The Criminal Plots Reading Challenge Returns

Well, I wasn't going to host the reading challenge this year because I haven't done a very good "host" job lately, but due to popular demand, I've created a new one for 2013.

To give you a rundown on how I did on my own challenge last year, here were the categories and the books I read that fit:

1. A novel with a weapon in the title: Before the Poison (Peter Robinson) and The Wrong Gun (Parnell Hall).
2. Novel published at least 10 years ago: The Gun Seller (Hugh Laurie 1998)
3.  Book Written by an Author from Your State/Providence: The Things That Keep Us Here (Carla Buckley)
4. Book Written by an Author using a Pen Name:  Lockdown (Sean Black)
5. Book Whose Protag is the Opposite Gender of the Author: Jack 1939 (Francine Mathews)
6. Standalone Written by a Series Author: Vanishing Point (Val McDermid), The Prophet (Michael Koryta), or 15 Seconds (Andrew Gross)

So what does the Criminal Plots III challenge involve? I'm glad you asked. This year's categories are as follows:

1. Novel with an animal in the title.

2. Two short stories written by two different authors who are new to you.

3. Book written by more than one person.

4. A YA crime novel. 

5. A book from a series optioned for televsion.  

6. A novel that's been nominated for an Edgar® in the last five years.

You can get all the details and sign up at the Criminal Plots blog. If you have any questions, email me. I'll put up the posts for each category over the weekend. And I'll have some contests to correlate with the categories throughout the year. I'll try very hard to be a better challenge host this year. Thanks to everyone who expressed an interest in participating again.

I'd really like to encourage some folks who aren't typically crime fiction fans to participate. Let them get a taste of what's in the genre. So, if you know of someone who could use a little nudge in the right direction, let them know about the challenge!

O.k., let the challenge begin!

Reading Challenges for 2012

It's kind of funny for me to be contemplating reading challenges. I should be challenging myself to post more consistently! I have tons of content and am falling behind. But this post is part of that content, so I guess it's o.k.

I joined three reading challenges this year. I'm taking another stab at the "What's in a Name" challenge, hosted by Beth Fish Reads. I did pretty good last year, but didn't end up with a book title that contained a gem or jewelry. This year I'll probably have 10 titles that fit it! Anyway, this year's challenge includes these requirements books with following in their titles:

• a topographical feature
• something you'd see in the sky
• a creepy crawly
• a type of house
• something you'd carry in your pocket, purse or backpack
• something you'd find on a calendar

I've already finished my requirement for something you'd see in the sky. Any thoughts on the other categories?

The second challenge is the Audiobook Challenge. I should easily accomplish the "married" status on this one, but for anyone who's needed a little nudging to get started with audiobooks, this might be the motivation you've been waiting for. Check it out.

And then since I'm hosting a challenge, I thought it a good idea to participate in it: Criminal Plots II. But I'm hearing people talk about their titles and I think everyone else is better prepared for my challenge than I am. The topics this year include:

• Book with a weapon in the title
• Book published at least 10 years ago
• Book written by an author from your state/providence
• Book written by an author using a pen name
• Crime novel whose protagonist is the opposite gender of the author
• Standalone novel written by an author who writes at least one series

I do have my choice for the author from Ohio. It just so happens I was pitched a great sounding  novel from a brand new-to-me author from Ohio. I'm excited about that one. If you haven't signed up to join us, I hope you'll take the plunge. Also, encourage a friend to join you, make it a friendly challenge! I would really like to encourage some folks who aren't typically crime readers to test the waters of the genre. And I love finding out what others are reading. I always discover some new authors/titles this way!

And a quick reminder that I'm recruiting bloggers to join the theme week in April. This year it's called HEROES AND VILLAINS. I'll be sending out the information sheet to interested bloggers soon, so if you think you might want to participate, please go here and fill out the form so I know to send you the info. We have a great time each year so if you haven't participated in the past, I hope you'll consider it this year. If you're not a blogger, there will be plenty of opportunity for you to participate during the theme week with great posts and contests. Plus we'll have the annual tournament as well and will need your votes!

For those of you in the cold parts of the world, stay warm. Those of you in the warm parts of the world...I'm jealous. And to everyone, Happy Reading!

Criminal Plots II

About this time last year I announced the inaugural Criminal Plots Reading Challenge. For the first year, things have gone pretty well. If you signed up, there's still time to finish and be included in the drawing for the prizes. You have until the end of the month.

In the meantime, I have put together the second year of Criminal Plots and I hope you'll join in the fun. It's six crime fiction books in the following categories, read anytime between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012:


1. Novel with a weapon in the title (examples: A Night of Long Knives, A Nail Through the Heart, Sharp Objects, The Rope, Lay Down my Sword and Shield)

2. Book published at least 10 years ago - this should be an easy one, time to pull out those backlists (examples: Goodnight Irene, The Black Echo, Indemnity Only)

3. Book written by an author from the state/provinence/etc. where you live. (I live in Ohio, so examples for me would be Carla Buckley, Les Roberts, Craig McDonald)

4. Book written by an author using a pen name (examples: Spencer Quinn, Ross Macdonald, Ariana Franklin, Noah Boyd, Juliett Blackwell, Lisa Black)

5. Crime novel whose protagonist is the opposite gender of the author (examples: Demolition Angel, Bury Your Dead, Calumet City)

6. A stand-alone novel written by an author who writes at least one series (examples: El Gavilan (Craig McDonald), Long Gone (Alafair Burke), The Lock Artist (Steve Hamilton), Envy the Night (Michael Koryta), The Most Dangerous Thing (Laura Lippman))

As with last year's challenge,  you can use the same books from other challenges but you can not use the same book in two or more categories of THIS challenge. So you need six different books. You don't have to read them in the order I've listed them, they can be in any format and any crime fiction sub-genre (i.e., thrillers, cozies, procedurals, etc.). You don't need to decide your books ahead of time, choose them as you go, and you don't need a blog to participate.

Sign-ups are located at the Criminal Plots site. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. I hope to see all of you there! Happy Reading!

Announcing My First Reading Challenge

Well, I took the plunge and I created a reading challenge for 2011. As I've been considering my goals for the blog for 2011, I decided that a reading challenge would be a nice addition to the activities. So, with some help and encouragement from good friends, I have created the Criminal Plots reading challenge for 2011. If it goes well, we'll make it a yearly endeavor.

I've put together a blog specifically for the reading challenge here so as not to get all confused with other things going on here at the main blog.

The challenge is focused on crime fiction works and I hope I've created something that will be fun for anyone who participates. I hope you'll consider signing up and also passing the word along to others. You don't have to be a blogger to participate and there will be prizes at the end for those successfully completing the challenge.

Let me know if you have any questions about the challenge. Happy Reading!

Thankfully Reading

This weekend is Thanksgiving weekend for those of us here in the United States. And I want to start out by saying that I'm giving thanks this weekend for each and every one of you. Your visits, comments, emails, contributions, friendship, etc. are such a blessing. Thank you for bringing some joy into my world each and every day.

A trio of great bloggers came up with "Thankfully Reading Weekend" last year and they are coordinating it again this year. There really isn't much to do outside of read. There will be some mini-challenges but those are optional. I don't usually need a reason to read, but it's always a nice motivator to prevent those other little distractions from making their way into your planned reading time. It's not too late, you can sign up too.

So, I'm participating this year. I'm starting tonight but the official start is tomorrow. I'm giving myself a goal of 20 hours of reading through the four days. I'd like to exceed that, but I'm also trying to account for blog work I need to do this weekend. My goal is to finish the book I'm working on now, THE SILENCED, and also the new Crais, THE SENTRY. I'd love to accomplish more, but we'll see. I'll post at least a couple of times to update you on how I'm doing on my goals.

That's on tap for this weekend.

Another item that may be of interest to you is a reading challenge I signed up for. I typically avoid challenges like the plague because I never end up meeting them and then feel horribly guilty even though I read a lot throughout the year. My reading schedule usually isn't conducive to challenges. But this one is so fun and creative I just had to try. It's called "What's in a Name", hosted by blogger Beth Fish and you can see the details about it here. I already have one title I know will work. I have to get to work on the rest. And you can use audiobooks on this challenge, so my audiobook buddies - don't think you can't do this.

If you're going to join along, let us know and we can discuss our progress here as well.

More recommendations will return on Monday; look for those. And if you're celebrating this year, have a most wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. Happy Reading!!

More Reading Challenges

Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment, but I signed up for two more reading challenges. The first challenge is up at Passion for the Page and it is called "What An Animal!" The rules for this challenge are:

1. Read at least 6 books that have any of these requirements:

• a. an animal in the title of the book
• b. an animal on the cover of the book
• c. an animal that plays a major role in the book
• d. a main character that is or turns into an animal (define that however you'd like ;>)).

2. The animal can be any type of animal (real or fictitious)--dog, cat, monkey, wolf, snake, insect, hedgehog, aardvark...dragons, mermaids, centaurs, fairies, vampires...you get the idea...
3. Challenge runs from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. You can still sign up after July 1st as long as you can get 6 books read by June 30th ;>).
4. Books can be fiction or nonfiction.
5. You may make a list of books at the beginning of the challenge or just list them as you find them.
6. Books may be swapped out at anytime (assuming you made a list to begin with).
7. Crossover books with other challenges is permitted and encouraged.
8. You don't have to blog or write a review, but you can if you want to.

So, I need a little help with this one. If you look over in my side margin, you see the list I've started for this. I have Water For Elephants, which was also on my Summer Reading Challenge list. I have Cat's Cradle, which I've had for a couple of years and haven't gotten around to reading. And then Marley and Me and Life of Pi have also been on my "to read" list. So, I could re-read A Prayer for Owen Meany, which has the aardvark on the cover, but I have so many on my "to read" list, I'm not sure I want to do re-reading right now. The one exception, and I'm seriously considering this because it's such a fine book, is re-reading The Monkey's Raincoat. And of course I don't think it would be fair for me to include One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest because I've read that so many times I could probably recite most of it from memory now.

So many of my series books have animals in them. Elvis has "Cat", Temperance Brennan has "Birdie" and "Boyd", Sara Linton has "Billy" and "Bob", Dave Robicheaux has "Tripod"...but none of those would be considered major roles, I don't think. Robert Parker has a few book covers that include his own dog in HIS picture on the back cover, but I don't think that counts either.

I have to check and see if Angels count. If they do, I'm including Angel's Tip on this list. I wouldn't really think of an angel as an "animal", but I wouldn't probably consider a vampire or a fairy as one either, so I'll check.

One other possibility for my list right now is Cadillac Jukebox (James Lee Burke). There's a pelican on my book cover for that one. So, that's a possibility. But, I'm looking for other good possibilities...so send some ideas my way...one caveat, I don't do romance novels along the lines of Danielle Steele and whatnot...

So the other challenge is more immediate. It's also a little easier to pick the books for. It's called the July Book Blowout. This is over at Blue Archipelago. I had to set a goal of how many books I would read in July. Here are the rules for this one:

1. Only books read between July 1 and July 31 count towards the challenge
2. You can include re-reads - as long as they are read within the month of July
3. Books you abandon will only count as half a book
4. If you read to your children you can include all books which have more than 100 pages
5. You can include up to two graphic novels
6. You can include up to two audio books - (if you have a visual impairment that prevents you from reading then you can use just audio books for the challenge)
7. Books you read for other challenges are eligible - use this as an opportunity to catch up!
8. If you start a book before July 1 and then finish it during the month of July then you can count is as half a book

I set my goal at 8. Typically, I read more than 8 books in a month, BUT a good number are audio since I listen to them on my mp3 player and in my car. According to the rules, I can only use two of those. Given that fact, I think 8 will be a good challenge for me.

Check back regularly to see how I'm doing...I'll be keeping track over in my right hand margin over there.

Until next time, Happy Reading!!!

Summer Reading Challenge

Kathleen Hamilton over at the Rock Creek Rumblings blog has issued a summer reading challenge, and I decided to join. Her purpose is to promote "intentional" reading, so I need to decide on some books to commit to reading this summer. So, here's my list:

• Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson/David Oliver Relin


• Compulsion - Jonathan Kellerman


• Sliver of Truth - Lisa Unger


• Hold Tight - Harlan Coben


• Atonement - Ian McEwan


• Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen


• Killer Heat - Linda Fairstein


• Chasing Darkness - Robert Crais


• Envy the Night - Michael Koryta


• KIA - Thomas Holland


• The Zookeeper's Wife - Diane Ackerman


• The Becket Factor - Michael David Anthony


• The Face of Deception - Iris Johansen


• Do No Harm - Greg Hurwitz


• The Blue Hour - T. Jefferson Parker


• The Blood Lure - Nevada Barr


• Hunting Season - Nevada Barr

If I manage to accomplish these before the end of August, I'll add more, but at least this is a place to start. I'll keep the list over in the sidebar, and list dates as I complete them. Feel free to follow along...and feel free to participate yourself. Let me know if you are...leave me a comment and let me know. Wish me luck!





Happy Reading!