What's in a name?

A Final Wrap-Up

2009-01-01T19:05:00.003-05:00

Thank you to everyone who participated this year, and I hope that you had fun reading. I also hope you're all joining me for What's In a Name 2!

As a final goodbye, I had random.org choose a winner from those of you who commented on the previous post. The winner is: BeastMomma! Could you please e-mail me at rdagmstevens (at) frontiernet (dot) net and let me know what e-mail address you'd like me to send your gift certificate to?

Thanks again everyone!

finishing up, and starting over

2008-10-26T12:45:00.002-04:00

I can't believe how quickly this year has gone by! And as the year comes to an end, so does the What's in a Name? challenge. But there is one more prize to be given out. I will be drawing the name of one person who has completed the challenge (don't worry, you still have until the end of the year). To be eligible, simply leave a note in the comments on this post letting me know that you read all six books, and tell me which one was your favorite. (I know many of you have already told me that you finished, but you must leave a comment on this post to be entered in the drawing.)

Okay, that's the finishing up, but what's the starting over? Well, that would be What's In A Name 2! Yes, I'm going to be hosting round 2 in 2009. Click that link to head over to the new blog and check out the new categories. Hope you'll all be joining in again!

Thanks so much to everyone who participated!

yes, I'm still alive

2008-10-26T11:07:00.000-04:00

Sorry to have disappeared for so long, but I'm finally here to announce the winner of the previous contest...Somer! Congrats!

Again, I apologize for getting so far behind!

I'll be back soon with some new announcements...

another winner, another contest

2008-07-07T19:18:00.002-04:00

And the winner of June's contest is: tinylittlelibrarian! Congratulations! (I'll be contacting you shortly to get your address.)

And for July's contest. Another category question. Animals, this time. What is you all-time favorite animal character? It can be real, fictional, talking, believable, whatever.

What's In a Name II

2008-06-16T12:26:00.005-04:00

A few people have been asking if there's going to be a What's In a Name Challenge II. I'm happy to say that there definitely will be! When it's closer to time for the new challenge to start, I'll explain it a little more and have a post for sign-ups. It will be much the same as this year's challenge, but with all new categories! Hope you all will be joining in again!

Who's the winner this time?

2008-06-03T20:40:00.005-04:00

Sorry I'm being such a bad challenge host and am late pulling a winner again. But better late then never! The winner this time is Kreed! Congratulations!

I bet you can all guess what June's contest is...you have to have read three books from this challenge! Be sure to comment and list which categories you've read! Good luck!

May's contest and April's winner

2008-05-01T13:37:00.002-04:00

The winner for last month's contest is... Beastmomma! Congratulations!

(Beastmomma, could you please send your name and address to rdagmstevens at frontiernet dot net)

Now for May's contest! The question for this month is a Weather question: What is your favorite type of weather to read in? For example: I like to read on the couch during snowstorms and thunderstorms.

Good luck and have fun!

March's winner, and a new contest

2008-04-07T13:31:00.003-04:00

Did you think I forgot about March's contest? If so, you were right! But better late than never, I drew a winner. And guess who won--my dad! And I promise it wasn't rigged. Thanks to everyone who participated--I really loved reading all the answers!

Now, for April. We're back to getting our books read. To be entered for a chance to win this month, you just need to have read at least 2 of your books by the end of the month and leave a comment on this post saying which categories you have completed.

Hope you are all enjoying your books! I'm enjoying your reviews!

March's Contest!

2008-03-05T09:47:00.002-05:00

The question for this month's contest is related to the place category.

Have you ever read a book set in a certain place that inspired you to later visit that place?

Simply answer this question in the comments by the end of March and your name will be entered in a drawing for this month's prize.

An update on February's contest

2008-03-03T09:28:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I haven't forgotten February's contest. I have drawn a winner, but I'm waiting until he/she gets back to me to announce it.

I'm so excited that almost everyone has read and reviewed at least one book for this challenge. I'm sorry to say that I am not one of those people. I have read one, but I haven't reviewed it yet!

A new contest

2008-02-12T13:33:00.001-05:00

The contest for February is simply to have read and reviewed at least one of your books by the end of the month. We will be checking all of the category posts and comments for reviews, but in case we somehow miss someone, could you please comment here to be entered in the drawing. Have fun reading!

And the winner is...

2008-02-01T13:17:00.001-05:00

Stephanie of Stephanie's Confessions of a Book-a-Holic! Congratulations, Stephanie! Can you email your address to rdagmstevens (at) frontiernet (dot) net?

Thanks, everyone who participated in this contest! It was so much fun reading the answers! It's amazing how few people have read books containing characters who share their names. The Magic Tree House books I read when I was younger had a character named Annie.

February's contest will be announced shortly.

Thanks for signing up, everyone! It's so exciting to see how many people are participating!

January Contest

2008-01-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

Do you remember how I said there would be little prizes throughout the challenge? Here is your chance to win the first one! You don't even have to have read one of your books yet, if that's what you're thinking. All you have to do is answer this question related to our First Name Category.

Have you ever read a book in which the main character had the same first name as you? If so, was that character anything like you?

Just answer the question in the comments and your name will be entered in a drawing at the end of the month.

Place Title Reviews

2008-01-02T10:04:00.001-05:00

This is the post for the PLACE CATEGORY. By your name, in parentheses, add the title of your book. *Example: Annie (Daughter of Venice)* Please leave the address that links to your review. If you don't have a blog, feel free to write thoughts on your book in the comments.

Weather Event Title Reviews

2008-01-01T08:39:00.000-05:00

This is the post for the WEATHER EVENT CATEGORY. By your name, in parentheses, add the title of your book. *Example: Annie (Snow-Walker)* Please leave the address that links to your review. If you don't have a blog, feel free to write thoughts on your book in the comments.

First Name Title Reviews

2007-12-30T08:34:00.000-05:00

This is the post for the FIRST NAME CATEGORY. By your name, in parentheses, add the title of your book. *Example: Annie (Anne of Green Gables)* Please leave the address that links to your review. If you don't have a blog, feel free to write thoughts on your book in the comments.

Plant Title Reviews

2007-12-29T09:16:00.001-05:00

This is the post for the PLANT CATEGORY. By your name, in parentheses, add the title of your book. *Example: Annie (Mossflower)* Please leave the address that links to your review. If you don't have a blog, feel free to write thoughts on your book in the comments.

Color Title Reviews

2007-12-28T08:47:00.001-05:00

This is the post for the COLOR CATEGORY. By your name, in parentheses, add the title of your book. *Example: Annie (The Red Pony)* Please leave the address that links to your review. If you don't have a blog, feel free to write thoughts on your book in the comments.

Animal Title Reviews

2007-12-27T14:55:00.002-05:00

This is the post for the ANIMAL CATEGORY. By your name, in parentheses, add the title of your book. *Example: Annie (Julie of the Wolves)* Please leave the address that links to your review. If you don't have a blog, feel free to write thoughts on your book in the comments.

Just some new info...

2007-12-27T14:48:00.000-05:00

Over the next few days, I am going to try to set up a separate post for each of the categories. Each post will have a Mr. Linky so everyone can link their reviews.

Note: This is only if Mom and I can figure out the Mr. Linkys!

Be sure to check back over the next few weeks for announcements about upcoming contests!

Introducing...

2007-12-13T10:53:00.000-05:00

I've decided to set up a blog just for the What's in a Name? Challenge. I didn't know that so many people would sign up, so I decided to create a separate blog for challenge info.

I listed all of the participants on the sidebar. Please check to make sure I didn't miss you, or tell me if I got your name wrong! Please check back often to read about contests and things like that. I will be setting up a separate post for each category so you can link up your reviews!

Below is the original post from my blog stating the guidelines for the challenge:

Up for a challenge?

I hope you answered "yes!" and that you'll join me in my reading challenge! I've been wanting to host a reading challenge for a while now, and finally decided to just take the plunge. Be patient with me though, since I've never done this before, o.k.?

This is a challenge that anyone can join, no matter what types of books they like to read. You should be able to find books from any genre that will work.

I'm sorry I don't have a banner for the challenge. I just don't know how to make one.
Update: Thanks to Court, we now have a couple of buttons to choose from. They're wonderful! Thank you, Court!

Update: Angela has also created some great buttons you might like. Find them at her icon journal. Thanks, Angela!

"What's In A Name?" Reading Challenge

Dates: January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008

The Challenge: Choose one book from each of the following categories.

1. A book with a color in its title. Examples might include: The Amber Spyglass, The Red Pony, Blue Blood

2. A book with an animal in its title. Examples might include: The Hound of the Baskervilles, To Kill a Mockingbird, Julie of the Wolves

3. A book with a first name in its title. Examples might include: Jane Eyre, the Harry Potter books, Anne of Green Gables

4. A book with a place in its title. Examples might include: From Russia with Love, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Out of Africa

5. A book with a weather event in its title. Examples might include: The Snows of Kilimanjaro, Red Storm Rising, Tornado Alley

6. A book with a plant in its title. Examples might include: Where the Red Fern Grows, The Name of the Rose, Flowers for Algernon

--You may overlap books with other challenges, but please don't use the same book for more than one category. (For example, you can use The Red Pony for either a "color" book or an "animal" book, but not for both.)

Prizes: Yes. There will be some small prizes (unless someone can convince my parents to raise my allowance!) awarded throughout the challenge, and a larger grand prize at the end. More details about this later.

To join in, simply leave a comment on this post with a link your list. I will post a list of participants here as they sign up.

Once the challenge has begun, I'll make a new post where I will link up everyone's reviews.

See, isn't this easy? Just six books in one year!

Have I left anything out? If so, please feel free to ask!
Answers to questions:
1. You don't need a blog to participate. Just put your list in the comments, and I'll post it here.
2. Feel free to change your list throughout the year, if something new pops up that fits the category.