Hi gang! So today is a big day for me here at Joyfully Jay. It is our five year blogiversary!
I’ll be honest, I never quite expected this when I set out to start a blog five years ago. I actually hadn’t intended Joyfully Jay to be a review blog at all. Which is why I gave it a name that has nothing about books. Sigh. I figured it would be a place for me to babble on about all sorts of things. But from the start I was reviewing books, and I pretty much never stopped. Before I knew it I had some fabulous authors who were willing to stop by, reviewers who came on board, and publishers who were sending me books to read. And before I knew it, I had a full fledged book blog!
I know I have been lucky over the years. I had some wonderful authors and publishers who took a chance on me when I was a baby book blogger and had no real idea what I was doing. I will forever be grateful to Marie Sexton, who sent me my first review book and L.A. Witt who came on my blog about 50 times in the early months when I am not sure she was getting much out of the experience, but I was gaining much from her involvement. And to Riptide Publishing who was opening their doors around the same time and started sending me books and setting me up with blog tours with their authors. And of course to the many MANY incredible authors and publishers who have been so generous with their time, support, and books over the years.
I have also been incredibly lucky to have so many fabulous reviewers walk through my doors. Obviously I couldn’t even begin to run a blog of this size without other people doing some of the reading. I know it may seem like it is a glory job, but being a reviewer is A LOT of work and these folks give me so much of their time and energy, I can’t ever begin to repay them. Yes, they get review books for free, but that is a drop in the bucket compared to the time and love they put into their reviews. I have had a lot of different reviewers over the years, but I have to say, they are among the most awesomely dedicated folks out there (especially to put up with my crazy) and I am so lucky to have them.
This crazy job has been wonderful in helping me meet more of the romance community. I love getting to talk to readers online and meet readers and authors at conferences and events. It is so much fun to be a part of this community that I love, and I so appreciate all of my readers who take the time to stop by the blog, read our reviews, leave comments, chat with me online, and just generally support the blog in so many ways. I really couldn’t do it without you all and you are what makes this experience so much fun!
So there is my sentimental, sappy blogiversary post. With all the crazy going on for Reading Challenge Month, I am keeping things low key this year, but I just wanted to take a moment to share my thoughts and thank everyone for making this an amazing five years! XXOOO
Well, happy anniversary dear Jay 🙂
Thank you so much!!!
Happy anniversary!
Yours is one of my few daily (multiple times a day!) stops to see whats going on and I’ve got lots of books on the back of your reviews
Thank you so much! That makes me so happy!
Happy anniversary! *tosses celebratory confetti*
Thanks Shae!
Happy Anniversary!
Thanks Jen!
Congratulations! Of course you deserve all of the success that has come your way. I feel fortunate to have been a part of your blog family for nearly half your journey and look forward to “putting up with you” (as if-your words not mine) for more years to come. Cheers!
Thanks so much Michelle! I love having you part of the blog team and couldn’t do it without you guys!
Congratulations! Thanks for running an awesome blog and for all the support you give to the m/m romance community as well as to me as an author and podcaster. Most of all, I’m glad I know you and can call you friend.
Aw, thanks so much Jeff! And I love calling you a friend as well!
Happy anniversary, Jay! As an author and a reader, I love your blog for its professionalism, organization, and passion. Thanks to you and your reviewers for all you do!
Thanks so much Keira, I really appreciate it! And thanks for being such a great supporter of the blog!
Happy Blogiversary! I love reading your blog. Thank you for all you do. 🙂
Thanks so much!
Happy Blogiversary, Jay! I can’t believe it’s been so long (for both of us!) but it’s been so much fun to watch and read along with you. ?
I know! Ah, it all started with Riot Boy! I still remember how excited I was to meet you after reading it!
Lol and I had no idea what I was doing and felt really shy at that first event! You made me feel welcome <333
Happy Blogiversary! I love your blog!! Keep up the amazing work you do for the authors and readers!
Thanks Suzanne! I so appreciate you stopping by!
Happy Anniversary! ^_^
Thanks Veronica!
I’m a reader of all manner of romances, and I enjoy your blog a great deal. Happy 5th anniversary, Jay!
Thanks Kareni! I always appreciate you stopping by and love reading all your comments!
Congrats JJ and thank you so much for all the hard work you do! I feel so lucky to be able to be apart of your success for the past 2 and a half (or so) years and look forward to doing even more. 🙂
Thanks so much Kris! I so appreciate all your reviews! Plus, I love talking to you about knitting and everything else! Thanks for being an amazing reviewer and great friend!
Congratulations and a happy five year blogiversary. I love spending time on Joyfully Jay and reading the interviews, guest posts, giveaway’s and reviews. You and your team are doing a fabulous job and i wish you many more blogiversary to come 🙂
Thank you so much Angela! I appreciate all your support!
Wow congratulations on your fifth Anniversary Jay I visit every day and I enjoy all the posts so here’s to many more Anniversaries!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate all your support!
Happy anniversary, and many more to come *hugs*
All the congrats to you on the big 5, Jay!! Â Joyfully Jay is one of my favorite blogs. Â Truly appreciate all that you do. Â <3
Thanks so much Jen! And I so appreciate you reading and your support!
*throws confetti* Happy Anniversary!
Thanks Lisa!
Congrats on your five years and Happy Blogiversary!!
It has been wonderful to see the blog grow and to keep going with wonderful reviews!!
Thanks Kassandra! I appreciate all your support!
Happy anniversary! Thank you for making this such a wonderful place to visit. 🙂 To many more years!
Thanks so much Carolyn! Thanks for all your support over the years!
Happy Anniversary!!! A year or 2 ago I followed scads of book blogs and it got to be TOO MUCH so I dropped out of all of them except yours and one other. I’ve never regretted my choice because yours is really the best. 🙂
Aw that is so lovely to hear! I truly appreciate it! Thanks for all your comments and support!
I don’t remember how I first found Joyfully Jay or how long ago that was (well, obviously less than 5 years ago) but I was just so chuffed to have a resource to scrounge around for M/M books to feed my inner ReadBeast (the recommendations on Amazon get so fluffing repetative!)
Thank you for all the work that goes into organizing such a massive site and making it fun for readers and reviewers a like! Here’s to another five years! (But hopefully a whole lot more!)
Thank you so much! And thanks for all your help and support for the blog!
Woah, five years is a huge! Congrats and Happy 5th Anniversary =D
Thanks HB! And thanks for your long readership!
Happy anniversary! I’ve always enjoyed your blog so much. Thank you for all you do!
Thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoy the blog!
Congratulations! Five years is a lot of time… I love this blog, so I hope there is many more to come… 😉
Thank you so much Susana! I appreciate it!
In a blogosphere where sites come and go, I’m so very glad that you’re here! The blog is always a happy place for me…
Thank you so much Trix! I appreciate all your support!
Hi Jay, happy anniversary! Thank you for all the hard work with this wonderful blog. I want to introduce myself briefly. I think I found your blog 2 or 3 years ago but I never participated. Actually I never ever participated at all in anything the internat has to offer. I’m living in germany and english is only my third language so it is a bit difficult for me to write properly. But I read a ton of books, mostly with LGBTQ background, and every single one in english. So, my time has come and I want to give it a try with your reading-challenge-month. My special challenge is to write something, anything, in english. Thank you so much for this opportunity 🙂
Hi Cynthia! Lovely to meet you and thanks for taking the time to say hello! Your English looks great to me! I am impressed it is your third language.
I am so glad you are going to participate in Reading Challenge Month. And I am glad to hear you enjoy the blog!