I participated in my first Instagram challenge in August - the Ladies of Horror Fiction Challenge – hosted by Bark’s Book Nonsense, Book Den, Sci-Fi & Scary, The Misadventures of a Reader, @findingmontauk1, @book.happy, and @tracy_reads79.
I used to read a lot of horror when I was in HS and I love anything creepy. So a chance to to dig up the horror books languishing on TBR pile and pull out the creepy photo props was too good to ignore.
I didn’t have nearly enough horror books for every day of the month but it was a lot of fun and brought on a few weird moments.
Like... walking through my yard with a hatchet, knife and scissors - trying not to impale myself, calling my husband at work and asking him to bring a heavy, rusty chain home from work. Him asking where I was going shopping and me answering – I need to look for blood splatters, walking through a meditation park with a bag of doll heads and skeleton hands lol
The event was so successful that they now have an official website with a database of female authors of horror fiction called The Ladies of Horror Fiction Directory. Be sure to check it out (or add your name if you're an author). They also have New Release, Latest News, Podcasts pages and more.
I’ve only read the Anna Dressed in Blood duology (ghosts), The Hallowed Ones duology (vampires), and Sunshine (vampire) so far but I highly recommend all three.
August Reading Wrap-Up:
I read 13 books – which is about average for me.
112 books read for 2018 so far and have tackled over 10 ALA18 books!!!
The Best of August!
The Wicked King by Holly Black. It’s WAY too early to review this one (it comes out in January) but I may do a teaser post or something soon. But OMFGAWD!!! It’s worth the wait.
Team Phison by Verity Chase – so adorable, sweet and a little funny. Review
Finding Yvonne by Brandy Colbert – I felt like this very realistic portrayal of teens when things don’t go as planned in life. I think it will help a lot of young girls who need it. Review
The Pursuit of Happiness by Courtney Milan – well done historical M/M romance that tackled diifcult dynamics with deft touch. Review
September TBR!
I have no idea what I’ll be reading. I haven’t been in the mood to read since finishing The Wicked King so we’ll see – but these are the September releases I have. Big variety to choose from so I should find something appeals to me.
What does your September reading look like?
Oh I love your pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary! They were so much fun to do.
DeleteLOL, love the creepy pics ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks. I knew this was the right photo challenge for me lol
DeleteThe last two pics are especially good LOL. Calling your husband at work and asking for a chain? Just average stuff...😂
ReplyDeleteWhat's funnier is that we had the chain at home lol He's like - it's in the giant mettle box but it's old and rusty and I'm like...PERFECT! lol
DeleteAnd it's even weirder that he doesn't even ask why I need these things anymore lol
Oh I love those pictures! I'm a big Halloween fan but I actually don't like horror films. I watched a few of the popular ones when I was a teenager and my friends were all into them but nah, they aren't for me. I prefer documentaries about haunted places around the world. Not the reality show ones that are all the rage right now but like the ones on the Travel channel that talk about the famous ghosts of Scotland or in London. I love those.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of horror films like Saw and those kinds of things but I like creepy stuff.
DeleteI like those travel channel shows too.
I watched a lot of horror in high school, but never embraced reading it, and now, all I want to read is fluff. Your pictures are really great! You have some great props there. I really enjoyed both Sadie and Pride, and I heard only amazing things about A Heart in a Body in the World.
ReplyDeleteI watch some horror because of my husband - I'm more of a dark/assassin type horror girl. lots of carnage but I'm not into the Saw/serial killer/torture kind of horror movies.
DeleteA Heart in the Body of the World just came from the publisher. I hadn't heard of it before but I used to read Caletti all the time.
I loved all your horror photos on Instagram. And really, if people watch someone taking bookstagram photos without knowing what's going on, they might be a bit confused. LOL Ooh, Sadie!! I hear good things. I hope you liked it. I'm almost finished with Dear Evan Hansen and then the books I have will be going back to you!!!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
All I can say is - thank god i have a fenced yard or somemone might have called the cops on me lol
DeleteOh! Let me know what you thought of them all.
Your pictures turned out great- such a fun idea! I especially love the one with the chain, so good call asking for it ha. I keep regretting not reading The Wicked King now, ugh. I didn't really liked Cruel Prince, but now I hear SO many good things about TWK! Sadie was quite good, I hope you enjoy that! Pride looks really good too. Hope you have an awesome September!
ReplyDeleteI didn't LOVE The Cruel Prince but I was intrigued enough to read this one and it did have some lulls but it's a much more mature story and some stuff is just WHOA.
DeleteYour stories about the instagram props are fantastic, haha. But the photos came out great! I'm not a very big horror fan myself. I scare easily lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I try to use what I have laying around (or $1 props) for my pics so it leads to some interesting conversations with Kevin lol
DeleteI liked horror movies and books as a kid, but I definitely stay away from them now!(lol) I have a friend who watches horror movies and the gorier the better.Ugh(lol) My reading this past month was definitely more thriller related with a little romance and nonfiction. Happy Tuesday and Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteI hardly ever get scared with horror movies. Somewhere in my brain I know they're fake. Creepy movies with less gore tend to scare me more. The thought of something rather than it happening I guess.
DeleteI have books to read and school starts back up ...so busy again . Glad that all the kids are back on schedule.
ReplyDeleteEveryone gets so excited about summer but when fall rolls around they're ready for school again lol
DeleteGood job in the IG challenge! So happy you loved The Wicked King. Now only 6 months to wait for it lol! Enjoy your September reads!
ReplyDeleteYeah & 1 year and 6 months for the third for me. The down sound of reading so early.
DeleteI was laughing over your Instagram challenge story about the chain. I'll bet he didn't even blink when you asked about a rusty chain. They get used to us after a few years.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics by the way.
From what I've heard, that Holly Black series is too addictive to hold onto a book and not read it. :)
Nice haul. I saw Kim's review on Sadie and it sounded superb.
Happy September, Karen!
He doesn't even question it anymore. The most he'll say is - Is this for a book thing? lol
DeleteAddictive is a good word for the Holly Black series. There are things I don't love about it but I can't stop reading!
I loved that Carrie Ryan series when I first read it! The Replacement has been on my TBR for quite a while also! I'm STILL holding onto Wicked King! I'll read it a little closer, but waiting is so hard!
ReplyDeleteHere are my Top Ten!
I let my friend read TWK first and my plan was to wait until closer till January myself but then I caved lol
DeleteI bet it would've been funny for any in the park to watch you with the chain and skeleton hands! Probably thought you might be in need of a little help. I loved Sunshine, but I read it a million years ago. I need to read the second book of The Hallowed Ones. Anna Dressed in Blood was good, but the second book ruined the series for me. Oh well. Now is starting the season where horror books just feel right. Great post, Karen! :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, it's a meditation park with all these calm sitting areas and plaques lol
DeleteI read Sunshine before I started blogging! I should reread it.
Well did he bring you home a rusty chain? Sounds like you really got spooked. I loved The Hallowed Ones series. It was so good!
ReplyDeleteWe had one in the garage!! lol
DeleteHoly shit, imagine if the neighbours had of seen that! My neighbours would have been screaming murder. Gosh those are some stunning photos though Karen ♡ I loved Anna Dressed in Blood, such a brilliant read. I've still yet to read the Holly Black series despite so many people having recommended it. I need to clear a backlog of review copies and start fresh with all the reads I've missed over the new year ♡
ReplyDeleteFencing makes good neighbors as they say lol
DeleteThey probably would have called the cops on my otherwise!
EEEP I HOPE YOU READ SADIE NEXT!!! I absolutely loved it--it was heart-breaking and important. And omg at your IG story! I would have flipped out if I saw that! 😂
ReplyDeleteI'm probably going to read it next week. I need a few fluffy reads before I tackle that one. I hear it's intense.
DeleteI have Sadie on my audiobook list, and beyond that my September is up to fate, whatever I want. I am looking forward to reading some creepy books for Fall as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm cruising through my books right now so that's great. It's hard when you're a mood reader but I've got an eclectic mix to choose from.
DeleteI love the idea of horror books but a lot fall flat for me. I love the event and your dedication to the cause. Haha.
ReplyDeleteI need to know what's in The Wicked King that's making people freak out. I probably won't read it until November.
I've for the audio of Sadie and the production is fantastic!
Most fall flat for me too. they aren't as scary as they think they are.
DeleteLove your IG pics! Those are some creepy covers... and props. :) It’s obvious you put some effort into those. Your comments about The Wicked King have me sooo ready for January! Gah!
ReplyDeleteNot sure how my September reading will go... we move this weekend so the next few weeks will be filled with unpacking and settling in.
Moving can put a big dent in reading time :-(
DeleteTWK - OMG is all I will say on that lol
Oh that's too funny! You did a great job :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! It was a fun challenge to do.
DeleteThose are some fantastic photos! I try to read mostly horror and thrillers starting in August to lead up to October, but I also have books I have to read for bookstore book clubs and events, but I am making time for The Anonymous Girl arc right now. :) Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteI don't read hardly any horror anymore and the only reason is that I got too caught up in review books.
DeleteI'm better at balancing now so hopefully I'll get more in.
I still haven't read The Cruel Prince... Maybe that should form part of September's reading plans? Get myself ready for book 2. 🙂
ReplyDeleteI'm terrbter at planning reading. I have a few arcs to read but beyond that I have no idea.
I like horror inspired insta photos!