Thursday, April 14, 2011

Year One at The Ape: Sincere Thanks

April 4th marked one year of blogging here at The Reading Ape. I have to admit It doesn't feel like a meaningful milestone: the blog is still very much in motion and little in the way of observations or conclusions about it come to mind.

I does seem to me, however, to be an appropriate time to say thanks to folks who have helped with advice, responses, reading, publicity, and support. I should also say I'll probably forget someone or have missed something; I should have been tracking the scores of small good deeds done for The Ape along the way.

If I have it right Rachel at A Home Between the Pages was the first backlink I remember seeing.

Greg at The New Dork Review of Books and Amanda at Dead White Guys started blogging right around the same time I did. Both have commented, retweeted, and blogrolled beyond what The Ape deserves.

I think I owe Rebecca at The Book Lady's Blog at least 10% of my Twitter followers, if not more.

Jackie at Farm Lane Books gave me a fantastic plug during Book Blogger Appreciation Week last year. It came at an opportune time; my energy for the blog was waning a bit during a particularly trying semester.

John Williams at The Second Pass has retweeted and backlinked several pieces. Since I kind of want to have a site like his, this was both flattering and motivating.

The Morning News folks have been particularly good sports about passing along my obsessive Tournament of Books "coverage." I guess I shouldn't be surprised that a contest that is about open discussion doesn't mind including an anonymous internet crank.

Shout-out to a couple of regular commenters and retweeters: Mayowa of Pens with Cojones, Patrick at The Literate Man, Brenna at Literary Musings, Kenneth Griggs at The Ken, lifi of Fat Books, Thin Women, and many others I can't think of right now.

A meta-thanks to the literature bloggers I read before starting The Ape: Mark Sarvas of The Elegant Variation, Maud Newton, Mark Athitakis, and Ron Hogan at Beatrice. I saw what these folks were doing and I wanted in. So far, it hasn't been a mistake.

My friend Clint was there for a couple of early discussions about what would become this blog and has been a great supporter and reader all along.

Least digitally, my better half deserves a mention. I spend a lot of time reading and writing for this little hobby, and if she didn't think it was pretty cool, there's no way I would still be doing it. She reads everything and tells me straight what's what.

Thanks to all mentioned here and all you readers out there.

Onward,

The Ape

17 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your first year! Yours is one of the most original, well-researched and thoughtful book blogs out there. Keep up the fantastic work!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations! I have to second farmlanebooks and say you have one of the most thoughtful book blogs out there. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congratulations on your first anniversary! I've loved following you this year and look forward to many more years of internet-based grumpiness (and Twitter linky love) with you.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ape, congratulations for your one year in blogging. To me, you're one of the most interesting voices out there. Keep going strong, cause we're reading.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Just hopping on by! Love your blog! Love your pithy clever wit. BRILLIANT! I am now a brand new follower!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congratulations on one year! I hope there are many more ahead :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congratulations, sir. Keep it up.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This little community is amazing, isn't it? Congrats on the 8,760-hour milestone! And thanks for the mention - very much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Onward, indeed. Congrats on the anniversary. I really enjoy the blog and look forward to reading more.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You've executed superbly. Anytime someone asks me how to do a blog well, I send over your URL. Pick up a bottle sparkling Moscato to celebrate - you won't be disappointed!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for all these kind words. Looking forward to living up to this feedback.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very much appreciated. This sort of company is humbling. And this blog is greatness.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks for the shout-out, Ape. Keep up the great work :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congratulations on the one year anniversary! You have some great information on here, am looking forward to reading more.
    Hopping through on the blog hop.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sincere congratulations, Ape. Your knowledge and insight on all matters literary give us at TLM something to aspire to. And thanks for the mention.

    ReplyDelete