Celebrate Books!

I can't help but excited around this time of year! It's like a Christmas for Book Bloggers! That's right, I'm talking about Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW)!

I love this year's theme, it's "CELEBRATE BOOKS" and I couldn't think of anything more fitting for me this year! Not only have I celebrated books in a BIG way, but I've also celebrated the authors that have helped me get through the toughest times of my life! Other than the wonderful authors , I have also met some very special new book bloggers this year and became closer to several of the book bloggers that I met when I first started blogging. It's these friendships that I treasure most. The authors, the books and the friends that come along with this blog are irreplaceable.

I am extremely lucky. I get to do what I love and share it with people that understand my love and my *escape*. Books have always been an important part of my life, an old friend, one I never want to lose. Their purpose has been more than a learning tool in my life. More than a way to get through school. They've been a journey of imagination, they've made it possible for me to see new places and meet new people and most of all when I felt SO alone with illness, they made me feel loved. I have friends and family all of whom I love very much. But when you feel like no one could possibly understand what you're going through, that you must be the only person in the world that has ever felt this way, and you pick up a book. The feeling, to me anyway, is instant gratification. The *comfort* I needed to go on.

So, to all of my new and old author and blogger friends, I thank you for understanding and for making this blog a FUN and exciting place to be. You're my online family and we have SO MUCH in common.

This year I not only want to celebrate books, but my promise will be to celebrate each and every one of you! I can't thank you enough. My words alone cannot express how I felt with each email, card, letter and heart-felt post. To all of you that cared about me, you and your kindness will not soon be forgotten.

This week I will be posting about blogs and bloggers that are close to me, the ones that have inspired me, and the blogs that I simply HAVE to visit daily! This will include old blogger friends and new.

I invite you to share the book blogger love with me this week and "CELEBRATE BOOKS"!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL MY BLOGGER FRIENDS THAT MADE THE SHORT-LIST!! NOW, GO DO YOUR PART AND VOTE!! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!


Kisses ~ XXX

*Saturday Spotlight ~ Meet Jessica*

Yes, I DO realize it's now SUNDAY! Sorry, I wasn't feeling well yesterday and didn't get around to posting this weeks "Saturday...err Sunday Spotlight" (name change only pertains to this week)... Anyway, I have a NEW Book Blogger for you this week and her name is JESSICA!

Let's find out a *Little Bit* more about Jessica and her book blog!

What's your Name (the one on your birth certificate)? Jessica

And your Alias (aka) ? Jess

Jess...what's your blog's name? Cover to Cover: One Twenty-Something’s Journey to Writing (and finishing) a Novel

*Cute Name...What's the URL for people that want to visit both you and your blog? http://jessicalawlor.blogspot.com/

Can you give us a quick bio about yourself? I’m Jess and I’m a twenty-one public relations student in Philadelphia. I’ve loved to read and write for as long as I can remember, and it’s always been my goal to publish a novel. In my free time, I love to read, write, attempt to cook, blog, and hang out with my friends. I absolutely love traveling and studied abroad in Rome this past summer.

Rome? How awesome! This Princess would love to leave the Castle... *sigh* But, there's just too much to do here!!

Why did you start your blog? I started my blog for 2 main reasons. *And those would be*?

1. I love to read, and am always looking for book suggestions. I did a few searches and found this whole world of book review blogs that I never knew existed. I decided I wanted an outlet to discuss the books I love.

2. It’s always been my goal to write a novel, but I can’t seem to make myself sit down and write. I figured creating a blog where I could discuss the process and converse with other bloggers would give me the inspiration I needed to get started.

What is your favorite genre and/or genres? I love chick lit. and young adult fiction.

Who is your favorite author? My favorite author is a toss-up between Sophie Kinsella and Jennifer Weiner. I love them both.

What's your favorite book of all time? My favorite book of all time is definitely Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner. It’s the perfect story of a broken girl who finds her way to independence and happiness.

Would you Please name & describe your blog features: Book reviews, writing tips, my writing journey, author interviews (hopefully soon!), book news, etc.

How about your review system: The system is on a scale from 1-5, 1 being the worst and 5 being the best.

How is your blog unique from other blogs? My blog is unique because along with reviewing books, I’m going to be discussing my own journey to writing a novel. It’s the best of both worlds.

How do you market your blog? My blog is fairly new, but so far I’ve joined Shelfari, and I’ve been commenting on other book review blogs.

Can you give us 3 tips about content? I think posting at least once a day is key. Find your own voice that makes you, you. Don’t just post reviews every day, mix it up with book news and author interviews.

Can you give us 3 tips about blog promotion? Comment, comment, comment…honestly, it’s the best way to find new readers. Bloggers appreciate when others read and enjoy their content, so let those bloggers know and hopefully they will check you out!

*Hopefully, they will!!* Thanks for being here Jessica and introducing yourself to the book blogging community!!

If YOU Would Like YOUR Blog Here In the Spotlight...

All you have to do is "Contact ME" and I'll Get Right Back To You

And Let You Know How!!

Kisses - XXX

*Opinions Wanted* and *Other Ramblings*

I've been a little confused lately and it has to do with many things. So, I'm going to turn to you, my readers for your opinions. After all, it's your opinions that matter (to me anyway). I'm thankful that you choose to read Park-Avenue Princess and without all of you... Well, I'd just be talking to myself...and to be quite honest, I do A LOT of that already. So, no need to really add to the dysfunction! (That's a post for another time...)

OK let me start of by saying that I am AMAZED that I have 300 followers! Again, I just noticed today and I have to give all of you a HUGE THANK YOU! Ironically, I also hit 300 Twitter Followers today SO that HUGE Giveaway I told you about is going to be a CELEBRATION of this! (But there's a little work involved in it too... I'll get to that in a minute). Seriously, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. This blog is MY VOICE to all of you and it's means of escape, friendship and fun for me. I appreciate each and every one of you! (I'll stop being sappy now...)

Next, I added TWO more book giveaways and there are MORE to list! This month's LIZZY BLEU contest will be added after this post so go to her shop, look to see what you'd like and SIGN UP!! It's ANOTHER ($50.00) Fifty Dollars YOUR WAY in her gorgeous jewelry!!!

(Thank YOU Lizzy Bleu)!!

Speaking of Giveaways, this is one of my concerns. Let me tell you why.
I also want you all to know that I am going to start doing CONTESTS and GIVEAWAYS on TWITTER! Not to mention make MAJOR Giveaway Announcements there! So, I recommend you FOLLOW ME there! It's not required for contest/giveaway entries though! OK?

TODAY is the LAST day to ENTER to WIN "113 Things To Do By 13" by Terri MacLeod and her daughter, Brittany! It's a FUN Book! The THREE Lucky Winners will be announced tomorrow and they will LOVE it!!

I have A LOT of giveaways and it's tough for me to wait for information. That's the hardest part, not getting information on time or having to draw another winner because of NO response. It also KILLS me because I know that person wants their prize AND if they are following, they're notified, they just aren't seeing it and I know first hand EMERGENCIES HAPPEN. So, to have someone miss out on a prize, I don't think is fair. But, I'm going to come-up with a giveaway policy that is going to be put into place permanently!

Another giveaway coming up is going to be for "PIGGY PAINT". Check out their website and look for that review and giveaway (Adorable stuff...I LOVE the Breast Cancer Set). I also have another Miche Bag to giveaway (because this one was SO popular, and the wonderful women at Barbar Hair Products are letting me try out *THIS* little gem and ONE of you will walk away with that $145.00 prize! Plus a few MORE Surprises Up my Sleeve...So, LOTS to look forward too!

Here's where I NEED your help. I wanted to add a little form for you to fill out like on the CONTACT PAGE. (Go ahead and hit the "Contact Me" button up top...I'll wait) Are you back? Good! Something like that but I was going to have you add your name, address (yes, home address), email and how you wanted to enter ... (ie +5 twitter, +5 Post, +10 Button...etc.). But, I KNOW there is going to be some of you that don't want to add your home address and it won't go through without it. It's going to say error and to fill in the necessary boxes. WHY do I want to do this...YOU'LL GET YOUR PRIZE & I won't have to wait for information...I'll have it. After each giveaway the addresses are erased. I DON'T WANT THEM FOR ANY OTHER REASON. As a matter of fact, you're going to have to enter them each and every time!! So, let me know what you think. Because, I'm going to have you post under each giveaway saying you want to be included and that you filled in the form. It's just going to simplify things. But if the majority say no...I'll leave it.

So PLEASE leave your feedback!

I'm also going to turn my blog into primarily the two genres I like best...THRILLERS and YA! I read everything, but I enjoy those two most of all. I just need to finish all the review books that I have that aren't either one! There will still be a little of everything just mainly those two.

Thanks for listinging to the PRINCESS PREACH her ROYAL RAMBLINGS... She's done now!

Stay tuned for the BIG GIVEAWAY Announcement...Sign up for "Cult Insanity" and "The Imposter's Daughter" below and I'll be back to see what you think!

Oh...One more thing...If ANYONE Is Interested In SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT, Please Contact Me! It's a Whole Lot of Fun!!

Kisses - XXX