Today is the 11th anniversary of the very first post on Reading Reality, then called “Escape Reality, Read Fiction” a phrase I got off a t-shirt, a long time ago in a galaxy, as the saying goes, far, far away. Probably somewhere in the Chicagoland area, where I lived for a fairly long time.
Last year was the BIG Blogo-versary, as the 10th blogoversary seemed like kind of a milestone. It also marked Reading Reality as the longest “job” I’ve ever had. An 11th anniversary seems a bit anticlimactic in comparison.
OTOH, my birthday tomorrow IS one of the milestone birthdays. I just hope I’m not spending it at the County Courthouse on jury duty, but as I write this on Sunday “the jury” is still very much out on that particular front.
Nevertheless, this annual Blogo-Birthday Celebration Week will still be a “Hobbit Birthday” as I will be giving away presents instead of getting them. (Galen has already given me my birthday present – a new improved keyboard case for my trusty iPad. It’s exactly what I wanted!)
I give away presents this week because I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who take the time to read Reading Reality, post comments and enter the giveaways. I appreciate you more than I can possibly say. When I started this blog 11 years ago, it was during the “Great Recession”. I had just been laid off and wasn’t sure what I was going to do with myself. Looking for a job may very well BE a full time job but it’s only fulfilling in the result and not in the daily grind of it. The blog turned out to be my salvation, and has continued to be so as I turned from being a fulltime librarian to a part-time librarian to today, a semi-retired librarian and a freelance writer.
And a book reviewer and blogger. For 11 years and counting.
So, in thanks and appreciation to all of you, on this first day of the Blogo-Birthday Celebration Week, I have not just one but two giveaways. One is for a $25 Amazon Gift Card and one is for $25 in books from either the Book Depository or, for those in the U.S. $25 in books delivered from the book store of your choice. If you have a local bookstore that’s doing mail order, I’ll have the books or a gift certificate sent to you from them. If you don’t have a local of your own, then you can choose from one of the big regional bookstores like Tattered Cover or Powell’s, national indie Bookshop.org or get your books from the Book Depository. But books you will get!
Last but not least, if you have enjoyed the cat pictures included in my Sunday Post, please take a minute to check out my Birthday Fundraiser on Facebook for Planned PEThood of Duluth, GA. All of the cats we have ever had have been rescues, and Lucifer and George both benefited from their services before we adopted them. So we’re paying that forward a bit again this year, and I hope you’ll consider joining us.
From the bottom of my bookish heart, thanks so much to each and every one of you who has been part of this journey. There’s plenty more to come!
Congratulations on 11 years. That’s Amazing!
Sadie recently posted..Book Review: Legends & Lattes, by Travis Baldree
Congratulations on 11 years of blogging! That’s an awesome achievement. In answer to your question, my favorite way of escaping reality is through reading books, particularly crime fiction, thrillers and medical memoirs. I am proud to be a regular visitor of your blog and wish you many more years of successful blogging.
I stopped my blog this year. Glad you are continuing
Congratulations on your wonderful blog. I escape reality by reading. It is my favorite way to lose myself and travel to another era and realm. It works and is a wonderful trip. Many more happy years of blogging.
Congrats and Happy Blogo-Birthday!!!!!
I like coming here for blog tours and reviews. To escape reality I like to read.
Many congratulations! I have found some great reads because of you!
Pauline Baird Jones recently posted..Why I Wrote Maestra Rising
Happy blogoversary and wishing you many more amazing years of blogging!!
My favorite way of escaping reality is through reading or watching movies/tv shows.
Congrats on 11 years. I read every post because I love your blog. Every post is interesting. My favorite way to escape in to read a good book…or sew.
Happy blogoversary!!!
Freda Mans-Labianca recently posted..The Eyes Of The Dragon – Stephen King (14)
Happy 11 years! I keep coming back because I like to see the daily post and I love the monthly contests. Thank you.
Best way to escape reality is a good book.
I keep coming back to reading reality for all your great insights – it’s so fun to read the blog.
My fave way to escape reality is to curl up with a good book.
I enjoy the reviews. ^_^
My favorite escape is TV or Books.
Happy Blogo-Birthday! My favorite escapes are books, movies, and TV shows.
I love reading the reviews, entering the giveaways, and books are always the best escape. Thanks for the giveaway and Happy Blogoversary. Cheers to more years!
Thanks for all the time and effort you’ve put in over the last 11 years to bring us book info – I’m always on the lookout for new books!
Happy blogoversary! The reviews, reading
The book reviews and contests keep me coming back.
Reading is my favorite way of escaping reality.
Congratulations on 11 years and Happy Birthday!!! I love visiting Reading Reality for the reviews, book news and awesome giveaways!
I escape reality by reading a good book! Thanks for the awesome giveaways!
Lol, sometimes it’s the suspense of ‘what kind of post will you do next?’ 🙂 I really enjoyed your President’s day post with the funny info I had never heard about before- thank you 🙂 !
How I escape reality depends of both my mood, and whether I’m trying to escape annoyingly loud people. It can be by reading, TV, music, puzzles (paper, online, or video games), or sometimes listening to pre-tv OTR shows (esp mysteries and sitcoms).
Congrats on 11 years- may it be many more 🙂 !
Congrats, I enjoy this blog!
I love the giveaways that you do as well as your book reviews AND…..
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!
My favorite way of escaping reality is entering giveaways and I love doing jigsaw puzzles.
Congrats! I like to see the reviews and the giveaways are great.
Reading is my escae to reality.
Haha! The question isn’t what keeps me returning, but how to keep me away! I enjoy the mix of genres, the thoughtfulness of the reviews, what I call the “reflective” posts that both you and Galen do, the Saturday “haul” posts, the cat photos, the occasional visits by Amy (miss you!), and on and on….
Congratulations and thank you for 11 years!
Happy blogoversary! If you could have a book cake, what book would it be?
Thanks for your reviews and giveaways!
Reading is my escape from reality, as well as dreaming.
Congratulations! I like to read and dance.
congrats. you share good things and it keeps me coming back.
sherry fundin recently posted..Tackling The TBR 4.2 – 4.8.22
I love learning about new books on your site and I also love the giveaways.
Love the relaxed & easy to use site is a pleasure to visit. Thanks!
Trip to the beach.
Happy Blogoversary! I enjoy reading blog to learn about new books and to enter your giveaways.
My favorite way to escape reality is by reading.
My favorite way to escape is reading romance.
Happy Blogo-Birthday!!!
I like the world of escapism through the joy of reading.
I want to see more book reviews.