Novemberish wrapup: Writing and reading mania

November has been a month of balancing my time and energy.  You'd think after 30 days of NaNoWriMo, I would be ready to take a break. But no...I'm still deep into my story "Blue Steel" and eager to push on and finish it.  Although I think both Father and James are glad the month is over.  It's been a month of blank looks, uh huh's and late dinners while I'd write, then push to type all my scribblings up in order to make sure I'm keeping up.  I'm going try and keep the same momentum going with the writing, push for the 1600 words or at least 5 written pages a day and finish the story by the end of December.  That way I can start the year fresh and dive into outlining and editing and researching.  

I had a plan during the month of November to read unputdownable books so that I wouldn't get caught up in a story at breakfast time, decide to keep reading and then find my writing time had completely disappeared.  I soon discovered, I rarely choose books that are unputdownable.  *grin*    So I ramped up the willpower and used them as rewards for making my daily goals.   The books I read during the month were:

1. The Next Always - Nora Roberts
2. Soulless - Gail Carriger
3. Waking the Witch - Kelley Armstrong
4. The Whisper - Carla Neggers (E-Book)
5. The Immortals - J.T. Ellison 
6. Warning Signs - C.J. Lyons (e-book)
7. The Memory Collector - Meg Gardner
8. 61 Hours - Lee Child
9. The Immortals - J.T. Ellison
10. Seal of My Dreams anthology - Cindy Gerard, et all
11. Uncle Petros and Goldbach's Conjecture - Apostolos Doxiadis
12. Blood Bound - Rachel Vincent
13. Beautiful Lies - Lisa Unger
14. Vampire's Violin - Michael Romkey
15. Worth Dying For - Lee Child

I did find myself slowing down a bit, analyzing, absorbing their writing styles, picking out what I liked and didn't, learning as I read and finding I could still enjoy the story in the process.  I also acquired some fabulous writing books and during December will be putting together my list of craft books to study during 2012.    

I've picked out the remaining books to read to finish the A to Z challenge and just have x, y, and z to complete.  For X I found Death of a Red Heroine by Qui Xialolong and Mister X by John Lutz.  For Y Shadow of the Moon by Rebecca York and Year Zero by Jeff Long.  Z is Hostage Zero by John Gilstrap and Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey.  Wish me luck.


Time to get back to normal or as near normal as possible. See you around the Blogosphere!

Sunday Salon: Nanowrimo winner!

November has flown by in a blur and yes I know there are three days left, but I did it and as of today have written 50,197 words.  Happy Happy Joy Joy.  There are holes as big as Montana and there are scenes yet to be written and and an ending to find. I just derailed my main male character by having an old love show up and steal away the main female character.  Where does her heart truly lie?  I don't know at the moment, because I'm really liking the old love.  He kind of jumped in and took center stage and kind of has me rethinking part of the story.  

I discovered something this month as well.  The goal I had throughout the year of writing at least 500 words or one hour a day, well, was just stupid and very limiting, for me.   I should know better than to limit myself.  The words just flowed and felt so good, putting my all into it.  I found myself writing, in the morning, afternoon and evening. Didn't matter what time it was.  I'm no longer going to relegate to a certain part of day.  Nano always resets my writing clock and the momentum usually stays with me part of the year.  Here's hoping I can keep it up throughout 2012. At least that way I'll get a lot more done.  I'm looking forward to brainstorming more on this story, outlining it and researching my plot and characters in heavier detail. 

Cheers to all the row80 NaNoWriM0 participants who have made it and are still plugging away. Thanks to everyone who cheered us on.  Think I'll treat myself to a winner's shirt.

Row80 and birthday Bounty

It's been a couple weeks since I checked in.  I've been writing like crazy on Blue Steel for NaNoWriMo and happy to say as of last night at 36953 words.  Hubby and son have been most supportive in helping around the house. James has a new chore - cleaning his own bathroom.  Not a so happy byproduct (to him) of the craziness of November.  I've been bad and haven't stepped foot on the treadmill.  Too busy typing up my daily scribblings.

I scored bigtime for my birthday and received some excellent writing books.

Happy Dance!   I also have received Lee Child's "Worth Dying For" and Jasper Fforde's "One of our Thursdays is Missing."   James is campaigning for a dog so he got me the DK "The Encyclopedia of the Dog." It was fun looking through it and the pictures reminding me of all the different dogs we had and those of our old long forgotten neighbors and friends as well. Prompted some great memories and stories to share. Plus a great new cookbook - Moosewood Restaurant cooks at home. Yummy new recipes to try.  Yeah!

Haven't had a whole lot of time to visit other rowers but will make up for it in December.  Please check in on them and see how they are fairing.  Chow for now.  Back to writing!   

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's a celebration!

Help me celebrate turning a marvalous

--- 52 ----

Have a glass of virtual champagne.

~clink~ ~clink~

2012 Reading Challenges

Josephine Wall's Harp Angel

It is that time of year again when everyone is announcing their reading challenges for next year. Keeping it simply for 2012 and joining in on just a few.  

Beth Fish Reads What's In a Name challenge is always fun and has interesting categories:

Between January 1 and December 31, 2012, read one book in each of the following:

1. A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title: (ie: Black Hills, Purgatory Ridge, Emily of Deep Valley)
2. A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title: (ie:   Moon Called, Seeing Stars, Cloud Atlas)
3. A book with a creepy crawly in the title: (ie: Little Bee, Spider Bones, The Witches of Worm)
4. A book with a type of house in the title: (ie: The Glass Castle, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Ape House)
5. A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title: (ie:  Sarah's Key, The Scarlet Letter, Devlin Diary)
6. A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title: (ie: Day of the Jackal, Elegy for April, Freaky Friday, Year of Magical Thinking) 

Jackie of Literary Escapism's New Authors Reading challenge which is all about exploring new authors.  My goal will be to read 25.

Random Widget for now   :)

Whether Becky hosts the A to Z Challenge, someone else decides too or I just go it alone, I will be doing it again for 2012 and reading 26 alphabetically by Author and 26 alphabetically by Title. 

Which all works in with my Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks reading challenge I will be hosting again and my Blogging Authors reading project for 2012. 

Lots of new and interesting Reading Challenges for 2012.  Be sure to check them out at A Novel Challenges which Brianna of  The Book Vixen and her helpful gang of book elves have taken over.

What challenges are you joining for 2012?

Randomness will lead somewhere - really!

A tip for staving off writer's block 

Open an encyclopedia to a random page, and read an entry.  You might get one good detail (the sacred 'ibis' was revered in ancient Egypt) or a whole line of exploration (St. Dunstan's, a British organization that cares for those blinded in war, was founded by a blind newspaper owner) to shake you out of your stupor.   (Pocket Muse by Monica Wood)

 
Actually works wonderfully well - I know!

TLC Book Tour: Hometown Girl by Mariah Stewart

Hometown Girl

By

Mariah Stewart 

Back cover: " Life was always just about perfect for Brooke Madison Bowers. She was the prettiest, most popular girl in small-town St. Dennis, Maryland, a prom queen, local pageant star, and the pride and joy of her loving parents. She even married the man of her dreams. But the promise of happily ever after fell to pieces when her husband was killed while serving in Iraq. Brokenhearted and longing for the solace of better days, she returns to the idyllic world of St. Dennis, and the familiar comfort of the family farm. Surrounded by her loving family and friends, she’s determined to build a new life, complete with her own cupcake bakery. She’s equally determined never to fall in love again.

For Jesse Enright, life has been a challenge. A fourth-generation attorney, he’s spent his life fighting to escape the shadow of his irresponsible father. Now he’s moved to St. Dennis to run the family law practice, and he’s ready to find the right girl, get married, and settle down. But his carefully laid plans go out the window when he meets Brooke and finds himself caught between the unbreakable law of attraction and Brooke’s resolve to go her way alone—despite the undeniable feelings Jesse stirs in her. But just like catching lightning in a bottle, is it possible to fall head-over-heels, heart-and-soul in love all over again?"

Hometown Girl is the fourth book in Mariah Stewart's Chesapeake Diaries series.  I love the fictional little town of St. Dennis, Maryland in Chesapeake Bay and the characters that reside there.  The series takes us back to the cozy little town from her murder mystery Last Words. (excellent story, part of the Lost series, and well worth reading as well.) 

After losing her husband two years before, Brooke is working hard to be a good mom to her 8 year old son, finish her Bachelor's Degree and get her cupcake business off the ground.  She's dated off and on since her husband died, but never one man more than once.   Jessie has always liked her but never made a move. According to her brother Clay, if she's pursued, she'll walk away.  Wait for her to ask him out.  When she comes to him for help with her will, he arranges it so their meetings are during lunch time or dinner.  He's prepared to be patient and win her over without scaring her off.  We also get to see Dallas and Grant and Steffie and Wade finally marry.  The book is perfect as a standalone, but you'll want to read the first three to really get the flavor of the characters and the quaint, cozy town of St. Dennis. Hopefully you'll end up loving them as much as I do.  And be sure to check out Mariah Stewart's other books including Mercy Street and FBI Series. 

Thank you to Lisa and TLC BookTour's for asking me to be a part of the tour, the publisher for providing a courtesy copy of the book and Mariah Stewart for writing another wonderful installment of the Chesapeake Diaries series.  Check out what the rest of the folks on the tour had to say.

Read an Excerpt here

Sunday Salon: Being creative

Variations by Richard Messenger

I'm plugging on my NaNoWriMo first draft of Blue Steel.  I started with an outline, then decided to write the scenes that have been floating about in my head.  I had three variation of the same scene so am writing them all and see which clicks and moves the story forward.   Kind of freeing not writing linearly.  I checked out scrivener and see the beauty of the program but because of the learning curve will utilize it when I'm done with Nano and not under pressure.  One less thing to stress over.  I usually write every thing long hand and type it up later.   Have been trying to type the days writing up in the afternoon, however it doesn't always work out.   The pressure to get er done was relieved when I found this clause on the Nano site:

How do I verify if I’m writing by hand?:
Invoke the Luddite Clause!

What you do is write your 50,000 words, then have someone you trust verify that it is, indeed, 50,000 words. Then using something like the Lorem Ipsum generator, submit a file of the exact number of words of your handwritten manuscript to our word count validator.

So I may be invoking the Luddite Clause later in the month.   Mentioned it to hubby and he gave me a really weird look.  However, I going to try really hard to keep up.  The time change has given me my extra hour back in the morning and I'm loving it.  I popped out of bed at 7:00 bright and bushy tailed (well, not really) and ready to write.  I never really did adjust when we sprang forward in the spring.  I could hardly drag myself out of bed until 8 something and dinner was constantly late.  Back to a normal schedule now.  We'll see how long it lasts.  *grin*

Trying not to read unputdownable books for the during of November so I'm not tempted to continue reading when breakfast is over.  Finding there aren't many of those in my TBR pile.  Nora Robert's latest book "The Next Always" came out November 1st and of course had to read it as soon as possible.  Never take a book to bed that is unputdownable.  *yawn*    I also discovered Gail Carriger's "Soulless" was also not an easy book to put down.  I'm now looking forward to reading the rest of the Parasol Protector steampunk series.  I did find one book that was putdownable and managed to limit my reading to breakfast, so won't mention the name since it seems it would be an insult to the author.  Nor that it was boring, just not exciting enough. I'm currently reading C.J. Lyons (new to me author) medical mystery "Warning Signs" which is the 2nd book in her Angels of Mercy series. Not sure why I didn't start with the first book, but its good and not having any trouble following.   Sort of unputdownable so saving it as a reward for the afternoons.  Will Power!!!!

ROW80 goal - 1667 words a day for the month of November. Check out how everyone else is doing here Have a great weekend!

2011 Books completed

2011 Book List

Post rotates to the first of the month every month

I will be keeping track of the books I read for 2011 in this post.   Posts with links lead to my review of the book. Reviews may be posted later than when finished the book.

1. Safe and Sound - J.D. Rhoades
2. Tiger Eye (Dirk and Steele series #1) Marjorie M Lui 
3. Shadow Touch (Dirk and Steele Series #2)  Marjorie M. Liu 
4. Secrets of the Demon (Kara Gillian Series)  Diana Rowland
5. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
6. Red Heart of Jade - (Dirk and Steele #3) - Marjorie M. Liu
7. Beatrice and Virgil - Yann Martell
8. Cinders - Michelle Davidson Argyle
9. Delirious - Daniel Palmer
10. The Five Love Languages - Gary Chapman  (nf)  
11. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - Anne Bronte
12. An Eye for Murder - Libby Fischer Hellmann (e-book) 
13. Eats, Shoots and Leaves - Lynne Truss (nf)  
14. Full Mortality - Sasscer Hill (dnf) 
15. Forsaken by Shadow - Kait Nolan
16. Wild Man Creek (Virgin River Series # 12) - Robyn Carr
17. Wild Rain (Leopard Series #2) - Christine Feehan (e-book)
18. The Fifth Servant -  Kenneth Wishnia
19. Green - Ted Dekker 
20. Heatwave - Richard Castle 
21. Devil's Eye - Kait Nolan  (e-book)
22. Night Shift (Jill Kismet Series #1) - Lilith Saintcrow (e-book) 
23. In The Woods - Tana French
24. Angelology - Danielle Trussoni
25. The Incumbent - Alton Gansky  (e-book)
26. River Marked - Patricia Briggs
27. Angels Everywhere tale 1  A Season of Angels - Debbie Macomber (ebook) 
28. Angels Everywhere tale 2  Touched by Angels - Debbie Macomber (ebook) 
29. Hush Money - Susan Bischoff  (ebook)
30. Harvest Moon - Robin Carr
31. A Man Called Outlaw - K.M. Weiland
32. Bond with Me - Anne Marsh (ebook)  
33. The Teachable Moment  - Rebecca Branstetter (nf - ebook) 
34. Almost Home - Mariah Stewart (TLC Tour)  
35. Chasing Fire - Nora Roberts  
36. Unclean Spirits - M.L. N. Hanover (e-book)  
37. Darker Angels - M.L.N. Hanover (e-book) 
38. The Sandlewood Tree - Elle Newmark 
39. Hush - Cherry Adair
40. Face of Danger -Roxanne St. Claire (e-book)
41. Shiver of Fear - Roxanne St. Claire (e-book)
42. Undertow - Cherry Adair  (e-book)
43. Treachery in Death - J.D. Robb
    
44. Ruthless Games #8 - Christine Feehan
45. Crimson Wind - Diana Pharaoh Francis
46. The Best Gift (#1 Sisters and Brides) - Irene Hannon(ebook)
47. Gift From The Heart (#2 Sisters and Brides) - Irene Hannon (ebook)
    
48. The Unexpected Gift (#3 Sisters and Brides) - Irene Hannon (ebook)
49. Janeology - Karen Harrington
50. The Preacher's Bride - Jody Hedlund
51. Kiss the Moon - Carla Neggers
52. Shadow Game #1 - Christine Feehan (ebook)
53. Mind Game (Ghostwalkers #2) - Christine Feehan (e-book)
54.  Eye of Heaven (Dirk and Steele Series # 5) - Marjorie M. Liu (ebook)
55. The Perfect Poison (arcane series) - Amanda Quick (ebook)
56.  The Silver Eagle - Ben Kane
57.  Kiss of Heaven (midnight breed series) - Lara Adrian (ebook) 
58.  Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain (Class)
59. The Last Twilight (Dirk and Steele series #7 - Marjorie M. Lui (e-book)
60. Styx's Storm (breed series) - Lora Leigh
61. Night Game (Ghostwalkers #3)- Christine Feehan (ebook)
62. Conspiracy Game ( Ghostwalkers #4) - Christine Feehan (ebook)
63. Deadly Game (Ghostwalkers # 5) - Christine Feehan (Ebook)
64. Predatory Game (Ghostwalkers # 6) - Christine Feehan (ebook)
65. Murder Game (Ghostwalkers # 7) - Christine Feehan (ebook)
66. Street Game (Ghostwalkers # 8) - Christine Feehan) 
67. Beach Lane - Sherryl Woods 
68. An Unsocial Socialist - George Bernard Shaw 
69. Kiss of Midnight #1 (Midnight Breed Series) - Lara Adrian (ebook)
70. Kiss of Crimson #2 - Lara Adrian (ebook)
71. Midnight Awakening #3 - Lara Adrian (Ebook)
72. Midnight Rising #4 - lara Adrian (ebook)
73. Veil of Midnight #5 - Lara Adrian (ebook) 
74. Ashes of Midnight #6 - Lara Adrian (ebook)
75. Shades of Midnight # 7 - Lara Adrian (ebook)
76. Taken by Midnight # 8 - Lara Adrian (ebook)
77. Deeper Than Midnight #9 - Lara Adrian (ebook)
78. Navarro's Promise - Lora Leigh
79. Savage Nature - Christine Feehan
80. Before I Go To Sleep - S.J. Watson
81. The Wild Road (Dirk and Steele #8) - Marjore M. Liu (ebook)
82. In the Dark of Dreams (Dirk and Steele) - Marjorie M. Liu  (ebook)
83. Changeling Moon - Dani Harper
84. Changeling Dream - Dani Harper 
85. Vicious Grace (Black Son's Daughter #3) - M.L.N. Hanover (ebook)
86. Midnight Crystal (Arcane Society) - Jayne Castle (ebook)
87. Just over the Mountain (Grace Valley series) - Robyn Carr  (ebook)
88. Deep in the Valley (Grace Valley series) - Robyn Carr (ebook)
89. Down by the River (Grace Valley series) - Robyn Carr  (ebook)
90. L is for Lawless - Sue Grafton  (ebook)
91. Thicker than Blood - C.J. Darlington (ebook)
92. Magic to the Bone (Allie Beckstrom series) - Devon Monk  (ebook)
93. Intrigues - Mercedes Lackey
94. With No Remorse - Cindy Gerard  (ebook)
95. Back in Black - Lori Foster (ebook)
96. A Rocky Path - Lauralynn Elliott  (ebook)
97. Live Wire - Lora Leigh  (ebook)
98. The Fury (short story) - Claudia LeFeve  (ebook)
99. Shadow Touch (short story) - Erin Kellison  (ebook)
100. Altar of Eden - James Rollins (ebook)
101. Always Watching - Brandilyn Collins (ebook)
102. Sealed with a Kiss - Mary Daughtridge (ebook)
103. Anno Dracula - Tess Newman 
104. Camille - Tess Oliver (ebook)
105. County Line - Bill Cameron (ebook)
106. Everything Beautiful Began After - Simon Van Booy
107. Giving Chase #1 - Lauren Dane (ebook)
108. Taking Chase #2 - Lauren Dane (ebook)
109. Chased - #3 - Lauren Dane (ebook)
110. Murder in the Marais - Cara Black
111. Making Chase #4 - Lauren Dane (ebook)
112. When You Dare #1 - Lori Foster
113. Trace of Fever #2 - Lori Foster 
114. Savor the Danger #3 - Lori Foster
115. Night Road - Kristen Hannah
116. Verity (cursed 1) - Claire Farrell (ebook) 
117. Guilty Pleasures (#1 Anita Blake Vampire) - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
118. The Laughing Corpse #2 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
119. Circus of the Damned #3 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
120. The Lunatic Cafe #4 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
121. Bloody Bones #5 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
122. The Killing Dance # 6 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
123. Out of Time - Alton Gansky
124. Burnt Offerings #7 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
125. Blue Moon #8 -Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
126. State of Wonder - Ann Patchett
127. Obsidian Butterfly #9 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
128. Narcissus in Chains # 10 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
129. Cerulean Sins # 11 - Laurell K. Hamilton(e-book) 
130. Monarch - Michelle Davidson Argyle 
131. Incubus Dreams #12 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
132. Micah# 13 (novella) - Laurell K. Hamilton  (e-book)
133. Danse Macbre #14 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
134. The Harlequin #15 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
135. Blood Noir #16 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
136. Skin Trade #17 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
137. Flirt #18 (novella) - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
138. Bullett #19 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
139. Hit List #20 - Laurell K. Hamilton  (e-book)
140. A Kiss of Shadows #1 Merry Gentry Series - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
141. A Caress of Twilight #2 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
142. Seduced by Moonlight #3 - Laurell K. Hamilton (e-book)
143. A Stroke of Midnight #4 - Laurell K.Hamilton  (e-book)
144. Mistral's Kiss #5 - Laurell K. Hamilton  (e-book)
145. A Lick of Frost #6 - Laurell K. Hamilton  (e-book)
146. Swallowing Darkness # 7 - Laurell K. Hamilton  (e-book)
147. Divine Misdemeanors #8 - Laurell K. Hamilton  (e-book)
148. A Heart Revealed - Julie Lessman
149. Tea and Destiny - Sherryl Woods
150. Light the Stars - Raeanne Thayne 
151. You Belong to Me - Karen Rose
152. Crave (fallen angels series #2) - J.R. Ward (e-book)
153. An Obrien Family Christmas - Sherryl Woods (ebook)
154. Angel's Blood (Guild hunter #1) - Nalini Singh (ebook)
155. Archangel's Kiss (GH#2) - Nalini Singh (ebook)
156. Archangel's Consort (GH3) - Nalini Singh (ebook)
157. Archangel's Blade (GH4) - Nalini Singh (ebook) 
158. An Instance of the Fingerpost - Iain Pears 
159. New York to Dallas (In Death #33) - J.D. Robb
160. Dark Prince (Dark Series #1) - Christine Feehan (ebook)
161. Dark Desire (Dark #2) - Christine Feehan (ebook)
162. Dark Gold (Dark # 3) - Christine Feehan (ebook)
163. Dark Magic (Dark # 4) - Christine Feehan (ebook)
164. Quicksilver - Amanda Quick (e-book)  
     
165. Heart of the Witch - Alicia Dean
166. Fatal Judgement - Irene Hannon
167. Riptide - Cherry Adair
168. The Botticelli Affair by Traci L. Slatton
169. Hometown Girl - Mariah Stewart 
170. Mercy Burns (Myth and Magic #2) - Keri Arthur 
171. Dracula - Bram Stoker
172. Outlining Your Novel - K.M. Weiland
173. The Mist - Carla Neggers 
174. The Next Always - Nora Roberts
175. Soulless - Gail Carriger
176. The Weird Sisters - Eleanor Brown
177. Waking the Witch - Kelley Armstrong
178. The Whisper - Carla Neggers (E-Book)
179. The Immortals - J.T. Ellison 
180. Warning Signs - C.J. Lyons (e-book)
181. The Memory Collector - Meg Gardner
182. 61 Hours - Lee Child
183. The Immortals - J.T. Ellison
184. Seal of My Dreams anthology - Cindy Gerard, et all
185. Uncle Petros and Goldbach's Conjecture 
186. Blood Bound - Rachel Vincent
187. Beautiful Lies - Lisa Unger
188. Vampire's Violin - Michael Romkey
189. Worth Dying For - Lee Child
190. Death of the Red Heroine - Qui Xiaolong 
191. Dark Lover - J.R. Ward 
192. Mister X - John Lutz 
193. Within the Flames (Dirk and Steele) - Marjorie Liu
194. Love Me If You Must - Nicole Young
195. Shadow of the Moon - Rebecca York 
196. Bring Me Home for Christmas - Robyn Carr
197. Hostage Zero - John Gilstrap
198. The Forest House - Miriam Zimmer Bradley 
199. An Irish Country Doctor - Patrick Taylor  
200. The Mortal Bone (Hunter Kiss #4) - Marjorie Liu

2011 Reading Challenges

Fairy Bubbles by Josephine Wall

It's that time of year when all the reading challenges are being announced for next year. I won't be going challenge crazy again for the new year.  I'm limiting myself to three or four (or try to) and will be instituting another buying ban until I've read the majority of my TBR Pile. Books in italics are ideas for the challenges.  The challenges I will be joining are 

Beth Fish Reads "What's In a Name 4"

The goal is between January 1 and December 31, 2011, read one book in each of the following categories:   Completed

1. A book with a number in the title: The Fifth Servant - Kenneth Wishnia
2. A book with jewelry or a gem in the title: Red Heart of Jade - Marjorie M Liu
3. A book with a size in the title: Long Gone - Alafair Burke
4. A book with travel or movement in the title: Heat Wave - Richard Castle
5. A book with evil in the title: Secrets of the Demon - Diana Rowland
6. A book with a life stage in the title: Wild Man Creek - Robyn Carr

Carrie's Ireland Reading Challenge

The challenge runs from January 1 through November 31 and the goal is to read books  written by an Irish author, or set in Ireland, or involving Irish history or Irish characters, Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, audiobooks and children’s books apply.

The committment levels are:  Shamrock level  with 2 books, Luck o’ the Irish level  with 4 books or Kiss the Blarney Stone level with 6 books.  I'm going with the Shamrock Level.

Completed the Luck o the Irish Level

1. In The Woods - Tana French
2. Treachery in Death - J.D. Robb
3. Dracula - Bram Stoker
4. New York to Dallas - J.D. Robb

Jackie of Literary Escapism's New Authors Challenge

The challenge runs through the end of the year and the goal is to read authors that are new to you.  The choices are 15, 25 or 50 books and I'll be going with 15. Completed

1. An Eye for Murder - Libby Fischer Hellmann
2. Delirious - Daniel Palmer
3. Five Love Languages - Gary Chapman
4. the Tenant of WildFell Hall - Anne Bronte
5. Forsaken By Shadow - Kait Nolan
6. Fifth Servant - Kenneth Wishnia
7. Heatwave - Richard Castle
8. Night Shift - Lilith Saintcrow
9. In The Woods - Tana French
10. Hush Money - Susan Bischoff
11. A Man Called Outlaw - K.M Weiland
12. Ann Marsh - Bond with Me
13. The Teachable Moment  - Rebecca Branstetter (nf - ebook)
14. The Sandlewood Tree - Elle Newmark
15. Unclean Spirits - M.L. N. Hanover (e-book) 

Florinda of The 3 R's Blog

Completed

1.  Safe and Sound - J.D. Rhoades
2.  Cinders - Michelle Davidson Argyle
3.  Forsaken by Shadow - Kait Nolan
4.  Green - Ted Dekker
5.  Night Shift - Lilith Saintcrow
6.  Susan Bischoff - Hush Money
7. A Man Called Outlaw - K.M Weiland
8.  The Preacher's Bride - Jody Hedlund
9.  Janeology - Karen Harrington
10. The Perfect Poison - Amanda Quick
11. Thicker than Blood - C.J. Darlington
12. Midnight Crystal (Arcane Society #9) - Castle

 

A to Z Challenge with Becky

Completed

Titles: Alphabetically by Title - 26 books

 A. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

B. Beatrice and Virgil - Yann Martel

C. Cinders - Michelle Davidson Argyle

D. Delirious - Daniel Palmer

E. Eats, Shoots and Leaves - Lynn Truss
F. Forsaken by Shadow - Kait Nolan

G. Green - Ted Dekker

H. Heatwave - Richard Castle

I.  In the Woods - Tana French

J. Janeology - Karen Harrington

K. Kiss the Moon - Carla Neggers

L. L is for Lawless - Sue Grafton

M. Murder in the Marais - Cara Black

N. Night Road - Kristin Hannah

O. Out of Time - Alton Gansky

P. Dark Prince - Christine Feehan

Q. Quicksilver - Amanda Quick

R. Riptide - Cherry Adair

S. Soulless - Gail Carriger

T. The Weird Sisters - Eleanor Brown

U. Uncle Petros and Goldbach's Conjecture - Apostolos Doxiadis

V. Vampire's Violin - Michael Romkey

W.Worth Dying For - Lee Child

X. Mister X - John Lutz

Y. Love Me if You Must - Nicole Young

Z. Hostage Zero - John Gilstrap

Authors:  Alphabetically by Authors - 26 Books

A.  Alton Gansky - The Incumbent
B.  Patricia Briggs - River Marked
C.  Cherry Adair - Hush
D.  Debbie Macomber - Angels Everywhere
E . Elle Newmark - The Sandalwood Tree
F.  Diana Pharoah Francis - Crimson Wind
G. Gary Chapman - The Five Love Languages  
H.  Libby Fischer Hellmann - An Eye for Murder  (e-book)
I.   Irene Hannon - The Best Gift (e-book)
J.  Jody Hedlund - The Preacher's Bride
K.  Ben Kane - The Silver Eagle
L.  Lara Adrian - Kiss of Heaven
M.  Mercedes Lackey - Intrigues
N.  Kim Newman - Anno Dracula
O. Tess Oliver - Camille
P.  Ann Patchett - State of Wonder
Q.  Amanda Quick - Quicksilver
R.  Karen Rose - You Belong to Me
S.  Mariah Stewart - Hometown Girl
T.  Traci L. Slatton - The Botticelli Affair
U.  Lisa Unger - Beautiful Lies
V.  Rachel Vincent - Blood Bound
W. J.R. Ward - Dark Lover
X. Qui Xiaolong - Death of a Red Heroine
Y  Rebecca York - Shadow of the Moon
Z.  Miriam Zimmer Bradley - The Forest House

Books on the Nightstand

What's on the Nightstand

Post rotates to first of month every month

I am updating the list as books come in, whether purchases or review books in order to keep better track of what is in the stacks. I won't be reading them in any particular order just by mood or randomly picked using Random.org. Advanced Reader Copies will be read and reviewed around their release dates. Review books will be read within a reasonable time frame.  Challenge books throughout the year and by the end of the Challenge.  I have a whole slew of non fiction books but won't be listing all of those. Those also will be read by when the mood strikes and I probably won't review them, unless its something that really strikes my fancy.

Nightstand

1. A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals #1) - Kresley Cole (ebook)
2. A Killing Tide - P.J. Alderman (ebook)
3. Across the Universe - Beth Revis 
4. An Eye for Murder - Libby Fischer Hellmann (ebook)
5. An Irish Country Doctor - Patrick Taylor (gift) 
6. Benjamin Pratt and Keepers of the School - Andrew Clements  
7. Bishop - Steven James 
8. Blind Alley - Iris Johansen 
9. Blood of my Brother - James LePore (ebook)
10. Buried Prey - John Sandford
11. Canyons of Night - Jayne Castle (ebook) 
12. Charmed - Jayne Ann Krentz
13. Cleopatra - Stacy Schiff (gift) 
14. Close Case - Alafair Burke 
15. Cold Dawn - Carla Neggers (e-book)
16. Crashers - Dana Haynes 
17. Deadlock - Iris Johansen 
18. Deadly Sanctuary - Sylvia Nobel (e-book) 
19. Death and Restoration - Iain Pears 
20. Death Comes for the Archbishop - Willa Cather 
21. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep - Philip K. Dick (gift)
22. Dr. Zhivago - Boris Pasternak (gift) 
23. Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon
24. Dragonkeeper - Robin Hobb (won - literary escapism) 
25. Elyon - Ted Dekker 
26. Emma - Jane Austen (e-book)
27. Everlasting - Kathleen Woodiwiss
28. Everywhere that Mary Went - Lisa Scottoline (ebook)
29. Fade to Black - Leslie Parrish (ebook)
30. Faithful Place - Tana French 
31. Finder's Fee - Alton Gansky
32. Fit to be Tied - Robin Hatcher  
33. Genesis - Bernard Becket
34. Getting Old is Tres Dangereux  - Rita Lakin 
35. Greatest Knight - Elizabeth Chadwick (ebook)
36. Guilt by Association - Marcia Clark  
37. Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1) - Jeaniene Frost (ebook)
38. Harbor - Carla Neggers 
39. Hard to Hold (Hold #1) - Stephanie Tyler (ebook)
40. Heart of the Witch - Alicia Dean (ebook)
41. Here the Dead Cry - Charlie Price (gift) 
42. Hiding in the Shadows - Kay Hooper
43. Hostage Zero - John Gilstrap (ebook)
44. Hour of the Hunter - J.A. Jance (ebook)
45. Hunter's Choice - Shiloh Walker (ebook)
46. Hunter's Prayer (Jill Kismet #2) - Lilith Saintcrow
47. Hunting Fear - Kay Hooper (ebook)
48. Judas Kiss - J.T. Ellision (e-book)
49. Justice Hall - Laurie R. King (ebook)
50. L.A. Noire - Rockstar Games (ebook) 
51. Last Breath (Rayne Tour Series #2) - Amberly Collins
52. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott (e-book)
53. Locked Rooms - Laurie R. King 
54. Long Gone - Alafair Burke
55. Lover Eternal (Black Brotherhood #2) - J.R. Ward 
56. Mansfield Park - Jane Austen (e-book)
57. Map of Bones - James Rollins 
58. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - John Berendt 
59. Mirror Image - Dennis Palumbo
60. Moonlight Mile - Dennis Lehane (Gift Arc)
61. Murder in the Palais Royal - Cara Black
62. Museum of Thieves - Lian Tanner 
63. Never Let You Go - Erin Healy 
64. Never Tell a Lie - Hallie Ephron
65. Nick of Time - Ted Bell (ya) 
66. Old Man's War - John Scalzi (gift)
67. Only Milo - Barry Smith (prize) 
68. Original Sin - Allison Brennan
69. Overton Window - Glenn Beck  
70. Persuasion - Jane Austen 
71. Pirate Latitudes - Michael Crichton
72. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen 
73. Proust's Overcoat - Lorenza Foschini  (shelf aware)
74. Red - Kait Nolan
75. Rose Labyrinth - Titania Hardie 
76. Rules of Prey - John Sandford 
77. Salamander - Thomas Wharton (gift)  
78. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
79. Schindler's List - Thomas Keneally 
80. Shadow of Betrayal - Brett Battles 
81. Shapeshifters Demo tapes 3 - Susan Helene Gottfried
82. Sick - Brett Battles (ebook) 
83. Silence (Hush Hush #3) - Becca Fitzpatrick (ebook)
84. Snakes Pass - Bram Stoker
85. Soft Apocalypse - Will McIntosh (ebook0
86. Sons and Princes - James LePore (Review book)
87. Spider's Bite (Elemental Assassin # 1) - Jennifer Estep (ebook)
88. Stealing Shadows - Kay Hooper
89. Switched (Trylie Trilogy #1) - Amanda Hocking (ebook)
90. Templar legacy - Steve Berry (ebook)
91. Tenth Stone - Bodie Thoene
92. The 13th Hour - Richard Doetsch (ebook)
93. The 39 Clues #1 - Rick Riordan  
94. The Aedyn Chronicles - Alister McGrath
95. The Apothecary's Daughter -  Julie Kalssen (ebook) 
96. The Black Echo (Harry Bosch #1) - Michael Connelly
97. The Dead Whisper On - T.L. Hines 
98. The Emerald Atlas - John Stephens 
99. The Fall of Lucas Kendrick - Kay Hooper (ebook)
100. The Magnificent 12 - Michael Grant (ebook)
101. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
102. The First Out - Diane Emley
103. The Hollow Man - Dan Simmons
104. The Immortals - J.T. Ellison
105. The Journey that Saved Curious George - H.E. Ray  
106. The Last Child - John Hart  
107. The Likeness - Tana French 
108. The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan (ebook)
109. The Man in the High Castle - Philip Dick
110. The Murder at the Vicarage (Miss Marple) - Agatha Christie (e-book)
111. The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith (e-book)
112. The Memory Collector - Meg Gardiner 
113. The Passage - Justin Cronin 
114. The Pawn - Steven James (ebook)
115. The Priest's Graveyard - Ted Dekker  
116. The Raphael Affair - Iain Pears 
117. The Road to Jerusalem - Jan Guillou (gift)
118. The Rossetti Letter - Christi Phillips(prize) 
119. The Sherlockian - Graham Moore (gift arc dec) 
120. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (ebook) 
121. The Summoner - Layton Green 
122. The Templar Legacy - Steve Berry (ebook)
123. The Tower of Shadow - Drew Bowling 
124. The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin  
125. The Wheelman - Duane Swierczynski
126. The Winter Sea - Susanna Kearsley (ebook)
127. The Wrong King of Blood - Declan Hughes 
128. The Wrong Side of Dead - Jordan Dane
129. Think of a Number - John Verdon (shelf aware)
130. Tough Customer - Sandra Brown  
131. Vanity Fair - William Thackeray (e-book) 
132. Warrior into the Wild - Erin Hunter 
133. Watch your Back - James Scott Bell  (ebook)
134. When a Man Loves a Weapon - Toni McGee Causey 
135. Where There's Smoke - Sandra Brown
136. Winter Sea -Susanna Kearsley (ebook) 
137. www.watch - Robert J. Sawyer 
138. Year Zero - Jeff Long

It begins - Nanowrimo 2011