………..of SEE MIX DRINK by Brian D. Murphy
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3 37
Timestamp: 2011-11-04 12:42:40 UTC
Author, of Chasing Amanda and Megan’s Way, and who I now call friend, has been a frequent visitor here. She has a heart of gold and adding to her already 36 hour days, she must have with all that she does, is now also promoting indie authors and I signed on to help her. Today’s guest is an author she would like to introduce to us all. So please welcome Mr. Dean Mayes!!!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dean Mayes has been writing, blogging and dreaming for most of his adult life, in between practicing as an Pediatric ICU Nurse and raising his two children, Xavier & Lucy (who was born during the writing of his debut novel The Hambledown Dream). Dean lives in Adelaide, Australia with his partner Emily, his children …and his cross-breed cattle dog Simon.
The Hambledown Dream, a lyrical and moving paranormal romance, is his first novel. Dean is currently working on his second novel, tentatively titled “Gifts Of The Peramangk”.
He writes regularly for a loyal following at his blog Dean from Australia.
GUEST POST
Music As A Literary Experience.
A Guest Article By Author, Dean Mayes.
Comitting music to the written page can be a particular challenge for a writer. Surely, music has
to be listened to be appreciated it – right? How then, can music translate to a literary experience that is as satifying for a reader, as the music itself?
The answer is not as difficult to achieve as one might believe.
“The Hambledown Dream“, my first novel, is very much a musical journey, with the classical
guitar taking center stage. I adore classical guitar. It is a perfect accompaniment to any number
of situations and states of mind. When you are stuck in peak hour traffic on a commute. As
background music for a dinner party with friends. When you’re relaxing in a chair somehwere
with a glass of wine. Indeed, I have found it helpful when I have been sitting a my computer
writing.
However, I did not anticipate just how much of a challenge describing music as it performed
would be when I first began to pen the story. I grappled with the concept for the longest time.
Music is, obviously, an aural experience, whereas reading is a silent one, that relies on our
imagination. As a writer, the challenge in translating this very aural experience into a literary
one, is significant. One must be able to deliver an experience that is as emotionally satisfying to the reader, than if they were hearing the music. And, herein lies an additional challenge. How
does a writer describe a piece of music that the reader, in all likelihood, has never heard?
During my research, I knew that I wanted to feature classical guitar in the story as a device that
would tie two lives together as well as portraying it as a ‘character’ in it’s own right. From the
beginning, I consumed as much classical guitar music as I could, determining that I wanted to
feature three or four key pieces in the story. Just how I was going to describe them being played, was initially difficult.
At first, I made notes about the technical aspects of several pieces that I found appealing. Their
tone, and tempo, whether they were loud or soft, whether they were bold in their execution or
more introspective. But in attempting to put these descriptors into an engaging narrative, the
initial results were pretty uninspiring. They didn’t grab me in an emotionally satisfying way, so I
knew they weren’t going to grab my readers. I needed to approach the problem from another
angle.
It wasn’t until I happened across an album in my collection by Australian virtuoso guitarist
Slava Grigoryan, that the other angle I was seeking became apparent.
“Another Night In London” is a wonderfully obscure 2003 recording featuring Grigoryan’s
classical guitar in a languid, free flowing style. Part jazz, part classical, part contemporary, it’s a
more experimental example of Grigoryan’s work. You probably have never heard of the album –
am I right?
Within the album, is a three part exploration of Grigoryan’s skilfull playing in an enchanting
suite called “The Sounds Of Rain”.
Part 3 of this suite has long been a favorite of mine for a couple of reasons. It evokes the most
wonderful imagery of the rain. Soft rain falling through the tops of a tree and dripping freely
from the leaves. Pattering rain on a tin roof, somewhere in the country side. Long languid
afternoons where rain falls for hours and one can sit on a porch somewhere and simply be
accompanied by it. It is calming, soothing and it allows you to drift away. Grigoryan, himself,
plays the piece with a gentleness and subtle energy. He moves with piece, bowing his head in
concert with the rhythm he draws from the guitar. His fingers dance across the fret board as
though they are floating on air.
See what I did there?
In just a few short sentences I was able to evoke imagery in describing the piece as well as
impart an emotional accompaniment to it, i.e. – how the piece makes me feel. And, rather than
labor on the techincal aspects of the performance, I instead describe Grigoryan’s playing as
though it were a dance – a kind of ballet. We know he is a good guitarist, since I described him
earlier as a virtuoso. So his technical ability can be taken as a given.
I featured Part 3 of “The Sounds Of Rain” in my novel, right from the start and it became the
template for the way I would present the other pieces of music. For pieces that are more
renowned than “Rain”, I referred, subtly, to their origins as a way of describing them as another
means of ‘translation’.
For example, the famed composer Astor Piazolla’s “Tango Suite”, is fairly well known to lovers of classical guitar. I featured it in a scene where my central character is performing it in a Pub
in the chill Chicago winter. By describing the suite in just a single sentence in the novel as”…a
piece that bristled with a controlled erotic energy of the legendary Argentine dance”, I beleive I
was able to evoke the imagery of a dance – the Tango – that is familiar to most of us, as well as
evoking a sense of eroticism, an emotion that is, undoubtedly emotionally satisfying to 99.9% of us.
A good exercise to partake in, if you want to write about a piece of music is to write down the
kinds of things you see in a piece. A place, a texture, a color, an act – so long as it is visual and it fits into the narrative that you are trying to convey. Add to this the feelings the piece evokes in
you. You can then work with your two lists and extrapolate on the themes you find therein.
Music imparts imagery and emotion within us. It fires our imagination and encourages us to
seek out more of those forms which we derive the greatest pleasure from.
For a writer, the interpretation of a musical experience into a literary one requires that we tap
into a similar sense of imagery and emotion and translate these onto the page, as if the music
itself is a character. In this way, a writer can present a musical journey to a reader that is every
bit as rich and rewarding as the music itself.
Dean Mayes is the author of The Hambledown Dream which is available from Amazon and
www.deanfromaustralia.com in digital and print formats.
ABOUT THE BOOK
SYNOPSIS:
Australian Denny Banister had it all; a successful career, a passion for the guitar, and Sonya – the love of his life. Tragically, Denny is struck down with inoperable cancer.
Andy DeVries has almost nothing; alienated from his family, moving through a dangerous Chicago underworld dealing in drugs, battling addiction; all while keeping a wavering hold on the only thing that matters to him: a place at a prestigious conservatory for classical guitar in Chicago.
As Andy recovers from a near fatal overdose, he is plagued by dreams – memories of a love he has never felt, and a life he’s never lived. Driven by the need for redemption and by the love for a woman he’s never met, he begins a quest to find her, knowing her only by the memories of a stranger and the dreams of a place called Hambledown…
THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF AUTHOR,
DEAN MAYES, HE HAS OFFERED A GIVEAWAY GALORE
CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO
THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.
DISCLAIMER
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.
ADDENDUM
I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com,
Barnes & Noble and/or any other retail/wholesale
outlets either online and/or elsewhere.
I am providing this link solely for visitors
that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.
I do not receive any monetary compensation from any parties
NOVEMBER 3rd to NOVEMBER 17th, 2011
THE HAMBLEDOWN DREAM
by DEAN MAYES
SYNOPSIS:
Australian Denny Banister had it all; a successful career, a passion for the guitar, and Sonya – the love of his life. Tragically, Denny is struck down with inoperable cancer.
Andy DeVries has almost nothing; alienated from his family, moving through a dangerous Chicago underworld dealing in drugs, battling addiction; all while keeping a wavering hold on the only thing that matters to him: a place at a prestigious conservatory for classical guitar in Chicago.
As Andy recovers from a near fatal overdose, he is plagued by dreams – memories of a love he has never felt, and a life he’s never lived. Driven by the need for redemption and by the love for a woman he’s never met, he begins a quest to find her, knowing her only by the memories of a stranger and the dreams of a place called Hambledown…
THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF AUTHOR, DEAN MAYES,
THERE IS AN INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY EXTRAVAGANZA
THERE IS AN INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY EXTRAVAGANZA
FIRST PLACE WINNER WILL WIN SIGNED PRINT COPY AND CD
2nd AND 3rd PLACE WINNERS WILL WINNER
A SIGNED EBOOK EDITION OF BOOK.
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN.
*ALL COMMENTS TO BE SEPARATE*
AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT: FROM READING THE SYNOPSIS,
WHERE OR WHAT DO YOU THINK IS HAMBLEDOWN?*
AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT: FROM READING THE SYNOPSIS,
WHERE OR WHAT DO YOU THINK IS HAMBLEDOWN?*
*EXTRA ENTRIES*
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU PUBLICLY FOLLOW THIS
BLOG (IF NOT, GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT ON RIGHT SIDE).
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK.
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.
*REMEMBER TO INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR ALL ENTRIES.
*INTERNATIONAL*
*NO P.O. BOXES*
**HONOR SYSTEM**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.
*NO P.O. BOXES*
**HONOR SYSTEM**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.
*GIVEAWAY ENDS NOVEMBER 17th AT 6PM EST*
WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG AND NOTIFIED
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN
DISCLAIMER / RULES
Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher,
the giveaway on behalf of theabove. I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, inexchange for my honest review. No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.
I am not responsible for lost or damaged books that are shipped
from agents. I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entriesif rules of giveaway are not followed
from agents. I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entriesif rules of giveaway are not followed
Today’s question:
All other thing being equal, would you rather read a book that’s hard/challenging/rewarding or light/enjoyable/easy?
My answer:
Like my reading, so is my answer, light and easy. I read for entertainment, enjoyment and pleasure. So my answer would be the latter choice. Something that would be hard and challenging is something that I associate with when I was in HS and HAD to read mandatory novels for assignments. I think that is why, to this day, that I have trouble, even thinking about or trying to read historicals or vintage stories.
What about you? What category do you fall in? Or do you read both?
Author, of Chasing Amanda and Megan’s Way, and who I now call friend, has been a frequent visitor here. She has a heart of gold and adding to her already 36 hour days, she must have with all that she does, is now also promoting indie authors and I signed on to help her. Today’s guest is an author she would like to introduce to us all. So please welcome Mr. Dean Mayes!!!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dean Mayes has been writing, blogging and dreaming for most of his adult life, in between practicing as an Pediatric ICU Nurse and raising his two children, Xavier & Lucy (who was born during the writing of his debut novel The Hambledown Dream). Dean lives in Adelaide, Australia with his partner Emily, his children …and his cross-breed cattle dog Simon.
The Hambledown Dream, a lyrical and moving paranormal romance, is his first novel. Dean is currently working on his second novel, tentatively titled “Gifts Of The Peramangk”.
He writes regularly for a loyal following at his blog Dean from Australia.
GUEST POST
Music As A Literary Experience.
A Guest Article By Author, Dean Mayes.
Comitting music to the written page can be a particular challenge for a writer. Surely, music has
to be listened to be appreciated it – right? How then, can music translate to a literary experience that is as satifying for a reader, as the music itself?
The answer is not as difficult to achieve as one might believe.
“The Hambledown Dream“, my first novel, is very much a musical journey, with the classical
guitar taking center stage. I adore classical guitar. It is a perfect accompaniment to any number
of situations and states of mind. When you are stuck in peak hour traffic on a commute. As
background music for a dinner party with friends. When you’re relaxing in a chair somehwere
with a glass of wine. Indeed, I have found it helpful when I have been sitting a my computer
writing.
However, I did not anticipate just how much of a challenge describing music as it performed
would be when I first began to pen the story. I grappled with the concept for the longest time.
Music is, obviously, an aural experience, whereas reading is a silent one, that relies on our
imagination. As a writer, the challenge in translating this very aural experience into a literary
one, is significant. One must be able to deliver an experience that is as emotionally satisfying to the reader, than if they were hearing the music. And, herein lies an additional challenge. How
does a writer describe a piece of music that the reader, in all likelihood, has never heard?
During my research, I knew that I wanted to feature classical guitar in the story as a device that
would tie two lives together as well as portraying it as a ‘character’ in it’s own right. From the
beginning, I consumed as much classical guitar music as I could, determining that I wanted to
feature three or four key pieces in the story. Just how I was going to describe them being played, was initially difficult.
At first, I made notes about the technical aspects of several pieces that I found appealing. Their
tone, and tempo, whether they were loud or soft, whether they were bold in their execution or
more introspective. But in attempting to put these descriptors into an engaging narrative, the
initial results were pretty uninspiring. They didn’t grab me in an emotionally satisfying way, so I
knew they weren’t going to grab my readers. I needed to approach the problem from another
angle.
It wasn’t until I happened across an album in my collection by Australian virtuoso guitarist
Slava Grigoryan, that the other angle I was seeking became apparent.
“Another Night In London” is a wonderfully obscure 2003 recording featuring Grigoryan’s
classical guitar in a languid, free flowing style. Part jazz, part classical, part contemporary, it’s a
more experimental example of Grigoryan’s work. You probably have never heard of the album –
am I right?
Within the album, is a three part exploration of Grigoryan’s skilfull playing in an enchanting
suite called “The Sounds Of Rain”.
Part 3 of this suite has long been a favorite of mine for a couple of reasons. It evokes the most
wonderful imagery of the rain. Soft rain falling through the tops of a tree and dripping freely
from the leaves. Pattering rain on a tin roof, somewhere in the country side. Long languid
afternoons where rain falls for hours and one can sit on a porch somewhere and simply be
accompanied by it. It is calming, soothing and it allows you to drift away. Grigoryan, himself,
plays the piece with a gentleness and subtle energy. He moves with piece, bowing his head in
concert with the rhythm he draws from the guitar. His fingers dance across the fret board as
though they are floating on air.
See what I did there?
In just a few short sentences I was able to evoke imagery in describing the piece as well as
impart an emotional accompaniment to it, i.e. – how the piece makes me feel. And, rather than
labor on the techincal aspects of the performance, I instead describe Grigoryan’s playing as
though it were a dance – a kind of ballet. We know he is a good guitarist, since I described him
earlier as a virtuoso. So his technical ability can be taken as a given.
I featured Part 3 of “The Sounds Of Rain” in my novel, right from the start and it became the
template for the way I would present the other pieces of music. For pieces that are more
renowned than “Rain”, I referred, subtly, to their origins as a way of describing them as another
means of ‘translation’.
For example, the famed composer Astor Piazolla’s “Tango Suite”, is fairly well known to lovers of classical guitar. I featured it in a scene where my central character is performing it in a Pub
in the chill Chicago winter. By describing the suite in just a single sentence in the novel as”…a
piece that bristled with a controlled erotic energy of the legendary Argentine dance”, I beleive I
was able to evoke the imagery of a dance – the Tango – that is familiar to most of us, as well as
evoking a sense of eroticism, an emotion that is, undoubtedly emotionally satisfying to 99.9% of us.
A good exercise to partake in, if you want to write about a piece of music is to write down the
kinds of things you see in a piece. A place, a texture, a color, an act – so long as it is visual and it fits into the narrative that you are trying to convey. Add to this the feelings the piece evokes in
you. You can then work with your two lists and extrapolate on the themes you find therein.
Music imparts imagery and emotion within us. It fires our imagination and encourages us to
seek out more of those forms which we derive the greatest pleasure from.
For a writer, the interpretation of a musical experience into a literary one requires that we tap
into a similar sense of imagery and emotion and translate these onto the page, as if the music
itself is a character. In this way, a writer can present a musical journey to a reader that is every
bit as rich and rewarding as the music itself.
Dean Mayes is the author of The Hambledown Dream which is available from Amazon and
www.deanfromaustralia.com in digital and print formats.
ABOUT THE BOOK
SYNOPSIS:
Australian Denny Banister had it all; a successful career, a passion for the guitar, and Sonya – the love of his life. Tragically, Denny is struck down with inoperable cancer.
Andy DeVries has almost nothing; alienated from his family, moving through a dangerous Chicago underworld dealing in drugs, battling addiction; all while keeping a wavering hold on the only thing that matters to him: a place at a prestigious conservatory for classical guitar in Chicago.
As Andy recovers from a near fatal overdose, he is plagued by dreams – memories of a love he has never felt, and a life he’s never lived. Driven by the need for redemption and by the love for a woman he’s never met, he begins a quest to find her, knowing her only by the memories of a stranger and the dreams of a place called Hambledown…
THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF AUTHOR,
DEAN MAYES, HE HAS OFFERED A GIVEAWAY GALORE
CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO
THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.
DISCLAIMER
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.
ADDENDUM
I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com,
Barnes & Noble and/or any other retail/wholesale
outlets either online and/or elsewhere.
I am providing this link solely for visitors
that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.
I do not receive any monetary compensation from any parties
NOVEMBER 3rd to NOVEMBER 17th, 2011
THE HAMBLEDOWN DREAM
by DEAN MAYES
SYNOPSIS:
Australian Denny Banister had it all; a successful career, a passion for the guitar, and Sonya – the love of his life. Tragically, Denny is struck down with inoperable cancer.
Andy DeVries has almost nothing; alienated from his family, moving through a dangerous Chicago underworld dealing in drugs, battling addiction; all while keeping a wavering hold on the only thing that matters to him: a place at a prestigious conservatory for classical guitar in Chicago.
As Andy recovers from a near fatal overdose, he is plagued by dreams – memories of a love he has never felt, and a life he’s never lived. Driven by the need for redemption and by the love for a woman he’s never met, he begins a quest to find her, knowing her only by the memories of a stranger and the dreams of a place called Hambledown…
THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF AUTHOR, DEAN MAYES,
THERE IS AN INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY EXTRAVAGANZA
THERE IS AN INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY EXTRAVAGANZA
FIRST PLACE WINNER WILL WIN SIGNED PRINT COPY AND CD
2nd AND 3rd PLACE WINNERS WILL WINNER
A SIGNED EBOOK EDITION OF BOOK.
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN.
*ALL COMMENTS TO BE SEPARATE*
AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT: FROM READING THE SYNOPSIS,
WHERE OR WHAT DO YOU THINK IS HAMBLEDOWN?*
AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT: FROM READING THE SYNOPSIS,
WHERE OR WHAT DO YOU THINK IS HAMBLEDOWN?*
*EXTRA ENTRIES*
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU PUBLICLY FOLLOW THIS
BLOG (IF NOT, GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT ON RIGHT SIDE).
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK.
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.
*REMEMBER TO INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR ALL ENTRIES.
*INTERNATIONAL*
*NO P.O. BOXES*
**HONOR SYSTEM**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.
*NO P.O. BOXES*
**HONOR SYSTEM**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.
*GIVEAWAY ENDS NOVEMBER 17th AT 6PM EST*
WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG AND NOTIFIED
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN
DISCLAIMER / RULES
Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher,
the giveaway on behalf of theabove. I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, inexchange for my honest review. No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.
I am not responsible for lost or damaged books that are shipped
from agents. I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entriesif rules of giveaway are not followed
from agents. I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entriesif rules of giveaway are not followed
Today’s question:
All other thing being equal, would you rather read a book that’s hard/challenging/rewarding or light/enjoyable/easy?
My answer:
Like my reading, so is my answer, light and easy. I read for entertainment, enjoyment and pleasure. So my answer would be the latter choice. Something that would be hard and challenging is something that I associate with when I was in HS and HAD to read mandatory novels for assignments. I think that is why, to this day, that I have trouble, even thinking about or trying to read historicals or vintage stories.
What about you? What category do you fall in? Or do you read both?
It’s starting !!!! Can you feel it in the air? Are you like me? Are you getting excited? Have you been stalking a particular site yet? I’m not going to lie, I have. And since 2011 was a non productive year in reading, it also means that my 2nd addiction, reading challenges, I didn’t do well in neither. So I am gearing up, taking a positive attitude that 2012 is going to be better, that more books will be read and more challenges completed.
So this is my kick off post of the challenges that I have signed up for and will be participating in. And I am sure there will be many more to come.
First, I want to thank the team over at A Novel Challenge for giving us addicts a site to go to and find all challenges, memes, events, read-a-thons, etc., a big THANK YOU!!!
I am going to start off with one challenge that I have already proclaimed, Yes!!! I am a Challenge Addict. And this is a challenge I am a wee bit partial to since I am cohosting with my blogging buddy Gina from Hott Books. She is the designer and boss and has told me that my job description is to wave and be the welcome committee as we get more addicts coming to our meetings lol.
Rules/Criteria:
January 1 – December 31, 2012
Good day, Addicts!!
It’s that time of year where we finally admit to our addictions and try to do something about them. Some of us need to admit we have a bit of a problem. Some of us need to admit we have a huge problem. Some of us just really want to enjoy each other’s pain and humiliation while completing challenges. So we are challenging each of you who can also say that you also are a Reading Challenge Addict. We’ll be giving away prizes and recognizing those who are meeting their own expectations by completing the challenges they’ve entered.
It’s that time of year where we finally admit to our addictions and try to do something about them. Some of us need to admit we have a bit of a problem. Some of us need to admit we have a huge problem. Some of us just really want to enjoy each other’s pain and humiliation while completing challenges. So we are challenging each of you who can also say that you also are a Reading Challenge Addict. We’ll be giving away prizes and recognizing those who are meeting their own expectations by completing the challenges they’ve entered.
How addicted are you?
- Easy as Pie: 1-5 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
- On the Roof: 6-10 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
- In Flight: 11-15 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
- Out of This World: 16+ Challenges (Entered & Completed)
Mount TBR Reading Challenge
Hosted by Bev @ My Reader’s Block
If you are a bookaholic like me, then you can’t let a bookstore (used or new, it doesn’t matter) go by without stopping in (“just to look”) and walking out with at least something–if not an armload. I wait all year for the Red Cross Book Sale in October so I can cart them out by the bagful. And, well, that means that I wind up with gigantic piles of TBR books stacked up around my backroom. I don’t have a TBR shelf. Oh, no. I have “Mount TBR”…possibly a whole mountain range.
With that in mind, and having read Susan Hill’s Howards End Is on the Landing (where she spent a year just reading from her own shelves, I’ve decided to create my own TBR reading challenge and plan to concentrate on reading primarily from my own books this year. And you’re invited to join me in knocking out some of those books that have been waiting in the wings for weeks….months…even years.
Challenge Levels
Pike’s Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 25 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 40 books from your TBR piles/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 50 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Everest: Read 100+ books from your TBR pile/s
And the rules:
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find that you’re on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade.
*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2012.
*You may sign up anytime from now until November 30th, 2012.
*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2012. No ARCs, no library books. No rereads.
*Books may be used to count for other challenges as well.
*Feel free to submit your list in advance (as incentive to really get those books taken care of) or to tally them as you climb.
*A blog and reviews are not necessary to participate. If you have a blog, then please post a challenge sign up and link THAT post (not your home page) into the linky below. Non-bloggers, please leave a comment declaring your challenge level.
*A progress site for reviews will go up in January and I will post the link in my sidebar for easy access.
Rules:
- Anyone can join
- You don’t need a blog to participate. For non-bloggers, please leave a comment with a link (if you review somewhere else) to the review or leave a list of the books you read on the monthly link up post.
- Audio, ebooks, and bound books are ok.
- No re-reads
- Create a sign up post and post the link in the linky below.
- Challenge goes from January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012
- Challenge Crossovers are ok.
Levels:
Level 1 – Read 4 Romantic Suspense novels
Level 2 – Read 10 Romantic Suspense novels
Level 3 – Read 14 Romantic Suspense novels
Level 4 – Read 15+ Romantic Suspense novels
Here are the rules:
1. Anyone can join. You don’t need a blog to participate. Create a post about the challenge and link your challenge post up in the linky below.
–Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post.
2. There are four levels:
–The Mini E-Book Challenge – Read 5 E-Books.
–The “Fun Size” E-Book Challenge – Read 10 E-Books.
–The Jumbo Size E-Book Challenge – Read 20 E-Books.
–The Mega Size E-Book Reading Challenge – Read 25+ E-Books.
3. No Audio or Print books.
4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
5. The Challenge starts on January 1, 2012 and goes until December 31, 2012.
1. Anyone can join. You don’t need a blog to participate. Create a post about the challenge and link your challenge post up in the linky below.
–Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post.
2. There are four levels:
–The Mini E-Book Challenge – Read 5 E-Books.
–The “Fun Size” E-Book Challenge – Read 10 E-Books.
–The Jumbo Size E-Book Challenge – Read 20 E-Books.
–The Mega Size E-Book Reading Challenge – Read 25+ E-Books.
3. No Audio or Print books.
4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
5. The Challenge starts on January 1, 2012 and goes until December 31, 2012.
January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012
What’s your reading goal for 2012? If it’s to read more books, then this is the reading challenge for you There were 227 readers who wanted to outdo themselves in 2011. Are you up for the challenge?
Details:
- Runs January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012 (books read prior to 1/1/12 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
- The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2012 than you did in 2011. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. Nothing is set in stone; you can change levels at any time during the challenge.
- Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
- Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
- Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you could track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.
Levels:
Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books
Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books
Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books
I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books
Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books
Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books
I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books
I am using the term “ARC” loosely here in the name of this challenge. I will go over what reading material qualifies for this challenge below.
What qualifies for this challenge?:
1. Actual Advance Reader Copies – this includes from tour sites like ATW Tours.
2. Any book that YOU ARE ASKED by either an author, publisher, publicist, media group, etc. to review.
What does NOT qualify for this challenge?:
Any book that YOU personally asked for a review copy of.
The Rules:
What qualifies for this challenge?:
1. Actual Advance Reader Copies – this includes from tour sites like ATW Tours.
2. Any book that YOU ARE ASKED by either an author, publisher, publicist, media group, etc. to review.
What does NOT qualify for this challenge?:
Any book that YOU personally asked for a review copy of.
The Rules:
- Anyone can join.
- You don’t need a blog to participate.
- Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the monthly wrap-up post on Jamie’s blog.
- Audio, eBooks, and bound books count.
- No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
- Create a sign up post and link to the linky below.
- Challenge runs from January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012.
There are four levels:
- The Mini ARC Challenge – Read 4 ARC’s.
- The “Fun Size” ARC Challenge – Read 10 ARC’s.
- The Jumbo Size ARC Challenge – Read 20 ARC’s.
- The Mega size ARC Challenge – Read 21+ ARC’s.
NOTE: You may UPGRADE your challenge but you can NOT DOWNGRADE your challenge.
OK….like I said, this is just the kick off. I know there are more to come. I will continue my stalking at A Novel Challenge, and I am sure I will bumping into you there too lol.
