Your World in a Bathtub: 2012

I like to do a little recap at the end of the calendar year. This year, I am paring it down to two stats: The day with most views and the post new in that the year authored by me with most views. This year they are 2 different posts.

I want to thank Essays on Childhood writer Jeremy Paden for the busiest day of the year, June 13th. The most popular post that day was This World Is Not My Home by Jeremy Paden (part 4). If you love good writing and powerful stories, you owe it to yourself to read Jeremy’s essay from the beginning.

Turning Point Images: The Girl in the Bathtub was my own 2012 post with the most views. I didn’t expect that, and yet I am moved to know it. That was an important piece for me.

Thank you for reading Esse Diem! I wish you a very happy New Year.

Elizabeth

Drum Roll, Please! The Meme Winners Are…

Yes, I sound a lot like your grandmother when I say this, but it is true: I am honored to have had each of the 17 submitted photographs in this little gavotte into sharing favorite books and poking some well-deserved fun at my own blogger image. Each one is unique, and witty, and well done. You make me proud!

To see all the entries, visit http://elizgaucher.tumblr.com/search/meme.

There are two winners.

The first is the top prize for Reader’s Choice, and it goes to Jean Hanna Davis for her self-portrait with Kindle:

Voters in an online poll awarded her a staggering 40% of the votes cast. Congratulations, Jean! On its way to you is a copy of the book in my own self-portrait, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. Naturally, you will receive the Kindle edition!

I am awarding an Editor’s Pick prize as well. This prize is based solely on my own gut reaction to how well a photograph mimics my own. My choice is the entry by Teresa McGlothlin Wissen for her self-portrait with One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest:

The black and white choice, the oddly unsettling (yet not unpleasant) expression over the book, and the facial proportions to the cover all made this photo stand out from the beginning. It also has a je ne sais quoi quality that haunts me. Teresa will receive a photographic print of the original book cover by Paul Bacon.

Truly, thank you to everyone who took the time to join in the fun of this project, and special thanks to Doug Imbrogno who invented it! You all are the best.