Tuesday 6 January 2015

BBB Grand Opening: Stacie's Decision

Bookish Musing is a feature here at Beautiful Bookish Butterflies that allows one of us to share our thoughts and opinions, talk or discuss things happening in the book and blogging community or share a personal book related conversation. Today, Stacie is talking about why it was time to say goodbye to Book's Galore and though she was scared like Amanda, she not only feels it was the right thing for her but that she can accomplish much more with Amanda by her side..




For those of you who may not know me, or for those who who don't know a lot about me, I'm a stay at home mum to a 4 and half year old daughter and I started my previous blog Book's Galore around May 2012. As much as I would love to say I was blogging constant since the opening, I wasn't. I decided to start blogging and talking about what I did and didn't like in books as a way to escape some of the drama's day to day life was throwing me, and for a while it went smoothly, until it wasn't any more and I had to abandon ship. Shortly after my second attempt at it I was faced with another bump in the road, this time it came in the form of my mother being ill for a few months and me having no motivation or time to blog let alone read and I once again gave up. My 3rd and what would be my last attempt came at the end of 2013, my daughter had been in nursery for a few months and my other half had just started night work so I thought I would give it another go as a way to fill the gap. I swore to myself that if I couldn't do it this time I would just say goodbye to my blog for good, and there were times when I nearly did it, but then I met Amanda.

One thing you should know about me is how sporadically unorganised I am at times, sometimes I'm on top of everything and other times I don't know what day of the week I'm in. Another thing you should know is I am, like most book bloggers, obsessed with books and can sometimes consume as much as 6 in week, however when it comes to putting down my feelings about said book on paper (or the internet for everyone to see) I have the tendencies to get very tongue tied, lose my confidence about blogging and go into a big slump. I can't really remember what date it was when I first got a comment from Amanda but I know that since then she's always been really supportive and encouraging, so naturally when she brought up the idea of a brand new blog together I jumped at the opportunity, was I scared of starting a new one? Of course, but more than anything I was looking forward to being able to start fresh and leave my old blog behind. I love Book's Galore, I've put a lot of work into it over the past year but it is in a way just a reminder of bad times for me (in the earlier days anyway).

Co-blogging with Amanda for me will help me stress and worry less about how much content I'm putting out there or how good it is. The freedom of being able to take my time and being able to plan properly, of having that extra person who can take over for a day if something comes up, like illness or unscheduled school related things (doesn't happen often but it could haha). It will give me time back with my little girl and my other half, because even though I have never and will never put it before them, there's been times when my thoughts have been else where. Most of all, with that extra weight being lifted from my shoulders I can just have fun with it, something I'm looking forward to being able to do again.

So why was I scared about joining forces with Amanda if it's the best option for me, I here you say? Well it's simple. Amanda has and will always be one of the most organised people I have ever met, she has book reviews planned for weeks in advanced and not only that but she's great at design work, great at coming up with discussions and even though I know how hard she works and how much time, blood, sweat and tears she puts into her writing, what I sometimes struggle with seems to come so naturally for her. In short I was/am terrified that I wouldn't have anything to bring to the table and I wanted it to be equal, not Amanda carrying me if you know what I mean? I would like to point out that Amanda has never, not once, made me feel like I'm below her, that she's better or that it's her she's the owner of the blog and I'm just the person you asked to join, even though she has done so much in the ways of design and organising the blog she's always made me feel like it's ours. Most of all I didn't want to let her or myself down, this is my last shot and I'm scared that maybe I'm just not cut out for it after all.

With Book's Galore I didn't accomplish as much as Amanda did, I was scared to take risk's by starting my own meme's or read-a-longs and was content to just partake in others, I didn't have a massive amount of followers but those I did have were loyal readers and would always comment (even when I would get so caught up and forget to reply). I did however enjoy what I was doing, I got to talk about what I love, I got to meet some wonderful people and I got to build up a relationship with companies and publishers in order to obtain eARCS/ARCS/Review copies. I am confident that on a team with Amanda, I can get so much more out of blogging than I did before. As I already stated, I'm not always the best at putting thoughts into words and that goes for my ideas too, but Amanda is able to take any of my idea's or thoughts on what would work for the blog and turn it into something brilliant. In short, though I'm still scared sometimes, there really isn't anyone else I would rather try this with, I'm really looking forward to working with her, and should the time come where Charnell feels should would like to join up, like it was originally planned for, than things would only get better, we are all different but not so different that together we wouldn't make something pretty amazing. :)

Giveaway!


To celebrate Beautiful Bookish Butterflies grand opening, I've decided to host a giveaway to not only celebrate the years I had at Book's Galore but the start my new blogging journey. I am giving one lucky person the chance to win 1 book, the giveaway will be open internationally but please make sure that The Book Depository ships to you before entering, I don't want to disqualify anyone.

So what can you win? well as already stated this giveaway will tie in with the years my previous blog was open, even though I may or may not have been blogging since 2012, I have been reading. Originally I wanted to give people the chance to win 3 books, one from each year of blogging, but due to money I'm having to cut back to just the 1. So the lucky winner will be able to pick any book out of my favourite books read in 2012, 2013 and 2014. If there's a series listed below that you are reading but the book available isn't the one you need, please let me know and I would be willing to get you the one needed, or if you would prefer a specific cover than once again let me know and as long as The Book Depository has it in stock you can have it.
Please note, the books will be in paperback form.

The books you can pick from are:




Just to point out again, you are only getting ONE book

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thats a wrap!



Lastly, well done if you have read all this way, I would just like to thank my previous followers. I hope most of you came over with me and I can't wait to share this experience with you, if you didn't than I understand and I thank you for being there last year. To new people who haven't followed me before, I hope that I can hold you interest and to the completely new to us followers, welcome and get ready for a little bit of variation in content :)

65 comments:

  1. I would either pick Throne of Glass or Winner's Curse! I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Throne of Glass but don't own it! THEY'RE SO AWESOME! :D I've heard incredible things about Winner's Curse and am so pumped for that!

    Thanks for the giveaway and wish you a happy journey co-blogging and at BBB! :D
    ~Fari

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    1. Throne of Glass is a pretty amazing book, I borrowed it the first time around too so I know how it feels to love a book but not own it. The Winner's Curse is such a good book, so good pick :P

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  2. Yaay I am SO excited for this blog and the two of you co-blogging! Everything looks beautiful and I just can't wait for all the awesome content. :)) It's so fabulous you fit together well too, and it's all working out. XD

    I'd pick Throne of Glass because I LOVE it but weirdly enough I don't own it. XD

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    1. haha thank you Cait, I'm pretty glad it all seems to be working out well too, I think we were both very nervous for different reasons but like you said, we fit well together :)

      You don't own it? I am shocked, I thought you would have owned it haha :)

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  3. Hi, Stacie! I haven't come across your other blog in my one and a half years of blogging, but I'm glad I discovered another blogger! I've been to Amanda's blog a couple of times and she does seem really friendly and organized. I love it when bloggers team up!

    As for a book, I'd probably go for The Infinite Sea (5th Wave book two), since I have The 5th Wave already. ^_^ Thanks for the opportunity, and happy blogging!

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    1. You are welcome :). I am a lo more organized now so I'm glad about that :)

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  4. I think I would choose We Were Liars or The Throne of Glass. I still have to read those even though everyone else has done it already!

    Congratulations on the new blog, and good luck! :)

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    1. Thank you an the books are brilliant so it's easy to see why you picked them :)

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  5. Aw Stacie, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU TWO COME UP WITH! Blogging is definitely time consuming and I totally understand when the words just don't come out, other than "good book, I liked it" (that's me all the time nowadays, tbh). I think I strayed a bit xD POINT IS, I AM VERY EXCITED FOR BBB! <3

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    1. haha thank you Jess, I'm enjoying how it's working so far. So far so good :P. <3

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  6. Hi Stacie! It's lovely to meet you :) I didn't have the chance of visiting your other blog, but I'm still very excited to see what's up your sleeve! BBB looks amazing so far.

    As for the book, mm, I'd say either Fangirl or We Were Liars. I can't believe I still haven't read both of them.

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    1. Thank you :). I'm looking forward to seeing what co-blogging has in store for myself too haha.
      Those are really good books so it's easy to see why you picked them :).

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  7. I would pick We Were Liars, I've heard so many good things about it!! The blog is lovely :)

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    1. Good pick, it's a great book. Thank you :)

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  8. I would pick The Winner's Curse. It has been on my TBR for some time and I cannot wait to start this series :)

    And all the best with co-blogging! I am looking forward to your posts/reviews/features here at BBB!

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  9. Hello Stacie, I never came across your other blogs, but I'm happy to see you've joined forces with Amanda and I bet you two are going to rock :D

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  10. Happy Grand Opening for your new blog and thanks for the chance! I'd pick Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl :)

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    1. Thank you & good choice, that's a great book.

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  11. Exciting stuff! I want to read all those books on the list!

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    1. Haha why wouldn't you? they are brilliant :)

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  12. Lovely post! :)) Stacie, I too, have extremely little confidence in my reviews, so you're not alone!! I think sometimes, we just have to kick those crappy feelings in the head until they shut up because we write reviews of books because we want to tell people our views, and nothing should take our confidence away from that!

    OH BOOKS SO MANY BOOKS TO CHOOSE FROM. *hyperventilates* I THINK...I would have to pick This Song Will Save Your Life or Throne of Glass. :)) DECISIONS DECISIONS. >.< It'll probably change by tomorrow, sigh. >.>

    Thank you so much for the giveaway!! :DDDD

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    1. Thank you Ella, I completely agree. I think sometimes you’ve just got to do it for yourself to and stop worrying about everyone else.

      Both are very good choice :) Good luck.

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  13. Throne of glass. I've only ever heard good things about it

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  14. I'd pick The Winners Curse since I haven't been able to get my hands on it yet. That cover is gorgeous! :)

    Thanks for the giveaway! :D

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  15. Thanks for the giveaway! I would pick The Winner's Curse because I love it. <3

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    1. haha you are welcome, it seems like a very popular book :P

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  16. It's great that you two have come together and started this blog! Not only is the design stunning, but some of the posts I've read already are awesome too :) Best wishes for more to come x

    There are heaps of fabulous books on your list, but I'd have to choose either The Moon and More or This Song Will Save Your Life.

    Eugenia @ Genie In A Book

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    1. Thank you so much Eugenia, I'm really looking forward to see where else this year takes us :)

      Ohhh good choice, both fantastic books. Good luck :D

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  17. Shadow and Bone FTW! I really love your blog. So pretty! ♥

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    1. Thank you hun, it is pretty isn't it? :)

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  18. Winner's Curse! I heard great thing about it + I want to read it before the release of Winner's Crime :)

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    1. very popular book it seems, it is brilliant and the second one is just as good :)

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  19. I'd pick Shadow and Bone, because I have book two but not book one, so I haven't read the series yet! Thanks for the giveaway, new twitter follower.

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    1. Well good luck, its a really good series so if you don't win the giveaway I hope you get your hands on it soon :)

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  20. I would choose either Shadow and Bone or Throne of Glass because both of these series are amazing and I would love to read them. Thank you for the giveaway :)

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  21. YAY!!! :) So happy for you Stacie. I get what you mean though, that's what made me nervous about co-blogging. I AM SO UNORGANISED, IT'S NOT EVEN FUNNY! >.< Amanda is the queen of organisation, I am jealous of her skills. I want to know her secrets. You guys are going to do brilliantly though.

    I'm not sure yet what book I'd pick if I won. I guess I'd decide if I won, haha.

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    1. Haha I'll try and get her to spill her secrets over the year and I'll let you know :P

      Haha bless ya, well you've got some time to think about it yet :)

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  22. If I won, I'd pick either This Song Will Save Your LIfe or Lola and the Boy Next Door. Both books are so important to me, and really helped me through some hard times, and I felt like they should be required reading for teenagers, especially in those later years when they're trying to figure out who they are. Thanks so much for thsi giveaway!

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    1. You are welcome hun, both books are really good and I completely agree with what you said and I really with you the best of luck.

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  23. The winner's curse please! I've been trying to get a physical copy for a year! I love the story! Thank you so much for the giveaway!

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    1. you are welcome, its a really popular book and its not hard to see why :)

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  24. I would want the Sarah Dessen one! I haven't read any of her books yet but keep hearing great things about it! Thank you so much for hosting the giveaway, and good luck with the blog. :)

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    1. Sarah Dessen is a fantastic author, I really hope that you read her soon if you don't win the giveaway. Good luck :D

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  25. i would like to read every of this books, but i will stay with Since you've been
    thanks!!

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    1. Since You've Been Gone is a brilliant book. Good luck :)

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  26. If I won, I would choose What's Left of Me. I've been really wanting to read it for a long time now and it sounds so interesting!

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    1. ohh good choice. That book is pretty damn good haha

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  27. i'd pick fangirl because a lot of my friends on goodreads liked it and I am curious :)

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    1. It's a great book so it's not hard to see why :)

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  28. I would pick The 5th Wave, because I still have not read it and I'm really excited about the film and would love to get to the book before watching the film :) Thanks for the giveaway!

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    1. you are welcome, great pick and good luck :)

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  29. I would pick Shadow & Bone :)

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  30. I would pick Fangirl because I love Rainbow Rowell!)))

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  31. I'd pick Lola and the Boy Next Door since I loved Anna and the French Kiss

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  32. Congrats on starting this blog!
    I think I'd pick This Song Will Save Your Life because I saw it on Goodreads and it looks really good.

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  33. Congratulations you guys! I would pick the new paperback version of Lola and the Boy Next Door. Thank you! Good luck!

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  34. Congratulations! I am glad I found this blog. I love the header. I would pick The Fault in Our Stars. I haven't read it and I probably won't buy it for myself. I need to read it before I watch the movie.

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  35. I would pick Silver Shadows, because I read the Vampire Academy series and loved it. But I havent started the spin-off series

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