Exciting eBook Updates & Blogiversary Giveaway Winners
So, I pretty much had a permanent grin slapped on my silly ‘ole face starting last Friday and lasting an entire week thanks to you rascals and the barrage of love you poured on me through your Second Blogiversary comments. Seriously, y’all are too much!
I wish I could give each and every one of you a gorilla hug and then secretly leave a plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies on your doorstep to surprise you when you get home. In this hypothetical scenario, no wild critters (or unruly neighbors) would get to them before you would…and they would still be warm when you sink your teeth into them. (Oh my…now I’m getting hungry!)
Bottom line: I’m feeling incredibly blessed and humbled to have you dear ones along with me for my blogging journey. Somehow la creme de la creme found their way into The Thinking Closet…and while I don’t always feel like I deserve you, I will accept it as a gift.
Speaking of gifts…
Ahhhhh! Friends, I have to tell you about my eBook! Which I’ve been dreaming about since my First Blogiversary a year ago. Were you one of the gems who filled out my survey to give me your clever ideas of what to write about? If so, thank you! And more cookies for you!
Well, I have some exciting updates on the eBook front including an invitation for you all. But before I open that can of worms, we have some important business to attend to.
I know you are all chomping at the bit to find out who the 10 lucky winners of the 10 sweet prizes were in my Second Blogiversary Giveaway. As well you should be! Those were some incredible prizes from some incredible sponsors, no?
In fact, let’s quickly review the goodies that were up for grabs:
The 10 Prizes
Seriously, if you want to get your holiday shopping done early, you’re going to want to visit my stellar sponsors’ shops and sites. They’ve got the goods!
Stephanie Corfee | Vintage Rose Wraps
Borsa Bella Design Co. | noVae Clothing
Stella & Dot by Kelly Wenzel | Pick Your Plum
Building a Framework by Abby Lawson
The 10 Winners
After hitting “add a winner” 10 times over (which brought me great joy), I’m thrilled to announce this happy throng and their 10 prizes as chosen by Rafflectopter and powered by random.org:
Congrats terrific ten! I’ve already reached out to you via email, and you will receive contact from your prize sponsor soon, so keep an eye out!
And now…the promised exciting eBook updates (3 of them, in fact!):
eBook Updates
First: the topic! What’s this here eBook going to be about?
Well, it’s something I’m passionate about and consider one of my love languages. It’s also something that many of you have expressed frustrations with, and conquering those frustrations is exactly what this eBook is going to address.
Any guesses?
My eBook topic is…
Not much of a surprise, I know, considering that half of the projects you see here are related to gifts. Sometimes, I like be unpredictably predictable. {Smile.}
I’m still searching for the perfect title and tagline, but I feel like I’m getting close thanks to some of our discussions on Facebook (like this one and this one). You all have really helped narrow my focus because now I know your three biggest struggles when it comes to gift-giving:
- time
- budget
- ideas for meaningful gifts
And so, I’m setting out to address those three main struggles on the eBook pages I am drafting. Because they are conquerable, my friend. Oh yes, they are!
{UPDATE: I announced my eBook title and shared my cover art on October 20th! Check ’em out HERE.}
Now, when can we expect the eBook to hit the virtual shelves?
Save the date month, friends!
You know as well as I do that we’re going to blink, and November will be here! But I have a game plan, and I’m determined to conquer this eBook before the year’s end. Come what may.
And since mapping out a timeline for myself during my coffee shop stint last week, well, it’s feeling do-able.
I’ll be sure to announce the finalized launch date as soon as it’s settled. {UPDATE: It’s settled! See the launch date HERE.}
The Most Exciting of Updates
Okay, now the third and final update, is the most exciting update of all! And that’s because it relates directly to you, dear reader.
I want to extend an invitation to each and every one of you to join a club.
No, not a fitness club (although the idea of us all doing Kangoo aerobics together would be uh-mazing).
No, not a Babysitter’s Club (raise your hand if you made your own Kid Kits, though!).
Here’s the club I want to invite you to join:
Yay! But what exactly is the eBook Insiders Club? you ask.
Well, I’m gonna tell ya!
If you sign up, you’ll be added to special email list just for Insiders where you’ll get periodic updates from yours truly, some of which will include:
- FREE versions of the eBook before it launches
- sample cover art on which to cast your vote {UPDATE: see what the Insiders picked HERE!}
- short surveys to provide me with helpful feedback
- more fun and exciting goodies soon-to-be-revealed
So, if you are interested in getting sneak peeks of my eBook before November and want to help a sister out by offering valuable feedback on some of my most burning eBook questions…well, then, this club is for you.
I promise not to spam you, and of course, you can unsubscribe at any time. No problem-o.
{UPDATE: The Insiders Club is temporarily closed for new members since we are so close to launch! Check back in on November 17th to see how you can join up.}
But in my heart of hearts, I really feel like the eBook Insiders Club is going to be an important catalyst in helping my self-publishing dreams become a reality. Because if my Second Blogiversary has taught me anything, it’s that I am supported by an incredible community of readers, and I’d be foolish not to utilize you all as a resource. After all, it is for you that I am writing this eBook!
I am confident that together, we can create something of great significance.
Live long and prosper,
Awesome! I signed up. And thank you so much for the giveaway prize!
Yay! Thanks for signing up; and you are so welcome. I hope you enjoy it!
Lauren! Firstly my lovely, A massive happy 2nd Blogiversary! Holy Moly that’s just fabulous! And even though I don’t always have the time (darn that schedule!) to comment, I read and absorb each and every post you write with excitement and wide-eyed inspiration! not to mention this super exciting Ebook!! Is there anything you cant do!? how do you do it all!? you are amazing, you lovely super crafty girly you! Well done and I am super duper excited to be along for the ride 🙂 Thank you 🙂
Aw, thanks so much, Rachel! And that excitement and wide-eyed inspiration means the world to me. Seriously, thank you for your support! THAT’S what really motivates me to keep pressing on when I feel discouraged or like the plates I’m juggling are about to come crashing to the floor. Hugs coming your way, my friend across the pond!
I am SO excited to have been picked to receive one of the prizes! Thank you!
I subscribed to be part of your ebook insiders club. Thanks for asking! What fun it will be to be part of the creative process with you.
And, I can almost smell those chocolate chip cookies that even now may be waiting at my back door! 🙂 (That chocolate mufffin looks delish, too!)
Congrats on the win, thanks for subscribing, and so glad you received my virtual cookie gift, too!
Sa-weeeet news Lauren!! I am stoked to know I can set aside a cool evening in November to make a mug of hot cocoa and snuggle up with your e-book for the night!! I just know it’s gonna be fantastic!! And just in time for the holidays!! You go, sweet friend!!!
Thanks for the cheers along the way, Candace! I truly wouldn’t be where I am with it right now if it hadn’t been for you, all of your encouragement, and verbal processing over the phone! #ittakesavillagetowriteanEbook
An e-book?! That’s so awesome, Lauren : ] Can’t wait to see it!
Thanks, Jennifer! It’s been a dream of mine to be published ever since I was a girl…and as soon as I learned about e-publishing, I knew I had to try it. Thanks for getting excited about it along with me, friend!
Congrats to all 10 winners and to you, too, my dear – on 2 years of blogging-fantastic and the upcoming ebook. I was all set to email asking how I can help promote it and then bam! you have a group all ready – I’m joining in – yay! I can hardly wait!
You are such a rockstar supporter, Linda! Thanks for all the help and support you’ve offered me already. It means THE WORLD to me. Hugs!
Sooooooooo much friggin excitement! Gaaaa I cannot wait for your book. November needs to get here already!
Yay! Your comment made me smile so wide, Johanna. But November can take its time getting here, thankyouverymuch. 😉 Still so much to do before then! Ha ha. 😉
Only for you would I dream of adding one. more. thing. to my inbox! I’m SO excited for you and I can’t wait to follow along!! XO XO
Christy, I KNOW how overwhelming an overcrowded inbox can be, so your subscription is not one I take lightly, friend. 😉 Thanks for your support! And for your excitement! #feelingsoblessed
WooHoo! Thank you so much for allowing me to win on your 2nd Blogiversary! I also signed up(of course) and am so excited for your ebook. I love giving gifts to others and for all different occasions, sometimes just because. 🙂
WooHoo back atcha! So excited for you, Vicki; I know you’re going to love your Stephanie Corfee goodies. Did you see the sneak peek of your prints that Stephanie posted on Facebook? Got me so giddy for you!
And thanks for joining the Insiders Club! It’s true – – “just because” gifts are some of the best!
Signed up! I need all the help with gift giving that I can get. Will you share tid bits about writing an ebook too? I’d love to hear more about that as well! Have a great weekend 🙂
Yes, Emily! I’ve been keeping track of all of my favorite eBook resources along the way, so after I launch, I’ll be sure to share a post or series on how I went about it all…maybe even share it with the Insiders first! Thanks for signing up, friend. Happy Thursday!
Super excited about your eBook!!! 😀
Thanks, friend! Super excited about those twins of yours! 😉
Just signed up to be part of the insider’s club (that sounds so fancy)! I need all the help I can get (gift-giving related or otherwise). 🙂
“I’m so fancy…you already know!” (Sorry, I couldn’t resist myself when I read your sweet comment, Christine!) Thanks for signing up to join The Insiders Club! Happy to have you along for the ride.
Yay!!! Now my Kindle with have a pretty home with the Borsa Bella GC!!! Thanks so much Lauren and Borsa Bella
Oh, you are going to LOVE it, Michelle! About to tuck my lappy in my Borsa Bella laptop bag and head out to a coffee shop RIGHT NOW.
I’m so excited for you! Of course I signed up : ) Congratulations!!!
Aw, thank you, Jeanie! You’re a gem and a half. Sending you a warm hug!
YAY to ALL these fabulous updates! I’m so excited for your Ebook , I know it’s going to be great 🙂
I appreciate the vote of confidence, my friend! You are a great cheerleader in all things Annie Sloan and eBook!
OMG!!! I am so happy to be a winner and want to say thank you again for the chance to win this awesome prize!!!
Also signed up for the e-book updates. Sounds so exciting. Congratulations!!!
So thrilled for you, Bethany! I know Abby’s eBook is going to be an incredible resource for you as it has been for me and so many others. And thanks for signing up to join The Club! Yay!
I’m signed up. And excited. And everything.
(And remembered that I am far from finishing my book… sadface!)
Hugs!!
One thing at a time, Elena. You’ll get there! I know it! (And hopefully I can share with you my eBook tips and tricks to help you in your own writing process; although I’ll wait until I actually FINISH it to share what I’ve learned. Still in the thick of it right now!) Thanks for your excitement and support, friend!