Saturday, April 30, 2011

Celebrate!


"Celebrate! Celebrate! Dance to the Music!"
Okay. If you now have a Three Dog Night earworm, you've just dated yourself. No worries. I understand. For all you "young'uns" here's a classic clip. (Though I do prefer Eli's Coming  and Old Fashioned Love Song.) You could do worse than classic Three Dog Night. ; )





~~The reason for all the hoopla is my Celebration Blogfest honoring my 100th post and 200th follower (Thanks, Rachna at Rachna's Scriptorium) I started blogging June 2, 2009. It seems like only yesterday. I posted mostly about incidental things like the new puppies (They were 2 on April 7), neat music clips, movies and the flowers, but now I concentrate on writing. Of course, the cute doggies get included still. ; )

~~It's only been since January that I really learned how to use the blog to network and create a platform for my writing. I was reading my buddy, Deniz's blog The Girdle of Melian when she posted a link to a publication blog at Denise's L'Aussie Writing. I started regularly reading Denise's posts and she mentioned a No Fear Blogfest at Dom's Writes of Passage. I entered on a lark and was a finalist. And a blogfester was born. The next link that intrigued me was platform builder extraordinaire Rachael Harrie's Rach Writes and her Second Crusade to Build Writers Platforms. I was hooked. The rest is history. In January, The Shade of the Cherry Tree had 18 followers and look at it now!

~~To celebrate, I'm going to put the names of all the commenters to this post in a drawing for three prizes. The first winner gets to pick from the four prizes listed below. The second and third get fewer and fewer to choose from. But even then, winner number 3 gets two choices--thanks to John, my darling husband, who couldn't stand for the last one to get just the left over gift. If you post a link to In the Shade of the Cherry Tree and tell me in the comments, I'll put your name in the drawing twice. I'll be using random.org to choose. Here are the prizes:

Stephen King's On Writing Amazon link
Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird Amazon link
Steven Pressfield's The War of Art Amazon link
Signed first edition copies of my two devotionals--An Easter Walk and A Christmas Walk (Check these out with the links on the left side)

~~I'll notify the winners by announcing it here, emailing if you have left an email in the comment, and commenting on your latest blog post. Whatever the method, I hope you enjoy the prizes. When you are notified of your win, email me your address. My email is a the bottom of the blog.

~~Good luck, everyone! And Thanks a Million for helping me build my blog and remember to
CELEBRATE!
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38 comments:

  1. blankenship.louiseApril 30, 2011 at 1:34 PM

    Congrats! And good selections -- I especially enjoyed Anne Lamott's book.

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  2. Jill W.April 30, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    Woo! Wonderful prize selection...I haven't read any of them (yet). What a treat!

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  3. Mary CunninghamApril 30, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    Congrats on your 100th post and 200th follower, ZM! You are awesome!

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  4. Zan MarieApril 30, 2011 at 1:44 PM

    Thanks, L. and Mary!

    And, Jill, I promise you'd love all three of them. And maybe mine, too. ; )

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  5. Laura L. KirkApril 30, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    Congratulations, Zan Marie! Love the prize seletions! Maybe I'll be throwing one of these parties soon with your help! LOL Blessings!

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  6. Zan MarieApril 30, 2011 at 2:42 PM

    Thanks, Laura! I'm still amazed at the speed at which the Cherry Tree has grown. And you *know* I'll help you. ; )

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  7. UnknownApril 30, 2011 at 2:43 PM

    Congrats on your 100 and 200, I am glad you are having fun and I look forward to coming back again soon :)

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  8. S.P. BowersApril 30, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    Congrats on the celebration! Man I misspelled two of the first four words. Oops, there's another. I better go before it gets contagious.

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  9. Zan MarieApril 30, 2011 at 3:08 PM

    Thanks, Siv. Wander by anytime. Everyone is welcome in the Shade.

    S.P. (Don't I know you by another name? ; )
    Thanks. I'm having a rash of misspellings today. You should see how I mangle celebration when I get going. And thanks!

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  10. Deniz BevanApril 30, 2011 at 5:01 PM

    Congratulations Zan Marie! You've done it now - I *do* have Three Dog Night Stuck in my head [g] Just posted a link on Facebook, and will also add a link to my Sunday blog post.
    Congratulations on all you've achieved with the blog since January!

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  11. Rachael HarrieApril 30, 2011 at 5:11 PM

    Woot, congratulations on 200 followers! It's such an awesome feeling isn't it :) Great contest, I haven't read On Writing or Bird by Bird, would love to read either.

    Hugs,

    Rach

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  12. Louise April 30, 2011 at 7:13 PM

    Congrats on your followers :)

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  13. Zan MarieApril 30, 2011 at 7:46 PM

    Deniz,
    It's all your fault! I found the links to all the other blogs through you. ; ) And I'm grateful.

    Thanks, Rach. This is as much your doing as anyone else. You really have helped me learn how to do the blog platform.

    Thanks, Holly!

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  14. Denise Covey April 30, 2011 at 8:23 PM

    Hello Zan Marie. I'm glad you enjoyed my Publication Party. It was a hoot, as was Dom's blogfest which I went on to win, lucky me! But now the congratulations are all your way - woo hoo, 200 followers and so quickly! To help you celebrate I'll throw my hat into the ring. I just won a book at Talli Roland's so you never know I might be having a lucky streak. Thank you for visiting my blog/s when you can. I appreciate it so much. The blogosphere is lucky to have you! (((hugs)))

    Denise<3

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  15. Denise Covey April 30, 2011 at 8:24 PM

    Oh and I'd never heard of that song. Does that make me young? Hee hee.

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  16. TrishaMay 1, 2011 at 3:29 AM

    Ooh, 100 posts and 200 followers!! Cool numbers :D Cheers for stopping by my blog as you do :)

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  17. Zan MarieMay 1, 2011 at 5:21 AM

    Denise,
    You have my permission to claim youth. LOL! That or obscure American '70s rock bands didn't get to Australia. Thank you for all your wonderful posts that have introduced me to so many great writers.

    Trisha,
    Thanks!

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  18. J.L. MurpheyMay 1, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    Congrats on 100 & 200! I'll get there eventually. What's a blogfest? Who's got the munchies and drinks?

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  19. Zan MarieMay 1, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    Jo,
    I was questioning what a "blogfest" was as little as 4 months ago, myself. I kept seeing everyone's links on their blogs to this and that blogfest. I tired one and got to read so many authors' interviews that I was thrilled. Then there were prizes! I won a critique of my first chapter and was finalist in one. I was hooked. Blogfests can be as little as mine with random winners to huge massive affairs like the Crusade that introduced me to over 200 new writers. We crit and discuss and do all manner of writing support for each other. I think you'd like them, if you can find the time.

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  20. J.L. CampbellMay 1, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    Congrats on this milestone. Well done. I'm in!

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  21. Zan MarieMay 1, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    Thanks, J.L. I'll let you know if you're a lucky winner. ; )

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  22. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyMay 1, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    congrats on your 100th post and your 200th follower! YAY!

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  23. Marie ReardenMay 1, 2011 at 7:40 PM

    A huge congrats, Zan! This blog is all kinds of lovely. :) Before you know it, you'll have 300 followers and 200 posts. There's no where to go but up!

    Marie at the Cheetah

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  24. Zan MarieMay 1, 2011 at 7:47 PM

    Lynda,
    Thanks. I'm still thrilled.

    Marie,
    Thanks for loving the Shade. I'm kind of partial to it myself. 300 followers. Hmmm. Maybe. ; )

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  25. AnnMay 2, 2011 at 10:41 AM

    Congratulations on two great milestones. 200 Followers and 100 posts. Well done you! Love visiting you In the Shade of the Cherry Tree.

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  26. Deborah WalkerMay 2, 2011 at 10:41 AM

    Fabulous news, Zan. Im so happy for you. Good times.

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  27. TaraMay 2, 2011 at 10:45 AM

    Huge congrats on 200 - and on your 100th post. Woohoo.

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  28. Zan MarieMay 2, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    Thanks, Ann, Deborah, and Tara,
    I'm so excited...and repetitive. LOL! I keep repeating myself. But, dang it!, it is an achievement! ; )

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  29. Charlotte Rains DixonMay 2, 2011 at 4:32 PM

    Congratulations on all the new followers and the 100th post. Yay! For the record, I love Eli's Coming also. Yes, I'm dating myself!

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  30. Zan MarieMay 2, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    Charlotte,
    We'll sing Three Dog Night together. ; ) And thanks for the congrats.

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  31. Jill W.May 2, 2011 at 10:48 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  32. Jill W.May 2, 2011 at 10:49 PM

    ZM,

    I just happened to swing by your blog again and realized that while I may have posted here, I forgot to add the most important detail -- CONGRATULATIONS!!!

    'Scuze my manners. [g]

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  33. Zan MarieMay 3, 2011 at 8:25 AM

    You're 'scuzed! No problem. You congratulated me at the Forum. Thanks.

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  34. Lisa PottsMay 4, 2011 at 10:56 PM

    Congrats on the blogversary and the followers. I hope there are many more of both!

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  35. Denise Covey May 4, 2011 at 11:22 PM

    Hi Zan. I've cruised back to let you know I've got a new writing group up and running. Check it out on my blog or on the link below if you'd like. And CONGRATULATIONS!!

    Denise<3

    Join the new Romantic Friday Writers Group.

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  36. Zan MarieMay 5, 2011 at 8:53 AM

    Thanks, Lisa.

    Thanks, Denise. I just saw you had a new post up. See you in a bit. ; )

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  37. Zan MarieMay 6, 2011 at 7:39 PM

    Hi everyone,
    I'll reveal the winners tomorrow morning. Corss your fingers. ; )

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  38. LauriMay 7, 2011 at 7:52 PM

    Aren't blogs amazing resources? Congratulations, and enjoy your celebration!

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