Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion

I have been hosting the monthly reading challenges for our group since 2009, and I have enjoyed every moment of it. However, due to several factors that are happening in my personal life right now, my online time is limited.

In line with that, I want to introduce a change in our usual monthly challenges for the next year. I'm opening up hosting for the monthly challenges to volunteers. Anybody who has an idea for a theme challenge that will work for our group is welcomed.

Right now, all 12 months for next year are open, but my priority is for January. If you want to host the January challenge, just send me a p.m. You can use a previous challenge theme or you can create a new one.

Looking forward for some new great ideas. :)

Challenge hosting line-up for 2013:

January - Yz
February - Angie
March - Ann
April - ?
May - ?
June - ?
July ?
August - ?
September - ?
October - ?
November - ?
December - ?

Hi Yz! I have an idea for June. Since it's the most popular month for weddings, how about something wedding themed:

1. Something Old: 2 books by authors you've read
2. Something New: 2 books by authors new to you
3. Something Borrowed: 2 books "borrowed" from a friend
4. Something Blue: 2 books with the word blue in the title or the color blue on the cover.

*5. 2 books that feature either wedding wear on the cover or a wedding within the storyline.

What do you think?

how cute Nikki -- I'd do that one. but it could probly work for valentine's day as well.

sounds like a good idea...

would you like to host that month?

Sure, when would you like me to do it? I could do either Feb. or June.

That's actually what I had in mind... I guess I didn't clarify myself very well. Thanks for bringing it up :)

Precious Stones
In the title or a character name
1 Diamond
2 Emerald
3 Pearl
4 Jade
5 Amber
6 Amethyst
7 Jasper
8 Ruby
9 Sapphire
10 Moonstone

Tanya wrote: "Precious Stones
In the title or a character name
1 Diamond
2 Emerald
3 Pearl
4 Jade
5 Amber
6 Amethyst
7 Jasper
8 Ruby
9 Sapphire
10 Moonstone"

Interesting idea...but you might have to expand the criteria further...

Yeah--the precious stones would be a bit hard to find--altho some of them are also used as descriptions for eyes--the jade, amethyst, emerald and sapphire ones. Altho some of the were-wolf books include amber in the description of the eyes of the shifters when they are shifted--or are in the process of shifting.

How about something like, using the Listopia list "Top 100 Most Popular PNR/UF Series" and challenge everyone to read a book from one series in each bracket of 10. For example; a book from one series in 1-10, 11-20, 21-30... etc...
Or, challenging everyone to read 10 books off of the "Indie Books- Paranormal Fiction" list?
Just a couple of ideas.

That sounds like a cool idea, Nikki. I'm going to borrow that for our May challenge.

I have one for July...based on the Unique and Common Holidays

Canada Day: Read 2 books by Canadian authors
4th of July: Read 2 books occurring during the 4th of July holiday or with an Independence theme
I Forgot Day: Read 2 books that contain memory wiping or an amnesia theme
National Stay Out of the Sun Day: Read 2 books about vampires or another supe that cannot go into the sun
Moon Day: Read 2 books about werewolves or another supe that worships the moon

What do you think?

Rhonda wrote: "I have one for July...based on the Unique and Common Holidays

Canada Day: Read 2 books by Canadian authors
4th of July: Read 2 books occurring during the 4th of July holiday or with an Independenc..."

Looks good. I'll keep it in mind for next month.

♥¸.•*´Tanya`*•.¸♥ wrote: "Precious Stones
In the title or a character name
1 Diamond
2 Emerald
3 Pearl
4 Jade
5 Amber
6 Amethyst
7 Jasper
8 Ruby
9 Sapphire
10 Moonstone"

How about just taking a few of these and doing a cover hunt... 2 books each with the main cover color in:
1. Rubies red
2. Emeralds green
3. Amethyst purple
4. Topaz/Sapphire blue
5. Citrine gold/yellow

Ps: Yz, can I do the wedding one in August? It's my anniversary month.

Sure, Nikki! : )

Heyy! How about Seasons or Family?....
Using Seasons as a theme. It may be challenging but fun , i guess!
The readers can use 'Family'. However, you could make it a little difficult or easy since it is a wide topic. I think in these books the family should play important role.
What do you think?

I like the family idea
1. mum, mother, maternal, motherhood
2. dad, father, paternal, fatherhood
3. sibling, sister, brother,
3. aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew
5. son, daughter, offspring, child.
maybe has characters as important roles to THE main character of the book ???????

Quick msg just finished checking my totals an realised I forgot to mention my name changed from standard Tanya to ♥¸.•*´Tanya`*•.¸♥

♥¸.•*´Tanya`*•.¸♥ wrote: "I like the family idea
1. mum, mother, maternal, motherhood
2. dad, father, paternal, fatherhood
3. sibling, sister, brother,
3. aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew
5. son, daughter, offspring, chi..."

Hmm....I think this needs a little more work. Categories need to be clearer.

♥¸.•*´Tanya`*•.¸♥ wrote: "Quick msg just finished checking my totals an realised I forgot to mention my name changed from standard Tanya to ♥¸.•*´Tanya`*•.¸♥"

I updated the spread sheet to combine both names. I didn't have anything for June, should there be?

Looking for more challenge ideas or hosts for the last quarter of the year. : )

October challenge--

Up the airy mountain, down the rushing glen, we daren't go a-hunting for fear of little men. . .

All things dark and scary:

Read 2 books with Witches/magic users

Read 2 books with were-wolves (or any other shapeshifter)

Read 2 books with vampires

Read 2 books with a Halloween theme

read 2 books where one or the other main character qualifies as "other" than Witch/magic user, were-wolf/shifter and does not happen in October.

November Challenge

I have an idea for November, Give Thanks

"Gratitude is the sign of noble souls." - Aesop
Read 2 books with "Thanks" or "Gratitude" in the title or a Thanksgiving theme.

"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another." - Charles Dickens
Read 2 books with teamwork is used to accomplish a common goal. (i.e. Kat & Bones, any of the BDB, etc)

"We should all be thankful for those peole who rekindle the inner spirit." - Albert Schweitzer
Read 2 books where one main character helps the other main character remember who they are or used to be. [i.e. Grace and Julian, Amanda & Kyrian, (Dark-Hunters series) etc]

"When you read a piece of writing that you admire, send a note of thanks to the author." - Sherman Alexie
Read 2 books you'd write a letter of thanks to the author for writing.

"I am a big defender of 'Harry Potter,' and I think any book that gets kids to read are books that we should cherish, we should be thankful for them." - Judy Blume
Read 2 YA Paranormal Romance novels.

What do you think?

Love the suggestions, ladies. : )

Ann, I'm going to post yours for October and Rhonda, I'm reserving yours for next November.

Thank you for the contributions.

Hi Rhonda! That's a great suggestion, and we'll be using it for December. Thanks very much!