Jo Linsdell

Blogtober Wrap Up

As you may know, I took part in the Blogtober challenge in October. The goal was to post a blog post everyday of the month. 31 posts in 31 days.

I failed, and I'm OK with that.

I posted a total of 28 blog posts in October, and had my second highest traffic month ever to my website since I created it.

Why I failed

This basically comes done to the fact that I didn't plan ahead, and life got in the way.

Sports season is now fully underway and that means that my kids are training everyday, and have competitions most weekends.

As I mentioned in my BYOBthon update for week 3, my youngest won gold in the Italian Jiu Jitsu Championships (GI) on 21st October. He also won all his matches at the Italian Jiu Jitsu Championships (NO GI) on 4th November, and brought home yet another gold medal. Yes I am very proud of him 😍

My eldest made his debut with the Italian Swimming Federation (FIN) last weekend competing in the 100m breaststroke race for Trofeo Lanzi. He didn't qualify for the finals but he did an amazing job and is looking forward to the next opportunity to put himself to the test.

When I decided to do the challenge I didn't plan ahead. This was largely due to the fact that I decided to take part just a few days before it started.

Lesson learnt 1: Consistent posting needs an organised schedule. Things come up and you might not be able to get on your computer. This is why it's a good idea to set up at least some of your blog posts in advance.

Whilst I did get a nice increase in traffic to my website during the challenge, I know I could have done better.

I didn't fully leverage the opportunity to connect with others during the challenge, and I didn't make good use of the hashtag #Blogtober.

Lesson Learnt 2: Be more active with the community. A huge part of what makes events like Blogtober such a powerful way to grow your website/blog is the opportunity it provides to reach out to others. This is why you should connect using the hashtag during these challenges. It also lets others know you're participating so they can reach out to you too.

So what now?

BlogMas that's what!

BlogMas is a challenge, much like Blogtober, where the goal is to post a blog post everyday in December.

Given that November has been a slow month for me content wise here, and taking into account my results from doing Blogtober, BlogMas sounds like a great idea.

I want to finish this year on a high, and prove to myself that I can do better by taking into consideration the things I learnt from "failing" Blogtober.

Time to Prep

I'll be taking a more organised approach to BlogMas and scheduling as many posts in advance as possible (see lesson 1 above).

I'll also be setting up some social media posts in advance using the challenge hashtag #BlogMas (see lesson 2) to make sure I do a better job of promoting my participation.

Did you do Blogtober? Did you succeed or fail in your goal?

Planning on taking part in BlogMas this year?

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2019 Releases I Can't Wait To Read

2018 was a good year for books. I read some truly awesome books this year. I discovered new authors, officially joined the Percy Jackson fandom, and got back in touch with some of my favourite authors works.

2019 is now just around the corner though, and with it more fantastic books to dive into.

Here's a few of the books I can't wait to read in 2019:

I Owe You One A Novel by Sophie Kinsella

Pub Date 05 Feb 2019

Description

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, an irresistible story of love and empowerment about a young woman with a complicated family, a handsome man who might be “the one,” and an IOU that changes everything

“This book is a shot of pure joy!”—Jenny Colgan, author of The Bookshop on the Corner

Fixie Farr has always lived by her father’s motto: “Family first.” And since her dad passed away, leaving his charming housewares store in the hands of his wife and children, Fixie spends all her time picking up the slack from her siblings instead of striking out on her own. The way Fixie sees it, if she doesn’t take care of her father’s legacy, who will?

It’s simply not in Fixie’s nature to say no to people. So when a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to watch his laptop for a moment, she not only agrees—she ends up saving it from certain disaster. To thank Fixie for her quick thinking, the computer’s owner, Sebastian, an investment manager, scribbles an IOU on a coffee sleeve and attaches his business card. Fixie laughs it off—she’d never actually claim an IOU from a stranger. Would she?

But then Fixie’s childhood crush, Ryan, comes back into her life, and his lack of a profession pushes all of Fixie’s buttons. As always, she wants nothing for herself—but she’d love Seb to give Ryan a job. No sooner has Seb agreed than the tables are turned once more and a new series of IOUs between Seb and Fixie—from small favors to life-changing moments—ensues. Soon Fixie, Ms. Fixit for everyone else, is torn between her family and the life she really wants. Does she have the courage to take a stand? Will she finally grab the life, and love, she really wants?

Immoral Code by Lillian Clark

Pub Date 19 Feb 2019

Description

Ocean's 8 meets The Breakfast Club in this fast-paced, multi-perspective story about five teens determined to hack into one billionaire absentee father's company to steal tuition money.

For Nari, aka Narioka Diane, aka hacker digital alter ego "d0l0s," it's college and then a career at "one of the big ones," like Google or Apple. Keagan, her sweet, sensitive boyfriend, is happy to follow her wherever she may lead. Reese is an ace/aro visual artist with plans to travel the world. Santiago is off to Stanford on a diving scholarship, with very real Olympic hopes. And Bellamy? Physics genius Bellamy is admitted to MIT--but the student loan she'd been counting on is denied when it turns out her estranged father--one Robert Foster--is loaded.

Nari isn't about to let her friend's dreams be squashed by a deadbeat billionaire, so she hatches a plan to steal just enough from Foster to allow Bellamy to achieve her goals. Fast-paced and banter-filled, Lillian Clark's debut is a hilarious and thought-provoking Robin Hood story for the 21st century.

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay

Pub Date 14 May 2019

Description

Love, friendship, and family find a home at the Printed Letter Bookshop.

One of Madeline Cullen’s happiest childhood memories is of working with her Aunt Maddie in the quaint and cozy Printed Letter Bookshop. But by the time Madeline inherits the shop nearly twenty years later, family troubles and her own bitter losses have hardened her heart toward her once-treasured aunt—and the now struggling bookshop left in her care.

While Madeline intends to sell the shop as quickly as possible, the Printed Letter’s two employees have other ideas. Reeling from a recent divorce, Janet finds sanctuary within the books and within the decadent window displays she creates. Claire, though quieter than the acerbic Janet, feels equally drawn to the daily rhythms of the shop and its loyal clientele, finding a renewed purpose within its walls. When Madeline’s professional life takes an unexpected turn, and a handsome gardener upends all her preconceived notions, she questions her plans and her heart. She begins to envision a new path for herself and her aunt’s beloved shop—provided the women’s best combined efforts are not too little, too late.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is a captivating story of good books, a testament to the beauty of new beginnings, and a sweet reminder of the power of friendship.

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

Pub Date 08 Jan 2019

Description

The New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying is back with an all-new, page-turning mystery perfect for fans of Riverdale!

Echo Ridge is small-town America. Ellery's never been there, but she's heard all about it. Her aunt went missing there at age seventeen. And only five years ago, a homecoming queen put the town on the map when she was killed. Now Ellery has to move there to live with a grandmother she barely knows.

The town is picture-perfect, but it's hiding secrets. And before school even begins for Ellery, someone has declared open season on homecoming, promising to make it as dangerous as it was five years ago. Then, almost as if to prove it, another girl goes missing.

Ellery knows all about secrets. Her mother has them; her grandmother does too. And the longer she's in Echo Ridge, the clearer it becomes that everyone there is hiding something. The thing is, secrets are dangerous--and most people aren't good at keeping them. Which is why in Echo Ridge, it's safest to keep your secrets to yourself.

Say You're Sorry by Karen Rose

Pub Date 12 Feb 2019

Description

Introducing the first book in the new pulse-pounding Sacramento series from New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose.

There is a serial killer on the loose, preying on vulnerable women. The only identifiable mark the killer leaves are letters—sometimes one, sometimes two—all carved into the torsos of his victims. Together they spell “Sydney.”

When he grabs Daisy Dawson, he believes he has found his next victim. But despite her small stature, she fights back with an expertise that quickly frees her. Before fleeing the scene, Daisy also manages to grab what proves to be crucial evidence: a necklace from around the killer’s neck.

The necklace is more than a trivial item—it is a link to a cold case that Special Agent Gideon Reynolds has been tracking for seventeen years. With Daisy’s help, Gideon finally has the opportunity to get closer to the truth than ever before.

But they might not get the chance, as the serial killer has a new target: Gideon and Daisy.

What books are you looking forward to reading in 2019?

I love to find out what other book bloggers are reading, and what they thought of books. I've discovered some awesome reads by checking out book blogs and reading reviews. This is why I like to do these round up posts to showcase the books that other book bloggers rated highly.

It also gives me the chance to spread the love to the book blogging community. I love how supportive everyone is and this is just a little way I can give back.

So here we go, prepare yourself to add more books to your TBR...

Recommended Reads by Book Bloggers

@robdog60 recommends The Warning by Kathryn Croft

Recommended Reads Selected by Book Bloggers

About the book:

My little boy’s room was empty, his bed neatly made. Alarm bells should have rung immediately. Then the knock on the door came. All I remember is a thick fog wrapping itself tightly around me. This couldn’t be happening to us.

Three years ago, nurse Zoe's son Ethan was found drowned in a muddy river by their home, along with his best friend Josh. With no witnesses, their deaths were ruled a tragic accident.

Heartbroken, Zoe and her family, move away from her home. They’re just beginning to get back to some kind of normality, when, out of the blue, Zoe receives an anonymous email:

You need to find out the truth about what happened to your son. Don’t let this rest. Don’t believe the lie.

Shaken, Zoe starts an obsessive hunt for the truth. But why is her husband so reluctant to help?
And why is Josh’s mother so determined not to believe her?

An absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller about a mother’s desperate search for the truth. Fans of The Girl on the Train, and Gone Girl will be hooked from the very first page.

Check out the review at: http://www.robinlovesreading.com/2018/10/blog-blitz-warning.html

@EntertaininglyN recommends The Forgotten Child by Melissa Erin Jackson

About the book:

Ever since Riley Thomas, reluctant medium extraordinaire, accidentally released a malevolent spirit from a Ouija board when she was thirteen, she’s taken a hard pass on scary movies, haunted houses, and cemeteries. So when her best friend pressures her into spending a paranormal investigation weekend at the infamous Jordanville Ranch—former home of deceased serial killer Orin Jacobs—Riley is one-hundred-percent not ready.

Shortly after their arrival at the ranch, the spirit of a little boy contacts Riley; a child who went missing—and was never found—in 1973.

In order to put the young boy’s spirit to rest, she has to come to grips with her ability. But how can she solve a mystery that happened a decade before she was born? Especially when someone who knows Orin’s secrets wants to keep the truth buried—no matter the cost.

Check out the review at: https://entertaininglynerdy.com/paranormal-mystery/#more-443

@LiteraryElf recommends Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak

About the book:

THE EPIC NEW NOVEL FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE BOOK THIEF

'If The Book Thief was a novel that allowed Death to steal the show... [its] brilliantly illuminated follow-up is affirmatively full of life.' Guardian

'This is a tale of love, art and redemption; rowdy and joyous.' Times

'Bridge of Clay is one of those monumental books that can draw you across space and time' Washington Post

Here is a story told inside out and back to front

Five Dunbar brothers are living – fighting, loving, grieving – in the perfect chaos of a house without grown-ups. Today, the father who left them has just walked right back in.
He has a surprising request: Who will build a bridge with him?

It is Clay, a boy tormented by a long-buried secret, who accepts. But why is Clay so broken? And why must he fulfil this extraordinary challenge?

Bridge of Clay is about a boy caught in a current, a boy intent on destroying everything he has in order to become everything he needs to be. Ahead of him lies the bridge, the vision that will save both his family and himself.

It will be a miracle and nothing less.

At once an existential riddle and a search for redemption, this tale of five brothers coming of age in a house with no rules brims with energy, joy and pathos. Written in Markus Zusak's distinctive style, it is a tour de force from a master storyteller of the heart.

Check out the review at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2563010871

@Chrikaru recommends Ascension by Victor Dixen

About the book:

'This thrilling space odyssey will keep you turning pages late into the night' C. J. Daugherty, author of NIGHT SCHOOL

Six girls, six boys. Each in the two separate bays of a single spaceship. They have six minutes each week to seduce and to make their choices, under the unblinking eye of the on-board cameras. They are the contenders in the Genesis programme, the world's craziest speed-dating show ever, aimed at creating the first human colony on Mars.

Leonor, an 18 year old orphan, is one of the chosen ones.
She has signed up for glory.
She has signed up for love.
She has signed up for a one-way ticket.
Even if the dream turns to a nightmare, it is too late for regrets.

Check out the review at: https://chrikarublog.wordpress.com/2018/06/19/book-review-ascension/

@theartsyreader1 recommends A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

About the book:

A companion tale to Sarah J. Maas's #1 New York Times bestselling A Court of Thorns and Rosesseries that takes place several months after the explosive events of A Court of Wings and Ruin

Told from the perspectives of Feyre, Rhys and other key characters, this story bridges the events in A Court of Wings and Ruin and the upcoming novels in the series.
Feyre, Rhys and their companions are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it a hard-earned reprieve. Yet even the festive atmosphere can't keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated – scars that will have a far-reaching impact on the future of their court.

Check out the review at: http://theartsyreader.com/book-review-a-court-of-frost-and-starlight-sarah-j-maas/

Have you read any of these? Which ones will you be adding to your TBR?

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On My Shelf

On My Shelf is a series to showcase some of the books that are sat on my shelves. Each Sunday I randomly pick a book from my shelves to show you. Some will be books that are on my TBR, others will be books I've read in the past but that deserve a little love.

This week's pick

This week I picked The Prophet by Ethan Cross

OLD ENEMIES

Francis Ackerman is America’s most terrifying serial killer. Brutal and cunning, he is ready to take his evil games to a new level.

NEW THREATS

Special Agent Marcus Williams cannot shake Ackerman from his mind. Yet now he must focus on catching the Anarchist, a new killer who abducts women before burning them alive.

HIDDEN TERRORS

The Anarchist will strike again soon. And Ackerman is still free. But even worse than this is a mysterious figure, unknown to the authorities - and his plans are more terrible than anyone imagines.

US: https://amzn.to/2C2zq3X

UK: https://amzn.to/2OROYyY

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On My Shelf: Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

On My Shelf: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

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I love learning new things and sharing them with you so, for today's post I'm going to show you a little trick I picked up this week that will improve your video branding and make your YouTube videos look more professional.

How To Add a Logo To Your YouTube videos

This week I added my own logo so it now shows on all my videos uploaded to my YouTube channel. I learnt this little gem by doing a quick search on Google and visiting their help page.

You can use a branding watermark to embed your channel logo across all videos on your channel. When you add a watermark, viewers can directly subscribe to your channel if they hover over the watermark when using YouTube on a computer. It won't show to users who are already subscribed to your channel.

How to add your branding watermark

- Sign in to YouTube.
- Go to Creator Studio by clicking your account icon > Creator Studio.

- In the left menu, select > Settings