The Escapist turns Three! (15 Facts About Me + Giveaway)

WHAT'S UP, PEOPLE??? WE'RE TOGETHER FOR THREE YEARS NOW. WOOOOOHOOO!!!

It's been quite an eventful three Cool years and it wouldn't be that way if not for my awesome readers (you!), brilliant authors, thoughtful publishers, and amazing God! If you could notice I have started to become busier *again* for the past month. I've got a job now! Though I'm seconds away (not literally) from transferring to a better (I hope) work place and schedule. I'm wishing for more and stronger years with you all.

My original blogoversary date was May 27th but since I'm on a tight schedule and been also thinking of what I can do for the event, the celebratory post ended up to be today. So here's what I thought I'd share: 15 random (and weird) facts about me! I realized I've been featuring different debut authors yearly for you to get to know them better but never got a chance to share mine. So here I am! Don't forget to also check out the giveaway below. ;)

15 Random (and weird) Facts about Me:

1. My high school nicname was Chim. Back from HS there were three Michelles in our room so to avoid confusion and lame jokes, I created a nicname. Since I don't feel like being Mich, I tried to read it backwards and it turned out to be Chim. Better than Hcim, right?

2. My childhood dream was to be a singer/an artist. (I still do.) Unfortunately, my love for music is only a one-sided affair. It doesn't love me back.

From Google images

3. I love cakes, cupcakes, any kind of pastries, ice cream, chocolates, gosh, sweet treats! I also love adobong mani (similar to roasted peanuts). NOW I'M HUNGRY.

4. I'm an introvert, a leftie, and not fond of wearing nail polish.

5. Yesterday I had my first motorcycle ride. It was weird. You know, riding something so...open.

6. My very first reason to start a book blog is to receive free books. Mehehe

7. I don't like wearing sandals or open-toe shoes outside. I always prefer closed shoes.

8. I never like the idea of being a nurse, let alone taking the course. That's why my heart isn't in it on my four years of studying. I came to appreciate and want [to become] nurse when I was reviewing for the board exams. It was a little late but now I'm proud to be called a registered nurse. Besides, I always liked helping other people.

9. Heights? Swimming? NO.

10. Coffee? Nope, either. (Sometimes I do wonder whether I'm the only bookworm who's not in love with the combination of books and coffee. Or coffee alone.)

11. I was once obsessed with the Jonas Brothers, especially Joe Jonas. I used to kiss the cover of a magazine he's in. Don't tell me you never did that to anyone. DIDN'T YOU?

12. I got my left eye blurred from reading too much ebooks years ago. I've been obsessed with reading that time (I had just started reading) and even if I'm sleepy, I'm still reading with one eye open and then read first thing in the morning. So yeah. Not the most beautiful thing happened to me as a bookworm. So I'm warning everyone! Rest your eyes now and then.

13. I've read Old Testament once and New Testament twice. (And counting.) So I can say that I've read the Bible.

14. I'm 21 and never had a boyfriend. Never held hands with someone who is a boy and a non-relative, never had my first kiss. But no, I'm not lesbian or what. And I don't feel sad or incomplete. As a matter of fact...

15. I believe in true love and forever. Because there really is!

GIVEAWAY!

I will be having two giveaways. Please read rules carefully and make sure to follow them to avoid disqualification!

General rules:

- contest ends June 20th

- there are two Rafflecopters below. One is for INT peeps and one for PH. They have different options so read carefully

- every day entries must be filled with DIFFERENT infos every day. Do not copy and paste the same info/link every day

- winners will have 48 hours to respond on winning email notification. If failed, I'll pick another winner

- I am not responsible for any lost or damaged packages

Giveaway #1

- $10 worth of book/Amazon GC

- open INTERNATIONALLY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway #2

- one winner will get to pick two books from the pile below

- note that these books are second hand. These are all mine. Some read, some never, but been sitting by my shelf for years, other months. So some of the edges are yellowed but otherwise they're all in very good condition

- open to PHILIPPINE residents only

If the winner picked Fractured Light, automatic the second book will be Fractured Soul.
It's like pick one, take one.

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Thank you all for your support and sweet comments/messages/tweets/emails! 

Love lots,

The Escapist turns 2! Celebration + Thanksgiving giveaway!

I'M BAAAAACK!!!

As you know, I've been on a one month blogging hiatus due to my board exams. I took my examinations last Sunday and Monday and well, I haven't slept a good night's sleep as I was writing this post! I almost forgot the anniversary of my blog.

Right.

The Escapist turns 2 today!!!!!

Let me take this opportunity to thank everyone of you for your kindness by reading my blog. I still can't believe that someone is actually reading my blog--my thoughts--and apart from my country (Philippines), US, and UK, some came from places I never thought I'd have readers from like Russia, Italy, Cyprus, Serbia, Ukraine, Belgium, and Brazil, to name a few. Wow. *waves to everyone*

I would also like to thank the very awesome publishers who's been sending and trusting me their gorgeous books and for sponsoring some of my giveaways. HarperCollins International, Hot Key Books, Spencer Hill Press, Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse, and Random House UK. And to my new contacts! Tor Teen, Strange Chemistry, and Chronicle Books. I also can't wait to feature books from Hardie Grant and Random House International. Thanks also to the kind publicists--Megan, Olivia, Emma, Mia, Sara, Caroline, Mimi, and Jennifer. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You spoil my bookishness wonderfully. ;D

Thanks also to the authors I've worked with and featured here on the blog for tours, interviews, guest posts, and blog events such as Celebrating Debutantes and Feb Feels. You guys make this blog a brighter place. ;)

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Since I haven't been writing any posts for the past month and I'm still sleep deprived and there are lots of review coming up starting this week--I won't be doing any special post/s about the blogoversary like what I did last year. 

But the celebration never stops there! Because we're giving away one book to eight lucky readers! Thanks to HarperCollins International for the donation of your fab titles!

Here's what you're going to win:

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings (ARC) - 2 winners
Exile by Eric Emerson (ARC)
Prisoner of Night and Fog by Blankman (ARC)
The Vanishing Season by Judy Lynn Anderson (ARC)
Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi *signed*
No One Else Can Have You by Hale *signed*
Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi *signed*

*ARC = Advanced Reading Copy/uncorrected proofs

Take a peak on the signed copies!

Not just signed--the author also drew on it!

Other books...

Yes, there are TWO copies of Murder Complex to be given away!

Before you enter the giveaway, here are the rules:
- one (1) international winner will pick one (1) book from the list
- seven (7) Philippine resident winners will get one (1) book each
- total of nine (8) winners (As much as I want more international winners, I can't because of shipping costs.)
- winners will be contacted via email (so I need ACTIVE email when you sign up the Rafllecopter) and given 48 hours to respond. If failed, I will pick another winner.
- I am NOT responsible of any lost or damaged packages. 
- all entries will be checked to so be honest!
- giveaway runs from May 27th to June 30th--lots of time to earn more entries!
- there are 3 mandatory entries for you to fill up in order to enter the optional entries. Optional entries are well, optional. But I added them so you'd earn more entries on the raffle.

UPDATE: There are 8 books only, not 9 as I first announced. Sorry for the wrong info! But you can still win The Falconer on May New Release Giveaway Hop!


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First Blogoversary Giveaway part 4

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Hey everyone! Today is the last part of my blogoversary and blog makeover celebration giveaway. And because summer has just started in the US and other countries, I have something to make it more hotter--the summer contemporary reads of Simon and Schuster!

UPDATE: For this giveaway, there will be five US residents winners of the books below. After picking five winners, I'll email them and ask which book are they gonna pick from the list. The first one to pick the book gets it. The others would have to pick from the remaining choices. First come first serve basis! 

Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt

Fifteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton

Over You by Amy Reed

FML by Shaun David Hutchinson

Thorn Abbey by Nancy Ohlin

Super thanks to Emma and Simon and Schuster/Simon Pulse for making this giveaway possible, and also to Michael. He's helped me before with the giveaway of one author for Celebrating Debutantes 2012. Thanks  so much guys for being always there when I needed someone for a giveaway and for always being nice. You rock. \m/ :D

I also want to thank EVERYONE who greeted me, who's been excited with this event, and who loved my new name and layout! I'm almost scared you wouldn't like it. Haha I hope to see you guys around here more often. We could chat via comments or Twitter. You could also email me! Thank you for sharing this wonderful event with me. I love you all! Til the next blogoversary celebration. xxx

The awesome-ness of this year wasn't over yet! Celebrating Debutantes 2013 will be back soon with my newest co-event blogger, Dianne @ Oops! I Read A Book Again!

You can join if you have US address. Enter the Rafflecopter below. I wish you all luck! Don't forget to check my first three blogoversary giveaways: part 1 (2 INT winners, book of choice), part 2 (2 INT winners, book of choice from HarperCollins 2013 YA list) and, part 3 (3 INT winners, The Lunar Chronicles swag pack + interview with Marissa Meyer). xxx

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First Blogoversary Giveaway part 3: Marissa Meyer Interview

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Welcome to the part 3 celebration of my first blogoversary and blog makeover!

Today's really special because one of my favorite authors, Marissa Meyer, is here (again!) for a short interview! She also have something to giveaway to the awesome fans of The Lunar Chronicles!

Marissa Meyer

What is the most exciting that you've done/happened after being published as a best selling debut author on 2012?

There have been so many exciting, awesome things since Cinder came out, it's hard to choose just one! But I think being invited to go to Italy for the Bologna Book Fair last year was definitely one of the highlights. My agent had my husband and I both come out so I could meet a bunch of my foreign publishers, and she even threw a cocktail party where I got to be the guest of honor. I felt so fancy!

Was there a song/s that reminds you of Cinder and/or Scarlet?

I have a whole Lunar Chronicles playlist! "The Scientist" by Coldplay is the song that most makes me think of Cinder, and particularly her rocky relationship with Kai. And while it's pretty predictable, I have to go with "Little Red Riding Hood" by Sam the Sham for Scarlet. But hey, it's sung from the POV of the big, bad Wolf who really just wants to protect Little Red, so, you know, there's definitely a connection there.

(M speaks!: Haven't heard the said songs yet? Check them out here: The Scientist by Coldplay, Little Red Riding Hood by Sam the Sham.)

Would you be writing more about fairytales after The Lunar Chronicles?

Never say never! Right now I'm hoping to write at least one fairy tale short story set in the same world, and the novel I'm writing after the Chronicles, while not strictly a retelling, has some of the same nostalgia/familiarity vibes that they do. After that, who  knows?

Cinder and Scarlet are a major hit. Everyone loved it and are now watching out for the publication of Cress. Do you feel pressured in writing it?

HA, well, when you say it like THAT, I do! There's definitely a little bit of pressure involved - you don't want to disappoint your readers! But in the end, all we can do is tell the best story we can, and stay true to the characters and the world we've created, and hope that readers enjoy it. *I'm* really happy with Book 3, so I have pretty high hopes that readers will be too.

What's your best stress reliever?

A bubble bath, a glass of champagne, and a good book. That's my standard ritual for when I meet a big goal or deadline, too. ^_^

* * *

About Marissa:

Marissa Meyer lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and three cats. She’s a fan of most things geeky (Sailor Moon, Firefly, color-coordinating her bookshelf . . .), and has been in love with fairy tales since she was given a small book of them when she was a child. She may or may not be a cyborg. Cinder is her first novel.

Find her: Website * Twitter * Facebook (Author page + Lunar Chronicles) * Goodreads

Her books:

Published

E-novellas

Soon

GIVEAWAY!

Three international winners will get:

3 bookmarks, 2 Scarlet stickers, 1 LSOP wolf temporary tattoo, and 1 signed book plate

Good luck!

*Enter my blogoversary giveaway part 1 (2 INT winners, book of choice), part 2 (2 INT winners, book of choice from HarperCollins 2013 YA list) and part 4 (5 US winners, books from Simon Pulse YA contemporary list)

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First Blogoversary Giveaway part 2

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Welcome to the giveaway part 2 of my first blogoversary + new name and layout celebration! Today is really exciting because there'd be another TWO INTERNATIONAL winners! 

Super huge thanks to Sarah and HarperCollins for making this awesome giveaway possible. I'd also like to have this opportunity to thank them for trusting me with their super awesome titles. Here's a secret: HC is the first publisher who sent me THREE review copies in one shipping. I'm so happy that time, even now, whenever they sent me these boxes (I kept one under our bed). I feel cool eveytime. :D I mean, it's HARPERCOLLINS! :O And let me also thank Christine and HarperCollins International. And Epic Reads for putting my blog (Michelle Shouts Random then) on their Epic Bloggers list. But now that I changed the blog name and address, maybe you could update your list? :D Haha! Thanks to all of you! Muaaaahh!

Anyhow, here are the books you can choose from:

I have read some of the titles here,  some are still waiting to be read and the rest, I haven't started the series yet. But to the ones I've read, I'd highly recommend Unravel Me, The Boyfriend App, Requiem and Pivot Point (click titles for my review)! Other reviewed titles: Reboot and The Madman's Daughter.

Again, this giveaway is international with two winners. Enter the Rafflecopter below and good luck!
*Enter my blogoversary giveaway part 1 (2 INT winners, book of choice), part 3 (3 INT winners, The Lunar Chronicles swag pack + interview with Marissa Meyer) and part 4 (5 US winners, books from Simon Pulse YA contemporary list)

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The Escapist: One year. New name. New look.

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Michelle Shouts Random is now The Escapist. And together with the new blog name and layout, I--we--are also celebrating my first ever blogoversary. COULD YOU BELIEVER THAT? I COULDN'T!

One year of blogging. If this thought would came into me more than one year ago I would laugh at the idea. Because really, I never saw myself blogging. I never dreamt to become a blogger. I didn't even knew how blogging works! Creating this blog--Michelle Shouts Random--was never planned. This is what really happened...

I liked reading. But to be honest, I was never born a bookworm. Most bookworms would say they were reading for the rest of their lives. My love for reading started on year 2008. The  Twilight year. Since then I became interested in reading and on year 2011 (year when I become really obsessed with reading), I guess, when I was searching for a good romance read, I stumbled upon a blog with a list of awesome young adult romance reads. I didn't know what happened next, I just saw myself joining giveaways. I won once in a hundred giveaways and just imagine how happy I felt that time. And then I started tweeting Kai of Amaterasu Reads (the blog I first stumbled upon) when I found out that she's a Filipino book blogger. I asked her some things about books and I found myself asking about blogging. She then asked me if I'm planning to have a blog but I said no. She said I should try and go for it! Which I...did.

Starting a blog with no background or any idea how every button in Blogger works sucks. It does. I hated myself then why did I created one when I don't know how everything works. I've posted the crappiest review ever (wait for it...) for not one, but several books. I just realized it was crappy when I re-read them months ago. But I'm not done yet. The hardest thing to do is think about a catchy blog name. Since I plan my blog to be about random stuff, I came with Michelle Shouts Random, which is lame. Okay. I admit. I'm not really a fan of my previous blog name. For me, it sounds weird, but I still launched it. Haha My goal that time was to get this blog over with. XD

But over time, I learned a lot of things, I've met cool bookworms and bloggers, read amazing books, met awesome authors (online, of course) and contact fantastic publishers. Oh! And the most amazing thing about blogging? Receiving FREE books. *sighs dreamily* Yes, one of the main reasons I jumped into blogging is to receive free books because I'm not that rich to buy all the books that I want. :P

Months ago, I realized why not re-launch this blog with a new name and even a layout? It also came into my mind that I could do it on my blogoversary so it'll be all-in-one celebration.  I weighed the consequences. What if my readers would be lost if they visited Michelle Shouts Random? I could lose them. So I decided to announce it ahead of time so all of you would know. And here we are now.

Flashback:

Michelle Shouts Random blog banner

Michelle Shouts Random blog button and favicon

Michelle Shouts Random blog post divider

Why The Escapist? I picked the name because that's what I'm feeling whenever I read books or listen to music. Escaping. I'd always be in a different world whenever I start turning the pages of the book or hearing the intro of a song. I also decided to blog about books only and a few of music. I won't be blogging random stuff since I already didn't met that goal after a few months of launching Michelle Shouts Random. And I also have a tag line--which I really loved, to be honest. :D That is.. Escaping reality through books and music.

There are a lot of people I want to thank. I don't want to name because I know I might forget someone and he/she could hate me and I could lose a friend. :( :)And I don't want for that to happen. So let me have this opportunity to thank every one of you. You. You, who had the time reading this very post. You, who reads my posts, review or not. Giveaway or not. You, for being an epic reader and/or follower. You, who contributes to my pageviews on my statistics count, for you only knew how many times. You, who tweets, retweets and favorites me. You, who comments on my posts. You, who's helping me share the word about my posts and/or giveaways. You, for helping me develop my blogging/review skills. You, for being excited for this event. You, who's just being simply awesome. YOU are part of my one year of successful blogging. THANK YOU. And did I told you I love you all? :)

Super thanks as well to the awesome publishers who's trusting me with their titles. You don't know how grateful I am to all of you. You made one of my dreams come true. I hope you will continue to trust me with your titles.

Okay, over with the talk. Heehee. Just remember: Thank you! If I could hug you all right now, I'll squeeze you tight! Now let's proceed to the fun part! Could you guess what is it? .....

GIVEAWAY! Yay! :D

This giveaways is sponsored by yours truly to thank every one of you. Two winners could get their book of choice from Book Depository or Amazon. This is open internationally. The only mandatory entry here is to click the green button of FREE entry, which you can get every day. Throughout the week, I will be posting three more giveaways sponsored by two awesome publishers and one of my fave authors. I will still also be posting regular stuff such as reviews and memes. Stay tuned for some major fun! Enjoy and good luck! :)

*Enter my blogoversary giveaway part 2 (2 INT winners, choice from HarperCollins YA 2013 titles), part 3 (3 INT winners, The Lunar Chronicles swag pack + interview with Marissa Meyer) and part 4 (5 US winners, books from Simon Pulse YA contemporary list)

The EVENT button:

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The new BLOG button:

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