line and link to your specific summary post. Your summary should include the number of hours spent on the challenge, what you accomplished, links to mini-challenge hosts if you completed them and any other experiences you’d like to add.
7. Sign the Mr. Linky now if you intend to join the challenge. I’d like to get an idea of how many people will be participating. If you blog about the challenge, point them to this post. I’ll have a starting line post on Friday to sign in when you begin the challenge. Don’t forget to subscribe, so you’ll be notified of future bloggiesta posts.

I am going to try and put as much time into this as I can. I have so many things that I would like to get done and am hoping that I can. I will make a post later tonight for the things that I am planning on doing.

In My Mailbox (23)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

This week I only got two books for review.

Review - Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side - Beth Fantaskey

The undead can really screw up your senior year . . .

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction



Chasing Brooklyn - Lisa Shroeder

Restless souls and empty hearts.

Brooklyn can’t sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca died a year ago, and now their friend Gabe has died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there, waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca chasing her through her dreams.

Nico can’t stop. He’s always running, trying so hard not to feel the pain of missing Lucca. But when he begins receiving messages from his dead brother, telling him to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.

Descriptions taken from Goodreads

2010 2nd in a Series Challenge

And yet again here is another challenge that I am partaking in. I did not do this one last year though I wanted to.





Challenge Guidelines:
1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.

2. There are four levels:

-- Curious – Read 3 novels that are 2nd in a series or second time you've read the author.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 that are 2nd in a series or second time you've read the author.

-- Addicted – Read 12 novels that are 2nd in a series or second time you've read the author.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 novels 2nd in a series or second time you've read the author.

3. Any genre counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

Again I am shooting for Addicted but if I get over that, I would be very happy.

Reviews
1. Faketastic - Alexa Young

2010 1st in a Series Challenge

Here is yet another challenge that I will be participating in. It is being hosted by a new person this year. If you would like to join head on over here and sign up.

Challenge Guidelines:
1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.

2. There are four levels:

-- Curious– Read 3 novels that are first in a series.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 novels that are first in a series.

-- Addicted – Read 12 novels that are first in a series.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 novels that are first in a series.

3. Any genre counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

I think I am going to shoot for addicted but if I make it to obsessed that would be even better.

1. Hex Hall - Rachel Hawkins

2. The Ghost and The Goth - Stacey Kade

3. Firelight - Sophie Jordan

Well guys I didnt make it to the one that I wanted. This year wasnt too great and I only made it to curious. I dont think I'll be participating again this year but maybe in 2012!

2010 A to Z Challenge

This is another challenge that I have decided to participate in this year. It is being hosted by Becky from Becky's Book Review. Its pretty self explanatory though, you read a book that either the title or the authors name starts with the letter.


If you would like to sign up head on over here and sign up.

I dont have a specific list for this one but here is the alphabet ;p

A- Along for the Ride - Sara Dessen
B-
C-Chasing Brooklyn - Lisa Shroeder
D-
E-
F- Faketastic - Alexa Young
G- Ghost and the Goth - Stacey Kade
H- Hex Hall - Rachel Hawkins
I-
J-Jill Connor Brown - Sweet Potato Queens Book of Love
K-
L-
M-
N-
O-
P-
Q-
R-
S-Sophie Jordan - Firelight
T- Troubadour - Mary Hoffman
U-
V-
W- When the Whistle Blows - Fran Cannon Slayton
X-
Y-
Z-

2010 Debut Author Challenge

This year I decided to participate in the 2010 Debut Author Challenge. This is my first year participating and I am very excited. There are many titles that are coming this year that I cannot wait for. If you are unfamiliar with the upcoming titles you can find them on Goodreads here.


Are you interested in participating? Well head on over here where the lovely Story Siren is hosting the Challenge. She has an information post about the challenge and also a sign up post. (Both I have linked)

I am unsure of which books I will be reading but these are some of the ones that I am hoping to read. This list is subject to changes.

1. Restoring Harmony by Joëlle Anthony
2. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
3. Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
4. Wish by Alexandra Bullen
5. The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell
6. The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy
7. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
8. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
9. Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala
10. Mistwood by Leah Cypess
11. 13 to Life by Shannon Delaney
12. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
13. Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore
14. The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg
15. Faithful by Janet Fox
16. Everlasting by Angie Frazier
17. The Line by Teri Hall
18. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
19. Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey
20. Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
21. A Love Story: Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner
22. The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
23. All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab
24. Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson
25. The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade
26. Iron King by Julie Kagawa
27. Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly
28. The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
29. Other by Karen Kincy
30. Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis
31. The Witch's Alphabet by Caitlin Kittredge
32. Sea by Heidi R. Kling
33. Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
34. The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride
35. The Mark by Jen Nadol
36. Firespell by Chloe Neill
37. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
38. Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson
39. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
40. Dirty Little Secrets by Cynthia Jaynes Omololu
41. The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
42. Anna and the Boy Masterpiece by Stephanie Perkins
43. Tagged by Mara Purnhagen
44. The Prophecy of Days by Christy Raedeke
45. Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
46. A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler
47. Freefall by Mindi Scott
48. The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
49. Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
50. Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn
51. A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker
52. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
53. The Naughty List by Suzanne Young

There are quite a few titles on this list, and I am not sure if I will read all of them, but these are the ones that I would like to read.