Spring Into Horror Read-a-Thon - Sign Up! #SpringHorrorRAT

Time to sign up for Spring Into Horror!

Official dates are April 20 through 26. Guidelines for the read-a-thon can be found HERE or you can access in the tab at the top of the blog. Any information you need about the read-a-thon can be found there. We will have one Twitter chat. I will announce the date and time in the starting post. Please do be sure to check the guidelines, as it explains all about signing up and starting the read-a-thon. Our Twitter hashtag is #SpringHorrorRAT

Just remember...the one main "rule" of Spring Into Horror is that you must read ONE scary book (which can be a thriller, mystery, Gothic novel, or similar for those who are faint of heart). The rest of the week...anything goes! 

Sign up in the linky below. Be sure to grab the button at the top of this post (there's also a grab code below the button in the sidebar).

I am looking for prize donations so if anyone would like to contribute, let me know. Authors, this is a great way to promote your book! Contact me via the contact form link just below the header.

Thanks for signing up!

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Spring into Horror Read-a-Thon: We're Wrapped Up #SpringHorrorRAT

Can't believe we're at the end of another read-a-thon! It went by way too fast and I didn't get much reading done unfortunately. I did get started on The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan and it's shaping up to be a right scary read. Delicious!

One note on this time around...the Twitter chats did not work out well this time. I noticed that they have fallen off each time so I'm thinking of retiring the chats. If you'd like to weigh in on this, please leave a comment.

I hope everyone enjoyed Spring into Horror! I'd like to thank everyone who participated and also the authors who generously donated prizes. Be watching for sign-ups in the next couple of months for the High Summer Read-a-Thon, July 21 through July 28. The button is located in the Future Read-a-Thons page and I'll have it in the sidebar soon.

For those of you who might be interested, I'm thinking of hosting two Sit Down and Write Write-a-Thons...one in June and one in August. Be watching for details at the Stories Inside blog.

Be sure to add your wrap-up link below and please double check that your starting post is linked in the starting line linky (HERE) so you will be eligible for the giveaway. You have until Tuesday, May 6 at 11:59pm CST to add your wrap-up link. I will draw giveaway winners on Wednesday (please note the new system of drawing winners in the giveaway details on the prize page). Don't forget that there is a free short story for all participants located on the prize page (link in the menu below header). Leave a comment at the prize page if you would like me to send you the download link. Good luck in the giveaway to all!!!

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Spring into Horror Read-a-Thon - Mid-Week Check In #SpringHorrorRAT

Are we at the halfway mark already?! Where does the time go? How is everyone doing? I hope, above all, that you're having fun. On my end, I have had little time to read. But today and tonight I have to finish a book for a tour review tomorrow so looks like a 24 hour (almost) read-a-thon for me!

Let me know how it's going for you. Share a link to your update below or just update us in the comments.

Just wanted to do some quick reminders and updates....

Prize Page/Giveaway

Be sure to stop by and check out the prize page. There is a scary short story available for everyone right now! Link to prize page can be accessed in the tabs below the header.

Twitter Chats

A reminder of our remaining Twitter chats. Please note the time change on Sunday:

Friday from 9:00 to 10:00pm CST 
Sunday from 6:00 to 7:00pm CST

Hope you all enjoy the rest of the read-a-thon! Happy reading!

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Spring into Horror Read-a-Thon - Prize Promotion Page #SpringHorrorRAT

This is the prize promotion page for all the prizes being given away for the read-a-thon.  We have a couple of amazing book prizes donated from some very generous authors and a couple of prizes from me! At the end of this post, you will find details regarding how the prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the read-a-thon.

Note: These fine authors who so generously donated their books would greatly appreciate a review, if you win, on your blog and/or on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you!

This first prize is free for everyone participating in the read-a-thon!



Leave a comment below with your email address if you would like the book and I will email you the download link to get it for free! (available format - ePub)

Numbers 16:32 by Brady Koch
Joseph's Sunday morning routine of church, beer and solitude is interrupted by a ragged screaming coming from the the far side of his farm land. What he finds there will challenge his resolve in ways he hasn't faced since losing his wife or confronting the horrors of the Korean War.

About the author
Brady Koch lives in Aurora, Illinois with his wife and two children. Feel free to read over his shoulder if you see him working on a new novel or short story at the coffee shop, library, or BNSF Metra commuter train into Chicago.

Website: www.BradyKoch.com Twitter: @BradyTheWriter

The Shadow Wolves by Jared Sandman  (1 eCopy - International)
They are the Shadow Wolves, members of an elite unit that defend the border between Mexico and Arizona’s Tohono O’odham Nation. They protect the reservation from both drug traffickers and illegal immigrants alike. The secret to their success is the dark bond they share, for when the full moon blossoms they stalk the desert as creatures of the night. Some call them werewolves, while tribal elders have an older word for them: skinwalkers.

When a former FBI agent joins the team, he’s welcomed “into the pack.” Scout Hemene revels in his newfound abilities, powers that someone like Hector Villalobos would kill to experience.

As leader of Mexico’s most vicious drug cartel, Villalobos wages war to destroy the shapeshifters. The battle not only pits the Shadow Wolves against Hector’s violent gang, it also tests their loyalties to one another.

Which is more powerful, Man or Beast?

WINNER - KATHERINE
Flashback by Jared Sandman  (1 eCopy - International)

LIGHTS!

In the annals of Hollywood cinema, the name Gregory Kincaid is as synonymous with Jack the Ripper as Bela Lugosi to Dracula. He portrayed the infamous serial murderer in half a dozen films, spanning a five-decade career filled with monster movies and sci-fi schlock. Twenty years ago, weary of celebrity’s harsh spotlight, he withdrew from public life, never to be seen again — until now.

CAMERA!

After a wartime accident seriously injures journalist Jenny Pearce, she turns her attention to reporting entertainment news. More comfortable on frontlines than the red carpet, she jumps at the opportunity to track down the notoriously reclusive Kincaid.

ACTION!

The damaged pair forges an unlikely friendship, working together to write the actor’s memoir. Except someone doesn’t want Kincaid’s tell-all all told, somebody who aims to protect secrets best left buried. Fighting for their lives, Kincaid and Pearce are forced to unravel a murder mystery gone unsolved for over seventy years.

About the author
Jared Sandman lives on Florida's Gulf Coast, where he's working on his next novel. Visit his website at JAREDSANDMAN.COM for free stories, updates and discounts, or follow him on Twitter (@JaredSandman).


***********************************

WINNER #1 - KELLIE  WINNER #2 - KIMBERLY
One Two winners will each receive a $5 eGift card from Amazon. (from yours truly!)

Giveaway Details: This is a read-a-thon participant only giveaway. To be eligible, you must sign in at the starting line post when you start to read and complete a wrap-up post at the end and link it here at Seasons of Reading at the official read-a-thon wrap-up post (I will give everyone until Tuesday (5/6) at 11:59pm CST to complete their wrap-up posts). We have a total of 4 prizes (not including the free download for anyone who wants it Numbers 16:32). This means there will be 4 winners. I'm going to do things a bit differently this time and this is only because it takes so long the way I was doing it previously. I'm going to award prizes as they do during Dewey's Read-a-Thon. That means first come, first served. I will draw the four winners with random.org and email all four 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. All eBook prizes will be sent to winner via email - please specify what format you require in your email. Winners will be chosen after the wrap-up post deadline (see above).

Good luck and Happy Reading!

Spring into Horror Read-a-Thon - Starting Line #SpringHorrorRAT

Welcome to the starting line. I know...I'm late!!! Sorry! Are you ready for some scary reading? I hope everyone is not worn out from Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon. It's time to put some scare in our Spring!

Be sure to sign in here, at the beginning, or when you start reading this week. Remember, you do not have to have a blog to join us. You can sign in linking to Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads...wherever you will be updating from. And you don't have to start at the beginning. Start on any day this week, or if you're working all week, join us for the weekend. People can sign in up until Friday night at 11:59pm CST. I'll be stopping by and visiting you so I hope you will have your book piles/reading lists posted. Make sure at least one book is a scary one. Also, a reminder that I do allow children's books. Any books are allowed, as long as one is spooky. In my opinion, it's the quality of what we read that counts, not the quantity so no pressure to read vast amounts, unless you just really, really want to, or you're wired that way (you know who you are!). If you want to read the original sign-up post, you can take a look HERE.

Join us on Twitter using the hashtag #SpringHorrorRAT. We are going to have three Twitter chats this week. I tried to have a good variance of time. Hope one of the slots will work for everyone. Here's the Twitter chat schedule:

Wednesday from 8:00 to 9:00pm CST
Friday from 9:00 to 10:00pm CST 
Sunday from 2:00 to 3:00pm CST  Time change 6:00pm to 7:00pm CST


I will be checking in on Twitter on and off throughout the week too. Just remember to have fun this week. Again, my read-a-thon credo is "a week of relaxed reading during which we can personally challenge ourselves and whittle away those ever looming TBR piles/shelves/libraries." I have done away with mini-challenges so we can focus more on the reading, but please do stop by and visit your fellow read-a-thon-ers if you get a chance...and again, we will also be on Twitter for social interaction. I will also post a mid-week check-in on Thursday so you can share your progress if you like.

PRIZES/GIVEAWAYS

I will have the prize page posted during the day on Monday (or Tuesday) so come back here to find it (Unfortunately, the prizes are slim pickings this time). I will also have easy access links at the top of the blog to the prize page, the sign-in post, etc. 

Okay, I think that's about it. I hope you all have fun this week. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment below, or contact me via the form by clicking the 'contact' tab at the top. I will be posting my updates at my blog, The True Book Addict, so I hope you will stop by and visit me. 

Happy Reading!

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Spring Into Horror Read-a-Thon - Time to Sign Up! #SpringHorrorRAT #readathon

The Spring into Horror Read-a-Thon is almost here! It's coming to put some scare in your Spring on Monday, April 28 at 12:00am CST through Sunday, May 4 at 11:59pm CST (adjust times according to your time zone). Now don't let the word 'horror' scare you away. You only have to read one scary book during the duration of the read-a-thon. However, that book can be horror, paranormal, thriller, mystery, etc. The rest of the read-a-thon, you can read whatever you want. More horror/scary stuff or just your regular reading repertoire. As always, this is a week long read-a-thon, but you can join in and read whenever it's convenient for you. It's all about being laid back and getting some reading done...with a little bit of scary thrown in.

As with all of my read-a-thons, I will not be hosting any mini-challenges. We like to focus on the reading here. However, if anyone else would like to host a mini-challenge, you are more than welcome...just let me know. If you know someone who would like to donate a prize, or authors, if you would like to promote your book through the read-a-thon, please contact me via the contact form in the menu above. We will also have some scheduled Twitter chats. I will announce the times in the starting line post. Our Twitter hashtag is #SpringHorrorRAT

You do not have to have a blog. You can sign up using your Goodreads, Twitter, or Facebook accounts.

If you are planning on joining me, please sign up in the linky below. You don't have to do a post now, but if you would like to help me spread the word, that would be great. (Don't forget that this is just the sign-up linky. There will be starting line sign-in and wrap-up linkies during the read-a-thon and doing both is required to be eligible for the giveaway). You can start any time during the week up until Friday night at midnight CST.

Feel free to grab the button...the code is in the sidebar.

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Spring into Horror Read-a-Thon: Post your wrap-up #SpringHorrorRAT

There's an addendum to this post at the end...just a heads up!

And so we're at the end of another read-a-thon. I hope everyone enjoyed it! I'd like to thank everyone who participated.  I'd also like to thank everyone who donated prizes and Pam at Midnyte Reader for hosting a giveaway. It was a little hectic this time, what with Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon going on Saturday, but it was fun, wasn't it? I'm looking forward to the High Summer Read-a-Thon in July (22 - 28)! How about you?

I'm hosting Sit Down and Write 3, my writing challenge over at Stories Inside starting Wednesday (May 1 - 14). You can work on your novel, short stories, catch up on blogging/reviews. Visit this POST to sign up.

My wrap-up post will be over at The True Book Addict in my update post. I managed to read a bit more than I usually do.

Addendum:  In case you had your eye on the dates for the FrightFall Read-a-Thon in October, which I had originally scheduled for the 7th through the 13th, I have decided to change the dates in light of Dewey's announcement that their October read-a-thon will be on the 12th. I just really don't want them to go on at the same time, as happened this time so I'm changing the dates to September 30 through October 6. I hope everyone is okay with this change.

Add the link to your wrap-up post in the linky below by 10am CST (U.S. time) on Tuesday.  I will start drawing giveaway winners Tuesday afternoon.

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Spring into Horror Read-a-Thon: Prize Promotion Page

This is the prize promotion page for all the prizes being given way for the read-a-thon.  At the end of this post, you will find details regarding how the prizes will be awarded at the end of the read-a-thon.

Note: For anyone who wins one of the books donated by these kind authors (J.L. Murphey and Lisa Hollar), an honest review would be much appreciated.

Zombie Apocalypse by J.L. Murphey (3 2 1 eBooks--International) WINNERS--Melissa, Belinda,
Dr. Donna Cairn is a genetics researcher for the Center of Disease Control. When the CDC issued the Zombie Apocalypse Alert, she discounted it as a way of advertising hurricane preparedness. When a conspiracy buff working with her in the silo speaks to her about the debunked Hapgood theory of Earth Crust Displacement, she again discounts it as just that some wacko, paranoid rambling. But when radiation levels after the Japanese earthquakes starting rising, all bets were off.

Simple dog bite patients are dying from a mysterious fever. Bodies start coming up missing from the morgues across the globe. When the death count reaches over one quarter of the world’s population dying due to this new plague, the CDC sends their best virologist, Kit Seger, to help Donna in her quest of finding the virus in her converted missile silo laboratory in Nebraska.

The dead have risen and hunger for human flesh. She never believed in zombies before, but now she believes in them. Can she and Kit find the cure before mankind becomes extinct? How do you cure people who are already dead? And better yet, how do you kill the dead?

Can it be that Donna’s unborn niece and nephew are the answer? With the earthquakes rumbling, zombies at the gate, and time running out will they find what they are looking for? Man can only hope.

About the author:

I live in Coastal Georgia. Married and have had my soul mate in my life for over twenty years.We have four beautiful daughters and six absolutely wonderful grandchildren.

I've been a published writer for over thirty years. Genres under various pen names include, suspense/thrillers, science fiction, children, southern fiction, nonfiction, Christian nonfiction, and inspiration/motivation nonfiction, and humor. Articles published in various magazines. 

Visit J.L.'s WEBSITE
Available on Smashwords

The Second Wave: A Post-Apocalyptic Tale (short story) by Lisa McCourt Hollar (1 eBook copy--International)

A young woman, Fran, seeks refuge from the cold in an Ohio farmhouse. Wanting to forget the past several months and the horror she has witnessed, she convinces herself that she is safe, at least for the moment. Relaxing and enjoying the winter scene, she falls asleep and wakes to a new nightmare. Soon she learns that what happened at the beginning of the Zombie Apocalypse wasn't the worst of it.

About the author:
I am a mother of 4 beautiful children, wife to the most wonderful man in the world and an author that writes both children's stories and horror short stories. I am currently working on a Vampire novel, but not the kind where they are all fuzzy and warm and don't hurt anyone. My vampires do what vampires do...kill. But that doesn't make them bad.

Visit Lisa: Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Available on Smashwords

Donated by Kai at Fiction State of Mind

Quintessence by David Walton ( One print copy--U.S. only)  Winner--Sarah
Imagine an Age of Exploration full of alchemy, human dissection, sea monsters, betrayal, torture, religious controversy, and magic. In Europe, the magic is thin, but at the edge of the world, where the stars reach down close to the Earth, wonders abound. This drives the bravest explorers to the alluring Western Ocean. Christopher Sinclair is an alchemist who cares only about one thing: quintessence, a substance he believes will grant magical powers and immortality. And he has a ship.

**************

Winner One-- Jane Harfeld
Winner Two--Darlene 

Two International winners will receive the book of their choice under $5 from BetterWorldBooks.com  They have a great selection of bargain and used books and they have free worldwide shipping so finding a book you want under $5 should be a breeze!

**************

Giveaway Details:  This is a read-a-thon participant only giveaway.  To be eligible, you must sign in at the starting line post when you start to read and complete a wrap-up post at the end and link it here at Seasons of Reading at the official read-a-thon wrap-up post (I will give everyone until Tuesday morning, 4/30, at 10am CST to complete their wrap-up posts).  We have a total of 7 prizes.  This means there will be 7 winners. The first winner chosen will get first choice of all prizes listed and I will continue in this manner until all 7 winners are drawn. All eBook prizes will be sent to winner via email (Smashwords coupon code). Winners will be chosen after the wrap-up post deadline (see above).  

Don't forget about the giveaway being hosted by Pam at Midnyte Reader for read-a-thon participants. You can enter that HERE.

Any questions?  Please leave me a comment with your email address.

A big thanks to all who donated prizes! It is greatly appreciated!

Spring into Horror Read-a-Thon: Starting Line #SpringHorrorRAT

Welcome to the starting line! Be sure to sign in here, at the beginning, or when you start reading this week. Remember, you do not have to have a blog to join us. You can sign in linking to Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads...wherever you will be updating from. And you don't have to start at the beginning. Start on any day this week, or if you're working all week, join us for the weekend. People can sign in up until Friday night at 11:59pm CST. I'll be stopping by and visiting you so I hope you will have your book piles/reading lists posted. Make sure at least one book is a scary one. Also, a reminder that I allow children's books for those of you who have kids...with one condition...five picture books equal one novel. Sound fair? Middle grade novels can count as one book.

Join us on Twitter using the hashtag #SpringHorrorRAT. We are going to have four Twitter chats this week. I tried to have a good variance of time. Hope one of the slots will work for everyone. Here's the Twitter chat schedule:

Wednesday from 3:30 to 4:30pm CST
Friday from 7:00 to 8:00pm CST
Saturday from 8:00 to 9:00pm CST 
Sunday from 1:00 to 2:00pm CST

I will be checking in on Twitter on and off throughout the week too. Just remember to have fun this week. Again, my read-a-thon credo is "a week of relaxed reading during which we can personally challenge ourselves and whittle away those ever looming TBR piles/shelves/libraries." I have done away with mini-challenges so we can focus more on the reading, but please do stop by and visit your fellow read-a-thon-ers if you get a chance...and again, we will also be on Twitter for social interaction.  

PRIZES/GIVEAWAYS

I will have the prize page posted during the day on Monday so come back here to find it.  I will also have easy access links at the top of the blog.  Pam at Midnyte Reader will also be hosting a giveaway at her blog. I will provide the link below when her giveaway is live.

Midnyte Reader Giveaway  LIVE NOW!

Okay, I think that's about it. I hope you all have fun this week. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment below. I will be posting my updates at my blog, The True Book Addict, so stop by and visit me. Happy Reading!

SIGN IN HERE:

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Spring into Horror--Help! I need prize donations.

Hi everyone! I'd like to thank those who have already signed up. It looks like we're going to have a pretty good turn out this time around, although maybe not as many as the winter read-a-thon. I think the word horror scares people away. ;O) Anyway, on to the task at hand. I have had no success this time in getting any prize donations from authors as I usually do. Of course, I will give away something, as I usually do, but I can't afford much and if that's all there is...well, you know...that kinda bites for you all. So, if you know of any authors who might be willing to donate a book for a prize, or if you could help spread the word, I would really appreciate it. I do a nice prize promo page that showcases the author and their work so it does give publicity to them, plus puts their book in one more reader's hands that will probably review it on their blog.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. One more week and we'll be getting our scare on. Woot!

Spring into Horror Read-a-Thon: Time to Sign Up!!!

As scheduled almost a year ago, the Spring into Horror Read-a-Thon is almost here! It's coming to put some scare in your Spring on Monday, April 22 at 12:00am CST through Sunday, April 28 at 11:59pm CST (adjust times according to your time zone). Now don't let the word 'horror' scare you away. You only have to read one scary book during the duration of the read-a-thon. However, that book can be horror, paranormal, thriller, mystery, etc. The rest of the read-a-thon, you can read whatever you want. More horror/scary stuff or just your regular reading repertoire. As always, this is a week long read-a-thon, but you can join in and read whenever it's convenient for you. It's all about being laid back and getting some reading done...with a little bit of scary thrown in.

I will not be hosting any mini-challenges, as we learned from my last few read-a-thons, focusing on the reading rocks. However, if anyone else would like to host a mini-challenge, you are more than welcome...just let me know. If you know someone who would like to donate a prize, or authors, if you would like to promote your book through the read-a-thon, please contact me at truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom. We will also have a few scheduled Twitter chats again. I will announce the times in the starting line post. Our Twitter hashtag is #SpringHorrorRAT

You do not have to have a blog. You can sign up using your Goodreads, Twitter, or Facebook accounts.

If you are planning on joining me (I hope so), please sign up in the linky below. You don't have to do a post now, but if you would like to help me spread the word, that would be great. (Don't forget that this is just the sign-up linky. There will be starting line sign-in and wrap-up linkies during the read-a-thon and doing both is required to be eligible for the giveaway). You can start any time during the week up until Friday night at midnight CST.

Feel free to grab the button at the top of the post.

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