Monday, March 31, 2014

Chocolate Giveaway & Blogoversary Recap

It's been a wonderful 5th Blogoversary Month. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to help me celebrate. I appreciate you all so much! Without you, my blog would be boring.

It's been a busy month! Here is a summary:

On March 3, aka National Grammar Day, we discussed Active versus Passive writing.

The fabulous Robyn Campbell stopped by on March 10 for a fun interview.

Fellow Helping Hands Press author Jen Cudmore shared her thoughts on professional correspondence on March 17. Here's the link if you missed it.

Find March 24th's interview with my writing mentor and friend Dr. MaryAnn Diorio here.

I also made a few appearances:

Celebrating Women's History Month with a post at the Coffeehouse for Writers' Blog.

Stopped by the Wednesday's Writer's Workspace at The Writing Nut.

Visited Gelati's Scoop to discuss The Blogging Code.

Shared poetry writing tips for kids at Carol J. Alexander's Lessons From the Homestead.

The Chocolate Giveaway

What blogoversary is complete without chocolate, right? I knew you'd agree! :)

I will assemble a little custom chocolate package for one follower according to their preference (milk or dark chocolate). Kindly follow the instructions below.

  • You must be a GFC (Google Friend Connect follower) and leave your email address with your comment.
  • Gain bonus entries (+1 each) by posting this on Facebook, your blog, and/or Twitter. Please total your entries and include links with your comment.
  • Open to residents of the United States.
  • Deadline to enter is midnight EST Thursday, April 3, 2014. Winner will be chosen by random.org, notified via email, and will have 36 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Join me next week when Jennifer Brown Banks stops by to share her timeless wisdom. Carol J. Alexander visits in April too to discuss her journey to publication.

What have you been celebrating lately? Have a great week!

Happy writing,

Karen :)

Congrats to Medeia Sharif, Robyn Campbell, and Janette Dolores - they are last week's giveaway winners of MaryAnn Diorio's books!

Photo credit #1: Stock Exchange
Photo credit #2: Stock Exchange

49 comments :

  1. Happy 5th Blogoversary! What a wonderful milestone!
    I'm a GFC follower!
    Campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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  2. I shared on twitter! :)
    https://twitter.com/AmyBooksy/status/450582189701226498
    Campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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  3. Woohoo! Glad I won MaryAnn's book. Can't wait to receive it and dig in.

    Going to check out your appearances and will be chiming in at those spots.

    Be well, my friend.

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  4. Amy,
    Thanks so much! Thanks also for spreading the word! :)

    Janette,
    Congrats again! I think you will enjoy her book. :) Thanks also for checking out the guest spots!

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  5. That's nice of you to give away some chocolate!

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  6. I don't do chocolate, but I'm always willing to celebrate.

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  7. I can't do chocolate, except white. I gave up sweets for Lent. But, I can throw some confetti for you,
    Congratulations to the book winners.

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  8. It has been a busy month for you, Karen! Congratulations on your 5th blogoversery. Fantastic accomplishment :-)

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  9. Alex,
    Well, it's the least I can do for such a wonderful blogging gang! :)

    Diane,
    Well thanks for stopping by and helping the celebration along! :)

    Cecelia,
    Confetti is good! Makes it much more festive. :) Thank you!

    Kenda,
    It has been rather busy. :) Thanks so much!

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  10. Congratulations, Karen. Your blog is always interesting.

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  11. Congratulations on your 5th blogoversary, Karen! It's been a joy to watch it grow and share your writing journey.

    I'm trying to steer clear of chocolate these days (migraines), so don't enter me in the giveaway.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  12. Happy Anniversary!! And heck yes I want to be entered. My email is keith_wynn@hotmail.com

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  13. Ooooh chocolate. I tried to Google Friend Connect over there on the right but it keeps saying try again later. I'll keep trying!

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    Replies
    1. I just saw a comment on another blog that Google Friend Connect is temporarily not working. I'll keep trying!

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    2. It's working! I followed...and you can email me from here: http://www.stephaniefaris.com/#!contact/c1kcz

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  14. Linda,
    Thank you! I'd have to say that visiting your blog is always a treat too. :)

    Susan,
    Thank you so much! You have been a very large part of this journey, and for that I am grateful! :)

    Keith,
    Got your name on the list! Thanks a bunch! :)

    Stephanie,
    Was thinking you are already a follower, no? Will have to check on that. I've had trouble lately following other blogs with GFC too. Opening another browser helps sometimes, as does just trying again. Thanks for your efforts, I'll see what I can do!:)

    Happy writing,
    Karen

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    Replies
    1. My followers list is a mess now! I followed hundreds of blogs back in the 00s and now I'm not sure which ones are new and which aren't, so I just go through my own comments to find blogs to read!

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  15. You have been busy this month! Wow.

    A great way to usher in spring...a giveaway and a celebration. Way to go on the 'versary, and here's to many more. :)

    rschrockmt@yahoo.com

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  16. Yummy. Very tasty giveaway. Thanks.

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  17. Happy blogiversary! Thanks for the giveaway. sharif(at)sharifwrites(dot)com

    March was busy and fantastic. Have a great April.

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  18. Rhonda,
    It has been a busy month. About ready for a blog break. :) Thanks a bunch!

    Lilith,
    Might as well hit all the senses, right? :)

    Medeia,
    Thank you! Congrats on winning MaryAnn's giveaway!

    Happy writing,
    Karen

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  19. Holy cow, woman! You have been busy. I like chocolate! Not as much as cheese, but chocolate is good too, and sometimes they even go together. =) I'm going to take a day, then spread the word. Yay!

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    Replies
    1. Okay, I tweeted and facebooked. Now I'm off to eat cheese.

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  20. You certainly did have a busy month! And that translated into a lot of great stuff for your blog readers. So I guess I need to say thank you!

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  21. Crystal,
    Yeah it has been kinda crazy. No wonder I haven't done a lot on the WIP. lol But it's been fun. Love hanging out with my blogging gang. :)

    Lisa,
    Thanks so much! :) So glad you are a part of the celebration! :

    Happy writing,
    Karen

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  22. Wow! I'm still working on year one!
    Congrats, and hope you have another 5+!

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  23. It's nice meeting you, Karen. I hopped over this morning upon Alex J. Cavanaugh's recommendation. I home-schooled all of our children K-12 Those were some wonderful years. I am definitely following you on Twitter and GFC, as well as by email. Here's to getting better acquainted! ;)
    Beautiufl Sunday

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    Replies
    1. oops, sorry about the misspelling of beautiful on my link! *blush*

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  24. Happy Blogaversary! It sounds like you've been keeping extra busy, but that's what makes life fun!
    I've been home-schooling my kids for a long time now and I love it!

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  25. Happy Blogiversary and nice to meet you through the wonderful Alex C.
    Sincerely, jean

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  26. It's serendipity. The GFC button is working again. And Alex linked to you on his blog, sending me here in time for the chocolate giveaway. Crossing fingers. I am participating in the A to Z and all of my posts are written, so I can't advertise this on my blog. So, chalk me up for one entry:)

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  27. Five years already! That's incredible. It's been so great getting to know you, Karen. A privilege.

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  28. Alex J. Cavanaugh sent me. This giveaway brings back memories! It's the same way I used to have follower contests, except with books and chocolate. I love the dark kind.
    My GFC icon is now in your followers list. I couldn't follow for a couple weeks, so I'm glad they fixed it.
    Here's my facebook share: https://www.facebook.com/shehartwell/posts/691486390904141?stream_ref=10
    And twitter: https://twitter.com/SherAHart/status/451421634453176320
    That makes 3!
    Last but not least, thanks!

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  29. I'm a follower (my email's in my profile), and I tweeted about the giveaway: https://twitter.com/short624/status/451464002611064832

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  30. Happy Blogversary. It's always a pleasure to drop in on you!

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  31. What a wonderful month of awesomeness for your blogoversary. :) I can't believe we are now lucky enough to have the chance to win chocolate.

    I am a GFC follower: Jessica Haight
    I tweeted too: https://twitter.com/dmsfiles/status/451483309835440128

    I think that is two entries. :)

    Have a beautiful day!
    ~Jess

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  32. Happy Blogaversary!!!! Glad you had such a great month!

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  33. David,
    Well that's an accomplishment too! Blogging takes more work than meets the eye, doesn't it? :)

    Cathy,
    It's great to meet you too! Thanks so much for following. I miss our homeschooling days in many ways. But now I get to watch our son and daughter in law homeschool our grandson. Fun stuff! :)

    KMC,
    Thank you! It's great to meet you! Appreciate you stopping by. Best wishes on your homeschool journey! It is fun, isn't it? :)

    Jean,
    Thanks so much! Yes, it is nice to meet through Alex. He's a great inspiration! :)

    Robin,
    GFC can be rather fickle, can't it? I've had trouble lately at different places. Thanks so much for being persistent. It's great to meet you! :)

    Joylene,
    How have you been? Always good to see you. :) Thanks a bunch! I count it a privilege to get to know you as well.

    Sher,
    It is good to meet you, and I appreciate your persistence with the GFC thing. It can be a bear, can't it? :) Thanks a bunch!

    Michelle,
    Thanks so much for spreading the word! I appreciate your support! :)

    Nas,
    Thanks so much for your kind and wonderful support! :)

    Jess,
    What celebration would be complete without chocolate, right? :) I knew you'd agree. Thanks!

    Tyrean,
    It's been a busy but fun month. I may take a vacation soon, lol. :)

    Happy writing,
    Karen

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  34. That chocolate looks downright luscious. Great giveaway, Karen.

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  35. HI Karen! It looks like I am a bit late to the party, but I'd love to get some chocolates! Happy Blogo-versary! Five years is a long time, and you have been so successful too. What a blessing.

    My email is: ceil@ceilryan.com
    Thank you for celebrating all your followers right along with your own anniversary :)
    Ceil

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  36. C. Lee,
    Thanks for hopping over! I agree, that chocolate looks great. It would totally be gone if it were sitting on my desk! :)

    Ceil,
    Better late than never! There's still plenty of time. :) So glad you made it over today!

    Happy weekend,
    Karen

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  37. Congratulations, Karen. A wonderful 5 year long achievement. Here's to many more celebrations and thanks so much for all you share with writers worldwide.

    I'm celebrating finding a sugar free and gluten free dark chocolate bar with crunchy pieces of mint. For someone with a list of allergies like mine, this was a treasured find, indeed.

    Blessings for a wonderful weekend,
    Dotti :)

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  38. Congratulations, Karen. A wonderful 5 year long achievement. Here's to many more celebrations and thanks so much for all you share with writers worldwide.

    I'm celebrating finding a sugar free and gluten free dark chocolate bar with crunchy pieces of mint. For someone with a list of allergies like mine, this was a treasured find, indeed.

    Blessings for a wonderful weekend,
    Dotti :)

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  39. Dotti,
    Thank you! You are so sweet. :) Sounds like you found some wonderful chocolate! I am sure you are savoring every bite.
    Hugs to you,
    Karen xo

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  40. Hi Karen,

    Now that Google has allowed following again, I came back to do just that!

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  41. Lee,
    Thanks so much for your perseverance! The following issue has been just that lately, an issue. :) Glad it seems to have straightened out.
    Happy weekend,
    Karen

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  42. Happy writing to you too and happy blogoversary!! And chocolates!! Aww that's so lovely! Thank you!! Good luck to all! Take care
    x

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  43. Kitty,
    Thank you! So good to see you. :) Chocolates are a must, or at least something similar, don't you think? You take care too!
    Have a great week,
    Karen

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Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Have a blessed day!