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!
Congratulations, and Happy Anniversary! If I won a bag I would use it to carry around Sweet Release by Pamela Clare, because really, I never like to be too far from it ;).
Happy 9th Anniversary!
Omg…decisions, decisions…would I put “Moon Called” by Patricia Briggs or “Magic Bites” by Illona Andrews or “Bear Meets Girl” by Shelly Laurenston. All starring heroines that don’t take no shit from anybody…but if I had to choose, I think I would pick “Magic Bites”…there is just something about Kate Daniels and her menagerie of unique characters that just puts a smile on my face.
🙂
I’d put my kindle paperwhite in my bag, next book is Slow Seduction by Celia Tan. I’ve found so many wonderful reads through your blog. Thanks a million!
Congrats, SB! You’re a tween! Don’t start getting all sassy and smart-mouthed now—er, I mean, don’t *stop.* 🙂
As for a book to put in a beautiful Willow bag, I would probably slip in a comfort read like Robin McKinley’s Sunshine or Wrede & Stevermer’s Sorcery and Cecelia. Assuming I didn’t just take my whole Nook with me.
It’s funny that I just ordered and received a small boat tote from LLBean to carry my Kindle. At this moment I have my old faithful 1st gen Fire newly loaded with Jeaniene Frost’s Cat and Bones series and Connie Brockaways’ latest in paperback. I really like the Sherpa bag, they have them at REI and I have looked at them a few times…..I’ve been searching for the perfect bag for my electronics for years!
Great giveaway!
Happy Anniversary to the Smart Bitches! I’ve enjoyed every letter of your site and hope to do so in the future:)
I’d put in my bag the new Tessa Dare book Romancig the Duke.
What a great anniversary gift! Love the bags!
I would put Jill Shalvis Animal attraction and a Dr. Seuss book (for my son).
Thank you!
Happy Anniversary, I have loved every moment reading your blog. There are many romances I would read over and over again and can think of the first one that started it all. But, the one I would put it the bag is, Sky Burial: An Epic Love Story of Tibet. A love story that brings you into another world entirely, but completely real. Best wishes for the next 9 Years.
I’d put in my IPad, a small vial of smelling salts and something soft to land ob (the last two necessary from the shock of winning!). Thank you for all you do here 🙂
Here I am, the usual day late, dollar short woman. Really, they created the whole belated birthday card section because of me. I have a good excuse, I spent the evening with my Dad, who has a bad cold. See, that’s a good reason to come home and fall in bed without visiting my favorite place in the internets.
Thanks so much Sarah for all the hard work and hard reading you do and giving us this great place to meet up and talk about it. I am so grateful I happened upon this site. Happy number 9 with many more to come.
And I’d slip in one of my classic Linda Howard Silhouettes and my brand spanking new Kindle (thanks to bros who took a hint when I forwarded your pre-Christmas post – see how you enhance my life?) loaded with the Courtney Milan and Meljean Brook e-book fabulousness that I’ve been missing. And I’m going to need them as Dad’s getting his hip replaced after he gets over his cold.
Happy Anniversary! Looking forward to many more years of SBTB.
I’d put my Nook which has 350 books stored safely away inside. Hard to pick a favorite, I love them all. 🙂
I’d slide my ipad in! It’s loaded up with some old faves I haven’t read in many years, like Linda Lael Miller’s Orphan Train series
Happy Anniversary!
In my Willow (the McKlein), I’d keep my Kindle, which is waiting for The Undead Pool to load on February 25. 🙂
Well, I would carry around the book I am currently (re)reading, The Mists of Avalon. Aahh the feels of my teenage years. What a great book. Thank goddess for digital editions though, because this is not a convenient book to tuck in handbag, even such sturdy ones as the above…
Happy Anniversary!
Thank you for the great reviews, fun and empowerment, among many other things.
I’d put The Last Hellion in the bag, because that’s what I’m reading at the moment.
Congratulations on 9 years! If I definitely put my Google Nexus in the bag hopefully with a copy of Fear Nothing by Lisa Gardner on it.
Happy Anniversary! Fantastic website. I would put my kindle in the bag but first TBR would be Reaper’s Legacy
Happy 9th! I’d put my Kindle in the bag which is already loaded with hundreds of books but for sure I’d make sure I had a Civil Contract on it.
currently reading an ARC I can’t mention (from Montana Born Books) on my kindle fire and I’d place it in the Kipling Willow
ps. happy anniversary!
ONE book? Gah. 😛 I’d like to say I’d put in my imaginary kindle. XD But, “Romancing the Duke” just came in the mail yesterday, so I’d pick that one.
And a happy 9th anniversary to you, and much bitchery and fun to the next nine and more!
Congratulations, Sarah! I can’t quite remember anymore when I started visiting SBTB, but it’s been a few years—this site, as well as DA, has definitely influenced and widened my reading purchases!
If I won one of the bags, I would put in Zoe (my Kindle Paperwhite) to finish reading Barbara Hambly’s Darwath Trilogy, as well as the manga Ooku, volume 9. I learned about these books in SBTB/DA over the years!
Congratulations again, Sarah, and thank you for the many hours of reading pleasure SBTB has helped me to have!
Happy 9th Anniversary, you Smart Bitches, you! All the bags are lovely and it would be a delight to win one. I would carry my copy of Shana Galen’s Sapphires are an Earl’s Best Friend in mine.
I’d be tempted to put the Smart Bitches guide to romance novels in for symbolic reasons. But, it would most likely be my kindle with the newest Victoria Dahl or Beverly Jenkins novel.
Hi Sarah,
Happy 9th! I would put my kindle in the Willow bag. It has all my books including the best romance ever, Pride and prejudice.
Happy Anniversary! Congrats on 9 years! Meanwhile, so hard to choose what book I’d put in the bag, so I think I’ll go with my most recent read, Isabel Cooper’s Legend of the Highland Dragon.
I’d put in my Kindle with its 100 unread books – that would be Sally Mandel “Out of the Blue” that I am reading now.
NINE! That’s amazing. Really. Congratulations so much!
Oh, so many books! I’d start with my Kindle so I could carry a LOT of books. Plus, they look big enough for me to carry my current WIP—that’s a book, right? And since I am going away at the end of February, I’ll need a physical book, too, in case they make me turn off my Kindle for take off and landing…I’ve been looking at The Telling Room: A Tale of Love, Betrayal, Revenge, and the World’s Greatest Piece of Cheese for a while now.
Happy anniversary, SBTB!
I always put my Kindle in whatever bag I’m using, so this drawing is right up my alley! Right now I’m reading The Diviners by Libba Bray, so that’s what I’d have loaded up and ready to go. It’s YA, not romance, but I’m really enjoying it!
HAPPY 9TH ANNIVERSARY, SBTB!!! I have enjoyed this blog for many, many years and I hope you can continue it for many, many more years!
I love so many books that I’m going to agree to putting my Kindle in the bag first because it has a few thousand books on it (I think I’m getting close to capacity and I really should remove some of those I’ve already read probably) and I wouldn’t have to slight any of my favorites!
Thank you for all you do!
I’m one of the Kindle carriers, and my machine would go in the bag loaded with historical romance.
I rediscovered romance about three years ago. I thank my lucky stars for finding this blog, because without it I might have never found all the great books and authors out there – in fact I might have already given up the genre.
Hope someone baked you an anniversary cake!!
I’d have to take some P.G. Wodehouse along with my Sony e-reader in one of those bags. His high-brow snark would honour your snark, oh bag-giver-awayer. 🙂 And his books are full of the most ridiculous, over-the-top, hilarious romances. Part of the gift card would go towards the next Jim Butcher Dresden book because, lord, I am waiting for that.
Lord of Scoundrels
Thank you for being there—and 9 years, WOW! Definitely have to put both my Kindle & my Nook in the bag. How could I bear to leave any of my book boyfriends behind?
Happy 9th and thanks for all you do to entertain the rest of us bitches! I would put anything by Eloisa James in my bag. Or Gone With the Wind…
Happy Anniversary.
The new Kristen Ashley Kaleidoscope comes out that day. So I will pick that.
Happy Anniversary! What lovely bags and generous giveaway. It would be to put my Kindle with the Ilona Andrew’s Kate Daniels series in it. I’m reading the third book right now.
I’d carry around the new Tessa Dare that I haven’t had time to read yet…
Happy anniversary. I love those bags. I would carry Bet Me around.
SmartBitches has saved my reading life!
I would definitely put Outlander in (and an extra copy or two to give to random strangers…)