Blogiversary Bash! Amazing #Giveaways for Writers and Readers

It's hard to believe that I've been blogging for a whole year. It started out as a "okay, I'll give it a try" and turned into a full-blown adventure. I'm so glad I entered the blogging world. I've met so many fabulous people and have learned more than I could've imagined.

Let's start with a year in review:

First Post: I'm a Writer (March 18, 2012)

3 Most Popluar Posts: 

Christian Grey is my Hump Day Hunk (May 30, 2012) over 4,000 views

Olympics Hump Day Hunks (July 25, 2012)

Busted for Reading Romance (October 1, 2012)

Post with the Most Comments: Black Friday Blog Hop (Nov. 23, 2012) 59 comments

First Cover Reveal: Time Changes Everything Cover Reveal (Sept. 3, 2012) 

First Character Interview: Jake from Time Changes Everything (April 27, 2012)

First "Real" Person Interview: Chantel Rhondeau, Author of Always and Forever

First Meme: The Lucky Seven Meme (March 22, 2012)

First Book Review: Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis

Now for the FUN! I have super, wonderful, amazing, incredible, groovy, awe-inspiring friends who are bloggers, authors, publishers, editors and they will be donating wonderful prizes for my BLOGIVERSARY giveaways! What are the giveaways? Check this list out:

First 5-pages Manuscript Critique - 

Ashley Christman, Entranced Publishing Executive Editor/Publisher

First 5-pages Manuscript Critique - 
Eden Plantz, Managing Editor for Entranced Publishing

First 5-pages Manuscript Critique - 

Lindsey Louckes, author with Crescent Moon Press & Entangled Publishing

Query Critique - 

ST Bende, Author of Elsker, to be released in May, 2013

$10 Amazon Gift Certificate - 

Louise Gornall, Author of In Stone to be released by Entranced Publishing this year

Sixth South Ebook -

from author Michele Shriver

2 Ebooks: Love by Number and Never Date a Cop - 
from erotica author Kara Leigh Miller

Ebook copy of Too Close to Home -
donated by Rachel Kall, author of Legally Undercover

ARC Crime and Passion Ebook -
from author Chantel Rhondeau

Coming Home Ebook -
from erotica romance author Paloma Beck

5-page Critique & Mainstream Sci-Fi Adventure Ebook Moons' Kiss - 
from professional editor and author Kimberly Comeau

Only in Her Dreams Ebook - 

from author Christina McKnight

Signed Print Copy of The Brookfield Series -
from author Lacey Wolfe

PDF copy of The Hunter Diaries -
from author Serena Zane

Winners Choice: Michal's Window, Broken Build or Hidden Under Her Heart Ebook - 
from author Rachelle Ayala

Ecopy of each: A Ranger's Tale, Tallenmere #1 and Serenya's Song, Tallenmere #2 - 
from author Mysti Parker

5-page critique & Hand-crafted Swag from Liberty Ann Ireland

$5 Amazon Gift Certificate for one of my awesome donation participants (randomly selected) + First 5-pages Manuscript Critique -From Me

Print copies (US only) - The One That Got Away (Harlequin Kiss) by Kelly Hunter and Hitched! (Harlequin Kiss) by Jessica Hart - 
from Sara at Harlequin Junkie

Enter by Rafflecopter Below:

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My Road to Publishing: First Steps

As an aspiring published author, I loved to read other's blogs about their "trips" into the published world. Since I have signed my contract with Entranced Publishing, I have been on a whirlwind of excitement. So, as promised, I will share my experiences of becoming a published writer as all the steps unfold. 

After signing the contract, I received a lot of information from my publisher. Below I will discuss a few of the fun steps I've been through.

1. Online Author Group - A wonderful asset of Entranced Publishing is the camaraderie between the soon-to-be published authors. We have an online group where we can post questions, find information from our editor, or just say hi. I have to tell you that Entranced Publishing has a great team of fun, chatty, uplifting authors. I suggest you visit their blogs or find them on twitter. Their links are below:

ST Bende

Elsker Series

http://stbende.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @stbende

Nicole Camp

Shadow Bled

http://shadowbled.blogspot.com//

Twitter: @NicolShadowbled

Ashley Christman 

(Publisher/Executive Editor)

www.entrancedpublishing.com

Twitter: @AMChristman

Krystalyn Drown

Spirit World

http://krysteybelle.blogspot.ie/

Twitter: @KrysteyBelle

Rachel Kall

Legally Undercover

www.rachelkall.com

Twitter: @RachelKall

Lorna Peel

Only You

www.lornapeel.com

Twitter: @PeelLorna

Eden Plantz

Pride Goeth Before

Managing Editor at Entranced Publishing

Twitter: @EdenPlantz

2. Art Design for Book Cover - Receiving the art design form regarding my future book cover gave me the heebee jeebees. Every new author dreams of their new cover, and I couldn't wait to see mine. However, I had visions in my head of how it would look already. Knowing that someone else was really in charge shook me a little, because you never know if they have the same thoughts as the author. I didn't need to worry. Little did I know, my own publisher/editor, Ashley Christman, worked my cover herself, and she had the exact vision as I did! In fact, we both had the same couple idea without telling each other. I've already decided that Ashley is a superwoman! She worked my cover in less than a week and now the product is a fabulous cover. In fact, I want to stare at it non-stop, like a love-sick teenager. I think I will print it out and frame it for my office. 

What now? Actually a lot! I am working on a prequel novella to Time Changes Everything, currently titled Boy Next Door. I actually had it written up before, but never shared it with anyone but a few loyal critters (you know who you are!) It'll be sent to Entranced and hopefully released before the Time Changes Everything launch date of June 3, 2013.

Also, waiting on my first round of edits and then I know I will be super busy! Am I crazy in saying I can't wait? Remind me that I said that in about a month's time.

Thanks for stopping by. Check back next week for more about my Road to Publishing.

Melinda