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Let's Chat: a Monthly Wrap Up for July
Hello again, friends!
Today I'm introducing a new series to the blog. The Monthly Books and Blog Chat Sesh series will be a wrap up of the books I've read and what's new on the blog and in my life.
You might've seen some similar end-of-the-month type posts on other blogs (notably - Bri from Brianna Stryker Writes has a great monthly chat series) and I'm hoping to make this a regular staple on my blog, so let me know if you're into it!
And now, here's my wrap up for July:
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Reading Wrap Up
I usually try to read about one book a week, but sometimes I read more or less depending on how the month looks. This month, I read a total of 4 books - two of which were audio-books since I was traveling (and unfortunately, I get massive car sickness so I can't actually read in the car.)
The Siren • Katherine St. John
I actually downloaded this one as an audio book and listened to it on my recent vacation, and going into it, I didn't really know what to expect (yes, I judged it by the cover - so sue me!)
Billed as a thriller, it's part suspense, part juicy Hollywood gossip. Both topics interest me, but I honestly felt like the Hollywood gossip part was more intriguing than the thriller part, which felt a little predictable to me.
Of all the books I read this month, this one was my least favorite. I liked the writing style, but the plot felt overly formulaic and unsurprising, so I only gave it 2 1/2stars.
But, I will say that it was easy to read and entertaining, and if you're into that sort of thing, you'll probably really enjoy this one.
The Family Next Door • Sally Hepworth
I'm a HUGE fan of Sally Hepworth and I've read a whole bunch of her books. And, as expected, this one lived up to my expectations.
As with her other reads, there is an element of mystery to this domestic drama, but it goes much deeper than that. Complex issues of marriage, fidelity, family, and morals are brought up in an entertaining and thought provoking way.
The End of Her • Shari Lapena
Stephanie is a new mother with a seemingly perfect life. But when a stranger shows up claiming to know sordid details about her husband's past, she starts to question how well she really knows him.
Personally, I love a good female anti-hero! If you're the same way, definitely check out this book by Shari Lapena.
Like her other books, this one is also a fast-paced read and you'll probably finish it rather quickly.
A Special Place for Women • Laura Hankin
Hands down, the best from my July reads, this is also one of my favorite books so far this year. And Laura Hankin is quickly becoming one of my top authors.
(Read my recent post on the best books to read this summer.)
There's wealthy women with secrets, an exclusive and mysterious club for the elite, elements of astrology and tarot, and a lot of heart.
If there's only one book you read from this list, let it be this one.
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Blogging Wrap Up
This month, I've made quite a few changes to the blog - I've expanded my niche, added more services, and created a whole host of new freebies!
Lifestyle Category
When I first started blogging, I wanted to write about dating and relationships. But I've since realized that there are a myriad of other topics I love and want to talk about on here. So, in late June, I created a new Lifestyle category on the blog.
It seems like my Relationship-based posts get more engagement, but I'm hoping that's because readers are still getting used to the new addition (as am I.) Personally, I'm really enjoying branching out a little so I'm definitely going to continue.
Tarot Blog
This month, I decided to take a little break from my second blog, The Tarot Bitch, and focus solely on this one. I don't get as much traffic or interest on that blog, so it sometimes felt meaningless for me to post there.
I've actually felt really good about stepping back, so I'll probably continue this hiatus for the time being.
But, for those who are interested, I do still offer Tarot readings on my Ko-Fi site. I also created a Tarot Card Cheat-Sheet (I haven't added it to my Freebies Library yet, but you can get it directly in your inbox by subscribing here.)
More Freebies
I've had a Members Only page for email subscribers since the very beginning, but at first, it was just filled with fun personality quizzes I created. Then, I added a few printables.
I found that I really love creating new printables, so I decided to create a separate page just for the Freebies. I add new printables all the time, and this month, I added a new 30-Day Self-Love Challenge, Reading Log, Love Language Worksheet, and Vacation Planning Packet to the library.
Keeping the two pages separate has been easier for me and I feel it makes the site more organized, but let me know what you think.
New Service - Advertising
One of my biggest goals has been to eventually try and monetize my blog. While I don't expect to get rich or use blogging as my full source of income, I do put a lot of time and energy into it.
So, this month, I started working towards that goal by introducing a new service - Advertising for other bloggers.
Blog Advertising is something I've been wanting to do since I first started The Dating Bitch. I was always so hesitant, though, because I wasn't sure if I had enough clout for anyone to want to advertise with me.
But, I decided to go ahead and add it to my blog anyway - I'm hoping to continue growing and gaining more credibility in the blogging community.
To determine the price, I looked at other blogs, but since my blog is so much newer, I also decided to give a major discount to subscribers. As I'm also trying to grow my email list, I figured this would be a good way to kill 2 birds with one stone.
Finally, as a way of promoting the new service and getting the word out there, I decided to do a Giveaway on Twitter for my first advertiser!
Giveaway Winner
Kayleigh Zara of kayleighzaraa.com is my first advertiser now! She's a fantastic lifestyle blogger who shares tips on blogging, making money, beauty, fashion, and overall wellness.
Here are a few of her recent posts you should check out:
And make sure you follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
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Personal Chat - A Wrap Up of My Month
This month, I was lucky enough to go on three different vacation's - a huge highlight of my summer.
For our first trip as a couple, John and I went on a weekend getaway to a nearby city. Then, we went out of town to visit some of my relatives. Finally, we took a long, six-day vacation with my parents and little one (and John held his own with my crazy family, so kudos to him!)
But, this month, I also faced a major disappointment.
One of my biggest passions in life is creative writing, and I finally achieved my lifelong goal of writing a novel. It was under consideration with an agent, but they chose to pass. I'm sure some of you out there are thinking that this isn't such a big deal, but it's been hard on me. Even though rejection is par for the course in writing, I'm still nursing my wounds, so I'm not quite ready to wrap up that particular let-down with any sort of eloquent life lesson.
Who knows, maybe soon enough I'll be able to write a whole post on it. For now, though, I'll continue to push myself and hope for the best going forward.
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That's a Wrap!
My biggest takeaway this month has been not to stress as much about blog stats and traffic - I'm going to continue to post what I think readers will be interested in and hope that I can start monetizing, but if not, I'm not going to let it bum me out.
Anyway, thanks so much for reading.
What was your biggest accomplishment this month? Can you relate to my creative disappointment? Let me know in the comments!
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