Stephen Tremp Celebrates the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge

         Most of you know Stephen Tremp from his Breakthrough Blog and his many blog comments.  Stephen has been a blog friend of mine almost from my earliest bloggy beginnings.  I'm a big fan of his Chase Manhattan book series (Openings to be released in January 2012!).  Stephen Tremp was one of the co-hosts of the 2011 Challenge.  We include his reflections post from this past May here today.  Deja vu--you may have read this already.




Well, I survived the 2011 April A to Z Challenge as did many of you. I think survive is very good word. I met some awesome people and got reacquainted with many others.

Thanks again to Arlee Bird, Alex Cavanaugh, Talli Roland, Jennifer Daiker, Jeffrey Beesler, Karen Gowan, and Candace Ganger for putting together such an awesome blogging event and inviting me to take part as a co-host.

I had personal challenges such as an IRS audit for 2008 (why so close to the filing date) and lingering medical emergencies in my immediate family. This prevented me from visiting many blogs the second half of April. So I thank you all for stopping by my blog and saying hi. I hope you enjoyed the science-based posts as much as I did.


I learned much about myself during this past month. Life is precious and should be treated more valuable than gold. No doubt many of you had your own personal obstacles to overcome too. So, if you haven’t already done so, stop by Jennifer Daiker’s blog and Elizabeth Mueller’s blog for two well-deserved awards.

I’m going to take a few days off from blogging. Possibly a week. But that’s all. I have so much to write about that I have material to take me all the way through summer and well into the fall.

Now it’s time to rest and celebrate. Go and do something crazy. Just don’t get caught. That’s an order!

Question: What are some of your reflections from this past month?

Stephen Tremp
Author: Breakthrough Series
http://breakthroughblogs.blogspot.com/

        Thanks Stephen.  I for one never tire of your blog and the fun and fascinating information you provide us.  Oh, and since this is a Deja Vu post don't forget to visit D. L. Hammons site for the list of other blogs participating in the Deja Vu Blog Fest.  

Related articles

• In Which Arlee Bird Explains Why Blogfests Are a Big Deal (damyantiwrites.wordpress.com)
• A Matter of Life and Death: Another A to Z Story (tossingitout.blogspot.com)

A-Z Reflections – snoitcelfeR Z-A by Bob Scotney

     Today we have the Reflections post from Bob Scotney at Bob's Home for Writing.  He tells us about his first Challenge and what his reactions were.

A-Z Reflections – snoitcelfeR Z-A

I had no idea what I had let myself in for when I signed up for the Challenge, never having entered anything like this before. At the 215 (or was it 216) entry I was amazed to see over 1000 register. That nearly put me off.

I planned to have 5 posts in hand throughout the month, this quickly fell back to 3 – Easter nearly saw me quit.

The main negative for me was trying to read too many blogs each day and after 10 days or so I had to give up searching. Then I discovered the Next Blog and Surprise Me buttons on someone else’s blog and they led me to a wider set of Challengers.

However this meant I was unable to comment on every blog I visited.

Another disappointment was the number of entrants who didn’t. I‘d love to know how many actually completed the challenge.

My followers increase by 66% and by the end I had made it past 100. My thanks to all that joined me.

I was honoured to received three awards – I didn’t know they existed before. Thanks for those and also to Elizabeth Mueller for the laughing Zebra at the end.

Would I do it again? Yes – probably, but like many I would have to trim the length of some of my posts.

Finally congratulations and grateful thanks to Arlee and the ‘gang’ who organised the whole shebang. You did/are doing a great job.

Related articles

• In Which Arlee Bird Explains Why Blogfests Are a Big Deal (damyantiwrites.wordpress.com)

Poetic Praise from Yvonne Lewis

          Poet Yvonne Lewis now has two Blogging from A to Z Challenges behind her and is looking forward to the 2012 Challenge.  On her blog Welcome to My World of Poetry Yvonne always offers her posts in verse and she never faltered during the two A to Z Challenges.  Today we pay tribute to the tribute Yvonne paid to the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge of 2011.

                REFLECTIONS ON THE A TO Z CHALLENGE:

REFLECTIONS ON THE A TO Z CHALLENGE:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

This being the second A to Z I've participated,

It was certainly all I hoped it would be.

I've made some fantastic new friends

Thanks to the A to Z.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Along with friends from last year,

My followers are now many more.

My one wish is we stay acquainted

After all that's what's blogging is for.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I wish I could have visited more blogs

For the entries exceeded all expectations.

In all honesty I did my best,

But there were so many from all different nations.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I have learned quite alot about so many things

As each blog is unique in its own way.

It was certainly a pleasure to communicate

Each and every day.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

My thanks go to the team

Who organised the event.

For the month of April.

To me The A to Z challenge was....Heaven Sent.

..