My 1 Year Blogoversary!

Today is my one year blogaversary! I didn't think I would make it (or ever reach more than 20 followers!) but I'm glad I proved myself wrong :) Also throughout this post I will alternate with blogoversary (which reminds me of Blago. If you live in Illinois you know what I'm talking about. *shudder*) and blogaversary.

I don't want to get ridiculously sappy but just know that your support and encouragement means the world to me. It really does. When I get the emails with comments on my posts or just an email saying that what I posted left an impact on someone or that I am 'awesome' (which I completely disagree with), tears have been known to well up in my eyes. It's just so mind boggling to me that people are actually reading what I have to say and they think it's GOOD. I always do my best, but I always worry that my best isn't good enough. You can read a thank you post I did that gives a shout out to those who have been with me from the beginning along with new friends I've met along the way. I wish I could meet all my readers/bloggers/followers, etc. in the real world.

If you want to learn more about me, read this interview I did with Edi at Crazy Quilts. Thank you for the interview Edi!

Some firsts

My first blog post/review of My Life As A Rhombus by Varian Johnson (I'm cringing as I link to this but it's only fair, feel free to laugh at the post but then you need to reassure me that I've gotten better, ok? haha)

My first blog name: young, black, a reader? Yup it was. I decided to change the name to be more inclusive. However I never changed the URL because I didn't want to be too much of a pain to the few followers I had at the time.

My first book sent to me for review: A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliot, this book forever opened up the door to wonderful historical fiction. It also set the bar for self published book because it's fantastic. No self published book that I have read since has lived up to it, but I accept them because of AWAM. When I started my blog, I didn't know that many bloggers didn't accept self published books. I now understand why they wouldn't but since I want to promote books by/about POC, I do accept them (although I need to be more selective).

My first interview: Zetta Elliott (surprise, surprise. She's such a lovely person)

My first autographed book (it's a tie because I can't remember for sure): Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon and Gringolandia by Lyn Miller Lachmann

My first discussion post: The Lack of People of Color in Historical Fiction (catchy title eh?)

My first guest post: At Justine Larbalestier's blog. That guest post was the result in my gaining many many followers.

My first ARC: I don't remember. *sigh* I think it was 8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich because she sent me two copies for a contest about six months before the book came out.

My first Male Monday post: Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher (I think I actually started that feature just to review the book, lol. But I'm so glad I've kept up with it).

My first review that I sent to the author: Mare's War by Tanita Davis. There is a funny story behind this. I really loved Mare's War and I wanted to share my review so I visited Tanita's blog after I emailed her my review. Her blog has changed now but at the time she had a blogroll of children's literature blogs. One that caught my eye was Color Online and theHappyNappyBookseller. I checked them both out, commented and the rest is history. Seriously. Tanita, susan and Doret replied to my comments and immediately visited my blog and gave me much needed advice. They spread the word which is how I met Edi and Colleen. They were my earliest supporters (along with Zetta, Jill and Shveta) and Reading in Color would not be what it is today were it not for them.

When I look back at my earliest reviews, I cringe. Therefore I've decided to re-review some of them. I'm not going to give them new ratings, but I do want to write more articulate reviews. Also for some of my earliest reviewed books, I didn't feature an Incredible Quote (IQ) and I want to fix that. They will be published throughout July. I will be re-reviewing My Life As A Rhombus, Whale Talk, A Wish After Midnight, Mare's War, Silver Phoenix and Gringolandia (not in that particular order). I'm partially doing this as an excuse to re-read them =) Through blogging I've learned a little more about racism, how the publishing industry works, how to write reviews (positive and negative) and the joy that comes from connecting with fellow book lovers. The world of book blogging is an amazing community and I'm so pleased to be a part of it.

I appreciate all the well wishes on behalf of my blogaversary. The very best thing you could do for me (not that you have to) that means more than simply 'happy blogoversary' would be for you to write a letter/email to Borders and/or Barnes and Noble and to buy a book about a POC. Let me know if you do.

I will also have a giveaway each week (unfortunately not all of them will be international). This week's giveaway is what I've dubbed the Whitewashing Pack. Heehee. I'm giving away a copy of Liar, Magic Under Glass and Silver Phoenix to three winners. One winner wins one book. Cindy Pon has graciously donated a Silver Phoenix bookmark and one of her own brush art cards (they are so gorgeous) of the winners choice to go with a copy of Silver Phoenix.

To Enter: FILL OUT THIS FORM

Open internationally, you MUST be a follower.

Ends: July 10, 2010

To all those in America, have a great Independence Day!

To all of you who read my blog, leave comments, email me and spread the word about my projects/posts,THANK YOU

To all of you who have donated books for me to give away in order to get more books by/about POC into the hands of more readers, THANK YOU.

To all of you who have sent me books either by emailing/commenting with recommendations or actually sending me books. THANK YOU.

To all of you who added me to your blogroll, THANK YOU.

Most importatnly, to all who Read in Color, THANK YOU so so much. As cliche as it sounds, you guys are making a difference.

PS Check out this site Bimbambim (awesome name!) which is for swapping books. It looks very easy to use and I'm thinking of trying it because I need more room so some books are going to have to go =/

PPSS For New Crayons this week I got The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez (thank you Christina and Dominique!), Between Sisters by Adwoa Badoe, Payback by Rosemary Hayes (both from Lyn, thank you!) and Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri, illustrated by Randy Duburke (ARC, thank you Lee & Low Books!). I will share more about these books next week since this post is already really long.

PPPSSS (last one, promise!) I did a guest post at Genre Reviews on LiveJournal. It's rather lengthy but I'd love to hear what you think. It's about what consumers, agents and writers can do to promote diversity in literature.