The Challenge Factory discussion

Team 13 - 13 Going To 1st

Captain: Meg
Jamie (TheRebelliousReader)
Bouchra
Darkness
Jeanne
Jammin Jenny
Delitealex

Bonus Points:
Earned: 4
Used: 0

Helpful Links:

Dice Roll: https://www.random.org/dice/ (2 dice on Fridays, US Central Time)
R13 SS Post Your Spot
R13 SS Discussion Thread

Time Zone Converter: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldcloc...

ALTERNATE LIST:
**titles exclude leading articles (a, an, the)


2. Male Author
3. Cover: Red
4. MC has a pet
5. Mystery/Thriller
6. Set in space
7. Cover: Orange
8. Cover Item: One person
9. Several authors
10. Cover: Pink
11. Author 'N'
12. Cover Item: Book
13. Title 'B'
14. Two Word Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) Deadly Silence, The Hunger Games
15. Cover Item: Sun/Moon
16. Asia
17. Title 'D'
18. Set in a place you've visited
19. Less than 100 ratings
20. Set in a Fictional Location/Universe
21. Favorite Author
22. Set anytime between 1837-1901
23. South America
24. Book to Movie/TV (must state how book qualifies: listopia, imdb, precis)
25. Published 2011-2015
26. Four or More Words Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
27. Title 'Y'
28. Europe
29. MC is older than 60
30. Author 'E'
31. Set on an island
32. Title 'L'
33. Cover Item: Hat/Helmet/Other Headwear
34. MC travels by airplane
35. New to You Author
36. Author uses their middle name/initial (e.g. Robert J. Sawyer, Rita Mae Brown)
37. Title 'M'
38. Book that a teammate rated 5 stars
39. Three Word Title (excludes articles like A, An, The) Behind Closed Doors or Etched in Bone
40. Cover Item: Building
41. Author 'V'
42. MC travels by train
43. Set anytime between 1600-1837
44. Book with a funeral in it
45. Title has a subtitle
46. Cover: Yellow/Gold
47. Science Fiction
48. Cover Item: Lamp/Candle
49. Author 'Z'
50. MC has at least one child
51. Title 'O'
52. Originally published in a language other than English
53. Cover: Purple
54. Australia
55. Cover Item: Umbrella/Parasol
56. Author uses a pseudonym
57. Young Adult/New Adult
58. Cover Item: Jewelry
59. Non-Fiction
60. Cover: Brown
61. Title 'H'
62. North America
63. Set in the future
64. Published 2021
65. Author 'G'
66. Fantasy
67. Cover Item: Food/Drink
68. LGBTQ+
69. One Word Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) The Witness or Divergent
70. Published 2016-2019
71. Author 'F'
72. Romance
73. Africa
74. Title 'S'
75. Published 2001-2010
76. Cover Item: Animal
77. Author 'L'
78. MC is in their 20's
79. Number in the Title (Third Grave Dead Ahead or Every Fifteen Minutes)
80. Published before 1950
81. Title 'P'
82. Author 'B'
83. Published between 1950 and 1999
84. Title 'W'
85. Cover Item: Hands/Arms/Feet/Legs (no other body parts visible)
86. Seasonal Theme (i.e Christmas, Halloween etc)
87. Title 'R'
88. Cover Item: Mode of Transportation
89. Set sometime before 1600 AD
90. Author 'G'
91. GR average rating >4.0
92. Cover: Blue
93. Award Winner (must state which/when)
94. Cover Item: Weapon
95. Author 'T'
96. Published 2020
97. Title 'I'
98. Book with a wedding in it
99. Cover: Black
100. Author 'J'
101. Cover: White
102. Female Author
103. Title 'F'
104. Cover Item: Water
105. Cover Item: Two or more people
106. Published the year you were born
107. Cover Item: Furniture
108. Author 'C'
109. Debut Novel or Debut Author
110. Cover Item: Dress
111. Cover: Green
112. School/College/University

A couple of things to keep in mind:

✸ Communication is key. Please make sure to check in regularly with your team.

✸ Let your team know if it looks like you won't get your review posted by Thursday, 11:59pm. You do have all of Friday to submit your review, but it can be intensely frustrating for your captain if they don't know when or if they can expect your review before the deadline.

✸ If you know beforehand that you won't be able to read and review a book during a certain week, you can request a pre-arranged absence from me, either by posting the request in the discussion thread or by sending me a pm. The request has to be submitted before the team rolls for the week in question, can only be approved by me as the mod in charge of running the game, and has to state a reason for the absence. (Reasons for pre-arranged absences can include e.g. going on vacation or work trips, planned hospital stays, exam period, etc.)

✸ If you do not have a pre-arranged absence and won't be able to finish your book in time for an unforeseen reason, please let your team know as soon as possible. If the team has earned the free pass, it can be used to cover the missing review. Without a free pass, the team has to sit out the next roll.

✸ We all know that real life gets in the way sometimes, be it through family emergencies, work emergencies, natural disasters, technical problems making it impossible to get online, or in other ways. That being said, please do keep in mind that this is a team challenge and your team relies on you to do your part unless an emergency occurs.

✸ If you find that the pressure of keeping up with the pace of the game gets too much for you or you wish to stop playing for any other reason, you can drop out of the challenge at any time. In that case, please let your team captain and/or me know that you wish to drop out rather than just disappearing without a word so your team won't be penalized when you fail to turn in your review. Thank you!


Captain's Handbook

✸ The team's captain is its chief organizer. This includes rolling the dice, posting the team's new spot to the team thread and the Post Your Spot thread, collecting links to team members' review posts in a single post to be linked in the Post Your Spot thread, doublechecking that books and review posts comply with requirements, reminding team members to post their reviews in time if necessary, etc.

✸ The captain may delegate some tasks, such as rolling and posting the new spot to the team thread, to another team member if they so choose. (Either a designated roller who fulfills this role every week, or whichever team member is online first once rolling is possible.) Collecting reviews into a single post and posting to the Post Your Spot thread should always be handled by the captain.

✸ Instead of having everything handled by a single team captain, teams can also choose two co-captains to handle the workload.

✸ Selection posts are not strictly required by the game's rules and I won't be checking for them. It's up to the team captain to decide whether they want them.

✸ If the team captain requests a pre-arranged absence, it's their responsibility to arrange for another team member to step in as temporary captain.

✸ The team captain is my primary point of contact for the team and should allow receiving private messages.

Checking in (I hope this is the right place). I am looking forward to this one as I have not seen it before.

Hi team, checking in. I'm so excited to start.

Hello everyone, seems like I'm the first on the team to pop in here! Looking forward to reading together :)

Hello team, excited for the game to start. Who wants to be captain?

Hello

Oops, my bad above there, I thought I was the first one but seems like my comment didn't get posted early enough lol

I would've volunteered to be captain but the last two times I participated in one of these, I had to drop out for family stuff later on. I hope it doesn't happen this time around, but I'd rather try to finish the challenge once before I volunteer to be captain. I'm happy to help out the captain as an unofficial co-captain of sorts if that would help anyone else with volunteering to be captain :)

Let's wait for Jammin' Jenny to check in; maybe she might want to be captain. If not, I'm willing to give it a try!

What name shall we call our team? I thought of one as soon as I saw that we were #13:

Super lucky 13!

Any other fun suggestions?

Ha. I love that. I'm terrible with coming up with names. Super Lucky 13 is fun though.

There's always the not too original "Lean Mean Thirteen."

Or since Troubadours were common in the thirteenth century, it could be the Terrific Thirteen Troubadours.
That said, I like Super Lucky 13. Just trying to provide some alternatives

Sounding good! Any more ideas? We'll vote on one in the next day or two!

What about a play on the movie titled “13 Going On 30”? I was thinking of “13 Going to 1st” sort of to signify that we’re hoping to become the first team to complete the game?

Good one!

Here are our names so far:

Super Lucky 13
Lean Mean Thirteen
Terrific Thirteen Troubadours
13 Going to 1st

I think I got them all. Let's pick one by tomorrow.

Jammin', we miss you!

I really like all of the names but my vote is for 13 Going to 1st. Very cute. Plus I love the movie 13 Going on 30. LOL.

k, we are 13 Going To 1st!

I'll try to get a hold of Jammin'. in a minute.

In the meantime , I hope everyone's revved up -- we roll tonight!

OMG I can't believe you chose my suggestion! I almost didn't post it because it felt a little silly haha

I loved the movie too - I think I watched it when I was 16? I definitely was 16 going on 30, and now that I'm 28, it might be a good idea to watch it again sometime soon!

I'm excited for the roll tonight - Meg, you'll be rolling, right?

Yep, I'll roll! I've already submitted our name, too!

Ha, I just realized that we never did get a consensus on captain. I put my name out there but I want to make sure everyone is good with it.

Thanks for volunteering to captain, Meg.

Also, I cannot wait to see what our first roll will be.

Keep this handy for posting completed reads:

EXAMPLE OF AN ACCEPTABLE COMPLETION POST

Week 1, Spot 3
Accessory to Murder
Date Read: 01/23
How It Fits: #3 in series
Pages: 288
Rating: ****
Review: xxxxxxx

Even though it's not required it might be good to post your book selection after the roll, just so we have an idea where everyone is. Just a quick post, like "I'm reading xxx, #1 (or whatever) in a series, for week # . Or "I'm reading alternate # for week # ". Something like that.

Okay, here we go!

Week #1

Roll: 2. 1
Spot: 3
3rd in series
Alternate: Cover: Red

Share your titles as soon as you've decided.

I plan to read Accessory to Murder, #3 in the Mystery Shopper series for this week 1.

I'm going to go with the Alternate: Cover: Red and read by Radclyffe

Meg wrote: "Ha, I just realized that we never did get a consensus on captain. I put my name out there but I want to make sure everyone is good with it."

Thanks for volunteering, Meg. If you decide you need a co-captain or just some additional help, I would be glad to volunteer.

I plan to read One Potato, Two Potato, Dead by Lynn Cahoon. It is the third in the Farm to Fork mysteries.

Thanks, Jeanne!

Here's a running account of our choices, aka Master List, for Week 1:

Meg - Accessory to Murder review 4*
Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) - That Night in Texas review 4*
Bouchra - When Life Gives You Lululemons review 4* SEE NOTE BELOW
Darkness - Clockwork Princess review 5* PLEASE SEE NOTE
Jeanne -One Potato, Two Potato, Dead review 4*
Jammin Jenny - The Secret Staircase review 4*

BONUS POINT EARNED FOR BOOK HAVING A RED COVER (#3 ALTERNATE LISIT).

BONUS POINT EARNED FOR BOOK GREATER THAN 500 PAGES.

Hi everyone. sorry I've been sick with COVID for the past 10 days. Just checking in.

I'll read The Secret Staircase by Sheila Connolly, #3 in Victorian Village Mysteries - 304 pages.

This is due by this coming Thursday right?

Hello, Jenny, so happy to see you here. And, wow, what a bummer about the Covid. That's one of the scariest things ever. I hope you're feeling better and coming out the other side of it!

Yes, Thursday, please. We can go into Friday but that's cutting it close.

I haven't read Connolly's Victorian Village so I'm looking foward to seeing what you think.

Jammin Jenny wrote: "Hi everyone. sorry I've been sick with COVID for the past 10 days. Just checking in.

I'll read The Secret Staircase by Sheila Connolly, #3 in Victorian Village Mys..."

Meg wrote: "Hello, Jenny, so happy to see you here. And, wow, what a bummer about the Covid. That's one of the scariest things ever. I hope you're feeling better and coming out the other side of it!

Yes, Thur..."

It's on my to read list as well, so I am anxious to see what you think. I am also coming out of Covid quarantine, but thankfully got 2 neg. tests.

Hi! I totally forgot to post my plans, and I just finished the book I planned to read, When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger. Shall I just go ahead and do my review post?

It's #3 in the series The Devil Wears Prada.

Bouchra wrote: "Hi! I totally forgot to post my plans, and I just finished the book I planned to read, When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger. Shall I just go ahead and d..."

Sure! As long as you started reading it after we rolled it's more than fine.

I'm done with mine, as well, but writing reviews can take me awhile. I've been working on it, though.

How to we get bonus points? I forgot. I think part of it has to do with reading a series in order, but I can't remember.

Here is the write-up about earning Bonus Points:

BONUS POINTS:

✸ One point can be earned for reading three or more books in a series.
✸ One point can be earned for reading a book with >500 pages.
✸ One point can be earned for starting and finishing a series. There must be at least 4 books in that series. Series + spin-off totalling ≥4 books also counts. For series with >9 books, point will be awarded for reading books 1-9. For still ongoing series, all books published to date (OR up to #9 in longer series) must be read.~ No re-reads on this one.
✸ 2 in 1: One point can be earned for reading a book that fits both the series number and the alternate for the spot you are on.
✸ One point can be earned for never picking a book from the alternate lists. This point is awarded when your team rolls past 90.
✸ Valentine's Bonus: One point can be earned for reading a Romance book for the roll on 02/11.
NOTE:
✸ Each point can only be earned once per team.
✸ The series-specific bonus points (3 or more books/ starting and finishing a series) must be two different series.
✸ Single book bonuses (>500 pages/ Valentine's/ 2 in 1) may overlap with a series bonus.

How to use bonus points:
✸ Bonus points can be added to your roll to move you further along the board. Each bonus point can only be earned once and spent once.
✸ Bonus points may be used for the win. Example: Your team rolls and lands on spot 97. Your team has earned 4 bonus points. You can use your bonus points to move to spot 101 and compete for the win.
✸ You don't have to use all your bonus points at the same time.
✸ You can also use your bonus points earlier in the game. Example: Your team has earned 3 bonus points. Your team rolls and lands on spot 88. A team member doesn't have a book that is either #8 in a series or fits the alternate. They do however have a #9. Your team may decide to use 1 bonus point to move to spot 89 and have 2 bonus points remaining for later use.

It'd be cool if we can earn some bonus points! I keep looking at them and I think at least three of the items are doable. If a team member fulfills one of the bonus categories please make a note of it when posting review so I can send it in.

Changing my book because I'm going to read That Night in Texas by Joss Wood. It's book 3 in the Texas Cattleman’s Club: Houston series.

I just sow that it didn't post my last post frm two days ago witch is weird.
I will read Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare. It fits for 3rd book in series and will get bonus point for reading a book with >500 pages because its 594 pages long.

Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) wrote: "Changing my book because I'm going to read That Night in Texas by Joss Wood. It's book 3 in the Texas Cattleman’s Club: Houston series."

Got it!

Darkness wrote: "I just sow that it didn't post my last post frm two days ago witch is weird.
I will read Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare. It fits for 3rd book in series and w..."

Love it. I don't often have patience for books of 500 pages these days but I'm going to try to get to a couple this year.

Week 1, Spot 3
Accessory to Murder
Date Read: 01/23
How It Fits: #3 in series
Pages: 288
Rating: ****
Review: A carjacking and murder at a mall parking lot has personal shopper Josie Marcus and her best friend, Alice, spooked. When Alice's somewhat self-centered husband gets arrested for said murder, and she begs for help finding evidence that would exonerate him, Josie can't say no. Along with this daunting task Josie has to shop and review some disgusting clients, thanks to her vindictive boss. Add in clashes with mom about her smoking and her penchant for setting Josie up for questionable blind dates, plus spending much needed time with her daughter as a single mom, and Josie's life is crazy full.

I started this series quite sometime ago, and have been trying find time to continue with it as I really enjoy it. I had to come back to this one when I found out I'd skipped it, and can't wait to get to #5.

Thanks, Meg, I will post tomorrow as I’m not on my laptop ATM.

Also, I believe I can win us a bonus point, as the cover to When Life Gives You Lululemons is about 75% red, do you think it fits for the alternate? This will win us the 2 in 1 bonus point.