Hallo-NaBlo-Versary.....Again

Does anyone remember this word from last year? It’s my very own special word I created just for this date. It represents 3 important things to me.

First part - Hallo. For Halloween, of course. So HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone. For those not celebrating, HAPPY MONDAY. 

I know some areas celebrated over the weekend with parties, walks, festivals, and lot of treats. Others may celebrate today. It’s just a great time to have fun and eat lots of good candy. Since this candy is consumed in honor of a holiday, there are no calories involved, right? This is important because it's a time adults can have fun like they did when they were kids and no one thinks it's crazy. We need more fun time in our lives.

Second part - NaBlo. Once again I participated in the NaBloWriMo challenge for October and today is the last day. I was fortunate enough to reach the goal of having a blog post for each day of the month. This, however, couldn’t have been done without the wonderful help of numerous authors who were kind enough to guest blog for me. 

If you haven’t read their posts this month, please browse back through and catch up on some interesting articles and a few giveaways that remain open. Thank you all again for helping me out this month.

Third part - Versary. Today I celebrate the second anniversary of Thoughts in Progress being in existence. Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed that I’d reach this mark. And reaching this mark was made possible by you, the wonderful friends who stop by each day, and the amazing authors willing to guest blog and talk about their craft. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU ALL so very much.

This year I wasn’t able to blog every day due to various reasons including the health issues my in-laws have faced. Here I must say another huge THANK YOU for all the love and support y’all have shown me through my mother-in-law’s hospitalization, recovery and now our daily journey with her Alzheimer’s Disease.

There are days I’m not able to stop by and visit everyone’s blog as I’d love to do, yet y’all continue to show your support for this blog. I appreciate that more than words can express.

That care, compassion and support has also been a huge comfort to me with the recent loss of our cat, Gum Drop. I will treasure your words and acts of kindness forever.

This past year has had it’s ups and downs for everyone throughout blogdom. I’m in awe of how we as a people come together to show our support and love for each other no matter how small or large the situation. I’m blessed to be a part of such a wonderful community of caring people.

Now let me try to give a brief history of how I came to blog for those who don’t know and as a way to say thanks (again) to 2 very special ladies.

A coffee addict, it was only natural I’d love reading THE COFFEEHOUSE MYSTERY series by wonderful author Cleo Coyle. Through her newsletter I was fortunate in 2009 to win an ARC copy of HOLIDAY GRIND (the first book I reviewed on this blog). At the time I only published reviews in the paper I worked for.

Corresponding with Cleo, I learned about the formation of the Mystery Lovers' Kitchen blog. I was clueless what a blog was. Cleo explained and encouraged me to try my hand at blogging as another way to share my reviews. With her help and advice, I posted my first blog entry on Oct. 31, 2009.

Cleo introduced me to another author who would be a part of the Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen team, the talented Elizabeth Spann Craig. Elizabeth has been amazing in so many ways. She’s given help, advice and encouragement with my blogging. She was my first follower. She was there when I had questions about Facebook and also helped and encouraged when I ventured into Twitter. It’s my understanding she has been a guiding force for many newcomers to blogdom.

These 2 fascinating authors were my first introduction into the wonderful world of blogging. They took time from their busy schedules to help someone who was not an author, but a mere reader and opened a whole new world for me. I am so thankful for their support.

Now I know this is getting lengthy, but I just want to say, no stress again, how thankful I am for having ‘meet’ all of you wonderful people. I am truly blessed for the friendship of each and every one of you. Thank you - authors, bloggers, book publishers, book promoters, readers, everyone - for making Thoughts in Progress what it is.

I can’t say it enough,

 
* BTW, Elizabeth (also known as Riley Adams) has a new book out tomorrow -- HICKORY SMOKED HOMICIDE, A Memphis BBQ Mystery -- featuring the lovable protagonist Lulu Taylor. Don't miss it.