Has anyone started thinking about next year’s challenges yet? Up until now, I haven’t been thinking too seriously about them yet, but I’ve begun noticing that others have. So I’m starting thinking of the challenges I’ve been doing this year and which ones I would like to do next year. As of right now, I’ve only committed myself to two reading challenges:
New Authors 2010
For 2009, I hosted the New Author Challenge and I can’t believe the turnout. At last count, there were 99 participants with over 1044 reviews posted. So I’m going to consider this challenge a success and definitely do it again next year. Although, I’m going to have to be more on the ball with it next year than I was this year. With Ian starting preschool after Thanksgiving, I should be able to keep up more.
The Details: Hosted by Literary Escapism (Jan 1st – Dec 31st). The idea behind this is quite simple, find a new-to-you author and read one of their novels. When I first started to actively book blog, I didn’t know that many authors, so I went on the search for more. Now I am constantly finding new authors and I love finding them. The goal is to read 25 or 50 new authors. That’s either 2 a month or 4 a month depending on how fast you read. For anyone looking for new authors, make sure you check out the Author page, my TBR or last’s years challenge.
If you want to join me in this challenge, you can sign up here: New Authors Challenge 2010.
Year of the Historical
Hosted by Lurv a la Mode (Jan 1st – Dec 31st). The idea of this challenge is to get back into reading Historicals. I grew up on those trashy Historical Romance novels and I love them. Lately, I haven’t been reading them as much and this is giving me the perfect opportunity to get back into it. Basically, anything counts as long as it’s either straight historical (English, French, Ancient History – The Clan of Cave the Bear, etc.) or historical romance (Regency, Georgian, Medieval, American, paranormal historical…). Kmont is not actually putting a set number down for this, but I’m going for at least 12 since that will be one a month. I’m hoping to do more though.
If you want to join me in this challenge, you can sign up here: Year of the Historical.
After reading the Gardella Vampire series, I really want to find more paranormal historicals. I’ve added the Cin Craven series by Jenna Maclaine and the Onxy Court series by Marie Brennan, but do you know of any others? What would be your suggestions?
There are three others I plan to join in for 2010, but the official posts haven’t gone up yet, so I’ll just tell you what they are and who hosts them:
- R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril IV Challenge – hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings – (Sept 1st – Oct 31st). The idea behind this challenge is to read either 1, 2, or 4 (depending on your level of participation) novels from one of the following genres: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Dark Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, Supernatural – and then post a link to your review at the R.I.P. V Review Site.
- 1st in a Series – hosted by J. Kaye’s Book Blog (Jan 1st – Dec 31st). The idea is to read the 1st novel in 12 different series.
- 2nds Challenge – hosted by J. Kaye’s Book Blog (Jan 1st – Dec 31st). The idea of this one is to read a novel from an author you’ve only read once. This one is a great one to do along with the 1st in a Series challenge and requires the same number of books – 12.
So those are the five I’m thinking of joining next year. What do you think? What challenges have been catching your eye?
I dunno, I kind of suck at challenges. I didn’t even do my own half-assed one on banned books. I had good intentions, though.
As for historical paranormals, Amanda Quick/Jayne Anne Krentz has a cross-over thing going called The Arcane Society which has related books in both contemp and historical (Victorian, I think) settings.
Teresa Madeiros has a historical vampire trilogy (I think it’s a trilogy).
Mary Jo Putney did a historical paranormal thing that I totally hated, but some people liked, so I’ll include out of fairness, LOL.
Of course, parts of Anne Rice’s vampire series were historical. (Stop after two or three books though, they just go downhill from there and Queen of the Damned will make you weep for the hours you wasted trying to read it.)
I don’t know if it’s the same trilogy, but I have read two novels by Madeiros, and it was a sequel, but I don’t know of a third one. I’ll have to check that one out since I like Madeiros.
I love Amanda Quick. This does give me a reason to check out the Arcane Society novels. I’ve read her Lake & March trilogy and loved that.
I’ve never read Mary Jo Putney. If I’m going to try her, which title would you recommend?
I haven’t been able to get through Interview with the Vampire, so I’m doubting I’ll get to Queen of the Damned. :) Maybe I should just start with Lestat since I haven’t seen that one. I mean, I’ve seen the movies for Interview with the Vampire and Queen of the Damned and maybe that’s why I haven’t been able to get through them. I haven’t seen one for Lestat, although I still wished I made it to NYC for the play.
Teresa Medeiros’s two book historical paranormal series was my first thought — both were 5 star reads for me — vampires, historical romance & humor.
The Kane/Cabot Vampire series:
#1 After Midnight
#2 The Vampire Who Loved Me
Excerpt avail. (no direct link) via author site: Click on Books; Related Books; Scroll down to Kane/Cabot Series; Click on book image of After Midnight:
http://www.teresamedeiros.com
TM has a highly enjoyable two book paranormal (magic) series, but it’s contemporary, not historical.
I have seveal of her books TBR but not sure if they’re historical paranormals.
I’ll have to think about joining a Historical challenge for 2010. It sounds like fun, but I tend to avoid most book related boards, challenges, etc. I enjoy these things, but I tend to get wrapped up in them and it takes away from my reading time.
I like Mary Jo Putney’s straight-up historicals best. Her older Fallen Angels series is wonderful–I think Shattered Rainbows is my favorite, but they’re all good.
I disliked her paranormal historical Marriage Spell a lot, so I didn’t read the other paranormals. I can’t really recommend one, but you could check out the blurbs and see if they appeal.
What about that new one being plugged as steampunk romance? Soulless? Author escapes me at the moment.
Jackie – I’ve been trying to sign up under the New Author Challenge but am having problems. I am joining the challenge at the 25 author level. My post about it is here.
It’s like the comments are closed for the 2010 New Author Challenge sign up!
Ooohh! Yeah, people need to sign up at the Challenge page, not at the announcement page. I was having people sign up there, so I took away the comments to avoid confusing.
The new author challenge link above was bad, but I fixed it. The correct link to the page is http://www.literaryescapism.com/new-author-challenge10