Friday, June 17, 2011

Spring Into Summer Blog Giveaway Hop


Hello blog-hoppers! Getting ready for summer? Some of us are in full summer swing by now, what with kids out of school and vacations planned well in advance. I may be forgoing an extended vacation this year due to lack of funds, but will be quite content to pull out the kiddie pool for my children so I can let my husband sit and watch them while I keep busy with writing...or reading through my vast TBR pile!

I have a very large collection of books to read and I've marked a list on my calendar to read through the summer. I've also joined many (maybe too many!) reading challenges this year. But, I do so love a challenge! And if it involves some of my favorite books, how could I say no??

I'm a member of GoodReads and as a reader I am in love with this site! I'm still going through my library and adding books to my virtual bookshelves. I've never counted them before and it actually has surprised me a bit to see how many books I own. Though working at a bookstore for 12 years before they closed certainly did much to add to that list (and, oh, I do miss my employee discount!!).  

Here are the challenges I've joined:

2011 A to Z Book Challenge (duration-a year)
2011 Create Your Own Book Challenge- I chose A to Z Non-Fiction Book Challenge (duration-a year)
Serious Readers Challenge Level 1 (duration-a year)
Romance 101 Reading Challenge (duration-6 months) FINISHED!
2011 Chubby Chunkster Reading Challenge (duration-a year)
Serial Killer Reading Challenge (duration-a year)
RRRC's 2nd Reading Tournament - The Name Game Edition (duration-6 months)

Phew! Writing them down in a list seems even more intimidating! Lucky for me most of these challenges overlap and I can read a book that's good for more than one challenge. You can check my progress in a folder I opened in the Romance Readers Reading Challenges - Members Reading List. For me, it's fun to keep track of my reading habits. And I'm happy to see some of the books that have been accumulating on my shelves dusted off to read. It does open me up to new authors as well. I always love finding a new author or a new series. And, as a writer, I'm working while I'm reading...no, really, I am!! Hey, I need to research!!

So, my questions to you, dear reader, are... How do you decide what to read next? Have you joined any reading challenges? Do you structure your reading? Do you make a list of what books to read in a particular order, or do you just pick a title by mood?

Contest:

To win a .pdf copy of my novella, The Witch and the Wolf, simply follow my blog and answer any of these questions. A winner will be selected using random.org. Be sure to leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win! One winner will be chosen on June 22. Good luck!

Also, be sure to visit me on Facebook, Twitter and GoodReads where I post information on my current and upcoming releases! If you'd like to purchase my books, visit my publisher The Wild Rose Press.
 
Thanks so much for visiting!
 
To continue to the next blog in this hop for chances to win more prizes:

15 comments:

  1. I alternate between what I promised to read and what I feel like reading. The book has to fit my mood that day though I try to read a book each day so I have a review to post on my blog.

    I'm in multiple reading challenges - 2011 Vampire Challenge, 2011 Fantasy Reading Challenge, 2011 Highlander Reading Challenge, 2011 Shifter Challenge, 2011 Gothic Reading Challenge, 52 Books in 52 weeks challenge, and the Sizzling Summer Reading Challenge.

    I do sort of structure my reading, but I kind of hate doing so so I don't always follow that structure. Reading down a list feels like homework rather than entertainment for me. However because I agree to review so many I do somewhat structure them to try to get the reviews done as soon as I can. I do however veer off track sometimes when the reading begins to feel less like entertainment and more like a job.

    jennlovesed14 at gmail GFC following as Jenn Donnelly

    ReplyDelete
  2. I pretty much just pick what I will read next just by a given mood at that time. I read just for enjoyment (although I have been thinking of starting a blog) so I don't have any set routine, I just read what I want, when I want, and where I want.
    Thanks for the giveaway! Right now, all I want to read are Parnormals and yours sounds good. I would love to read it.

    GFC follower: June M.
    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like to pic my next read by the mood I'm in. Sometimes I want a romance. Other times I want something with some humor in it. Lately I've been into erotic romances, mostly paranormal. I fell in love with dragon shifters and there aren't a whole lot of them out there. I am a follower on GFC, Goodreads, and Facebook.

    Thanks for the chance to win.
    reneebennett35@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. You sure are a busy little bee...lol.
    I read what I am in the mood for. I will read new books and then go back to reread old favorites then back to the new ones. Usually I will read new releases from favorite authors before I read a new author. Thanks to these Hops I have found a lot of new authors.

    koonie2888 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I decide to read by what mood I am in and if the book isn't holding my attention I move onto another one.
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    GFC Follower JeanP

    skpetal at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am a follower-GFC-judy

    I keep a list of books I want to purchase to read, but after I finish one book I just pick, I guess, on my mood!! If it has a second book, I will read that next.

    Judy
    magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I don't really have a reading order. I enjoy a wide range of genres and it just depends on whim as to wether it's romance,paranormal, crime ,thriller or whatever.
    GFC - irgl7
    irgl7(at)bonzo15(dot)plus(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I vacillate between structuring my reads ( I like to sort ><) and just picking them up at random. I'm in an obscene amount of book clubs and I have a lot to catch up on. I host daily reviews on my website too-so I read when I am asked to review as well. I rarely let those go unread more than 4 days. edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom GFC Krystal Larson

    ReplyDelete
  9. I usually stick with a series that I'm reading until I finish. I will stop reading a book if a new book in a series comes out. But as for which book to start it sort of depends on the mood.

    GFC follower

    beckerjo at verizon dot net

    ReplyDelete
  10. I usually pick a title by mood, but if a already started a series and I have the next books that I'm reading until I finish. Just if I like it, if I don't I move to the next book. But sometimes I pick a book because a friend recommand it to me or because I borrow it and I want to return it as soon as it is possible.
    GFC follower

    balmezandrada@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I don't have any order if a book is coming out and really want to read it I plan to at the time! I have a to read pile but not really any order! last week Passion came out by Lauren Kate so thats what I read because I love her books! Great giveaway thank you so much!
    tishajean@ charter.net

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for the great giveaway. I haven't joined any reading challenges. I don't have any kind of list for what I'm going to read next. I pretty much choose by what kind of mood that I'm in.

    GFC follower - Sherry S.
    Networked Blogs - Sherry Strode

    sstrodeATscrtcDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am following your blog on google friends. I have an email that I keep adding books that I want to read, whether ebooks or paperbacks. It is HUGE and I am glad that I will never wonder what to read next...there are many to choose from!

    books4me67 at ymail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am also a memeber of goodreads...I love it. I check it more than I check my facebook page now! I have so many to-read books that I just pick randomly depending on my mood. I have joined a reading challenge on that site where you pick how many books you want to read for the year. I chose 100...so far, so good.

    amelno@gmail.com
    goodreads follower

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks to everyone for some very interesting comments and responses! I must say, I'm really having fun with these blog hops! So, now to announce the winner...Nay Nay!! I've emailed her and sent her prize. Thanks to everyone for participating! Please check back soon since I have more blog hops scheduled with some really cool prizes! :)

    ReplyDelete