“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” ~ George Eliot
Friday’s Quote
Category: Discussion Post
2016 New To You Reading Challenge
This Reading Challenge is simply for pure fun — and adventuring out beyond my own comfort zone in the genres that I don’t normally read.
I honestly don’t intend to get caught up in Challenge madness this year. The three Challenges that I’ve posted about this morning will probably be the only ones that I do this year. I have a better idea of my time limits going into this second year of book review blogging. I’m not super blogger by any means *grin* I wish.
The New To You Reading Challenge is simply reading an author that you’ve just discovered, or trying out a far different genre than you usually read. It’s simple, uncomplicated and just about anyone could do it.
So head over to the sign up page at The Herd Presents and check out the rules and suggestions. I’m going for Level 4 of 50 books. I believe I can master that, after all I’ve got an entire year. 🙂
2016 Blogger Shame Review Challenge
This Reading Challenge is a bit different – but so needed.
As book reviewers who blog, we sometimes get overwhelmed with books that need to be read and reviewed – like yesterday. And sometimes books fall through the virtual cracks. Anna of The Herd Presents and herding cats & burning soup has come up with a solution. A fun way to challenge ourselves to get caught up, be accountable and do it in good company.
In the 2016 Blogger Shame Review Challenge we are asked to go through our bookshelves and e-readers in search of books we needed to review (for whatever purpose) — the ones that got left behind for some reason. You can click on that link above and go to the signup page with all the rules, suggestions and Mr. Linky.
I don’t have any official review copies that are old enough to qualify for this Challenge. BUT... I do have both paperbacks and ebooks that I purchased for the express purpose of reading and reviewing. It might have been a series I wanted to read or some new releases that got lost in getting the NetGalley deadlines met. It is vastly important to me to get my Kindle and bookshelves cleared out in 2016 to a more reasonable amount of reviews that I’d like to do. And of course there are going to be more books added in 2016 *sigh*.
If this sounds like a Challenge that is calling your name – head on over to the signup page and read all about this one.
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UPDATE: Although Anna was gracious in allowing my non-arc idea to continue in this Challenge — I have reconsidered, and it really isn’t fair to ask her to let me do something that is not really, truly representative of her Challenge. I love Anna, she is a rock star blogger and I simply cannot do anything that is not within her guidelines. It was my choice to remove myself. I will tackle my overloaded bought to review books in another fashion..
Best of luck to everyone who has ARCs to catch up with. I just know everyone will be successful at this one.
2016 Pick Your Genre Reading Challenge
I love the idea of Reading Challenges. In January of 2016 I will have been back to dedicated, daily book review blogging here at Keeper Bookshelf for one year. I know – still a babe at this really… but it’s been one solid, fun and exciting year.
I’m celebrating that year by being a bit more realistic about the Reading Challenges I join. It is so easy to get caught up and join left and right (I see you nodding) but for me it simply wasn’t realistic since I was learning so many new things this past year – it got a bit overwhelming and I didn’t do near as well as I had hoped to.
So, this year Anna of herding cats & burning soup has come up with a simply brilliant Reading Challenge. You pick what genre you want to read in this Challenge – it could be one category or it could be several. It’s all totally up to you and the best part… it’s all in one place. Now that is what I need.
From what I understand, Anna has two places where you can sign up for this Challenge. Since she is running all Challenges through her The Herd Presents website that is one link you can use to find out more and sign up. Or there is a signup post on her herding cats & burning soup website as well.
I have decided to enter four genres for this Reading Challenge – Contemporary, Paranormal, Historical & Erotic. But… I have a couple questions for Anna before I commit any further. And I will update this post when I have those answers. Sorry to be mysterious but I do want to know that something I have in mind is okay with Anna first… it is after all her Reading Challenge. 🙂
It’s not too early to think about your blogging plan for 2016 – and if that includes joining some Reading Challenges, this one might just be perfect for what you want to accomplish. So click on any of the links or graphics in this post – go over to Anna’s and read the rules on the signup page and simply plan to have some fun next year.
I’m looking forward to this. Thanks Anna!
October Blog Ahead Wrap Up
Well, the October Blog Ahead event is over for 2015. And it wasn’t a bad result for Keeper Bookshelf – although it could have been better if a family emergency hadn’t happened right in the middle. But, life happens, ya know?
In total I managed to get 47 posts scheduled during this event. Less than I was shooting for, but still not a bad number at all. Most of my scheduled posts are for the Christmas Daily Romance reviews that I’m planning for the Holiday Season. The rest were to get a bit ahead on my NetGalley reviews.
Actually the numbers aren’t the important part of the Blog Ahead Event – getting into the habit of scheduling posts for those times when life just gets in the way of blogging. And we all know that happens to us all, far too often. So just making a habit of taking a day or two a week and writing up posts, reviews, meme basics and such is simply a good tool for any type of blogging that we do. Knowing that even if we can’t be at the computer, but the posts will still drop on the right day is such a stress reliever, ya know. 🙂
Anyway, I had fun, was productive and I’m looking forward to the Spring of 2016 when the next Blog Ahead comes around. Thanks to Anna of Herding Cats & Burning Soup and Kimberly of Caffeinated Book Reviewer for hosting and encouraging us all.
Blog Ahead Update
So we are at just about the halfway point in Anna and Kimberly’s October 2015 Blog Ahead event.
How you doing so far? It’s a great way to get a bit ahead of your scheduled posts – that breathing room is priceless.
I am a little bit behind from where I’d wanted to be at this point… had a family emergency last week and that wrecked a lot of stuff. I could still read and take notes, but was nowhere near my computer to write anything up.. so doing some catching up on just about everything right now. Ah well, it’s life ya know? And in the end, it’s all good – at this point in the Blog Ahead event I’ve got sixteen (16) posts scheduled for my planned Christmas Romance daily reviews. And honestly, if that’s as far as I get, I’d be good with that since it’s a huge help come November and December. But I’m going to go for the full 31 and hopefully the plus as well.
Since I’m ahead on the Christmas stuff, I’m going to switch gears a bit and tackle the November NetGalley reviews. It would be such a relief to have a cushion for weeks like last week when all my good intentions flew out the window. And while no one enjoys family emergencies, it was a good wake up call on several levels. I keep thinking if I could only get a little bit ahead, then I’d not be so overwhelmed when there are a lot of reviews due on one particularly heavy launch day – we’ve all seen those 24 books released on one day. Yeah. I’m a fast reader, but even I have my limits ya know? 🙂
So my plan for the remainder of this October 2015 Blog Ahead event is to get ahead on my NetGalley reviews and if there’s time maybe toss in a couple more Christmas reviews. I’d love to make goal of course, but now with a wiser attitude I’m looking to keep plugging along creating a habit of being ahead of the game from this point onwards. If I can accomplish that, I’ll be content with whatever number shows up on the last day of October.
If you haven’t joined in it’s not too late – anything scheduled ahead is a help that’s a fact. Go over and check out the Blog Ahead Challenge from herding cats & burning soup and Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
Rhiannon ~ Halloween Eve Can’t Come Soon Enough
Rhiannon. I have adored this character (sorry, goddess) since the first time I read about her. Wings in the Night, both series, have a special shelf on my bookcase all to themselves. A place of honor if you will.
Now, I can’t wait for Halloween Eve when the newest adventure will hit my Kindle.
You should discover these amazing stories for yourself – I’m betting you’ll never look at vampires quite the same again.
Think About A Blogging Plan For 2016 Now
We’re coming up on the busiest months of the year, for most families. Fall activities with the kids, maybe going on a weekender to see the beauty of the colorful fall leaves. Halloween parties and decorating. Thanksgiving with the entire family… and the mad dash for the Friday Shopping after the meal (or sooner). Then comes Christmas with all the wonderful parts of the holiday season. Yeah, I’m already tired just thinking about it.
Come January 2016 this blog will have been active almost every single day, for a year.. I missed a couple here and there. I had absolutely no plan. Totally by the seat of my jeans. And it’s been fun and a little successful. But I could do more, maybe differently, perhaps more efficiently.
So I believe now, months in advance is a good time to start thinking about what I want to accomplish in the coming year. Not floating around in my head but down on paper, decisions made and plans in place to get off to a roaring start in January. Now might be a good time for you too – before the holiday madness sets in, and time is one of the least things we have available for a clear thought.
Simply a thought. One that I’m starting on and I thought maybe you might want to at least think about it for your 2016 blogging plan.
Covington Cove – Kelly Moran
The amazing author, Kelly Moran just shared this beautiful video on Twitter. And I’m going to share it here – ‘cos it’s lovely and the books are great. Enjoy.
October’s Blog Ahead Starts – Now
It’s time again for the Blog Ahead Challenge from herding cats & burning soup and Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
Yep, and it starts today. I have a particular plan for this October Blog Ahead event. I am a huge Christmas story junkie. Yes, I will read the side of a Christmas Card box, so I think I qualify as officially addicted. 🙂
Because I have so many favorites that I re-read during the days from Thanksgiving onward I decided to use the Blog Ahead challenge to get some of those posts and reviews ready now. That leaves more time to find new to me stories or new releases. Wicked mind here, folks. 😉
I also do a Halloween Romance category during October with a Halloween-ish story review daily. Since I love paranormal and read it all year long, for this one I try to simply find some fun and quirky Halloween styled stories to give myself and hopefully you a chuckle. So, I’m hoping to get at least a week of those done to give me some space without feeling rushed.
So, with my October Blog Ahead 2015 plan in place — I wish you fun and success. And if you have no clue what I’m talking about then visit the linked sites in the first line of this post to join in.
Okay, off to get some work done. Have Fun with it.