Well, folks, it’s been a year of blogging!
To celebrate I’m sharing my stats and having a contest.
211 posts
282 subscribers
810 views on my top day, in April 2009. (this was a combination of linkage to my Top 10 Signs You Are Reading Too Much Historical Romance list from author Lauren Willig, combined with a controversial post which ended up on some site like Digg, and which also drew the ire of a breathtakingly narcissistic nonromance author)
2939 comments. My first commenters were Christine of The Happily Ever After…, Ana of The Book Smugglers, Laura Vivanco of Teach Me Tonight, and Taja of Books and Games. Thank you for your encouragement and warm welcome to the blogosphere! And I have to mention Kristie(j) who was also a very early visitor and, like Ana at The Book Smugglers, graciously pointed her readers at Ramblings on Romance in my direction. Janine from Dear Author was also an early visitor and I thank her for putting RRR on the blogroll they used to have at DA.
45,647 visitors
73,589 total views
I have two regrets: (1) posting the Top 9 Romantic Love Scenes in Romance, which, at 3000+ views, is my most viewed post of all time. It’s like my own personal Ice Ice Baby. It’s awful and it never goes away. I would never have the hubris to write a post with that title today! And (2) the name of this blog. Oh, sure, “racy” doesn’t have to mean “sexy” (it really doesn’t!), but I do think it gives the impression that I write sexy things about sexy books. If only all those people who found my blog by Google searching for orgasm on command knew that I was a longwinded, overserious feminist philosophy professor who has the power to desexify anything, yes, even your sacred Gerard Butler (LOOK! that’s me in the pink behind him). (kidding)
I have some favorite posts. My favorite review is still my snarky negative review of Beyond the Highland Mist. Funny, that’s the only negative review I ever wrote in which someone insulted me in the comments (comment #10). I also like my fake negative review of Naked in Death, although it’s the only post in which I was driven to comment that I wanted to stick my head in a gas oven (comment #27). Thankfully for all of us, comments are closed on that one.
It seems like I used to be a lot braver, or funnier, or something. I may yet be that blogger again one day. I have a draft post about a product I invented called “Hard Off: The New Stocking Unstuffer for the Alpha Hero in Your Life”, and one called “Sperminator: Attack of the Peens”, about an uprising of penises that results when certain authors go just a bit too far in giving them autonomous locomotion, their own emotions, and, in some cases, their own zip codes. Stay tuned for “Penis Week”, later this year, here at RRR.
Anyway, although my husband accused me of writing this post to court comments like, “I really like your blog!” and “Happy Anniversary” (to which I replied, “Duh.”), I really do love blogging and I wanted to say thanks for all of the visits and comments and smart and funny and challenging and kind things my visitors have shared here over the past year.
Special thanks also go to Tumperkin of Isn’t It Romance?, for being my occasional co-blogger here at RRR, and for being an exemplar of staying sane while blogging well.
To concretize my gratitude, I am having a contest. Make a comment on this post by Friday at midnight EST and I will gift the winner with any two of the titles I have reviewed since I started the blog (click the tab above that says “Reviews A-Z”. You can also choose Meredith Duran’s excellent Bound By Your Touch, because I happen to have an extra paper copy of it (Tumperkin and I are reviewing it later this month).
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#1 by Collette on August 4, 2009 - 12:14 pm
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You actually do look pretty content.
I haven’t been reading you from the beginning but once I found you, I went back and read everything. I like the analytical posts but I have to confess I’m quite looking forward to Attack of the Peens.
#2 by Booklover1335 on August 4, 2009 - 1:01 pm
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Happy Anniversary! I first found your blog when you did the post on all of the Nathan Kamp (?) covers. Thought it was absolutely hilarious and yet oh so true! I know that this was not that long ago, but I love what you post and know that when I read them, it will always be your unique take on things…and I love that about this blog. Here’s to you, and future posts!
#3 by Chris on August 4, 2009 - 1:35 pm
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Happy blogiversary!
zOMG – I think I’d better start laughing now for Penis Week!
Here’s something I wonder – after outfitting all of the people in romance novels (particularly paranormal, although I just noticed a reference in Lucy Monroe’s latest), how could there possibly be any black leather pants left for the rest of the world?
#4 by Meri on August 4, 2009 - 1:53 pm
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Happy Anniversary! I usually lurk but since this is a big occasion, I had to join in and say that I’ve really enjoyed reading RRR this past year.
The “posts to be written” reminded me – did the “it’ll never fit” post ever get written? I won an Amazon certificate for finding a good example, which was great, but I never saw the post itself. And of course I look forward to attack of the peens.
(don’t enter me for the contest – it’s seems more fair for a non-lurker who hasn’t won anything to win) (-:
#5 by Jess on August 4, 2009 - 1:54 pm
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Happy Blogaversary! Am intrigued by the Top 9 post…will have to click over, I am afraid
#6 by kaigou on August 4, 2009 - 1:54 pm
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a longwinded, overserious feminist philosophy professor
But that’s what I like about it! (Though I admit first following a link, I didn’t know the blog’s name, and was expecting something, y’know, kinda… academic. Ahem. And saw the title and went, woah, wrong blog! Where’s the longwinded overserious stuff!?)
Or maybe you can just consider yourself living proof that not all academic types lose a set percentage of their sense of humor with each additional letter at the end of their name.
#7 by Jessica on August 4, 2009 - 1:59 pm
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Meri wrote:
Yes! I have draft of that one, I’ll use it for Penis Week, which I think I’ll call Member Week, since it’s both more accurate and sneakier. Thanks for reminding me!
what did you buy with the cert, if you don’t mind my asking?
#8 by Meri on August 4, 2009 - 2:10 pm
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Jessica wrote:
Oh, if it’s going to be a part of Member Week that’s definitely worth the wait
.
I think it was Lisa Kleypas’s Smooth Talking Stranger – normally I don’t buy hardcover but with a cert I could! I’ve switched to The Book Depository since then, though; free shipping vs. international shipping rates made for a very easy decision.
#9 by Kate on August 4, 2009 - 2:16 pm
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Here’s your bland “congratulations!” comment!
(And don’t enter me please…too much *stuff* around my house)
#10 by Keira on August 4, 2009 - 2:21 pm
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I found you because of a post like the Top 9 Sex Scenes in Romance, and I’m so glad that I did! I’ve really enjoyed your character trope articles about evil stepmothers and the like. In addition, I would be proud of that “racy” in your url because it’s a fantastically awesome alliteration! Lastly, I too am looking forward to the Attack of the Peens and Penis Week.
#11 by Tumperkin on August 4, 2009 - 2:48 pm
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Impressive figures, philosophist.
The first post I read was the one about the forced sex scene in THATH. You see? Memorable. Other posts I really enjoyed were your ones about hero jealousy and uncontrollable lust. And of course the author chill one (is that the one with the commenter you mention?)
And when I look at your review list, I can see that you’ve influenced me to buy quite a lot of books! (Most of which I’ve enjoyed).
Happy birthblog
#12 by Lusty Reader on August 4, 2009 - 2:51 pm
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Wahoo, congratulations! And be still my beating heart at your stat reveal, such a taboo thing to ask about, so I appreciate you just putting it all out there!
Cheers to many more!
#13 by Jessica on August 4, 2009 - 3:05 pm
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Keira wrote:
It’s LOVE scenes! LOVE!! LOL. thanks for including my posts in your Carnivals!
Tumperkin wrote:
Thanks! And I wish I had come up with the term!
and for god’s sake don’t ask me about that post. It’s like summoning Beezlebub.
Lusty Reader wrote:
I don’t know if this is typical, but after the first few months, I stopped caring about the numbers. For one thing, I realized something, and this is a very complicated, sophisticated point so I will lay it out slowly …
when you post more, your numbers go up.
Not just hits, but subscribers, Google rank, everything. The blogosphere gods reward constant activity. So if you ever find yourself tempted to compare your own stats to another person’s, be sure to check out numbers of posts. A multiple blogger site or a very active solo blogger site with a post or more per day will garner many more hits than the 3-4 times a week which many solo bloggers average.
Oh, and if any of you need more rationalizations for low stats, just come back. I have a limitless supply.
#14 by Nicola O. on August 4, 2009 - 3:15 pm
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You’ll get more traffic with “penis week” than you will with “member week.”
Just sayin’. LOL.
#15 by Laura Vivanco on August 4, 2009 - 3:22 pm
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Congratulations! And I hope you carry on for many, many years more because I’d be very disappointed if I had to disembark partway through the amazing intellectual journey.
#16 by Angela on August 4, 2009 - 3:26 pm
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Happy Anniversary! I would like to win something please to go with my brand new and most awesome Larry King bookmark.
I think Penis Week should be in November since I have this theory that all romance novel heroes are Scorpios or at least their peni? penes? penium? are.
#17 by azteclady on August 4, 2009 - 3:33 pm
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Congratulations on your first bloggiversary, Jessica!
I’m amazed that your blog is only one year old–it seems like you have been around much much longer than that! I first showed up here because of your comments on DA threads.
Now, of course, it’s the orgasms on command.
(And I definitely will be here for Member Week!)
#18 by Christine on August 4, 2009 - 4:26 pm
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Congratulations on your first blogversary, Jess! I remember commenting on your blog way back then and thinking, “Where the heck is everyone? This blog is so intelligent, creative and witty.” (Yes, you are witty). I knew romance readers and bloggers would catch on and love your posts as much as I.
Best wishes for continued blogging success and most of all, blogging FUN!
#19 by katiebabs on August 4, 2009 - 4:33 pm
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Congrats! You have become one of my go to sites
So glad to have found you and your wonderful and insightful posts.
#20 by Kelley on August 4, 2009 - 4:45 pm
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Congrats! Yours is one of the few blogs I have bookmarked. Your reviews and posts are always fun and interesting!
#21 by seton on August 4, 2009 - 4:59 pm
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Congratulations on your blogversary! Hoping you will have many more of them to come.
Your posts always makes for fabulous reading.
#22 by willaful on August 4, 2009 - 5:04 pm
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I confess, the title of the blog in relationship to its contents has alwyays puzzled me a bit. And I was wondering about the “will it fit” post too, because I keep running into still yet more examples! (Must be reading crappy books lately.) Anyway, happy Blogaversary. I’m going to be having a party soon, for my first Salsaversary.
#23 by kh on August 4, 2009 - 5:10 pm
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wow happy blog aversy lol
like all teh contents
great books
please count me in
#24 by Kristen on August 4, 2009 - 6:24 pm
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Happy blogversary! I hope you have many more.
#25 by Carolyn Crane on August 4, 2009 - 6:42 pm
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Hey! Happy blogiversary! Not to gush, but I’ve SO enjoyed the fresh, smart, and often hilarious stuff you’ve been doing over here this year. I’m really grateful to be able to get your take on things.
I’m grateful even when I don’t fully understand the smart comments, or that one time I was too dense to get that you were joking–was it a Nora post?– and I began to wonder about the soundness of your judgment. But then later I got it, and you and your blog were restored to your special honored position in my blog world.
I can’t wait to see what you have going next! the new intensified journey! Honestly, I’m so glad you’re here.
#26 by Mari on August 4, 2009 - 7:42 pm
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Happy Anniversary. Actually, you look pretty Zen in your picture:)
#27 by Karen W. on August 4, 2009 - 8:29 pm
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Congrats, and Happy Anniversary!
Thanks for the contest.
#28 by Rebecca on August 4, 2009 - 8:39 pm
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Happy Anniversary! I’m a lurker, and have enjoyed reading your various posts since I found the blog 3 months ago! Really appreciated your recent review of “Don’t Tempt Me.”
Anyway, of course, I had to read the links you put in your post…which led me to other, older posts. I believe I stopped clicking on random links when I got to the post on laptops in the classroom. [Just had to say that as a grad student with a LD, I am quite happy you banned them. (Assuming you still do). It doesn't matter if a student is surfing or typing notes from a lecture, typing=noise. Constant, irritating, distracting noise. Sorry, off-topic.]
An enjoyable distraction from the thesis. Thanks!
#29 by Maya M. on August 4, 2009 - 8:55 pm
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I don’t think a blogger planning a ‘Members Week’ has to worry too much about not being as brave or as funny as formerly!
I think the posts I found most noteworthy were the ‘What about menstruation in romance?’ one (sorry, I don’t remember the exact title0 and also the ‘twitter quitter’ one because I’ve been noting with concern the blogger erosion that seems to be happening as people move inexorably into the twitterverse. Why concern, you ask? (or maybe not, but I’ll tell you anyway:) Because, like you, I know myself and entering that dangerzone would certainly mean I wouldn’t find my way out again. Yet it seemed more and more dinosaurian to try and withstand the pull.
Happy anniversary, and many more.
#30 by Violet on August 5, 2009 - 12:02 am
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Happy Blog Anniversary. I love your intelligent and detailed reviews of Romance books. I could never analyze romance books so accurately.
#31 by Ana on August 5, 2009 - 3:30 am
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Happy Blog Anniversary Jessica! I am very happy about your success and I if I may say so, I am very smug that I was one of the first to have found you. It just proves that I have really good taste *g*
Love your blog, as you know and I wish you stay around for many more years!
cheers
Ana
#32 by Jessica on August 5, 2009 - 5:52 am
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This is great! Thank you everyone!
And everyone who asked for Penis/Member Week … you’re all shameless hussies (but ok, I will do it, since it appears to be my civic obligation to romanceland)
ps. I’m totally having a blogversary every month from now on.
#33 by Tabitha on August 5, 2009 - 7:36 am
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Hi there! Happy Blog-versary! I’ve only started reading your blog recently, and really like the way you do your reviews.
#34 by CEmerson on August 5, 2009 - 11:58 am
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Bring on Member Week! I’m especially looking forward to the “It’ll never fit” discussion. I think I just read one of those scenes in Don’t Tempt Me.
#35 by Jessica on August 5, 2009 - 12:06 pm
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You did! Except that right after she says “it’ll never fit” she says something like “I’ll make it fit!”. Sounds painful!
#36 by Janine on August 5, 2009 - 2:36 pm
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Happy blogversary!
I can’t take the credit because Jane was in charge of the blogroll. All I did was mention to her that I loved your blog. She made the decision to add it to the blogroll all by herself.
#37 by Kaetrin on August 5, 2009 - 10:17 pm
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Happy blog birthday Jessica!
I must say I’m looking forward to “penis week” … that sounds so wrong of me!!! (Sadly, it is nevertheless true!).
I visit the blog every day (well, every day I am near a PC, that is) since I came across it a few months back and I enjoy both the lighter and more academic posts – funny and educational.
#38 by Kaetrin on August 5, 2009 - 10:57 pm
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Have just got back from reading your Naked In Death parody review – OMG that was so funny! And some of the comments were comedy gold! The only thing missing was a comment from Nora Roberts! (and, I for one am very glad you changed your mind about the gas oven).
#39 by jillsorenson on August 6, 2009 - 1:08 am
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Best blog ever. I’m ready for penis week.
#40 by jillsorenson on August 6, 2009 - 1:18 am
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P.S. I like Racy. Misleading, perhaps, but it probably brings in more readers than
#41 by Taja on August 6, 2009 - 2:07 am
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#1 Congrats on your blogversary! I love to read your intelligent and so often witty posts.
#2 I think it’s funny that I was one of the first who left a comment on this blog when I’m actually more of a lurker here.
#3 My best wishes for your blog.
(Please don’t enter my name into the contest)
#42 by Marie on August 6, 2009 - 7:52 pm
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Happy Anniversary!
Love your blog and reviews.
#43 by KristieJ on August 7, 2009 - 1:25 am
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I’m late – but wow!! Has it been a year already? I’m so glad you joined the blogosphere. Your blogs are always so interesting – even those you might regret you’ve written. Sometimes the ones we do and then want to hide our heads over turn out to be the best ones.
So Happy One Year Blogaversary and may you keep going!
#44 by CrystalGB on August 7, 2009 - 10:41 am
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Happy blogoversary. I love reading your blog.