Semi-Charmed Winter 2015 Book Challenge

Hosted by Megan at Semi-Charmed Life. Since I was an early finisher of the Summer Reading Challenge, and got to submit a category for the Winter Challange, I just have to get in on the Winter Challenge. It starts on November 1 and runs till the end of January so I've got some time.  Sign up here.

photo via @mcstroup

It's time for the next installment of the Semi-Charmed Book Challenge series! Whether you are a newcomer to the challenge or a repeat reader, I am excited to have you here today. Continue reading after the jump for the winter challenge rules and categories.

General rules:

• The challenge will run from November 1, 2015, to January 31, 2016. No books that are started before 12 a.m. on November 1 or finished after 11:59 p.m. on January 31 will count.
• Each book must be at least 200 pages long, unless otherwise noted. Audiobooks and large-print books are fine, as long as the regular print version meets the length requirement.
• A book can only be used for one category, and each category can only be completed once. If you want to switch the category of a book during a later check-in, that's fine, just be sure to account for that in your point total.
• Rereads can be used for a maximum of three books in the challenge. This rule is meant to encourage you to try new books while still allowing you to revisit books from your childhood or young adulthood that you might get more out of now. Please reread the entire book within the timeframe of the challenge in order to count it; no simply finishing old books or partial rereads.
• The highest possible total is 200 points, and the first five people who finish the challenge will be invited to contribute a category for the summer 2016 challenge.

And now for the exciting part: the challenge categories!

5 points: Read a book that has between 100 and 200 pages.   Mind Race--Patrick E. Jamieson (174 pages, 3 stars) 

10 points: Read a debut book by any author. (The book does not have to be a 2015 debut.)  The Christmas Cookie Club--Ann Pearlman (274 pages, 3 stars)

10 points: Read a book that does not take place in your current country of residence.  Three Cups of Tea--Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (349 pages, 2 stars)

10 points: Read a book that someone else has already used for the challenge. — Submitted by SCSBC15 finisher Kristen @ See You in a Porridge.   After You--Jojo Moyes (626 pages, 3 stars)

15 points: Read a book published under a pseudonym (e.g. Robert Galbraith, Sara Poole, J.D. Robb, Franklin W. Dixon, Mark Twain, etc.). — Submitted by SCSBC15 finisher Megan M.  Shopaholic to the Rescue--Sophie Kinsella (Madeline Wickham) (466 pages, 3 stars)

15 points: Read a book with “boy,” “girl,” “man” or “woman” in the title (or the plural of these words).   The Girls of Mischief Bay--Susan Mallery (538 pages, 3 stars)

15 points: Read a book with a one-word title (e.g. Attachments, Americanah, Uglies, Wild, etc.). Grey--E.L. James (559 pages, 3 stars)

20 points: Read a book with a person's first and last name in the title (e.g. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle).   The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle--Avi (244 pages, 3 stars)

20 points: Read a food-themed book. — Submitted by SCSBC15 finisher Jamie @ Whatever I Think Of!  Blackberry Pie Murder--Joanne Fluke (339 pages, 3 stars)

20 points: Read a book with a verb in the title. (For any grammar nerds out there, I mean “verb” in the most general sense, so gerunds count. For non-grammar-inclined people, just use any book that appears to have a verb in the title!)  Revenge Wears Prada--Lauren Weisberger (400 pages, 3 stars)

30 points: Read two books with the same title by different authors. — Submitted by SCSBC15 finisher bevchen @ Confuzzledom.   Boy Toy--Michael Craft (272 pages, 3 stars)  and  Boy Toy--Barry Lyga (410 pages, 4 stars)

30 points: Read a nonfiction book and a fiction book about the same subject (e.g. a biography and historical fiction novel about the same person; two books about a specific war or event; a nonfiction book about autism and a novel with a character who has autism, etc. The possibilities are endless!). Bipolar Disorder: Detour: My Bipolar Road Trip in 4-D--Lizzie Simon (nonfiction)(211 pages, 3 stars) and  Leaving Time--Jodi Picoult (fiction) (398 pages, 3 stars)

Challenge completed on December 19

Coca Cola Box Display at Safeway

The picture says it all....

Tombstone Marshmallow Peeps

I saw these at Rite Aid one day when I went looking for the yearly Halloween peeps.  The pumpkins and ghosts were there as always, but the black cats were nowhere to be seen.  In fact, I have not seen the black cat peeps for several years now. I don't know if they are still being made.  But I never saw the tombstones till this year and today I decided to try them.  Didn't taste too much different from all the other kinds of peeps.

It's October Now...

As much as I love the holiday, I opted not to participate in the Countdown to Halloween this year.  It was mainly because of last year when I was working long hours, causing me to miss some days on the countdown last year. I suspected more of the same would happen this year.  For one week I worked 18 hours overtime and was exhausted beyond description.  A week later, I only worked three days, still staying till 2AM.  But now I've off for almost a week now and have had plenty time to blog.  But another reason was that in the past when I participated in the countdown, my posts got repetitive and sometimes I had little to say on some days.  And last year I was afraid of not getting the day off, but I ddi as I'd asked (and I've already requested it off for this year).  But it was raining on Halloween last year.  Not too bad, we needed some rain since we've been in a drought.  But that night at the local bar, the celebration was cut short when the power went out after 10PM.  All the patrons were freaked.  I'm pretty sure I'll get it off this year, and that this year may just be better.  

On another note, my orange lights I've hung in my kitchen window the last few years have burned out so my window won't be decorated as it always has been.  Going to miss seeing this in my window.

But although I won't be participating in the countdown, I do plan to blog about some of my plans for the holiday.  I've just decided on a costume and began looking for parts today at thrift stores. Only found a few so far, and will keep looking.  In addition to Goodwill, my town has several other second-hand stores that are only open on certain days of the week.  I'm hoping I don't have to go out of town for this, but will do so if necessary.  Will tell you what I'm going to be later.

Some Changes This Year

As you know, the fall season is upon us now, though in my neck in the woods it still feels a little like summer. It's been quite hot!  The fall season means Halloween is just around the corner.  It's already up at most stores now.  My town didn't get the Spirit Store like we did last year, but I wasn't surprised.  We rarely get those things and we hadn't had once since 1999, so having one last year came as a bit of a shock.  But it was quite convenient--no driving out of town for one.  And now I'll have to do just that.  But likely I will just settle for what is available at Kmart,  or make up something from Goodwill or another thrift store we have in this town.

All that being said, I decided not to participate in the Countdown to Halloween this year as you may have seen on my blog in the past six years.  As much as I love the holiday, blogging each day has become difficult.  Working long hours last year made me miss some days and it looks like the same will be true this year.  Also, I've noticed my countdown posts have become repetitive each year.  How many times can I blog about how women's costumes always have to be so skimpy; wondering why they place army jackets and scouting uniforms in the Halloween costume racks at thrift stores;  what TV shows to watch for the season, etc.  And I think I may have used up all the Halloween and fall-related quizzes at Blogthings.   I will try to put up some stuff for Halloween, though, just not every single day.  I will in some way have my own countdown and will anticipate the holiday as always. And I will try to srtat decorating next weekend, since the first falls on Thursday this year and I want to have them up all month.  And in case you haven't seen yet, the holiday itself is on Saturday this year.  

Another thing I need to get working on is the post for the reading challenge I'm planning for next year.  Again, I would like some advice on how to do this sort of thing.  I need to know how to make images for my post and would like advice on what linking service is cheapest for at least a year.  If you can help me on these matters, I'd very much appreciate it. I really want to do this and want to get my post up in either November or December and hope to get some participants.  And I will add it to Novel Challenge  as well.  And I am participating in the Halloween Reading Challenge at Reading Every Season, which goes quite well  the Reading Bites and Witches and Witchcraft challenges I've already been doing.

Happy fall season everyone!

2015 Halloween Reading Challenge

Going to do this one when it begins in October, of course :-)  Since it's already up, I'm signing up now.  Go to Reading Every Season to sign up.

I am really excited to announce the 2015 Halloween Reading Challenge! I have been looking forward to this reading challenge ever since I started the blog.

This reading challenge will take place in the month of October. I will be also be hosting a screamathon (horror themed readathon) Oct 17 - 23. An announcement post and sign ups for the #ScreamathonRES will be posted soon.

How the Halloween Reading Challenge Works:

• This is a design it yourself challenge. I want you to choose your own reading goals. This is a low pressure challenge meant to be fun.

• The books can be horror, thriller, supernatural, mystery, or Halloween themed. This means they should be about serial killers, murders, ghosts, demons, witches, monsters, vampires, etc. 

• Vampire books may also count towards my 2015 Reading Bites Challenge at Hippie Book Reviews.

• When you have reviewed a book, you are encouraged to come back to this post and add the link to your review in the comments.

Additional Rules: 

• This challenge runs Oct 1 - Oct 31.

• You may sign up anytime during the challenge. 

• I won't be creating different levels. Read as little or as many books as you want. 

• You may include books of any format including traditional books, ebooks, or audiobooks. 

• Books may be YA, adult, nonfiction, mystery, chick lit, romance, etc. but must be horror, thriller, mystery, supernatural, or subjects that have to with Halloween. 

• You may reread books. 

• Books may count towards other reading challenges. 

• Use the hashtag #Halloween2015RES

• If you could be so kind, please place the Halloween Reading Challenge banner on your blog to help spread the word. 

• Please link back to this blog, post about it on Facebook, Tweet about it, and so on to help spread the word.

• You may sign up using your blog, Youtube channel, Goodreads, Twitter, etc. 

Here is what I'll be reading:

1. Nightschool: The Weirn Books Volume 1--Svetlana Chmakova
2. Nightschool: The Weirn Books Volume 2--Svetlana Chmakova
3. The Silver Kiss--Annette Curtis Klause
4. Gossamer Ghost--Laura Childs
5. A Halloween Scare in California--Eric James
6. The Secret Circle: The Initiation and The Captive Part I--L.J. Smith
7. The Secret Circle: The Captive Part II and The Power--L.J. Smith
8. Vampire Beach--Alex Duval
9. Vampire Beach 2--Alex Duval
10. Happy Halloween, Biscuit--Alyssa Satin Capucilli
11. Room on the Broom--Julia Donaldson
12. GoodnIght, Goon: A Petrifying Parody--Michael Rex
13. The Kitchen Witch--Annette Blair
14. Bewitched, Bothered and Biscotti--Bailey Cates
15. Charms and Chocolate Chips--Bailey Cates

Challenge completed on October 24

Planning to Host My First Reading Challenge Next Year

After years of participating in other people's reading challenges, I decided a couple months ago to take a stab at hosting one of my own next year.  I mentioned this in an earlier post in June.

I've thought of doing this since I began doing challenges in 2013.  But no real idea for one hit me until recently.  I knew I did not need to do one based on themes such animals, mysteries, romance, colors, food and such, since plenty of those challenges exist already. And there are already plenty of those consisting of lists or Bingo-like grids with categories such as "your favorite childhood book," "a Pulitzer-prize winning book," or "a book with a number in the title."  I love these challenges and do them all the time, but I wanted to do something different.  I just didn't know what until now.

I'm still keeping the idea under wraps until I get my sign-up post done.  I hope to have it up in either November or December when all the blogs begin posting their challenges for the coming year.  But I will tell you this--whatever your preferred reading genre(s) is/are, you will find something that fits what I have planned.  And I am surprised no one else ever came up with the idea I have planned.  Stay tuned to my blog to see what it will be about.   I will be including the post on A Novel Challenge as well,  once it is done.

Meanwhile, I need some help getting started. I asked this at the end of the blogpost linked in the first paragraph.  I need to know where I can get pictures to but on my blogpost and which link up service is cheapest to use for up to a year.  And how I can modify images without Photoshop.  I've looked on these two sites already for images: Dreamtime Stock Photography and  FreeDigitalPhotos.net.  This will all be something new to me,  that is why I am planning now. (I've actually had the idea since May).  Any help for this will be appreciated.  Please leave a comment below with any help you can give me.  TIA.