Paranormal & Urban Fantasy, Monthly Group Reads discussion

To spice up the group a bit I added a Book Challenge folder!

Feel free to add your book challenge suggestions here to get us started :D

Always up for challenges! :)

I have a monthly challenge idea, inspired by the name of our group. I call it a themed-dual challenge.

Every month there will be two categories announced, and participants can read 2, 4, 6, and so on, depending on how many they feel they can handle.

Tricia,

If you are okay with the idea, I can post a July challenge if you like.

Maybe the challenges will convince me to read some of the PNR/UF/Fantasy books I have. I've had Magic Study (and its sequels sitting around) that I havn't gotten to yet, and was sent an advanced reading copy of Gena Showalter's Intertwined I havn't read yet. As it's not my normal genre to read, I havn't gotten around to them yet. I also have Family Bones to read that is horror with scifi elements to it.

I dont get it lol.

Maybe my brain is going slower then usual tonight, what do you mean 2, 4, 6 and so on?

Oh and Briansgirl I know what you mean! Because there are some other genres I just can't get into in this other group I am in and I am trying so hard to :(

I think she just means there would be two categories, and you could pick as many books that fit into one or both of those categories and you think you can do that month.
Did I understand that right? So if you thought you could only do two, you could pick two from one category or one from each category. Or if you thought you could do 4, you coud pick 4, or 6, etc.
Or would you have to pick one from each category? Maybe I didn't understand. So you could do two - one from each category, or four - two from each category, etc.

I pm you the basics, Tricia. If you like the idea, let me know.

ok thanks :D

In her group where she does challenges there are 10 categories each month. You choose to read 2, 4, 6, 8, or all 10 each month. Assuming she's thinking of giving you options for each PNR and UF as both are in the group name.

I'm still a little iffy on what fits into what categories. Poison/Magic/Fire Study is fantasy, but is it PNR? Same with Harry Potter. Does it fit? I know Intertwined fits! lol It's got werewolves, vampire princesses, etc in it. I don't mind some fantasy elements now and then, especially magic, but not really into werewolves and vampires and stuff. I don't like horror either but have read a Stephen King on rare occassions. Meg Cabots Mediator series was interesting and would probably be PNR since the teen girl has the ability to speak to ghosts.

Here is what I PM Tricia:

What I mean is two categories each month, so minimum for a person to complete the challenge is to simply read 2 books. More voracious readers can read more but it will always be an even number.

Tentative timeline:

July : Paranormal Romance book vs Urban Fantasy book
August: Stand Alone book vs Book in a Series
September: Female Author vs Male Author
October: Familiar Author vs New Author

etc, etc, etc.

Does that make sense?

Makes perfect sense now!

I like that idea alot :D

Cool.

Do I go ahead and create a July challenge thread?

Sure, or I can create it. Up to you since its your idea! :D

I don't want to steal your thunder! lol I am just happy to get some new ideas in the group :D

I think I'll create it, so I can edit it if I need changes in the instructions.

LOL...I just enjoy making challenges I guess..LOL

Sounds fun!

Love this and the future categories. You are truly the queen of reading challenges, Yz. ;)

We will be having 2 contest themes per month, lets get some more ideas! :D

Remember guys if you have ideas for monthly challenges (we will have 2 every month) post them here!

I will post if I can help. These are hard to think of!

December themes

Wright Brothers Day[to do with flying/planes:]
First day of winter[author names like Frost, themes with a cold setting like Antartica, North Pole, snow white covers:]
Christmas[covers with christmas themed objects lights, trees, presents, candy-like Hot for the Holidays, wow!-:]

Thanks Kenjii!

I hate cover searches. lol You can't find those without literally sifting through your actual bookshelves instead of checking your virtual shelves online.

Holiday/Christmas/Chanukah theme for Dec
Winter/Snow/Frost theme for Dec

Kate: I don't really check my shelves for the covers. I have almost all my books recorded on GR. But if I am reading something and it fits a challenge, yay for me =D.

January [New Year:]

-Read first in series [or single title/stand alone:]

Theme:
-First love/reunion
-First time/virgin

Title:
-First words [one, premiere, first, beginning, un/uno, start, birth etc:]
-Single word [ex: Acheron]

Cover:
-Blue cover [all blue or a bit will do:]
-Single figure [meaning a person, or what have you, just one:]

-2/1 "National Freedom Day": Read a free book. Something you downloaded free. Got as a gift etc.


-2/2 "Groundhog Day" Book/story based in Pennsylvania [brief mention i.e character speaks about being from the state, ok:]

-2/8 Boy Scout Day ???
-2/10 Chinese New Year Read a book about a dragon shifter

-2/14 Title with the words: "Love/Hate" [heart, passion, heartache, heartbreak, cheater,:]
-H/h with a love/hate relationship

-2/15 Presidents' Day ???
-2/16 Fat Tues./Mardi Gras Book w/ voodoo as a main form of magic/supernatural element

Ooh good ones Kenjii.

I am thinking of some as well so for Feb we will have a variety :D

I do well with a starter [like holidays:] and go from there. It is always goods to have a mainstay like "title" "cover" "theme" =D

Ya I am working on february's atm and this is what I have so far:

1 - Read a book with the following on its Cover:
- Cherry - (Cherry Month)
- Grapefruit (Grapefruit Month)
- Birds (Bird Feeding Month)
- Hearts (V-Day)
- Flowers (V-Day)
- Red or Pink (V-Day)

2 - Black History Month
- Read a book with an African American in the book (could this be worded better?)
or

Presidents Day
- Read a book with the name of any president as one of the characters.

Oh. I like that idea. The "name" of any President.

-Read a book with an African American character
-or about African American culture [i.e there is an emphasis of the AA influence in the entertainment, neighborhood, way of dressing/speaking etc.:] when there aren't any AA characters.
-Read a book written by an African American author

Those are good additions, I will add those to the Black History Month part :D

March Title/Cover mash-up

Title and/or Cover:
-Has the words or pictures [or both:]:
*Clover
*Green
*Rainbow
*Gold [Golden:]
*Saint, Patrick, Day
*Spring

and other words.... =D

Man almost time for another month! Where has the time all gone?!

/panic

I dont know! I hardly anticipate finishing monthly challenges...but its fun trying =D

April
-Titles with numbers:
Either actual numbers or words that spell the number or period of time like "once" "second" "hour". "One" "Two" etc.

April
-Covers for Spring
Animal pictured
Plants pictured

Other-If it reminds you of spring
List the reason the book[s:] remind you of spring. Example there is an Easter celebration in the story. Or something to that effect. Just remember to list the reason alongside the book title =D

Since mother's day is in May, maybe a book with a mother as the main character?
There are also some military holidays in May so maybe a book where the character was or is in the military.
National Teacher's Day and Nurse's day are in May also.
Hope that helps!

Thanks Valorie! :D

I don't know if the challenge for May is already made, but I didn't see it posted yet... so I was thinking maybe something simple like books that begin with the letters M, A, and Y. Maybe 1 of each, or 2 of each if you want to read more.

Or maybe since there are 3 letters in May, we could read 3 books from the same series.

Really I'm up for anything, any excuse to read and try new books is a good one for me!

It has been posted but I like your suggestions!

hey guys!! looks like this thread has been dead for a while, so let's resurrect it! Right now, i'm looking for any ideas you have for the January challenge!

How about...

January is national blood donor month how about a vamp book or a book with the word "Blood" in the title.

Maybe read a new to you author or the first book in a series.

January 8th is Male Watcher's Day (I'm going to make sure I OBSERVE this holiday, lol!), maybe a book with a sexy man on the cover.

Dr. King Day is the 17th, maybe an African American author or character...

Val - you def. picked my mind on suggestion 3...that was already on the list!

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "Val - you def. picked my mind on suggestion 3...that was already on the list!"

LOL, proof that great minds think alike! I marked it on my calendar to openly gawk at any hot man in my vicinity on Jan 8th!

Tricia pointed out to me that one of the things that came up on the Polls was more challenges, aside from the monthly one...i'm playing around with a couple of ideas right now - but if you guys have any ideas for either yearly, quarterly, half-yearly...let me know...

now taking ideas for March challenge categories

You could do a read the rainbow challenge:
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Purple

Where the covers would match the color somehow :)

ohhh, i like that one ;)

hey guys - i wanted to ask everyone a question and get some feedback...I was thinking about alternating the featured creature with a paranormal USA challenge (read a book that is set in that state...because I keep noticing that the same states - New York, California, Illinois, Washington) keep showing up...what do you think?

I think its a great idea! This is your baby so whatever you say goes! :D