Apparently when you celebrate your 4th bday you go for cheesy cute, and not Shadowhunter hot. Don't judge us. lol
Happy 4th Birthday to us! I can't believe it's already been 4 years. Well that's funny I say that since I told someone a week or so ago it was 5 years. Apparently I can't count. It's been an incredible 4 years. THANK YOU to everyone who's supported and befriended us. These 4 years have flown by and oh the fun we've had! Lately I've reflected on life, blogging, and everything else and over all I truly feel grateful/blessed for all that's happened that last four years. What an awesome thing book blogging is! I mean seriously. We get to share our love of books with others, make new friends, befriend amazing authors and publishers, promote books, attend awesome bookish related events and did I mention purchase, read and spend a lot of time discussing books? It's surreal for me to think that what started out as an idea after reading Cassandra Clare's City of Bones and City of Ashes in December of 2008, turned into a fan site/YA book review forum on Valentine's Day of 2009. Mundie Moms has truly grown into something I could have never imagined. I'm humbled by all that MM's has been apart of, and to all those who are apart of Mundie Moms.
How It All Started
To me, Mundie Moms is still "just a little book review blog/Cassie Clare fansite". Mundie Moms was started to promote Cassie's books, which grew into also promoting YA books. The YA review side was inspired because Cassie has so many YA book friends, and I wanted to support their books too, like Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan and more. The more YA books I read, the more books I wanted to promote them as well. The more I wanted to review, the more I wanted to find ways to get readers in touch with authors, which is how the Live Author Chats started. Our first live author chat was hosted on the forum in 2009. It's crazy to think it was that long ago, that I talked to a couple friends about the idea, and then it just happened, because to me I feel like I just started.
The Reflection
I had so many things I wanted to say today, and reflections I wanted to make in this post. There have been some absolutely incredible things I've had the privilege of being apart and being able to do. From volunteering at TLA, to The Austin Teen Book Festival, to moderating at the Texas Book Festival, and the numerous live author interviews I've hosted at Book People, to Smart Chicks, and being able to help promote so many awesome books. Through that, a dream I've had ever since I was kid came true (even at that time I wanted to be involved with books) having my name in a book. It's been truly an honor to be quoted in a few YA books, acknowledged in others, but having a character named after me in Bree Despain's series, and one in Saundra Mitchell's book has been utterly unimaginable. Words can't even describe that feeling. This past year I finally had "my moment" (you know the surreal moment when you want to pinch yourself to wake yourself up because you think you're dreaming, or get all your stuff in order, because something like this was too good to be true so you wonder what's going to happen to you... don't laugh, some of you know what I'm talking about) when Sony invited myself and a few other TMI fans site up to Toronto to be on the TMI Movie set. That was beyond my wildest dream and it was seriously one of the coolest experiences I've had. I can not wait to talk to you guys about that!! What an incredible experience.
Through it all the highlight of the past 4 years have been the friendships I have made. I'm in owe over the power one book has had in bringing people from all different walks of life and from all over the world, together. One book has been the reason why I have made the most incredible friends. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Thank you for your friendships! Thank you for all you've done to support Mundie Moms. Thank you to all the authors and publishers for their support and trust in Mundie Moms. Thank you to all of your lovely followers who trust in our reviews and want to hear our thoughts on books. Thank you forum/blog readers for your visits, for being on the chats, for being on the blog tours, for your comments, messages, tweets, emails etc. Thank you for your friendships. Thank you for your readership. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to be apart of Mundie Moms. Most of all THANK YOU to Cassie who didn't blow me off when I contacted her back in 2008/beginning of 2009 and told her what I'd like to do. Thank you for your continued support of MM's and all the other TMI fan sites. Mundie Moms wouldn't be what it is if it weren't for Sophie, Shandra and Emmaly! THANK YOU times infinity for all you guys do behind the scenes, on the forum and the blog!
BOOKS are Better than Cupcakes! But that doesn't mean we can't admire these....
Since I can't group hug all of you or treat you all to cupcakes, though that would be nice, I'm instead going to host a GIVEAWAY! Here's what's up for grabs with today's 4th Birthday Bash (this is a little bit different from the original teaser pic I posted. I've added more books, and removed one).
* Through the Evernight is the only published book in this giveway, but it's so good I had to buy it so someone else could fall in love with it as much as I did.
* Just One Day by Gayle Forman is a SIGNED arc
* All ARCs were received from the publishers to review (Harper Teen, Penguin Teen, Pulse (Simon Teen), Point (Scholastic)). Many of these are books I've read, and some are ones I've not yet read or have not yet posted my review for. These are all 2013 YA titles.
The second part of the giveaway is open internationally and is for a swag pack! This swag pack includes a SIGNED Laini Taylor bag and mask, signed book marks by Shannon Messenger, Stacey Kade, Lisa Schroeder and Angela Corbett. Signed book plates are Trinity Faegen and Marissa Meyer.
To Enter: Please fill out the forum below. Be sure to read the Terms & Conditions before entering.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good Luck!
*Birthday, cupcakes and 4 image found on google