Celebrating FIVE years the CLC way!

To celebrate our five year blogoversary, a few of us are sharing some special CLC memories. 

Melissa A:

When I first started CLC, I had no idea how far it would come. I started out practically begging people to enter the giveaways and now each one has an amazing turnout! I wanted to share some of the highlights for me over the past five years at CLC. Too many wonderful things to list, so I'll try to keep it brief!

• Getting acknowledged in several books, including Saving Grace by Jane Green, Blogger Girl by Meredith Schorr, and Say Never by Janis Thomas.
• Getting to write a blurb for The Balance Project by Susie Orman Schnall
• Getting to interview Candace "DJ Tanner" Cameron when her book came out in 2013
• Getting to interview Sophie Kinsella twice.
• Meeting some of my favorite authors in person, including Jane Porter, Meredith Schorr, Samantha Stroh Bailey, Jennifer Weiner, Kristin Harmel (she had dinner with my whole family), Jen Tucker, Liane Moriarty, Liz and Lisa, etc. (The list goes on... I met Jane Green prior to starting the blog though.)
• Jennifer Weiner calling on me by my name at her DC book signing.
• Going to BEA. It's a book lover's Disney World!
• Becoming friends with some wonderful readers and even becoming sister blogs with Book Mama. 
• The amazing team here that does interviews, reviews, tweeting, monthly columns, etc. 
• All the reader participation: Whether you've been here since the beginning, joined in the middle, or you're new here....I love you all!
• Finally, being told that I had an impact on someone's decision to read a book. That means so much to me every time I hear it.

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed to CLC's success in some way or another!

With Jennifer Weiner at the event
where she called me by name, July 2012

Jami:

Happy Blogoversary Chick Lit Central! My three-year anniversary of writing reviews for Chick Lit Central is coming up this summer, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. It has truly been a life-changing event! I “met” Melissa A. on Twitter, when I read her interview with Rachel Bertsche, writer of MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend. I loved Melissa’s insightful questions, and when I saw that she lived in Maryland like I did, I sent her a note. A few weeks later, we had lunch; she gave me a ton of books and agreed to beta-read my own chick lit novel, KEEPING SCORE. (She did a great job, too!) A few months later, Chick Lit Central held a contest for a new reviewer, and I think Melissa was as excited as I was when I won. Not only does Melissa do a wonderful job keeping the site organized, she’s been a tireless promoter for me, introducing me to other writers, telling other people about my book, and keeping an eye out for other publication opportunities for me. I know she’s just as supportive of other writers, reviewers and book bloggers, and how she manages to do that, plus hold down a full-time job and raise three children, is beyond me! My experience with Chick Lit Central led directly to me getting a job with one of the top literary agents in New York, as well as other freelance editing opportunities. So thank you Melissa and Chick Lit Central. You have literally (and literarily) changed my life!

Becky:

With Rowan Coleman

I can't believe I've been reviewing for Chick Lit Central for nearly four years now, it seems like yesterday I got the email from Melissa! I remember where I was when I got the email, I was so giddy and didn't stop smiling all day! Reading the books and reviewing them is a hobby I truly love, of course people go through phases or situations when they read less for whatever reason, I've been through that too, but I'm glad that the ultimate desire to continue, and keep appreciating this opportunity, reigns me back in and I'm in the full-flow of reading again! I am grateful for the people I've met, Melissa and the CLC team and all the publishers and authors I've been introduced to through this. Being the UK associate reviewer I've also loved meeting people from the US/Canada (even if virtually!) and there are lots of new amazing authors whose work I have been able to enjoy because of the worldwide focus of the blog. Whilst we're 'Chick Lit Central' there is a great deal of variety in the books we review and I love that, it can be a light escapist read one week then a deeper/darker tale the next. When I was shortlisted in the 2012 Novelicious writing competition I felt humbled by the number of CLC followers who supported me during that time, what great followers we have :). Melissa and the team have also been so lovely when going through difficult periods, I am so grateful.