2012 Spooktacular Reading Challenge

October 1 - 31, 2012

Here’s the deal: since Halloween is my favourite holiday, last year I decided the entire month of October should be dedicated to all things paranormal, and I also decided I wanted to include the blogosphere by challenging you guys to read and review a minimum of three paranormal books between October 1st and 31st. 

Challenge Details:

*Read and review a minimum of three (3) paranormal** books. Reviews must be posted for the first time between October 1st and 31st, 2012. You don’t have to have a blog to participate, as long as you can post your reviews somewhere (GoodReads, Amazon, etc) and share them. 

*For every paranormal book you read, review, and link up in the month of October, you’ll be entered in a giveaway to win one of the paranormal books below. To be eligible for the giveaway, you must complete the minimum of three books.

*The link-up in this post is just for sign ups. I’ll be posting a separate link-up for reviews on the 1st of October.

*Ebooks and audiobooks count. Adult and young adult books count. If this challenge crosses over into other challenges you're doing, that’s fine with me.

**PARANORMAL: Same as last year, I’m using a very loose interpretation of ‘paranormal’. It can be paranormal, fantasy, urban fantasy - basically any ‘creature’ or ‘otherworldly’ book counts - vampires, werewolves, faeries, shape shifters, zombies, angels, demons, mermaids, dragons, witches/wizards/sorcerers, trolls, sirens, banshees, etc. 

So you want to participate? Here's what you need to do:

*Follow Ramblings of a Daydreamer through GFC (right sidebar).
*Grab the button and place it on your blog. This way, not only will people know you’re participating in the challenge, but they can come back to my blog and find out how to join in on the fun.
*Optional, but recommended: create a post or a page on your blog with the challenge graphic to help spread the word, and keep track of your progress once the challenge starts. If you decide to do that, make sure to either post a link back here, or have the linked graphic on your post so that, again, people can come join the fun. You need to have at least one or the other to be eligible – the button in your sidebar and/or a post about the challenge. You don't have to decide beforehand what books you're reading.
*On October 1st, I will start a new post with a new link-up where you can add links to your reviews. Don’t forget to add your reviews to be included in the giveaway, and don't forget you need at least three during the month. The more reviews you post, the more entries you have to win.
*To sign up, leave your name and blog URL in the linky below (for example, Marie @ Ramblings of a Daydreamer).
*The giveaway at the end is open internationally as long as Book Depositoryships to your country. For a full list of countries, check here.
*If you're on Twitter, you can connect with other participants, share updates, etc, using the hashtag #SPRC.  

This reading challenge is hosted by Ramblings of a Daydreamer.  For more information, prizes, and to sign-up, please see this post.

2013 Debut Author Reading Challenge

January 1, 2013 – February 1, 2014

It's that time of year again!  I'm probably a little bit early, but better early that late.  In light of the drama that transpired in blogland about The Story Siren situation (I'm not going to go any deeper than that), I am hosting an alternative to the current DAC challenge.  Please note that this challenge was inspired by The Story Siren's DAC challenge.  I did not like the genre limitations that were put on the "original" DAC challenge so I decided to open it up to ALL debut authors in ALL genre's.

Challenge Objective:

~ To read and review a minimum of 12 Debut Authors, starting January 1, 2013 and concluding February 1, 2014*.  Where you choose to post your reviews is up to you (accepted places will be listed below).

*The extension to to allow challenge participants to include December releases as part of their challenge.

Rules and "Fine Print":

~ To sign up please link to either your blog or your Goodreads account in the linky below.

~ Challenge runs from January 1, 2013 - February 1, 2014

~ ANY Advance Reader Copies for 2013 releases that are read before January 1 DO NOT count towards the challenge.

~ Reviews may be posted on either your blog, Goodreads or Youtube.  You MUST include a link to your review in the linky for each month.

~ Challenge reviews MUST be written/given in English.

~Deadline to sign up for the challenge is June 1, 2013.

Rules for the Books:

~ The book must be a debut and being released in 2013.

Challenge Giveaway:

This giveaway is for those challenge participants who COMPLETE the challenge. August 1 a linky will go up for those who complete the challenge. The prize will be a 2014 pre-order of the winner's choosing. To submit your entry for the giveaway you MUST do the following:

~ create a post declaring the challenge complete.

~Somewhere on your blog I must be able to find your email address or someway to contact you.

~ if you do not have a blog and are using Goodreads please make a notation in your final review and submit the review in the linky in the giveaway post.

~Giveaway will be live from August 1, 2013 until February 10, 2014.
~ Open Internationally to where ever The Book Depository ships to.



This reading challenge is hosted by View From the Hill Book Reviews. For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.

Season of the Witch Reading Event and Challenge

October 1, 2012 – October 31, 2012

My first annual month long October event, Season of the Witch! I hope you will join me for some scary fun this Halloween season.

GUEST POSTS/PROMOS/GIVEAWAYS

Of course, we all know that the focus of Castle Macabre is always the scary (and the speculative), but in October, I'm hoping to have some scary almost every day.  For instance, during Banned Books Week, I will be reading and reviewing American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis.  I'm also seeking guest posts from authors and bloggers alike.  Authors, if you would like to promote your book with a guest post, spotlight, and/or giveaway, this would be the place.  The topic does not have to be witch related (I'll get to the witchy part in a moment), but if it is, that's great! Please email me at truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom, if you are interested in participating.

MINI-READING "CHALLENGE"

The other part of Season of the Witch is that I'm challenging myself to read as many witch-related books (from my shelves) in October as I can and I'm challenging you as well.  Let's call it a Witchy Mini-Reading "Challenge."  If you think you're up for the challenge, sign up in the linky below.
I would love for you to join me.  Please grab the button at the top of the post and please spread the word.  Thanks!

This reading event and challenge is hosted by The True Book Addict. For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.

FrightFall Read-a-Thon

October 1, 2012 – October 7, 2012

It's here! The official sign up for the FrightFall Read-a-Thon! A week long fest of scary reading (well, at least one scary book anyway).  All you have to do to participate is read at least one horror/scary book.  For the faint-hearted among you, it can be a spooky mystery, a scary thriller, or something classically gothic.  This time I'm allowing children's books for those of you who have kids...with one condition...five picture books equal one novel.  Sound fair?  Middle grade novels can count as one book.  I will not be hosting any mini-challenges, as we learned from my last two read-a-thons, focusing on the reading rocks.  However, if anyone else would like to host a mini-challenge, you are more than welcome.  Of course, there will be a big giveaway at the end.  And we will have a few scheduled Twitter chats again (and perhaps some more reading sprints).  Our twitter hashtag is #FrightFall.

Sign up [on the hosting blog – see link at the end of this post].  You do not have to do a post now, unless you want to help spread the word (hint, hint...)  If you don't have a blog, use Facebook, Twitter or Goodreads.  Having a blog is not required.  Be sure to grab the button at the top of this post.  (Don't forget that this is just the sign-up linky.  There will be starting line sign-in and wrap-up linkies during the read-a-thon and doing both is required to be eligible for the giveaway).

I am looking for prize donations so if anyone would like to contribute, let me know.  Authors, this is a great way to promote your book! Email me--truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom

This reading event is hosted by The True Book Addict. For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.