Today is Traveling With T’s blog birthday! 5 years ago, I started this hobby. I started it as a way to curb my online shopping habits and honestly, I did not know what to expect. I just wanted something fun to do, a place to talk about books and other things. 5 years ago I never expected to be where I am today, but here I am.
I’ve been to BEA twice (2014 and 2015). I’ve met Kate White. Alafair Burke. Mary Higgins Clark. Ann M. Martin. I’ve been mentioned in the acknowledgement sections of books (Thanks Jenny Milchman and Stephanie Evanovich!) I even was a character in a book this year (thanks Allison Leotta!) I’ve met tons of authors at the local bookstores (Turnrow Books, Square Books and Lemuria Books).
I’ve read lots of books. Some years, I have read more. Some less. I’m expanding into audio books. I heart my Kindle so hard.
I’ve nurtured relationships. Walked away from others that were not fulfilling. It’s not always easy, but I’ve worked hard to be ME, to keep my voice, to “You do you”.
Today, I was looking back at some old posts about my blog birthday and I found these 2 posts (What I’ve learned about Blogging in 2013 and A Million and 1 Ways To be a blogger). And while the blog has evolved since 2013, I still feel that it’s great advice!
But enough about me!
It’s my blog birthday, but YOU get the presents! It’s my way of saying THANK YOU for sticking with me all these years, for sharing my posts, my giveaways, for making me log in to Twitter and Facebook and have reasons to smile. You people are amazing and I am so glad you take time to read my blog. Infinite x’s and o’s!
As you know, if you’ve even read this blog for a minute, I love book signings! So, over the course of 2016, when I went to a signing- I picked up books (all signed by the authors!)
This year, I was able to see Julie Cantrell, Ariel Lawhon, Julia Claiborne Johnson, Anton DiSclafani, and Mary Alice Monroe.
Now on to the part you really want to hear about: THE GIVEAWAY.
Each author signed books for me at their signing- so…
I have 1 copy of The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell.
I have 1 copy each of The Wife, The Maid, and The Mistress and Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon.
I have 1 copy of Be Frank With Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson.
I have 1 copy each of The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls and The After Party by Anton DiSclafani.
I have 1 copy each of The Summer Girls, The Summer Wind, The Summer’s End and A Lowcountry Wedding by Mary Alice Monroe.
Giveaway details:
Open to US only. Check the Rafflecopter for more details.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,
T @ Traveling With T
Traveling With T 
Happy Birthday. You are one of my favorite book blogs so keep up the great work!
*blushing* THANK YOU!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 That just warms my heart!
Happy Blog Birthday! I’m a fan!
You are too sweet! Thank you for always sharing my posts 🙂
I would love to read the Mary Alice Monroe bundle.
I have a feeling the Mary Alice Monore bundle will be popular!
Happy blog birthday! Five years of great memories and reads! I think my first choice would e the Anton DiSclafani books. Thanks and happy reading!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com0
Thank you SO much!!!!!
Happy birthday! I’d love to win Mary Alice Monroe’s books!
Thanks sweet friend!!!
Happy blog birthday. I love your blog! I would love to win A Feathered Bone 🙂
Thank you! 🙂 🙂 *blushing*
Happy birthday, sweet T!!! Your kindness and devotion to books and writers means the world. Hugs to you, dear lady!!
Infinite x’s and o’s to you dear friend! I love supporting authors ( especially YOU!) 🙂 🙂 xoxox
Thank you for the giveaway chance! I enjoy reading your blog posts!
Thank you! 🙂
and a very happy birthday to you dearest one!
Thanks sweet friend!!!
Happy Blog Birthday, T! I love your blog…and you! xo
Aww! You are going to make me cry-love you too!
Happy, Happy Blog Birthday, T! I’m so glad you started your blog and then I found it. Here’s to a fabulous year ahead.
*blushing* My heart is so happy. Thank you! 🙂
Happy blog bday!
Thank you!
Happy blogoversary!
Thanks so much!
Happy Blog Birthday!
Thank you!!!!! 🙂
Happy 5th birthday to one of the best book bloggers in the world!!!
*blushing* Jenny, you are TOO sweet. Thank you for always being so supportive. You rock!
Yay, happy blog birthday to one of my favorite book bloggers!! Oh tough choices here which one to pick. I’d probably pick the Mary Alice Monroe books, I’m a sucker for Coastal Carolina fiction but you know my taste in books so I’d love to know which you think I’d like best! 🙂
Thank you!!!! You make me smile!!!!! So, MAM is def up your alley, but I think you might enjoy Anton’s books. I’ve read her first one, but not her 2nd yet!
Happy happy blog bday!!
Thanks so much sweet friend!!!!!!
They are all amazing, but if I had to pick, I’d say the MAM bundle! Happy Blog Birthday to one of my favorite book friends! Tamara, YOU rock!
I’m blushing! Thank you, thank you! You are such a good friend to me!!!!!!
Happy Belated Birthday!!
Your blog is amazing.
ENJOY your Sunday.
Elizabeth
THANK YOU so much. You are too sweet to me!!!
Happy blog birthday,I have discovered so many wonderful books through your blog😍
Thank you SO much! I’m glad to play a role in you discovering great books!!!
I’m new to your blog. I would love to win any of the bundles!!
🙂 🙂
Thank you for a chance to win. Any books would be amazing!!!
Good luck!!
Any of the books would be great to win!
Good luck!
I would love Mary Alice Monroe’s book bundle and thanks for the great giveaway!
Good luck and you are welcome!
Happy belated blog birthday! I hadn’t realized we started our blogs at almost the same time. How fun! I also love your idea of saving signed books for your blog birthday giveaway, I may try to do the same next year 🙂
Thank you! I hope your blog b-day was super fun 🙂 I’ve been doing the saving signed books for a couple of years and I like that because i buy from indies (so they make money), the author gets exposed to others that they might not be exposed to at all! I would love to see some of the signed books you could get since you are in CA now- you’d have a much bigger market!!!!
Congratulations on five years! I’ve enjoyed reading your posts and getting to know you over the years.
Thank you!!!! I feel the same way about your blog!!!!!!
Happy Blog Birthday!! I would love to win The Feathered Bone. Sounds good but emotional!!
Thanks sweetie! I think The Feathered Bone would be right up your bookish alley!
I would love to win I have 1 copy of The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell.. Julie is a new author for me. I have all of Mary Alice Monroe’s books and love them! Happy Blogaversary!
Good luck in the giveaway 🙂 🙂 🙂
Happy Blog Birthday! Thanks to you, I’ve won some great reads! All 4 bundles sound great but I’d either love Anton’s books or Julie Cantrell!
Thank you so much for your support 🙂 🙂 🙂
Happy Birthday! I would love to win the bundle with The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress. Thank you
Thank you!!!! Good luck in the giveaway!
Hallo, Hallo! 🙂
I follow you via Twitter now, as I followed a tweet s/o about your bookaway via Ms Harvey! This whole post truly resonated with me today. Esp since I think this is a valid topic point for most book bloggers – sometimes you question if what your doing is good enough and sometimes you wonder if what your doing is still #awesomesauce when you see others (book bloggers) doing more than you can do yourself. I think it’s human nature to second-guess ourselves, but today, for whichever reason your topic just hit a note with me and I THANK YOU for that! I truly do rock my own blog and Twitter feeds as I hope all book bloggers, do! Very nice to stumble across your blog today!
In regards to the bookaway itself, I’d love the chance to read the Julie Cantrell book – as I’ve been finding hours elapsing through my fingers these past few years to where she releases a new book before I’ve had the chance to read her debut novel! Oy vie. I *must change!* this pattern in 2017! It’s part of my resolutions as a reader – to get to the books I’ve been itching to read!! Laughs.
Have a very blessed New Year’s!
Hello!!!
Your tweets have been brightening my day!!! Thank you!
I am SO glad that my post resonated with you. Blogging can be so hard and you can wonder and second guess yourself and a million other things. I just try to remind myself that I blog for the joy of blogging- not for anything else. And somedays there are good days, some days there are bad days and I just try to roll with it- whatever the day.
Julie Cantrell is such a sweet lady and I think you would enjoy her books! And oh my- I totally understand- getting the books you want to read is a problem. Because there are SO MANY books!!!!!!!!
Hope 2017 rocks for you!
Congrats on your blog birthday! I read Feathered Bone and it was one of my favorites of the year. I think it’s so neat that you’ve met so many authors! I don’t think I’ve ever attended a book signing for a book I actually read (just came across authors at the bookstore, but none that I knew of.)
Dianna
Thank you!!! I adored meeting Julie- she is such a nice person. Do you have any independent bookstores near you? They generally have author signings ( depending on where you live- you might have a ton of authors visit!)