Hello everyone! We have had a rough couple of days – snow, sleet, wind, power outages – just plain yucky. Luckily, the longest power outage so far was just 2 hours. Though it is inconvenient, I realize it could be much worse. Nevertheless, I am well and truly sick of winter. Officially. Be gone, Winter! Welcome, Spring! (Am I jumping the gun, do you think?)
I’ve been wanting to share this with you for quite some time. However, I wanted my parents to have their own copy as a surprise, so I had to wait until they received their copy in the mail. What is it? It is my very own hardcover book containing the blog posts and photos from my first year of blogging. I got it through Blurb. Since I first put this together last summer, there are even more blog to book sites available, but I am happy with Blurb. (This isn’t a plug for Blurb, by the way, this is just my experience with this process!)
I wanted a permanent record of my posts as they do indeed chronicle our life here at Mockingbird Hill Cottage. I was so excited last summer when my copy arrived. Oh, I see several volumes lined up prettily on my bookshelf, just waiting to be thumbed through.
If you’re interested in something like this there are all sorts of price ranges and sites available. I chose a hardcover version. In the case of Blurb, you just go to their site, download the software and then get to work editing your posts and photos. Actually, it isn’t work at all – it’s fun.
I learned a great deal working on the first volume and just finished editing the second volume. Since I post a lot more than I did the first year, this one will be twice as many pages. I’ve learned more about editing the photos and I’ve changed the post font to the same font I use on my blog – papyrus. The only thing lacking is the ability to show my blog background on each page, but that is a minor complaint.
I don’t write in a journal. In fact, I tried for many years to journal and failed miserably. When I started to blog it quickly became clear to me that blogging was my form of journaling. I spend a lot of time taking photos and writing and editing my posts; I am thrilled to have a book which is a permanent record of them.
I’ll be sure to post about Mockingbird Hill Cottage – the second year when it arrives.
Hey, does this mean that I am a published author?
How much fun is that!!! It looks so professional.
Hi Claudia,
What a great idea! I’ve been wondering how to make a “hard copy” of my miniature blog. I’m going to go check out this site!
Your book looks so nice! It is a real treasure!
Claudia,
What a neat idea you have here…luv it! Hop on over and enter my CASH GIVEAWAY…it ends March 10. Hope your weather gets better and you have a FUN weekend:)
Blessings,
Linda
…WOW!! This is a new concept for me, and I am amazed again about all the products available in this blog world! It must be so exciting to see your very own writings in book form. ~ and Yes, I believe this counts as being published! Congratulations!! xo
I’d heard of folks doing this, but I’d never actually seen the ‘finished result’. Yours looks really awesome, and makes me want to do one myself.
Are you able to choose which posts and pictures and placement and such? There’s posts I’d rather not have set down for posterity :)
I’m with you on the weather too….’twas a harsh reality to come back from Florida to this freezing white cold.
I have been wanting to do this so bad. I would love to have my blog in book form. Thankyou so much Claudia for posting about this, your book looks beautiful.
hugs
what a wonderful thing!!! I’ll have to look into that sometime. Please bring on spring!!!
That is such a neat idea!
What a neat idea, honey! I think I’m going to look them up and try it. I’m not a “journalist” either but my church recommends we write in a journal every night. I’ve never been successful at that. Like you, I do my journaling on line with blogging. How wonderful to be able to see it in print, chick; I’m going there right now.
xoxo,
Connie
I have seen these popping up and I love them.. what a great legacy to leave… i started mine through blog to print recommend by jmac – constant chatter chick…
haven’t finished it .. yours looks great… smiles…
Good Morning Sweetie…
What a beautiful idea. CeeKay @ Thinkin of Home had her blog put into a book, however she said she did not get the hard cover, and she is so sorry she did not. For the 10.00 difference she said it was so worth it. How beautiful yours is. I have not been blogging a year yet. That will be in June so maybe I will wait until I have a full book to print it. It would definitely give my folks something to read. I love it. Thank you for sharing sweetie. I so love it when you do. Have a beautiful Saturday. Please stay warm and dry. Country hugs and much love…Sherry
How beautiful! I must check this out. I am not a journal (er) either. Never could keep a diary. So blogging is my version as well.
Brenda
That looks great. I think that was a lovely ‘job’ to do ;-)
Wow, Claudia! Congratulations. The book looks fabulous. Would love to do something like that, too, but wonder if it’s very expensive. Will check it out. I’m sure your parents will love it, too! How interesting you and your husband moved from the west coast to the east. Hope the hard winter didn’t make you wonder about moving! ha! But right now, people in California are a little worried about the weather, I’d say. Anyway, thanks for your post! Sincerely, Susan from writingstraightfromtheheart.blogspot.com
I have some books done with Blurb too, and I’m very happy with them! Before deleting my old posts, I did my blog book too, so I can go and have a look every now and then, even if they are no longer on the www.
Your first year is just wonderful!
Monicax.
hi claudia!
i LOVE it! your book looks beautiful! i definitely want to make one someday. it must be the coolest to sit and read your posts and look at all of the photos. it is such a nice record to have. i could never keep a journal or diary either.
a bestseller from MHC press! and i have met the lovely author!
xo
elyse
ps
hope the weather has settled.
Wow!!! It´s great! Congrats!
Your book is wonderful!
xoxo
Claudia,
I LOVE your book, and YES you are a published author now, known all over the world!
I have been wanting to make a blog book of the posts I’ve done over Amelia to give as a gift to her grandparents. I am glad to hear first-hand that you like Blurb.
I am also glad to see that we can edit our photos and posts for the book! How exciting! Isn’t blogging the best?!
Have a happy weekend, my friend,
Mandy
Brilliant idea! What a wonderful way to preserve what you have created!
Hi Claudia,
Congratulations, and it looks lovely. What a wonderful way to comemorate your adventures in blogland. Your children will appreciate the effort, too. I’m so happy for you.
Hugs,
Meri
Congratulations, published author! What a great idea! I love it– it’s really beautiful. It must be so fun to leaf through!
Hugs,
Jill
You know I never really thought about blogging as a form of journaling, but I think you are right! I tried to do the journal thing and I just couldn’t stick with it, but blogging comes easy for me.
Thanks for visiting my blog. Now I know about you and I have signed to follow you. I’ll be back often.
Your book is wonderful.
hugs
Sissie
Cool! I have seen others, this is a neat idea!! Looks as lovely as your blog!
Hugs, Lisa
A great idea, I didn’t know such a thing existed, thanks for sharing this :)
Hi Claudia: I love the idea of the book. I would love to make one is it hard? Yours came out beautiful. Did you do your own cover? Wow, I know a published author. I am so impressed. Your famous now. What are you going to do next? Smiles, blessings dear friend. Martha
Your first edition looks wonderful. Looking forward to hearing about the Second Year.
Happy Pink Saturday.
Hello Claudia,
Yes, indeed..you are a published author! :0) I’ve looked at Blurb and some of the other ones too…self publication is so easy these days.
I’m going to do this too. My first year of regular blogging was last year..I think in 2008 I only had 75 posts. Blogging is the best way to journal in my opinion..since I can’t seem to write this stuff down.
Have a great week..
♥ Love & Faerie Dust ♥
Stephanie
What a great idea…I too have tried the journaling – failed, but I have some great almost empty journals laying around!!!! Thanks for this idea – Maybe my children and grandchildren will have something to remember me by –hummmm
Your blog book look great! I’ve often thought of doing it myself.
Manuela
Oh this is WONDERFUL Claudia! Since I started blogging, I thought that I should print it out for my prosperity, now you have shown me the way! THANK YOU so much! Wow, I bet your book is beautiful! Just to look at it and see your work is awesome!!! So proud of you! Bring it to Cali when you come this Spring! Can’t wait to see it and you!
Love,
Maryjane
xox
Claudia~What a wonderful idea. The book must be beautiful since your blog is so beautiful. I love all your posts! Yes, it does certainly mean you are a published author…at least in my book!
Have a nice Day. Wonder how fast your snow will take to melt?
G’eve, Claudia ~ We had been wondering about HOW TO do this … you have provided us with a consideration to complete a question.
This will be so fun to do.
TYSM.
Have a wonderful week.
TTFN ~ Marydon
Gosh, I had thought about doing something like this, Claudia. Thank you for letting me know about the site. I think your blog journal is wonderful!! Have a beautiful week ahead, my friend! Vicki
Hi Claudia, I’m so glad to hear about your blog book. I really want to do this at the end of my first year. Yours looks wonderful, so very professional. Hope your weather is better soon. Ours is finally starting to show signs of improvement. 50’s this week, yeah!! come by my blog tomorrow, I’m starting my Birthday giveaway.
hugs,
Debra
This is beautiful, Claudia! I know your parents were thrilled to have a copy. And yes, you are a published author. :-)
XO,
Sheila :-)
What a fabulous idea. And LOOK at how gorgeous that page is. It looks like a professional publication. Well done.
Our daughter has made two books for us for the last two Christmases. One had random pictures of our family and the one this year was our European vacation! The BEST present ever!
Catching up with your news and am thrilled to see your book! What a great idea Claudia, I will follow up. I used to print all my posts and store in binders thinking my kids/grandkids might to read it some day, but that became a pain and used a lot of ink!
Yes, I would say you are definitely a published author now, what a delight!
That’s amazing! I noticed a link for something like that on Blogger and considered it but never actually looked into it.
Is it time consuming?
Didn’t know you could do this. I bookmarked blurb. Wonder if my family would want a copy for next Christmas…nah! :)
Congratulations, Claudia! Yes, I’d say you’re a published author! LOL!
How wonderful that something like this is available and what a terrific idea. I’ll have to check it out.
Your book looks amazing! With your excellent writing and awesome picture taking your book will be much clamored for . . . I hope you bought several copies! I for one wouuld love it for my coffee table!
Thank you so much for sharing and I hope you’ll share more of your book with us!
Hugs,
Teresa
WOW! What a beautiful book! I had no idea we could do this! I, like you, wanted to be a “journaler” for years but failed miserably (after buying many lovely journals!) But I love blogging, too, and what a lovely keepsake to get a book made!
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Wow that’s so cool! Are we able to purchase a copy of your blog-book too somehow? I couldn’t think of anything better than having my bookshelf filled with books from my favorite blogs!!
Thought of maybe selling copies to your followers?