Blogger Recognition Award!!!!!!!

I am feeling very honoured and excited to have been nominated for the Blogger Recognition Award by fellow book bloggers Ronnie Turner and Caryl over at Mrs Bloggs Books

It’s the first time my blog has been nominated for anything so to be nominated twice is very exciting indeed 🙂

Now there are a few bits of housekeeping to be done before I can raise my award high so let me continue…

RULES OF THE AWARDS

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.

2. Write a post to show your award.

3. Give a brief story of how your blog started.

4. Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.

*5. Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to.

*6. Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide the link to the post you created.

How did I start blogging??

Well I have a fantastic brother who has great enthusiasm for all things web related. He was able to spot my pure frustration of wanting to do something different and he suggested I start a blog. Now that is obviously easier said than done but with his wonderful support and IT assistance we decided I should blog about two things I was interested in ~ books and sewing. The name Swirl and Thread developed out of that.

As the months went by it wasn’t long before I realised that books were going to take over my life.

With the help and assistance of some wonderful bloggers, writers and publishers the blog took off. I have to mention Anne Cater, Anne Williams and Leah Moyse, all bloggers who backed me from the very beginning by welcoming me with open arms into their wonderful Facebook group Bookconnectors.

I am constantly thinking of new directions to go with my blog and am delighted to announce I will be kick-starting a new venture tomorrow 8th February. As I am Irish I am always very aware of the wealth of writers on my doorstep so #IrishWritersWed was incubated, researched and now I have a wonderful selection of both self published and traditionally published authors joining me over the next few months and will continue to run as long as Ireland has writers!!!

Two Pieces of Advice for New Bloggers:

1. Learn to say NO ~ the biggest mistake I made was accepting every book that came my way and also over-requesting ARCs on NetGalley.

2. Time-Management ~ probably the piece of advice I find so hard to follow myself but they are words of wisdom. Every so often (like yesterday!!) I get seriously overwhelmed with the amount I could/should be doing and feelings of guilt encroach. This is such an important piece of advice should you decide to blog. IT WILL TAKE OVER EVERY MINUTE OF YOUR LIFE IF YOU LET IT

But fear not #futurebloggers it’s a wonderful cosy feeling to be part of such a wonderful and exciting world.

There are so many positives to gain from becoming a blogger so go on…take that first step!!!!

Now this is the hard part…..selecting 15 Bloggers for the Blogger Recognition Award. There are so many wonderful bloggers each offering an exciting view into the books they have read as well as fab guest posts with authors and lot, lots more.

So aside from the two fantastic bloggers who nominated me……

My Chestnut Reading Tree ~ Joanne

Crime Book Junkie ~ Noelle

Chapter in My Life ~ Sharon

By the Letter Book Reviews ~ Sarah

Keeper of Pages ~ Janel

Random Things Through My Letterbox ~ Anne

Being Anne ~ Anne

Reflections of a Reader ~Leah

damppebbles ~ Emma

Bibliomanic ~ Katherine

Bloomin’ Brilliant Books ~ Abbie

My Reading Corner ~ Karen

Jill’s Book Cafe ~ Jill

Novel Gossip ~ Amy

The Book Review Cafe ~ Lorraine

So there you have it folks…

Blogging has been an amazing experience and one that I hope to continue as long as I love to read….looks like I’ll be around for awhile yet 🙂

There are so many amazing blogs out there covering wonderful topics from all over this mad world we live in. Dip in lads…have a peek….you might just find something you love.

Thank you all so much for your continued reading of my ramblings.

Love you all.

Mairead xx