Today is the 9th Anniversary of Smart Bitches! We were founded 31 January 2005, and what a long, funky nine years it's been!
Thank you for being here to talk about romance and all the other things we love and enjoy and don our ragepants about. I'm so glad you're here.
To celebrate, I usually do a silly giveaway that's tied to the traditional or modern gifts for that year's anniversary. Last year, the traditional gift included linen and lace, so I gave away fichus. (Bitches love fichus).
This year? OH, THE TRICKERYNESS. Because sometimes, the traditional and modern anniversary gifts are completely difficult, like this year: pottery and china! Or willow!
Or LEATHER GOODS.
I have some leather goods for you right here:
No, I'm not giving away a leather-clad Fabio. I wouldn't know where to find him.
I could go with , or some shoes. A leather trench coast would be interesting, but if you had to hunt vampires or werewolves, it might endanger your life with all that creaking and noisy swooshing that leather makes, so that wouldn't work.
Or, I could get everyone some pot, but that's only legal in two states.
Hmmm.
But soft! What gift idea from yonder browser window breaks? There are a bunch of different and very cute bags named “Willow.”
AW YEAH.
For our 9th anniversary, I'm giving away bags. Willow bags – bags named “willow” – each perfect for carrying one's books and reading essentials. And each one comes with a $50 gift card to the bookstore of your choice.
Meet your Willows!
This is the Kipling Willow, a canvas bag, the right size for the essentials. It has a zipper closure, and is 7″ (17.8cm) high by 13″ (33cm) wide. It also has a set of double top handles with 7″ drop, plus an adjustable detachable long strap with 26″ drop.
Another Willow! This is the Sherpani Willow bag:
It's a little funky, a little different, but still a good size for a book and your essentials — and reviewers online say the front pocket is perfect for a Kindle. It's 10″ by 10″ (25cm x 25cm), with an adjusaible crossbody strap.
But wait! There's one more Willow! This one satisfies the leather AND the willow gifts:
This is the McKlein Leather Briefcase. It's 16.5″ x 11.5″ (41.9cm x 29.2cm), with a compartment for a small latop up to 15.4” in screen size.
Want to try to win a willow and a $50 bookstore gift card? Easy! Just leave a comment as to what book you'd put in your bag, either in paper or digital format. I'll select three winners at random. One comment enters you to win one of the three bags and gift cards.
Entries will close on Tuesday 4 February 2014 at noon eastern. I'll announce the winners shortly afterward. Standard disclaimers apply. Void where prohibited. Open to international residents where permitted by applicable law. Must be over 18 and ready to read and rock a righteous bag to enter. By submitting an entry to the contest as set forth herein, each entrant does acknowledge and agree that, in the event such entrant is victorious, such entrant will perform a ceremony reasonably appropriate to such circumstance, including, without limitation, the Miposian Dance of Joy or, in the alternative, Gangnam Style.
Thank you for making 9 years of Smart Bitches so much fun. Happy anniversary!
Yea, indeed! Yonder bitches love ye leathers.
Wow, what book do I want/need? Um… a way to carry my Nook without breaking it. I no longer do the 20 books at once from the library thing, mostly because of the aforementioned nook and the convenience of one-click buying from amazon to be sent to my smart phone…
So, yeah. Small laptop. I’ve got one of those. But I think I’m in love with that middle one with the flower. So we’ll say Nook. And I want to read… Oh, Eloisa James has a book out soon, right? And Rose Lucas. And so many others….
Happy Anniversary and thank you so much for being here.
My book would be – my Kindle. I didn’t realize how attached I got until Kindle #1 died and couldn’t be revived. I think Kindle #2 was in my possession within 48 hours. A must is that it must be stock with old favorites (Suzanne Brockmann, Diana Gabaldon, Sherry Thomas, and Courtney Milan) and new.
Love your site, makes me laugh hard on a daily basis, keep up the great work!
But really, just one book?!? Not possible! How about one author? I just read my first Nora Roberts earlier this week (Naked in Death), so if I had all her books on my Paperwhite that would keep me occupied to infinity, and beyond!
Happy Anniversary!
I would put Really Bad Baby Names, this little book I carry around in my current bag. It’s a great ice breaker at parties and bars.
Up from the Grave by Jeaniene Frost as I’m starting it tonight.
Plus so many others… like many have stated,
it never can be just one. Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary!
As to what I’d put in the bag, I’d definitely bring my Nook along. But I still prefer hard copies, so I’d also bring one of those along. Perhaps something a bit older like Linda Howard’s Shades of Twilight or After the Night.
Happy Anniversary!
I would put my Kindle in the bag, and Heyer’s FREDERICA which I am currently re-reading.
Happy 9th anniversary – that totally rocks! 🙂
If I were to win of these amazing bags, I would put “Lover Eternal” by J.R. Ward or “Archangel’s Blade” by Nalini Singh in there – or if you let me get away with it, I’d put them both in there! (And sneak in my jam packed, full o’ goodness Kindle as well…)
Thanks for such a great site – I love coming here!
Happy Anniversary SBTB!! Awwwww, you remembered your anniversary and we get the gift!! Very cool – you are just my kind of bitches!! If I were to win, I would throw my kindle in on of those wonderfull bags full of authors I haven’t read enough of – Georgette Heyer & Meredith Duran. I would also put in a paperback copy if Kate Atkinson’s Life After Life be because I have been dying to read it & my kindle charger is a little temperamental. I was a Girl Scout – my motto, be prepared.
I’ve enjoyed the reviews, humor, insight and hilarity of the Pink Palace of Bitchery for many years. As long as there are heaving bosoms, flowing tresses and man titties, may the Bitchery continue to reign!!
I would keep my trusty kindle with me at all times! But it looks like those bags could manage to hold one of my sturdier fantasy novels too, so I’d sneak in as many of my Juliet Marillier books as I could!
Thanks for the giveaway SBTB! You rock – don’t ever change!
Congratulations! That is fantastic; it’s been so great to see the site grow and develop and constantly increase in sheer awesomesauce.
I strongly suspect that I would end up with a whole bag full of books, because choosing just one is hard (and I don’t have the Kindle/Nook option, alas). I think that at the moment I would try to stuff all of my Kate Daniels series paperbacks in there, because I just got the most recent one for Christmas (after having gotten the previous ones last Christmas!).
They’re fairly portable; it could totally work!
Congrats on nine years!
I would definitely start with JAK’s “River Road.” Can’t wait to read that book!
Happy Anniversary! Yours is my my absolute favorite blog! I’m currently reading Quiet: The Power Of Introverts by Susan Cain so that is the book I would carry in my bag right now.
I’m always excited to fire up the Kindle with the next recommendation gleaned from the SBTB website – happy anniversary to the SB universe!
Happy 9th Anniversary!
My Kindle is already loaded with all my favorites, so I’d just carry that with me in one of those beautiful bags.
Holy God, that briefcase is beautiful. Obviously I’d put my Kindle in it, stuffed with Courtney Milan and Victoria Dahl and Julie James, and on paper I’d toss in the most recent Jeaniene Frost novel, Up From the Grave. And I would be the happiest in all the land.
I’d put Tessa Dare newest book “Romancing the Duke” in the bag, paper format, and my iPad with my kindle and nook apps & libraries on it.
I must say the bags are GORGEOUS!!! I failed to notice a link to them. Please share for those of us who don’t win. If we were voting after being selfish and winning one myself, I’d vote for Jaqueline Witherspoon. Wonderful comment!
Happy Anniversary and may there be many many more! As many anniversaries as there are photos of Fabio!
Happy Anniversary!
My problem is always too many books, no enough room! I would definitely take my Kindle that way I don’t have to choose just one book.
I had to think for a while but I decided that I would put the Donovan Legacy book 2 Entranced. It isnt my favorite book but it was my first favorite book.
Joyeax anniversaire Bitches! I love to start my day right here with a big steamin’ cup of high test caffeine and all of you for company. As for the bag…well. First my Nook, which would go right next to my picture of leather clad Fabio. Then I’d toss in my thank you note addressed to SB Sarah that expresses my heartfelt thanks for all the work she does to make the Pink Palace all it can be. And a tip ‘o the hat to Carrie S. and Elyse for the kick-ass reviews.
Congratulations on nearly a decade of books, news, fun and bitchery!
This place introduced me to Susan Elizabeth Phillips Chicago Stars books – so I’d have to fill the bag with them and my kobo full of DIKs and classics.
I would also pack a notebook to write all these fantastic recommendations. 😉
Happy Anniversary!!! And congratulations Sarah on your wonderful site; the bitchery is terrific.
Like so many others, I just have to have my (still new) Kindle in the bag, but I’d probably throw in Suzanne Brockmann’s Born to Darkness as I’m about to get started on checking out the new series.
Thanks for the celebratory drawing.
Bellman and black on my nook
Thanks for nine fun years!
Bitches might love fichues, but they love Mr. Darcy, as well. So, I’d be carrying a digital copy of Pride and Prejudice. This bitch will also carry the Harry Potter series.
Happy Anniversary!!
I’d put in the bag my Kindle which has everything I’d want to read if left alone on a deserted island and Chaos Burning by Lauren Dane which is what I’m currently reading.
(Can never have too many books at your fingertips)
Anything R Lee Smith writes.
Happy 9th anniversary! It’s always fun to visit you. I would put Open Season by Linda Howard in the bag since it’s a favorite.
Congrats on 9 years! If I am lucky enough to win a Willow, I’d have to put my favorite Jill Shalvis book in it. I absolutely loved reading Jill’s Animal Magnetism series and “Rescue My Heart” is my favorite so that one is going in the bag.
Happy Anniversary, Smart Bitches!! May the Bitchery live forever! I would carry The Illustrated Guide to Miposian Dance in order to perform the ritual, if I am victorious, with great accuracy and aplomb! Plus my Kindle, because my Kindle is my life, and I don’t leave home without it.
Congratulatiions on the anniversary and milestone! I enjoy the laughs, recommendations and honest reviews and thoughts.
Those bags are adorable. If I was lucky enough to be a winner, well I would put my Kindle in it, but also probably a book that I can and have reread many times – Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James. I am always in a mood for delightful banter and humor. 😀
I would put my Kindle with Joanna Wylde’s Saurelian Chronicles Collection in the bag. Smut in space!
Happy 9th!!! Whoo hooo!
I would love to have carry my iPad mini in the Willow….because it has a ton of books and I can always get more in a flash…. but if pushed…. I would say the next book on my list is Season of the Witch. I need a good gothic love triangle.
Happy Anniversary to you! I just bought the new Tessa Dare, so that’s what I’m carrying our right now, but I’ll probably finish it before the winners are drawn, so… I’m rather impatient for the new Pennyroyal Green by Julie Anne Long that comes out in March.
Happy 9th Anniversary! I am contemplating going on a female-only reading challenge, and while I’m really excited about Wolf Hall, the one you’d probably see in one of those lovely bags is The Warmth of Other Suns.
Congratulations on your anniversary! I always look forward to your posts. Summer Sisters by Judy Blume would go in my bag. Prolly along with Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret. Ha! We’ll throw in Wifey too.
Happy Anniversary! I love the Sherpani bag, and I would put “Cordelia’s Honor” in it. I just mailed my copy to a friend who loves sci-fi, but incredibly, hadn’t read any Bujold. It’s only been a week but I already miss it. I’ll probably buy an e-book version, so I know it’ll be there to reread whenever the urge comes on.
Happy anniversary!!! Thanks for the reviews and recommendations.
I’d carry my Kindle because I love so many books. If I had to pick one or two books I’d choose Pride and Prejudice and Wolf and the Dove
I’m so glad that you exist… Romantic novels discussed with knowledge, and fun! I really love this page, I hope you keep on working as you have done til this date.
Thanks for the giveaway and happy anniversary! I would definitely put an ereader or my iPad mini in one of the bags. I always have one or both devices with me:) And loaded with Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell—it’s moving up on my to-read list!
I think this is my first time commenting on the site, though I am a long time follower and long time reader of trashy books.
I’m a big believer in carrying a book and a back-up book. Hmm, the next up on the Leaning Tower of TBR is an old Nora Roberts that I managed to miss, Blood Brothers. And for the back-up, one of my old favorites, Georgette Heyer’s Devil’s Cub. Or maybe Jane Aiken Hodge’s Watch the Wall My Darling. Oh hell, I’ll take them both.
Congratulations on nine great years.