December was the first month that I used a Google Spreadsheet to track comments and offer a f ull month giveaway. I really enjoyed using the spreadsheet and I am excited to announce not only the winners of the December Comment Contest – but also some fun statistics of this blog.
When I started blogging I didn’t know about other book bloggers. I blogged what I considered to be a personal record of what I had read and if someone found my blog and commented – that was just a bonus. All book reviews I completed at that time were from my own bookshelves. I had no idea you could connect with publishers and authors that actually wanted peopel to read and review their books. Before discovering Book Blogs and learning how to promote my blog, I averaged about 400 hits a month.
In June of 2009, a person commented on my blog and I went to see where they came from and I seen they were a member of something called Book Blogs. That’s the story… from that point on I signed up… found the world – this world, of bloggers, people like me who loved books! In a nut shell… I haven’t looked back!
In December, I had 12,385 visits to my blog. I had over 1,300 comments (this of course does not count my own). I am 
still so amazed that people are reading what I write… and so thankful again to have met so many wonderful book friends!
Two of my top posts for December were:
Morning Meanderings (The one where I showed pictures of the new shelves)
and
Pondering Moments (the discussion on how I read so many books)
Ok… enough on the statistics… here are the winners of the December Giveaway (using Random.Org):
First… I have two random winners who will receive choice out of the Prize Box… they are:
#442: Laurel!
#1046: Shari D!
And now for my top three commentors for December:
3rd Place: Ryan Wordsmithonia
2nd: Place: Julie J My Own Little Corner Of The World
**Each of you will have choice to receive a copy of Reader’s Choice, 200 Book Club Favorites sent to you or you may choose something out of the prize box.
1st place – top commentor for December 2009 goes to:
Esme – Chocolates and Croissants!!!!
She wins the $25 Amazon Gift Card which has already been emailed her way!
Congratulations!
Book Journey 
You’ve been a great inspiration to me! Love reading your blog!
Lydia that is so sweet! Thank you!
Congrats to your winners, especially my good friend Ryan!
Happy New Year!
This is one of the first blogs I visit in the mornings. I always look forward to coming here and reading your posts.
Congrats to all the winners!
Thank you Zia!
Congrats Sheila (and the winners)! What an awesome month! Happy New Year!
Thanks Reagan!
How do you keep track of your statistics?
Reagan on wordpress it does it for you. I have a blog statistic page where it keeps track of post hits, overall blog hits, daily, weekly monthly…
I am not sure how that works on other blogs. Anyone able to answer that one?
You’ve got a wonderful blog– certainly an inspiration to me. I’m glad you wrote about Google Spreadsheets can track comments– I had no idea! Thanks for the inadvertent tip!
Laura Hartness
The Calico Critic
Thank you Laura! I am sure I dont use Google spreadsheets anywhere to the capacity they can be used but it is working for me to chart commentors and numbering the comments overall in a given month.
Yea! Congrats to the winners and congrats to an awesome blog :0)
Natalie
Thanks Natalie- you are so kind!
What (or where) is Book Blogs and what do you do with it? Yes, this is coming from a newbie.
I’ll answer here for you Helen. I hope you and Sheila won’t mind. Book Blogs is a place where bloggers get together and network. You can find them here
Thank you Julie – I appreciate your help, I was gone most of today. 🙂
I will email Helen to make sure she has this information now. 🙂 Book Blogs was really the start for me.
Sheila-thank you so much-I can hardly wait to add to my book collection.
Enjoy it Esme – and thank you!
Congrats to all the other winners! Congrats also to Sheila for such great blogging accomplishments in 2009!
Sheila, you need to tell us a bit more about using Google Spreadsheets! I’m contemplating it…tell us pros/cons if you would please! 🙂
Thanks Julie! I will have to look closer at Google spreadsheets to give you the great details. I used it for the first time in December to keep track of all comments. I just listed everyone and kept track of the numbers.
Let me look into it more and if I figure out something brilliant I will write up a post on it for pondering moments. 🙂
Congratulations to all of the winners!
And I second Julie, as I’d also like to know more about the Google spreadsheets you mentioned. Thanks!
Hi Alexia – I am going to look into this further and see what I can find out. Currently I used it just basically but I bet there is a way to utilize it even better.
The Google spreadsheet is off of Google Gmail if you have it take a look at it. 🙂
Thank you so much Sheila! You are awesome and congrats to the other winners. If it’s still available I would like a book out of the prize box, Secrets Of The Christmas Box by Steven Hornby. Ever since I read your review I’ve been craving it.
It’s your Ryan – I am thrilled to send it to you. Email me your address and I will get it out on Monday. 🙂
Congrats to the winners for December!
Congratulations, Everyone.
blogging is just great. i’m glad you found us all and are enjoying everything!