2015 Challenges & Events!

     Yesterday I gave a little hint about some blog Events that I'm going to be participating in this year.  Well, here is where you'll read alllllllllll about them.

     I'm participating in a couple of Reading Challenges, a Blog Organization Challenge, & participating in ARC Tours.  Whaaaaat?!  So excited!  

2015 Reading Challenge

     I found this on Pinterest, but it was originally posted (to my knowledge) on Popsugar.  The purpose of this challenge is to get me to explore books outside of my usual bubble, and to read as much as I can.  I'm super excited about a few of these! 

      (PS - Here is the banned books list!) 

     Also, PopSugar has a printable for you!  I tried to include one here, but Blogger & I had a disagreement about how that should work.  Go to this page, and the article has a "Download our Printable" link.  That will open up a file for you & all you have to do is hit Print.  I already have mine hanging on my wall! (Pro tip: it's easier to read if printed in B&W)

Alexa <3’s Books Flights of Fantasy Challenge

     I found this challenge through another book blogger (on Twitter too!), and am really excited about it!  In case you didn't know, I'm a huge fan of fantasy (I'm going to consider paranormal & fantasy sub genres of each other for this challenge, just fyi).

     Here is the gist of how the challenge works & how to participate (literally copied from the page on her blog, which you should visit because it's awesome & beautiful):

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

• Challenge yourself to read a certain number of fantasy books. Share your challenge number in a comment below, a post on your blog or even a tweet!
• On the last Sunday of each month, we'll be sharing our personal updates on the challenge. We'll be including a Linky, just in case you decide to do the same. (This is optional!)
• As mentioned, we will have giveaways! If you want to gain bonus entries for the giveaways, read any (or even all!) of our favorite fantasy books listed below:
• Joint Favorites: Throne of Glass, Harry Potter, Fire and Thorns, Snow Like Ashes, Queen of the Tearling
• Alexa's Favorites: Eon, Daughter of the Forest, The Elemental Trilogy, Song of the Lioness, The Hobbit
• Rachel's Favorites: The Grisha Trilogy, Harper Hall Trilogy, The Fever series, The Winner's Curse, Graveling

     I am challenging myself to 15 fantasy reads this year.  I don't think I'll be able to do a post on the last Sunday of each month like on their blog, BUT I definitely be posting and updating on my personal progress.

     I will be posting about it on Twitter, under the tag: #flightsoffantasy.  Feel free to follow me on there (@VWalkerViews)

Note: I'm going to be doubling up on challenges for both of the above events (i.e.: a book I read might meet more than one requirement for the Reading Challenge & could work as one of my 15 fantasy reads).

The Book Addict's Guide: Blog Organization Challenge

     I found this challenge, hosted by The Book Addict's Guide, the other night while scrolling through Twitter (I recently started following her on Twitter & she's awesome).  I had just finished putting together my own Blog Binder & was posting a picture of the binder to Twitter and then her post about her Blog Organization Challenge popped up.  Talk about fate.
    You can read about the Challenge here; I hope will help me really get this Blog organized!
    I'm going to post about the Challenge at least once a month (as my schedule allows - I can't say it will be the same week or weekend every month), and will write up a short note about how the Challenge is coming along.

Here is the V.Walker's Views & Reviews Blog Binder that I made the other night!  I'll be updating it & my first Blog Organization Challenge post will be about the binder!  Look for it soon!

And the last event (for now), but certainly not the least...

The Book Addict’s Guide ARC Tour(s)!

(ARC = advanced reader copy)

     This is a really great blog, and I found them through Twitter (and to think, I used to hate Twitter) and was able to sign up for the ARC Tour just in time.

     As one Brittany (one of the awesome bloggers) was kind enough to clarify for me, the ARC Tour is a way for authors to share their books with readers. The readers can then post a review on Amazon or Goodreads or their own blogs, but a review isn't necessary.  

     They just want to spread the love, which I think is awesome.  Keep checking their blog for new ARC Tours - you don't have to be a blogger to participate!!

     The first Tour that I’m participating in is for The Start of Me and You, by Emery Lord, which is going to be released on 03/31/15.  Since the book is physically mailed from one person to the next, I'm not sure when I'll be posting my review, but I'm really excited to read this book!  I really do love YA novels, even if people think I'm crazy.  To quote Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren from Orange is the New Black, "I'm not crazy, I'm unique!"

   I hope that you guys participate in the Reading Challenge(s) of your choice this year!  Make a promise to do more reading...it opens up worlds that you never even dreamed of.  And I want to hear all about your reading experiences, so feel free to comment on this post or on future posts! 

xo