Characters Who Celebrate Christmas In the Story {reading challenge}

Holiday Baking

It's the week of Thanksgiving here in America, and that means I'm busy baking and cooking up a storm. I finally decided on the new recipes I'll be trying. I've been told holidays are not the times to test out new-to-me recipes, but I beg to differ. I've only come across a couple of duds over the years, and thankfully they were ones I taste tested before sharing... which means I didn't share those couple of things. But I've found some really great dishes over the holidays through my teens and twenties. Now that I'm in my thirties, I feel like it's practically tradition for me to try something new for Thanksgiving and Christmas and sometimes even New Year's Day.

Characters Who... Have Children

November always reminds me of family.

The whole holiday time of the year does, really. Between buying and wrapping Christmas presents and planning for what I'll make for Thanksgiving, my family members are constantly on my mind and in my prayers. While I think I'm nearly done with Christmas shopping already, I'm nowhere near ready to bake yet. I know I'm making my practically famous (non-alcoholic) eggnog and always-requested sweet potato casserole. I just haven't figured out what my other one or two dishes will be. I like to try new recipes some years, while others are better for tried-and-true things. It's a little hard to tell yet which type of year this is.

If you have any simple holiday recipes, please feel free to share in the comments section.

The reading challenge for November will be in the tradition of family. Any book in which a character has children will count. It can be a children's book or a grown-up book, nonfiction or make-believe. The person who has the children could be a daddy or a mommy. It could be a grandparent raising their grandchildren. It could be a foster parent or surrogate parent.

Characters Who Are... Chased!

Since October is often thought of for Halloween and scary movies, our reading challenge for the month will take on as much of a creepy vibe as you like. That can be little (or none) or much. It's truly up to you. The theme is...

The character could be in a car chase...

... or chased by a dog... 

... or chased by a stalker... 

Characters Who Are... Pastors or Teachers

Back to school time means that it's time to think about those who lead us. Pastors and teachers carry significant responsibilities in our communities, and reading about them is just one way of honoring them. So whether you pick up a fictional story about a pastor or teacher or a nonfiction book written by a church leader or anything in between that pays tribute to pastors or teachers, those books all count for September's reading challenge.

Characters Who... Travel {reading challenge}

We're approaching another month, and that means we're stepping into a new reading challenge.

Summer often brings vacations, which means travel. For August's challenge, we'll be reading books in which the characters travel someplace. It may be domestic or international travel. It doesn't necessarily have to be a vacation for the character. It may also be travel for work or to help out a family member who lives somewhere different than the character who does the traveling.

Please remember to share with us where they traveled when you post your books.

Let's talk vacations now.

(And yes, I want to hear from you in the comments.)

Characters Who Are... Food Industry Professionals

Hello, friends! It's time for another reading challenge.

This one was requested by Rebekah Morris, one of my writing buddies and a frequent participant of Writing to Inspire's reading challenges. Thanks for the idea, Rebekah!

Ready?

For July, we'll be reading books that feature characters who are food industry professionals. This includes bakers, chefs, restaurant owners/managers, etc. It does NOT include parents baking/cooking for their children, spouses baking/cooking for their significant others, etc. They have to be earning money for their talents in the food industry.

The character can be a lead or supporting cast member. Just let us know what type of food industry professional the person is.

Characters Who... Get Married in the Story

For June's reading challenge, we'll be getting in the mood for weddings!

This month, we'll be reading stories in which weddings take place. They could be traditional church weddings, destination weddings, outdoor weddings, beach weddings... The list really could be limitless. Have fun with it!

Remember to share what type of wedding it was (see above list for examples) when you post your books.

Happy wedding hunting... er, reading!

Characters Who... Serve in the United States Military

While watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs, I've been thinking about those courageous men and women who serve in our military. Before every hockey game in the post-season, the National Anthem of the United States is played (as well as Canada's when a Canadian team is playing that particular game). During those moments, as I stand at home with my right hand over my heart and sing my salute to my God, country, and team, I contemplate the freedoms I live with each day and the high cost to other people that these liberties require.

This challenge is my thank-you to the men and women who have served the United States, including those who have perished so that I might live in a country of great freedom.

For May 2019, read books that feature at least one person who serves in the United States military.

Characters Who... Own or Work in a Small Shop

Another month is coming, and you know what that means: A new reading challenge!

This time, we'll be reading books that are near and dear to my heart -- ones that feature folks who either own or work in small shops. These could be bookshops (my favorite type of shop!), flower shops, mom-and-pop grocery stores, etc.

As in previous months this year, it doesn't necessarily have to be the leading character who owns/works in the small shop. It could be their best friend's neighbor's mother-in-law who only shows up in one tiny scene.

When you post your books, please let us know the character's name and what type of small shop they owned or worked in.

Characters Who Are... Artists or Musicians

Thanks to Hannah Gridley for inspiring this month's reading challenge.

I love getting ideas for new challenges, so if anyone has something they'd like me to incorporate at some point, feel free to leave me a comment about it.

So, March's reading challenge will be to read books that feature... 

Whether they are leading or supporting characters, if they are artists or musicians, their stories count.

Characters Who Are... Writers

This year, we're in for some fun reading challenges that will hopefully help us find some new favorites. Please post ideas in the comments, as other readers might need assistance in finding books that fit into the categories.

February's reading challenge is to read books in which characters are writers.

They may be lead characters or part of the supporting cast.

The type of writer may vary, from a novelist to a journalist to a diary or letter writer.

The books may be short, long, fiction, or nonfiction.