In Which I do the Earnest/Awkward Thing Again + BBAW Giveaway the Second

So, some two years and a half ago, when I first sat down to start doing This Thing in Which I Blab About Books on the Internet in the Hope that Someone Will Come By and Talk to Me About Them Because Sadly Nobody I Know IRL Seems Inclined to Do So, I had no idea what I was doing. I'm not the most confident person, and there were a few moments where I nearly panicked and went to find a hole to hide in, because what was I doing? Writing about books? In a foreign language?! Somewhere where anyone could read it?!?

Two years and a half later, I still don't feel that I know what I'm doing, but at least I no longer panic on a daily basis, and it's because of you. And not because you've made me feel appreciated, even though you very much have. If I feel a bit more confident, it's because of everything I've learned from you, my fellow bloggers. You've taught me to ask more questions, to strive to articulate my thoughts better, to engage with ideas even if they make me uncomfortable: to be a better reader and a better writer. And the best thing of all? Thanks to all of this, I've learned to appreciate books even more. I didn't think this was possible, but it turns out it was.

I've always taken awards with a grain of salt, and BBAW is no exception: no award should be seen as the ultimate proof of quality, and if someone were to ask if the results of the voting didn't owe something to name recognition within a group, I'd say that was a very fair question. But. This week has meant something to me, and it has meant something to others too. Not just because of the awards - definitely not just because of the awards. But because we've all been having fun and connecting with others, and I really think that was the goal.

It still surprises me that there are people who actually read my musings on books, and it surprises me even more that they listen, but I feel like I'm part of something now, and that means the world to me. And because I'm really thankful to all the people who continue to teach me how to be a better blogger and a better reader, let me point you towards some of them. These are some of my reviewing heroes: they may not even know they've helped me (I stalk some of them sort of quietly) but they really have: A Striped Armchair, YA Fabulous, Raging Bibliomania, third-storey window, Stella Matutina, Musings of a Bookish Kitty, Tales From the Reading Room, Nonsuch Book, Jenny's Books. And Dewey. Always Dewey.

Visit these people: they have intelligent things to say, and they know how to say them. This whole thing sounds ridiculously like an acceptance speech, doesn't it? That is not how I meant it, though. I promise!

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Moving on: When I'm not reading, blabbing about books on the internet, or being awkward and socially inept, I like to make things. And one of the things I like to make is bookmarks. I also like inflicting my creations on people, and this is where you come in. Here's a picture of the last batch I made:

Things that I'm not: A Good Photographer. Also, click to enlarge

If you're interested in a set of my homemade bookmarks, just leave me a comment describing your favourite bookmark. Or better yet, link to a picture! If you don't have a favourite bookmark, you can tell me what you usually mark your books with. I promise I'll still enter you in the giveaway even if you're a dog-earer. I'll draw two winners on Sunday and they'll each get a set of two bookmarks. Good luck!