TSS: Sunday Salon on Monday - books, papers, nooks, and challenges

Good morning, good afternoon, good evening and happy tomorrow where ever you may be.  Welcome to my new followers and hi to my loyal readers.  November was a very busy month for me and I wasn't blogging much as you can tell by the lack of posts.

I won National Novel Writing Month by the skin of my teeth with 50,049 words. Eyes in the Ashes is flowing along and I will be going back to look at what I wrote, outline and finish the story.   Halfway through I could tell I needed to go back and expand on the story a bit, include more details and yes, some background to how some of the characters knew each other.  Little details that when mixed in with the rest, added to the mystery and provided clues.

My art history class started the first of November and I had to write a project paper last week as well about an Egyptian work of art.    Reason number one why I did a major push with Nano to get it done early.  Fortunately and surprisingly, we had a copy of an egyptian work of art - The Faience Hippo - sitting in our living room.  You can imagine my surprise when I read about the Hippo in my Art History book.  I had no idea.


I'm excited because I pre-ordered the Barnes and Noble Nook E-reader back when it was first announced and my nook is shipping today.   I'll be sharing pictures and thoughts when it arrives.   I've been perusing B & N's and other ebook sights and am pleased that lovely young woman by the name of Rachel aka Athenagwis, short for Athena Goddess of Wisdom, is hosting a book nook forum called Nookboards.  We've already been discussing a book club, plus I'm hoping someone out in the blogosphere is going to host a e-book reading challenge.  It will give me incentive and help me find more e-books to read.

Speaking of reading challenges, I am working on one of my own called

Mind Voyages

I have enjoyed reading science fiction and fantasy  ever since I was a teenager, many many years ago.    Recently I discovered the World Science Fiction Society's Hugo Award web site. I looked at all the winners and nominees and it made my mouth water. So many good books to read and many authors I was already familiar with and some I'm not.   I even have a few of the older books packed away in my closet. It gave me an idea.  At first, I was going to base the challenge on just the Hugo awards. Then as I thought about it some more, I decided to go with a number of quests including the Hugo winners, taking side trips through the decades reading the nominees, two quests featuring Philip K. Dick and Robert Heinlein.  Plus, since I am the type of person who likes variety will include a discovery quest to read new science fiction and fantasy books.  And for those who want to just dip their toes in the water and choose from the book buffet.  an "I'm giving it all she's got, Captain" quest.   

Plus,  if you have any suggestions for side trips - authors to highlight, web sites to link to or new releases I should be aware of, let me know.    The blog will be going live in the next few days.  Now I just need to figure out what's wrong with Mr. Linky and why he doesn't want to work. 

"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible." - Arthur C. Clarke

30 days - 50000 words I did it!

50049 words in 30 days

Phew! This year was a little bit more stressful than others but I did it. The story is far from finished and I'm already thinking of changes that need to be made. However, I will keep writing, making notes when I think of new things and chapters to add until the story is completed.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!!!!

Celebrate the Author Challenge

Becky of Becky's book reviews is hosting a Celebrate the Author challenge. The challenge is to celebrate author's birthday's by reading one of their books: 12 authors - 12 months = 12 books. The challenge runs from January 1st through December 31st, 2010. Not difficult, right. You can read the books in any order you like, but I'll probably be reading them in their birthday month. It took me some time to figure out which authors I wanted to read and what books I wanted to read. I gave myself one goal however. The books had to be one that have been on my shelves and just have not gotten around to reading. I've come up with an interesting list and look forward to reading the stories.

January: Wilkie Collins 1/8/1824 - The Moonstone

February: Charles Dickens 2/7/1812 - David Copperfield

March: Sarah Ruskin 3/13/1928 - Westing Game

April : Lois Duncan 4/28/1934 - Don't Look Behind You

May: Daphne DuMaurier 5/13/07 - The House on the Strand

June: Dorothy Sayers 7/13 - Unnatural Death

July: Robert Liparulo 7/12/56 - Comes a Horseman

August: Sharon Kay Penman 8/13/1945 - When Christ and His Saints Slept

September: Leo Tolstoy 9/9/1828 - Anna Karenina

October: Nora Roberts 10/10/50 Pick from shelves

November: Ben Bova 11/8/1932 - Death Dream

December: Charles De Lint 12/22/51 - I'll Be Watching You

I'm 18,263 days old today!

Yep. 18,263 days old


Fifty

I think it is

Fine Fantastic Fabulous Fitting and first class


I will celebrate it with

Flare Fun frivolity and flash




I will live it with

familiarity flexibility fluency and fancy free



I refuse to bow down to

Fatalism fury foreboding or funks



Fifty is freedom

to be me, to make of it what I will



Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wing of time.
Jean Paul Richter

40th Bookworms Carnival

The 40th edition of Bookworms Carnival

hosted by Literary Escapism


Urban Fantasy and Gothic Literature


There are some great links to great reviews about great books

Including a couple of my own

NaNoWriMo has a theme song

I'm half way there at 25806

The story is rocking along and good guys are turning into bad guys and the one you think is a bad guy maybe a good guy. No one is who they seem with surprises around each corner. The story is unfolding as I write and some of the characters are surprising me. In the midst of writing, I've gotten very behind with book reviews. 

I've decided not to pressure myself and try to write reviews on the books I read in November, except for review books. The only other review book I read so far is "Holiday Grind" by Cleo Coyle and the rest were just for personal pleasure. Yes, I'm still reading. 

However, I'm done with Take a Chance Challenge. There isn't any way I'm going to finish by the end of the November. I couldn't get into "The Venetian Affair" by Helen MacInnes, nor do I favor reading "Dear and Glorious Physician" by Taylor Caldwell. They are both being shelved until 2010. My wrap up post will be done after November 30th. I only have four books left to read for the Fall Reading Challenge and that doesn't end until December 20th so I'm good there. 

Do you remember the song Hotel California by the Eagles? It was released in the 70's and I loved the song. Do you remember the tune?  Good. 

 Sushi of Sushi Must Write came up with a new version called Hotel NaNoWriMo. “Hotel NaNoWriMo” by Sushi (sushimustwrite) Original: “Hotel California” by the Eagles. 

On the Internet highway, surfing links to links 

Discovering new things, getting sucked in time sinks 

Up ahead in the distance, I saw the Wrimonia sign 

My head then perked up, and I looked ahead 

I’d heard this through the grapevine 

There were writers all over Trebuchets and pell mell And I was thinking to myself

 “This could be heaven or this could be hell” 

Then I noticed Wrimo Hall, and I walked on that way 

There were voices all around the square I thought I heard them say

 Welcome to the Hotel NaNoWriMo 

Such a lovely place (such a lovely place) Such a lovely pace 

Plenty of plots at the Hotel NaNoWriMo Muses near and dear 

You can find them here But there were no plots to be found, at least none that would play nice. 

All I had come November first was some bad advice 

Wrimos write on their laptops, tales to beget 

Some write to remember, some write to forget

 So I called up the forums “Can I please resign?” 

They said, “We haven’t had such quitting here since 1999″ 

And still the editor’s calling from far away 

Poking me in the middle of a war 

Just to hear me say 

 Welcome to the Hotel NaNoWriMo 

Such a lovely place (such a lovely place) Such a lovely pace 

You give up your soul at the Hotel NaNoWriMo 

Kiss your time goodbye (kiss your time goodbye) Kiss your life goodbye 

 Staring at a blank screen Two more K would suffice The mod said, 

“Take some dares, Mr. Ian Woon, and a plot device” 

And in the steel cage of doom They tried to get ahead 

They stab it with their steely sporks But the editor’s not dead 

 Last time I tried to write, I was Untangling my plot 

I pondered quitting once again Just like all those years not fought 

“Don’t quit,” said Chris Baty It might be a reprieve 

You can check out any time you like But you can never leave.

Back to writing!

The Recipe Club by Andrea Israel and Nancy Garfinkel

The Recipe Club

A Tale of Food and Friendship

by

Andrea Israel and Nancy Garfinkel

Front Flap: Loyalty, loss and ties that bind. These are the ingredients of The Recipe Club, a 'novel cookbook' that combines an authentic story of friendship with more than 80 delicious recipes.

Lilly and Val are lifelong friends, united as much by their differences as by their similarities. Lilly, dramatic and confident, lives in the shadow of her beautiful, wayward mother and craves the attention of her distant, disapproving father. Val, shy and idealistic -- and surprisingly ambitious -- struggles with her desire to break free from her demanding housebound mother and a father whose dreams never seem to come true.

In childhood, "lilypad" and ValPal" form an exclusive two person club, writing intimate letters in which they share hopes, fears, deepest secrets--and recipes, from Lilly's "Lovelorn Lasagna" to Valeries "Forgiveness Tapenade." Readers can cook along as the friends travel through time facing the challenges of independence, the joys and heartbreaks of first love, and the emotional complexities of family relationships, identity, mortality, and goals deferred.

The Recipe Club sustains Lilly and Val's bond throughout the decades, regardless of what different paths they take or what misunderstandings threaten to break them apart...until the fateful day when an act of kindness becomes an unforgiveable betrayal.

Now, years later, while trying to recapture the trust they've lost, Lilly and Val reunite once more---only to uncover a shocking secret. Will it destroy their friendship, or bring them even closer?"

In an attempt to expand my reading repertoire, I accepted an offer from Caitlin of FSB Associates to read and Review "The Recipe Club." The premise is very interesting. The Recipe Club uses a unique method of telling a story using emails and letters between lifelong friends Lilly and Val. While the two girls are in elementary school back in 1964 they start writing each other letters and start the Recipe Club in which they exchange recipes with each letter. The story follows them through their high school years as each girl works to establish their own identities, yet find ways to remain friends. When they reach college age in 1973 they have a falling out and don't talk to each other again until 2000 when Val's mom passes away. Val seeks out Lilly again trying to re-establish their friendship and connection, while trying to work out their issues. A secret is discovered that will test their renewed friendship. The story is told mainly through the emails and letters until the later portion when the story unfolds in real time.

Mixed in with all the emails and letters are the recipes with unique titles taken from the story. Recipes such as "Ga-Ga-Gai Pan," "Conspiracy Apple Pie," "Wild Girl Wild Mushroom Salad," "Apple and Pear Friendship Fool" or "Enlightened Peanut Brittle."

The story really captures your attention and emotions and reminded me of friendships from elementary, through junior high and high school to college. How people change and grow apart, then back together. The Recipe Club is very interesting and I'm looking forward to trying out some of the recipes.

Thank you Caitlin for providing me with a courtesy (free) copy of The Recipe Club. Head on over to Written Voices to read an excerpt and check out an article "You are what you say, when you talk about what you eat"

Pages: 363
Publisher: Polhemus Press
Released: October 15, 2009

Other Thoughts:

Cheryl at Cheryl's Book Nook:
"I absolutely fell in love with Lilly, Valerie and the Recipe Club. Authors Andrea Israel and Nancy Garfinkel wrote with such passion."

Margot at Joyfully Retired:
"The remarkable thing about the novel is that it is told almost completely via emails and letters interspersed with their recipes. I say remarkable because I could understand everything that happened just from their letters and emails. This well-written story shows the spirit and character of their lives and the heart of their friendship."

Yvonne at Socrates' Book Reviews:
"The Recipe Club” is cleverly put together and readers will feel as if they are part of Valerie and Lilly’s world. A very enjoyable book that keeps readers captivated to the end."

*** FTC notice: non compensated, unbiased opinion - book received free of charge from the publisher.

Lynda Barry's Week 2 Nano Pep talk

Lynda Barry's pep talk is all about writing by hand. It hit home for me because that is what I am doing - writing the story by hand, then typing it up.

I like this particular quote:

"Writing by hand is like walking instead of riding in a car. It's slower, to be sure, but you'll smell the smoke if you're near a house that is about to burst into flame. You'll hear the shouting from a fight about to break out in a back yard. You'll be able to help the dog who comes running by with his leash attached and dragging behind him, and be able to help the person who has lost him calling his name. This will make writing more like living and less like watching television."

Lynda's Pep entire talk courtesy of Chris Baty of NaNoWriMo, plus a link to see it the original handwritten form.

(Lynda wrote her pep talk with a pen. You can see a PDF of it in all its handwritten glory here.)

Dear Writer,

Reconsider your hand. Reconsider writing by hand. There is a kind of story that comes from hand. Writing which is different from a tapping-on-a-keyboard-kind-of-story. For one thing, there is no delete button, making the experience more life like right away. You can't delete the things you feel unsure about and because of this, the things you feel unsure about have a much better chance of being able to exist long enough to reveal themselves. And the physical activity of writing by hand involves many parts of the brain which are used in story making such as time, place, action, characters, relationships, and moving forward across an entire connected gesture. And that's just what goes on when we write a single letter by hand.

Although word count goals may be harder to reach, your body will not feel as tired as it does after a day spent tapping buttons and staring at a lit screen, especially if you write a bit longer than you usually do.

Another thing to reconsider is reading over what you have written. If you can stand to wait 24 hours before you decide the fate of what you have written - either good or bad - you're more likely to see that invisible thing that is invisible for the first few days in any new writing. We just can't know what all is in a sentence until there are several sentences to follow it. Pages of writing need more pages in order to be known, chapters need more chapters. The 24 hour period will give you time to create more of the things the writing needs. 48 hours is even better, and a week is ideal.

Can you keep your story going for a week without reading anything over? You'll find you can. You'll find that being able to rely on this ability will help you let one word follow the next without fussing as much as you do when you believe it's the thinking and planning part of your mind that is writing the story. There is another part of the mind which has an ability for stories, for holding all the parts and presenting them bit by bit, but it's not the same as the planning part of the mind.

Nor is it the thing called 'unconscious - it is without a doubt quite conscious when we are engaged in the physical activity which allows it to be active. This something is what deep playing contains when we are children and fully engaged by rolling a toy car and all who are inside of it toward the table edge. The word imagination isn't quite right for it either because it also leaves out the need for moving an object-a toy, a pen or pencil tip-across an area in the physical world.


It's a very old, human thing, using physical activity along with thing 'thing' that is neither all the way inside of us nor all the way outside of us. Stories happen in that place between the two. The Image world isn't anywhere else. A computer can give you a neat looking page, higher word count and delete and copy and past abilities, but they are poor producers of the thing the hand brings about much more easily: Right here, right now, the pane of paper that the paper windows and walls require to give is the inside view, the vista.

You can't know what a book is about until the very end. This is true of a book we're reading or writing. Writing by hand is like walking instead of riding in a car. It's slower, to be sure, but you'll smell the smoke if you're near a house that is about to burst into flame. You'll hear the shouting from a fight about to break out in a back yard. You'll be able to help the dog who comes running by with his leash attached and dragging behind him, and be able to help the person who has lost him calling his name. This will make writing more like living and less like watching television.

When writing by hand, when the story dries up temporarily - as it always does, try keeping your pen in motion anyway by writing the alphabet a b c d e f g in the middle of the sentence a b c d e f g h i j k until the sentence rolls forward again on its own. Just keep your pen steadily rolling along through time, for a good time.

Best! Love!

Lynda Barry

To learn more about Lynda Barry's work, visit her website!

Time for me to get back to writing. My word count as of last night - 13063!

Do you write by hand?

Nano Update - Eyes in the Ashes

I'm writing away, kinds of in fits and false starts but plugging away. I'm at 7744 words right now. I figure if I write at least 2000 words a day (Stephen King does it every day), then I'll make it. I have to write it out first, because otherwise I sit staring at the screen blankly, then wander off to the internet. I just need to make sure to type up what I write the same day. That's what put me behind. I wrote for three or four days, then sat down to type it up. Takes a while to type up, especially when more ideas hit you while typing. I actually cheated a bit, printed out what I had and ran back through. Expanded every scene adding more detail. At least it helped with the word count. Forward only from here on out.

Since we started homeschooling, we have fallen into the pattern of taking a break from lessons during the two weeks of my Birthday and Thanksgiving. Each year, I swear we are only going to take a couple days, but it never works out. Something always comes up. So, this time I planning it. We are taking off from November 15th through the 29th.

James is also unofficially writing a story for nanowrimo. He is writing a fan fiction story about mario and luigi from the super mario brothers. He has been writing at least one or two chapters a day. He writes first thing in the morning after breakfast. Then he's been disappearing into his room at odd times during the day to write. He then comes out and reads me what he has written. He has numbered all his pages in his notebook which goes to 100. He plans to make the story that long. He's quite proud of himself. Once he's done, he wants to type it up and post the story in a blog.

My story is going well. I've introduced most of the players. I've left out a lot of backstory, frankly because I didn't think too much about it. The back story is presenting itself as things progress. I'm enjoying playing feisty Isabella off of the bitchy Ashley. I've thrown in a Irish grounds keeper and there will be other character introduced as the mystery moves forward. I keep thinking of scenes from different points of view so it's interesting.

I was writing scenes in my head while cooking dinner tonight and came up with such wonderful sentences, I had to stop and right down a few before I forgot them. Which worked well when I sat down to write because the notes turned into a mini outline.

So the goal for tomorrow is to reach 10,000 words. Now if I can just talk myself into getting up at 6:30 so have more time to write before I go to work. Wish me luck.

Family Life: Saturday Splash

K.I.S.S.

Keep it simple sherlock or shurley or sally or silly - you choose the s word.

How do you like my new look? I'm a person who can't work in clutter, can't read when there are too many pretty things on a page, overshadowing the words, can't write with music going because it totally relaxes me. So, the blog reflects me. It was getting a bit cluttered and had been thinking of making a few changes, plus coming up with a new challenge blog. However, not in the midst of nano and starting a new class. Oh well.

I've been writing, however I don't know my word count because I haven't typed it up yet. I'm taking my laptop and notebook with me to work today and will work on that between customers. And because of the fact I have something else I want to do, it will be ultra busy. Murphy's law, you know. Paying customers - who can complain about that.

My online art history class - art from the ancients up to the 14th century just started and I have 36 pages to read this week, plus write up a couple short discussion papers. That will keep me busy.

Went to the doctor on Monday and my blood pressure was through the roof. Of course, I had just come from getting mammogram done and having your *books* squashed vertically and horizontally probably accounted for some of it. However, I've been bad lately - eating out a lot, drinking two or three pepsi's a day. Soooo.... I've given up my beloved Pepsi. I have discovered Snapple's Earl Grey Ice tea though - delicious yet expensive. Will also be brown bagging it and trying to exercise everyday.

Totally my fault and since I will be turning fabulous 50 in a couple weeks, am going to dedicate more time for physical fitness. Notice I didn't say schedule more time. I don't do well with schedules. Deadlines and goals work for me, but schedules no. I have to remain flexible. Which means less time blogging and being on the internet. I really don't want to give up anything. There is time for all. I just have to more judicious with my time.

Stay tuned for this weeks homeschool report, book reviews on "The Recipe Club" by Andrea Israel and Nancy Garfinkel and "Holiday Grind" by Cleo Coyle. I'll be updating my word count sometime this weekend and putting the word count meter up.

In Arnold's infamous words "I'll be back"

Blew up my blog.

I unintentionally blew her up. Yep. If you think my blood pressure was high before, I think I just sent it out of the stratosphere. I was playing around with templates for setting up the Hugo Award challenge. Picked the wrong blog. Of course, I hadn't backed up in a while, so....

I'll be reconstructing from bookmarks and what not. At least I didn't lose my posts. I was getting slightly bored with the newspaper template. So guess now is the time to make major changes - whether I like it or not. I knew I should have waited until November was over before thinking about the Hugo award challenge blog.

Awesome Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine

Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine recently had a giveaway promotion for bloggers. I managed to score one of 15 advance copies of the December issue. Lucky me! As everyone knows I cut my reading teeth on fantasy and science fiction books growing up and keep going back to my true love time and again. This magazine is awesome - I love and have already signed up for a one year subscription which is $34.97 for 6 big issues - Jan/Feb, March/April, June/July, Aug/Sept, Anniversary Oct/Nov and one big issue for December. The magazine started publishing bimonthly with the april/may 2009 issue. Each issue has Novelets and Shorts Stories, plus features book reviews by Charles DeLint, and other authors, a section about curiousities, films and a bit of humor.

The December 2009 is the size of a paperback novel with 258 pages full of short stories and novelets. Not a magazine to read in one sitting. I'm still not done reading all the stories, but have thoroughly enjoyed the ones I have so far. What I found interesting is the editoral by Gordon Van Gelder about a contest they had back in 1980. The magazine had a 30th anniversary contest: Win $2010 in the year 2010 and asked readers to come up with something from science fiction that they thought would be a reality by 2010. They drew a winner and managed to track down the winner who predicted hand held computers. His response is interesting and amusing.

It will take me a while to finish this particular issue, so can see the benefit of bimonthly issues. If you like science fiction and fantasy, I definitely recommend subscribing. And this is totally my unbiased, unpaid, peace, and happiness, I love science fiction opinion.

Check out their website, where you can find all the information about the magazine, the current issues, the departments and even an extensive bibliograghy. Plus they have a blog to check out. Thank you to Mr. Gordon Van Gelder, the editor and his staff for providing me with a copy. It is greatly appreciated.

National Novel Writing Month

Welcome to November - the month of writing madness

After a month of research, character development, outlining and writing the story in my mind, I gleefully sat down to start writing "Eyes in the Ashes." The goal is 50,000 in 30 days. The story will probably end up being longer than that - between 75,000 to 100,000. The goal for now is at least 1666 words per day to make the 50,000. I did cheat a bit today and didn't exactly turn off my internal editor. I wrote about 1300 words this morning, then when I went back in this afternoon, added to and expanded the scenes a bit. Which brought it up to 1751 words. Hey, if it works, it works. At least the scenes don't sound totally stupid and disjointed.

In the next few days, I'm going to write as much as possible to give myself a buffer. Because this is going to be a busy month since in addition to everything else, my next class - art history up to the 14th century starts tomorrow, Also my 50th birthday is coming up this month and I'm trying to figure out what going to do to celebrate. Perhaps a book bundle giveaway or two. Then add in Thanksgiving and family visiting. Well, you get the picture. Crazy cool, man.

Speaking of pictures, I picked out some pictures from hair style models online who matched what I thought my characters look like.

Female Main Character - Dr. Isabella D'Angelo

She's 5'5", Italian, nice shape, spunky and outspoken. Doesn't take any guff. Doctor of ethology - study of animal behavior and runs Wild Eyes Wildlife Foundation. She is an expert on bats.

Main Male Character: Sheriff Gregory Elias

This is the best picture, but add a few lines to make him a bit more craggy - like Joe Penny. He's 6'2, Greek, quiet and intense. He's the Sheriff of Wildtree Valley and a retired Texas Ranger.


Siblings: Ashley and Victor McCourt


They recently renovated an old mission into a exclusive inn and retreat for artists - Ashtor Court Inn. She's a classy bitch and he's arrogant. They think they have the Sheriff under their thumb, but he's got news for them. Bats invade the old chapel and belfry and they want the bats removed by any means possible.

In steps feisty Dr. Isabella who not only takes them to task for trying to harm protected animals, but is curious why the bats are abandoning their roosts in the caverns. Isabella stumbles across a dead body or two, bumps up against small town politics and the good old boy network, small town secrets and what may be an illegal smuggling ring.

2009 Books Challenges

Challenges


(Note: Post rotates to first of every month)

Hosted by Callapidder Day's
September 22nd through December 20, 2009

Link to book reviews

1. Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald (banned book week)
2. Vanished - Joseph Finder (Take a Chance Challenge) (400)
3. The Arc, The Reed and The Firecloud - Jenny Cote (Random Reading Challenge)(464)
4. The Brutal Telling - Louise Penny (review book) (384)
5. The Red Siren - M.L. Tyndale (288)
6. Kill Her Again - Robert Gregory Browne (320)
7. Nightwatch - Sergie Lukyanenko (464)
8. The Wyndham Case - Jill Paton Walsh (223)
9. Silent Thunder - Iris Johansen (384)
10. A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin (674)
    

Hosted by Jenners
June - November 30, 2009
Done

1. Random Book Selection: Blood Dreams by Kay Hooper
   
2. Random Word: Lady Liberty by Vicki Hinze
   
3. Birth Year Book: 1959 Dear and Glorious Physician by Taylor Caldwell (shelved)
   
4. Judge a Book By Its Cover: Vanished by Joseph Finder
   
5. Phoning An Author: The Venetian Affair - Helen MacInnes (shelved)
   
6. Public Spying:
   
7. Random Bestseller: 1976 - Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart
   
8. Lit Riff
9. Poetic Review
   
10. Movie/Book Comparison: Inkheart
    

Really Old Classics Challenge
hosted by Rebecca and Heather
Goal to read really old works per 1600 AD
November 2009 to February 2010

1. Confessions of St Augustine
2. Bonus book - to be determined.

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge
Hosted by BethF of Beth Fish Reads
July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010

1. Dead Until Dark
2. Living Dead in Dallas
3. Club Dead
4. Dead to the World
5. Dead as a Doornail
6. Definitely Dead
7. All Together Dead
8. From Dead to Worse
9. Dead and Gone

Lisa Jackson Reading Challenge
Hosted by J.Kaye Book Blog

August 2009 through December 2010

1. Hot Blooded
2. Cold Blooded
3. The Night Before
4. Shiver
5. Lost Souls
6. Wicked Games
   

Challenged by Heather J.
Challenge Blog
To be completed by 4/10/10

1. Watch The Princess Bride
2. Watch Willow
3. Watch The Last Unicorn
4. Watch Labyrinth
5. Watch at least 3 episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess
6. Read Dune by Frank Herbert
7. Read The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
8. Read The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
9. Read Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
10. Do a video blog about at least one of these items

Hugo Award Reading Challenge
Hosted by Me

1. 1953 The Demolished Man - Alfred Bester (have)
2. 1954 Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
3. 1955 They'd Rather be Eight - Mark Clifton
4. 1956 Double Star - Robert Heinlein
5. 1957 none
6. 1958 The Big Time - Fritz Leiber
7. 1959 A Case of Conscience - James Blish
8. 1960 Starship Troopers - Robert Heinlein
9. 1961 A Canticle for Leibwitz - Walter Miller
10. 1962 Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
11. 1963 The Man in the High Castle - Philip K. Dick
12. 1964 Here Gather the Stars - Clifford D. Simak
13. 1965 The Wanderer - Fritz Leiber
    
14. 1966 Dune - Frank Herbert
    
15. 1967 The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - Robert Heinlein
16. 1968 Lord of Light - Roger Zelany
17. 1969 Stand on Zanzibar - John Brunner
    

Perpetual Challenges

Agatha Christie Reading Perpetual Challenge
Hosted by Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise

Dropping out as of 2010

1. Spider's Web
2. Hercules Poirot Christmas
3. Mysterious Affair at Styles
4. 4.50 from Paddington
5. The ABC Murders
6. And then there were none

U.S. Presidents Reading Project

1. His Excellency George Washington by Joseph Ellis
2. John Adams by David McCullough
   

Completed Challenges

Winter Reading Challenge

Hosted by Me!

1. The Unseen by T.L. Hines (finished 2008)
   
2. Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb (# 1)
   
3. Wicked by Gregory Maguire (# 2) (#1 52 books)
   
4. If There Be Dragons by Kay Hooper (# 3)(#2 52 books)
   
5. Love by Design (2 classic novels) by Nora Roberts (#4)
   
6. Fire Dancer by Colleen Coble (# 5) (Also Christian Readers)
   
7. Five in a Row by Jane Coffey (Romance Challenge) (# 6)
   
8. Bad Faith by Aimee Thurlo (# 7)
   
9. Unspeakable by Sandra Brown (# 8)(# 3 52 books)
   
10. Distant Echoes by Colleen Coble (#9) (Christian Readers)
    
11. To Catch a Thief by Christina Sky (# 10)
    
12. Black Sands by Colleen Coble (# 11) (Christian Readers)
    
13. Hot Mahogany by Stuart Woods (# 12)
    
14. Split Second by David Baldacci (# 13(#4 52 books)
    
15. Kiss - Ted Dekker (1/06/09) (#14)(Pub Challenge)
    
16. Spider's Web by Agatha Christie (# 15)
    
17. Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur (#16)
    
18. Prey for a Miracle by Aimee Thurlo (# 17)(#5 52 books)
    
19. The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen (#18)
    
20. The Wild Sight by Loucinda McGary (#19)
    
21. Dance with the Dragon by David Hagberg (# 20)
    
22. Life of Pi by Yann Martel (#21)
    
23. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (#23)
    
24. Hercules Poirot Christmas by Agatha Christi (#24)(#6 52 Books)
    
25. A Ghost in the Machine by Caroline Graham (# 25)

Christian Readers Challenge – 2009

Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

1. Fire Dancer by Colleen Coble
2. Distant Echoes by Colleen Coble
3. Black Sands by Colleen Coble
4. The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner
5. Line of Duty by Teri Blackstock
6. Coral Moon by Brandilyn Collins
7. Dangerous Depths by Colleen Coble
   
8. Fireproof by Eric Wilson
   
9. Hadassah by Tommy Tenney

Series to Finish Challenge 2009
(all books apply to Romance Challenge as well)
Hosted by Kathrin at Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic

1. Killing Fear (1) Allison Brennan
   
2. Playing Dead (3) Allison Brennan
   
3. Blood Bound (2) Patricia Briggs
   
4. Iron Kissed (3) Patricia Briggs
   
5. Take No Prisoners (2) Cindy Gerard
6. Whisper No Lies (3) Cindy Gerard
7. For Her Eyes Only (3) Cait London
   
8. Edge of Midnight (4) Shanna McKenna
9. Thread of Fear - Laura Griffin (3)

Once Upon A Time III
Hosted by Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings

1. Eon: Dragon Eye Reborn - Allison Goodman
   
2. House of Dark Shadows - Robert Liparulo
   
3. Full Moon Rising (Riley Jensen, Guardian 1) - Keri Arthur
   
4. Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
   
5. Iron Kissed - Patricia Briggs
   
6. On a Pale Horse - Piers Anthony
7. The Alchemist: Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel - Michael Scott
   
8. The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan ( also src)
   
9. The Mystery of Grace - Charles De Lint
   

Spring Reading Thing 2009
Hosted by Katrina at Callipidder Day's
Theme: First time author reads.

1. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
   
2. 1^st to Die – James Patterson
3. 14 - J.T. Ellison
   
4. A World I Never Made - James LePore
   
5. French Bred - Frederic Guarino
   
6. Homicide in Hard Cover - Kate Carlisle
7. House of Dark Shadows – Robert Liparulo
8. Inside Out - John Ramsey Miller
9. Long Lost - Harlan Coben
   
10. Mysterious Benedict Society – Trenton Lee Stuart (didn't finish - meh!)
    
11. Re-Deal: A Time Travel Thriller - Richard Turner
    
12. Safe Haven - Hannah Alexander
13. Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader- Joe Hilley
14. Stone's Fall - Iain Pears
    
15. The Ghost and Mrs. McClure - Alice Kimberely
16. The Lightning Thief - Riordan
17. The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
    
18. The Link - B. Sandy (shelved)
    
19. The Physick Book Of Deliverance Dane -Katherine Howe
    
20. The Soul Collectors - Charles Quince
    
21. The Titian Committee - Iain Pears
    
22. Too Hot To Handle - Robin Kaye
    
23. Virgin River - Robyn Carr

Dewey's Books Reading Challenge

Hosted by Robin at A Fondness for Reading
and Chris at Stuff as Dreams are Made On

1. Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs
2. The Uncommon Reader (also part of casual challenge)
   
3. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
   
4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
   
5. House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton

Random Reading Challenge
Hosted by Caribousmom
August 1, 2009 through July 31, 2010
Level III - 12 books randomly picked from TBR list and read randomly
Link to reviews

1. The Blackening Song - Aimee and David Thurlo
2. Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
3. Side by Side - John Ramsey Miller
4. R is for Ricochet - Sue Grafton
5. Charmed and Dangerous - Toni McGee Causey
6. The Magician - Michael Scott
7. The Angel - Carla Neggers
8. The Arc, The Reed, and the Fire Cloud - Jenny Cote
9. The Red Siren - M.L. Tyndale
10. The Associate - John Grisham
11. The ABC Murders - Agatha Christie
12. Sizzle and Burn - Jayne Ann Krenze