High Summer #Readathon - Mid-Event Check-In #HSreadathon

This month is flying by! Can't believe it's mid-event already (a couple days past actually). The only good thing about time flying...this hot weather will be gone, we'll be heading into fall, and FrightFall will be here. Yay!

Share your progress in the comments, or post a link to an update post.

The prize page is live here. Thanks to the authors who generously donated.

Anyone else doing Bout of Books this week? I wasn't going to, but decided to after all. I signed up via Instagram @truebookaddict and I'll probably post on Facebook (probably also in the group).

Something Wicked Fall will also be going on in September and October over at Castle Macabre. I will be hosting a read-along of Stephen King's Doctor Sleep (the movie comes out in November. Squee!), among other things. Stay tuned for details.

Sci-Fi Summer #Readathon - Mid-Event Check-in (sort of) and some news

Take the Christmas in July Readathon Survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NC5RWYF  Closed

So, how is your sci-fi (fantasy) reading going? I hope all is going well. I'm halfway through Childhood's End and really enjoying it.

Share your progress, or a link to your update, in the comments. Now on to the...

Breaking News Insp GIF from Breakingnews GIFs

I've been hearing this statement (or close to it) here and there around our social media..."This needs to be a month long event!" Well, you spoke, and I listened. Sci-Fi Summer is officially extended throughout June, and future Sci-Fi Summers will now always be month long events. Since it is now a month long, the rules will change a bit. Yes, you still need to show that you are/have been reading science fiction (or fantasy), but you can also read in other genres as well. I've updated our current button to reflect our extension to the entire month. Woot!

Now for the next bit of news. I like to have at least a month buffer between each month long readathon. Since Sci-Fi Summer is now a month long event, that would lead us straight into High Summer in July. So, I'm moving High Summer to August! It will work well for me because I'm doing Camp NaNoWriMo next month (I often participate each summer). I hope everyone is okay with the change.

Sci-Fi Summer Prizes

Winner - Tara O.
From your host
Winner's choice of any print book title from the bargain books (these are used books) section of Better World Books. They ship internationally. (priced below $5.00) OR a $5.00 Amazon eGift card. One Winner

Winners - Kai, ...

Prize from Elyse LeMieux, moderator at the 75 Books Goodreads group, and a member of our Goodreads group. 

(1) (2) $5 or less Amazon Kindle Books 2 Winners

Giveaway Details
This is a readathon participant only giveaway. To be eligible, you must have signed up, participated and added a link to the official readathon wrap-up post (I will give everyone until Friday, July 5th at 11:59 pm CST to complete their wrap-ups). We no longer use a linky for wrap-ups. The Google form on our wrap-up post is where you will enter your info, your wrap-up link, and answer yes/no on whether you want to win a prize or not. We have a total of 3 prizes. This means there will be 3 winners. I will award prizes on a first come, first served basis. I will draw the 3 winners with random.org and email all 3 at the same time. The first person who emails me back with their choice gets that prize. I will mark off the prizes as they are taken. Winners will be chosen after the wrap-up post deadline (see above).

Spring into #Horror #Readathon - Mid-Event Check-In #SpringHorror

Can't believe it's mid-event already! Time flies!

How is everyone's reading going? Remember, it's all about the reading so have fun and enjoy it, whether you read a lot, or a little. Getting any reading done is an accomplishment.

Share your progress in the comments, or post a link to an update post.

The prize page is live here. We have a ton of awesome prizes this time around!

Hope you enjoy the rest of the readathon!

#WintersRespite #Readathon - Mid-Event Check-In

I'm sorry I am SO late with this! I got the prize page up, but this post...I completely forgot! Guess my memory hasn't improved much in the new year. lol

Hope everyone's reading is going well. I've been checking in at the Facebook group and the Goodreads group and you guys are really rocking it. Just remember. It's all about the reading so have fun and enjoy it, however much or little you read. Getting any reading done is an accomplishment.

Share your progress in the comments, or the link to an update post.

In case you missed it, Readeropolis is hosting a readathon participant giveaway. Check it out here.

Also, the prize page is live here.

Enjoy the rest of the readathon! Anyone else doing #24in48 next weekend?

#Christmas Spirit #Readathon - Mid-Event Check-In #CSreadathon

So, how is the festive reading going? The first week was a whirlwind with Thanksgiving and all. I haven't been able to do any Christmas reading, but I'm seeking to remedy that this week and next weekend.

Share your progress in the comments, or a link to your post.

Also, the prize page is live here.

Don't forget, you can keep the Christmas reading going all season long with the Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge, hosted over at my Christmas blog. It runs all the way until January 6th. Would love to have you. Here is my Christmas reading stack for this readathon and the reading challenge. I know I probably won't get to them all, but I like to have choices.

#FrightFall #Readathon - Mid-Event Check-In #SomethingWickedFall

A few days late with this check-in...sorry! My sister came into town last week for my big 5-0 birthday weekend (my birthday was Monday) so it was a whirlwind of getting ready for her to come, and then spending as much time visiting as possible. Of course, as luck would have it, I ended up coming down with some weird stomach thing while she was here. Still not back to 100 percent. Blah. Anyway, as you can imagine, my reading suffered, along with other obligations.

Updates:

The prize page is up HERE.

The second and third discussions for Something Wicked This Way Comes will be combined and posted this Sunday, October 21 at Castle Macabre.

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon is THIS weekend! Sign up here.

Something Wicked This Way Comes movie watch-along, October 27th at 9pm CT/10pm ET. We will interact while watching on the event page here.

Post-Readathon - October 31/November 1


So, how is your reading going? Feel free to add an update in the comments, or link to an update somewhere online. Hope this month of scary reading is really shaping up nicely for you all.

High Summer #Readathon - Mid Event Check-in #HSreadathon

I'm a few days late with this check-in post. Sorry! My month has not gone as planned, and my summer is pretty much over now that my younger (15 year old) son has a job and my older son has football practice every day. I'm now a glorified taxi driver and school hasn't even started yet. Not long to go though. They go back August 7th.

How is your reading going? I hope you're picking up some books that you're really enjoying. Seems like there are a lot of  other exciting readathons going on this month too. There's the 24in48 Readathon this weekend, July 21 and 22. Then there's the Dewey's 24 Hour Reverse Summer Readathon starting Friday, July 27 at 8 pm ET and ending Saturday, July 28 at 8 pm ET. Fun! Will you be joining in on either of these?

Don't forget about our Christmas in July Readathon at the end of High Summer, during the last four days (Saturday thru Tuesday, July 28-31). Just a reminder...you do not have to participate if you're not IN to Christmas, but if you are, this is for you.

In case you missed it, the High Summer prize page is here.

Let us know how you're progressing with High Summer. Leave a comment and/or leave a link to an update post if you like.

Let's keep going! Happy Reading!

Sci-Fi Summer #Readathon - Midevent Check-in and #Prizes #SciFiJune

For those of you who aren't on Facebook...I admit to being MIA during the first week of the readathon. I had a health scare last week (cellulitis in my leg), they tried to put me in the hospital, but my leg wasn't bad. It was just because I'm allergic to SO MANY antibiotics. I told him NO about admitting me. Non-compliant, I know. He gave me a course of Doxycycline and I was determined to not have a reaction, and I didn't. I'm finally feeling like my old self. Earlier in the readathon I was being bad and not reading sci-fi. What!? I was hooked on finishing The Treatment by Mo Hayder. Wow! What a great book. Don't worry though. I'm not being that big of a rule breaker, although you guys know I'm not a huge stickler for rules. I started Fahrenheit 451 yesterday. It's a short one so when I've finished it, I'm going to read Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer.

How is the reading going for you? I hope everyone is enjoying it. It's going by so fast!

Share your progress in the comments, or leave a link, or update us in the Facebook group.

I hope you continue to enjoy the readathon!

A big thanks to P.L. Parker for her prize donation!

PRIZES

Note: The author of the book donated would greatly appreciate a review, if you win, on your blog and/or social media and/or on Goodreads, Amazon. Thank you!

Abaddon Rising, Book 3, Star Brides (Deg'Nara) Series by P.L. Parker (eBook - One winner)

One of a million statistics in the intergalactic war, Jocelyn St. Germaine is captured, sold as a slave and then forced to fight in the Deg’Nara gladiator games. She’s slated to lose when Kanaan, the most feared warrior of all, claims her as his own.
With his help, Joss’s chances of survival increase, but is it enough?

Kanaan filled his lungs and roared, head thrown back as he issued the challenge. “She belongs to me! I claim her!”
From behind him, he caught the female’s startled gasp. 

Available on Amazon

About the Author

I am a dreamer, an avid reader of fiction, a sometimes gardener and an inept crafter. I live in Idaho, with my husband, three sons, daughter-in-law and little granddaughter. I love to travel, but always return to my beloved Idaho. For many years, I performed and taught dance but as time passed, I decided to try my hand at a new endeavor - writing. I enjoy life and all its promises.

Visit the author

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

WINNER - JANE
PRIZE FROM YOUR HOST (One winner)

I will make a $15 donation to the winner's choice of a human rights organization, such as the ACLU, Boys and Girls Club, Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, Amnesty International, It Gets Better, Planned Parenthood, or another human rights organization of your choice, perhaps your local chapter or a local organization. This giveaway is open internationally.

Giveaway Details

This is a readathon participant only giveaway. To be eligible, you must have signed up, participated and added a link to the official readathon wrap-up post (I will give everyone until Monday, June 18th at 11:59 pm CDT to complete their wrap-ups) AND filled out the Google form below to show your interest in winning (your wrap-up link should be added to the form as well). We have a total of 2 prizes. This means there will be 2 winners. I will award prizes on a first come, first served basis. I will draw the 2 winners with random.org and email both at the same time. The first person who emails me back with their choice gets that prize. I will mark off the prizes as they are taken. Winners will be chosen after the wrap-up post deadline (see above).

Spring into Horror #Readathon - Mid Event Check-in #SpringHorror

How is the reading going for you? I've been doing okay. Still enjoying Dan Simmons' The Terror so much...and Murder on the Orient Express is enjoyable too. Hoping to get to the others on my list. I've been called for jury duty so hoping for some reading down time if I do actually get placed on a jury. My report date is April 23 so if I'm especially MIA that week that will be the reason. I'm not sure how it works, whether they sequester on weekends or not. Just hoping I don't get sequestered and miss the Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon on the 28th. In truth though, I'm actually looking forward to jury duty. I'm like Minnie Driver's character in that show Speechless. I feel like I've got a golden ticket and this...

The prize page is finally up! We have some awesome prizes this time around. I'm so excited for you guys! Check it out here.

Share your progress in the comments, or leave a link, or update us in the Facebook group.

I hope you're enjoying the readathon!

Winter's Respite #Readathon - Mid-Event Check in and #Prizes #WintersRespite

I realize I'm a bit past the midpoint. Sorry! Still fighting that busy procrastination trait which is one of my goals to overcome in 2018. Doing a bang up job so far. 😉

How is the reading going for you? I've been doing not so great, but I'm planning to finish strong in the last week and a half. I'm hoping the 24 in 48 Readathon (Jan. 27-28) will help with this goal.

Share your progress in the comments, or leave a link, or update us in the Facebook group.

I hope you're enjoying the readathon!


PRIZES

Prize from Elyse LeMieux, one of our participants via our Facebook group

One (1) Kindle book - up to $5 


PRIZE FROM YOUR HOST

Prize One (One winner)
I will make a $15 donation to the winner's choice of a human rights organization, such as the ACLU, Boys and Girls Club, Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, Amnesty International, It Gets Better, Planned Parenthood, or another human rights organization of your choice, perhaps your local chapter or a local organization. This giveaway is open internationally.

Prize Two (One winner)
Winner's choice of any book title from the bargain books (these are generally used books) section of Better World Books. They ship internationally. (priced at $3.98 or less) OR a Kindle book valued at $2.99 or less.

Giveaway Details
This is a readathon participant only giveaway. To be eligible, you must have signed up, participated and added a link to the official readathon wrap-up post  (I will give everyone until Monday, February 5th at 11:59 pm CDT to complete their wrap-ups) AND filled out the Google form below to show your interest in winning (your wrap-up link should be added to the form as well). We have a total of 3 prizes. This means there will be 3 winners. I will award prizes on a first come, first served basis. I will draw the 3 winners with random.org and email all 3 at the same time. The first person who emails me back with their choice gets that prize. I will mark off the prizes as they are taken. Winners will be chosen after the wrap-up post deadline (see above).

#CSReadathon (Christmas and Scary) It's mid-event...and prize update! #Readathon

Just wanted to do a quick mid-event (a little past) check in. How are you doing? I haven't been doing too hot, but we still have almost a week so hopefully I'll get more reading in. I did listen to Hercule Poirot's Christmas on audio and I finished another book I've been reading for review, which I highly recommend...The Murderer's Maid by Erika Mailman.

News about prizes

Today is Giving Tuesday so I've decided to go ahead and pick a winner for my charity prize of a donation to an organization dedicated to helping those in need. For instance, Second Harvest Food Bank, Salvation Army, Heifer International, etc. I'm making a $20 donation in the winner's name, and since most charities are doubling (or tripling) donations today, that will be a $40 to $60 donation! I will draw from the sign up/starting line list (and, of course, double check participation). Be watching your email, Twitter and/or the Facebook group to see if you're a winner.


Rhonda Hopkins has generously donated an eBook copy and an audio copy of her books, Survival and The Gift. That's four winners! I will draw for these prizes at the end of the readathon.

Some days, the only plan is survival…

When Sarah escapes from her brutal abductors, she promises to return to rescue her twin sister, but with the walking dead invading Fort Worth, TX, she is forced to rely on a competitive coworker who made her work life hell for years. With her coworker weakened by cancer treatments, her sister still imprisoned, and zombies looking for an easy meal, Sarah’s only plan, if she can pull it off, is Survival.

SURVIVAL is a 14,000 word short story.

Excerpt:

Sarah Jamison's gaze met her twin's fear-filled blue eyes. "I—"

"It's no use. The cuff is too tight. You're going to have to leave me." Dana put her free hand on Sarah's, stilling their frantic motions.

"No. I won't leave you. Maybe I can . . ." She turned, taking in the empty basement—the cement walls, exposed pipes, and her sister handcuffed to one of the metal cylinders. A small amount of light trickled in through the one lone window, but there was nothing she could use as a weapon. Unless...

She strode over to the dangling pipe from which she had managed to extricate herself earlier. Grabbing the unattached end, she tried wresting it clear of its fittings, her own wrist dangling handcuffs which clinked against the metal with each pull. Rust and time made it impossible to remove.

"Sarah—"

"No." Tears ran down her face. "I can't leave you, Dana."

"You have to. It's the only way we're both getting out of here. You have to go for help."

Sarah knelt beside her sister who reached out and wiped her thumb across her cheek, brushing the tears aside.

"I'll be okay until you get back. I won't give them any excuse to throw me out to those . . . ." Dana choked back the word they had both been avoiding, choosing another instead. "Creatures."

Sometimes, the best gifts are unexpected…

When workaholic Robert Chalmer’s wife leaves to take care of her sick mother for two weeks, he is left with all the responsibility… including his seven-year-old daughter. With Christmas fast approaching, Robert must find a way to reconnect with what is most important in his life, or risk losing it forever.

THE GIFT is a 7300 word heart-warming short story set in Fort Worth, TX about family, love, and second chances.

About the author
Best-selling and award-winning author, Rhonda Hopkins, has learned firsthand that truth is stranger than fiction. Her two decades of experience as an investigator provide her characters with a depth and realism that gives truth a run for its money. Having come in contact with the best and the worst that society has to offer, Rhonda's imagination is filled with story ideas. Rhonda writes Horror, Suspense, Paranormal, and YA Urban Fantasy.

http://rhondahopkins.com


I hope everyone is enjoying the readathon! Be watching because the sign up for Winter's Respite Readathon, now all month long in January, will be posted this week.

#FrightFall #Readathon - Mid-Event Check-In

Are we really at mid-event already!? I've been interacting in the Facebook group and I know Steven Karalash (Mystery Night Owl) has been helping me with some cheerleading. Thank you, sir! I have not had much of a chance to visit many blogs. I crammed my work into the early part of the week last week so I wouldn't have to do any work on the weekend, which was my birthday weekend. I had a fun time celebrating this weekend, but it took away from visiting blogs and reading too (for the most part). Honestly though, I don't think I'm doing too shabbily this time...and I'm enjoying all the scary reads. And look what my mom got me for my birthday! Although unfortunately, I won't be able to pick the book up to read until next month (hopefully).

I hope everyone is getting lots of good reading in. I think this month long format is smashing. I'm halfway tempted to make all my seasonal readathons a month long. Would that be excessive? lol

Don't forget to check out the prize page. There are probably going to be some additions to the prizes so stay tuned on that.

Share your updates in the comments, or leave a link to your update post on your blog or social media.

Happy continued FrightFall reading!

High Summer Read-a-Thon - Mid-Event Check-in #HSreadathon

Are we really at midweek already!? I don't even have to say, "I hope you're getting lots of reading in." I've been lurking in the Facebook group and I'm seeing tons of reading going on. You guys rock! Which makes me feel all the worse that I have not been more participative (I had a big client project earlier in the week, etc.) with interacting, nor reading...and I have not had a chance to visit any of your posts or videos. I'm plannng on stopping by. I'll start working through the list as soon as I finish this post. 😀

I'm thinking about asking for cheerleader volunteers next time (especially since the FrightFall Readathon (October) is a month long), so be thinking if you might like to volunteer or not. It would be a huge help to me. I don't really like to ask for help, but sometimes a person just has to admit they need it.

Just a few reminders...

Don't forget that Rhonda Hopkins has two free books available on Smashwords through the end of July. Her Christmas short story, The Gift and her zombie horror story, Survival. Click here to visit Rhonda's website for the details on how to grab your free eBook(s).

The Christmas in July 48 Hour Readathon starts this Friday at 12:00am central time. If you're not sure what that would be in your time zone, I've placed a link to a handy timezone converter in the menu up top. As stated, the 48 hour readathon will run until the end of High Summer at 11:59pm central time on Sunday (July 30). Remember, you do not have to participate if you're not IN to Christmas, but if you are, this is for you. Also, you can even choose to read Christmas books during the entire High Summer Readathon. I know a few of you already are. 🎅

Stop by my Christmas blog, Christmas Spirit. I'm having a Christmas in July event during which I'm sharing various Christmas-y things. I'm putting together a list of Christmas book releases for the coming season. It should be posted over there in a day or two. 🎄

Don't forget to check out the prize page. We have some great prizes donated by some fantasticly generous authors. There's a Google form to be filled out if you want to enter, and be sure to read over the giveaway details so you know how it works. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. 

Share with us in the comments how you're doing, leave a link in the comments, or continue updating on your chosen social media (#HSreadathon) and/or in our Facebook group.

Read on, Readathon Warriors!