cybilschallengebuttonI’m very excited to announce that I’m kicking off a new challenge for 2010 (plus one month in 2009).  The  Cybils Award Challenge is where participants are encouraged to read from The Cybils Award nominees for the given year.

Please note that this challenge is in no way endorsed by or affiliated with the actual Cybils Awards or it’s organizers. This concept was born of a personal challenge I made for myself that others expressed interest in participating in as well.

Below I’ve outlined how the challenge will work but I’ve also created a separate challenge blog (that I encourage you to subscribe to) where there will be updates and fun features throughout the course of the challenge. So let me get to the particulars:

How Will It Work?

  • Challenge will run from December 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010
  • Anyone can join, you don’t have to blog to play along
  • Challengers can choose to participate in as many of the categories listed below as they want
  • Challengers may not mix books from across multiple categories
  • Challengers do not need to construct a reading list just decide as you go however the mood strikes you
  • Challengers may participate at any of the levels indicated below
  • All books used as part of the challenge must be from the 2009 reading lists linked below
  • Books read can overlap with other challenges you are participating in
  • Challengers can read in any format (ie: audio, e-book, print)

Categories

Levels of Participation

  • Categorically Speaking – choose to read all books in a category
  • Halfway There – choose to read 50% of books in a category
  • Rule of Fours – choose to read 1/4 or 3/4 of books in a category
  • Pick A Number – choose to read a specific number of books in a category
  • Shorties Rule – choose to read books in a specific short list (finalists will be publicized Jan 1, 2010)

Fun Stuff

As part of the fun there will be author interviews, guest posts, giveaways and a grand prize drawing for a $100 gift card to Borders Books.

To qualify for entry in the drawing a challenger must choose the “Categorically Speaking” level of participation, must complete all books within that category and must post a review of each either on a blog, a social networking site or bookstore site (ie: Amazon, B&N, Borders or some other store you may affiliate with). Ultimately you must provide to me some sort of tangible review in order for it to count towards completion of your entry to the giveaway drawing.

Sign up

Interested in participating? Hop on over to the Sign Up page and add your name to the Mr. Linky. Challengers can join in at any time during the year there is no deadline for participation.