Sunday, December 5, 2010

2011 Show Me The Free Challenge

Quick Question. How many of you have some type of e-Reader? Raise your hand.

Wow... that is a lot of you! Okay, next question. How many of you have downloaded a countless amount of FREE e-books? And before you ask, NO, I'm not talking about illegally downloading books. What I'm talking about are the free e-books offered by Amazon or Barnes and Noble for your e-reading device.

I have two e-readers, so I totally get it. Collecting e-books is fun; especially if it is offered to you for Free.  But how many times do we actually get around to reading those wonderfully free books? Well, here is your chance! Presenting the 2011 Show Me The Free Reading Challenge.
Here is how it works:
  • Should you choose to participate in this challenge, your goal is to read at least twelve (12) legally obtained e-books which you got for FREE for your e-reading device. While twelve is the minimum there is no maximum limit.
  • Anyone can join. You don't have to be a blogger, and you don't have to live in the United States. 
  • Any E-Reader will work for this challenge, including: iPad, Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony Reader, enTourage. 
  • Please Note: If you don't have an e-reading device, you can still join in with Amazon's Free Kindle Reading Apps which you can download for your iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC, Blackberry and more.
  • The challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. You can join at anytime.
  • e-books in ANY genre count for this challenge as long as it was FREE at the time that you downloaded it.
  • Every month in 2011, I will make a post for the Show Me The Free Reading Challenge so you can link your reviews. 
  • Those that link their reviews will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a different prize each month, such as an Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card, a bookmark, or a GelaSkins for your E-Reader. Winners will be announced at the end of each month.
Challenge Guidelines:
  • If you blog, create a post announcing your participation in the challenge. Please include a link back to this post.
  • Non blogger must publish reviews on some type of public domain such as Goodreads, Shelfari, LibraryThing, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble to enter the monthly giveaway.
  • When you post your book review, you MUST say how you obtained the free read. Please make your source clear.
  • You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them.
  • Crossovers to other reading challenges is acceptable, but galley e-books DO NOT count. Again, this is a Reading Challenge to read as many of the FREE e-books legally offered for your e-reader. To get started, check out the Top 100 Free books on Amazon, or the Free e-books on Barnes & Noble. 
  • Any linked reviews that do not meet the guidelines will not be entered into the monthly drawing for the prize of the month. 
Levels:
Coupon Clipper: 12 Books
Penny Pincher: 24 Books
Super Saver: 30+ Books

Sign Up:
Visit this post to sign up for the challenge:
2011 Show Me The FREE Challenge Sign Up and Buttons.

I really hope this challenge turns out to be fun for those that want to participate. I'm new at hosting reading challenges, so if I missed something, please let me know. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to e-mail me. 
Posted by at 4:33 PM Labels: , ,

57 Awements = Awesome Comments:

  1. Aw, I didn't get to raise my hand. Sad face. I'm currently saving up for an eReader though!

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  2. I didn't get to raise my hand either. *tear* I don't own an e-reader but if I did, I would join in the fun because this sounds like a great challenge! I love the level names and that button? Adorable with the piggy bank! :)

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  3. @Aylee and Midnight Bloom,

    Thanks so much for showing interest. If you don't have an e-reading device, you can still join in with Amazon's Free Kindle Reading Apps which you can download for your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Blackberry and more.

    Check this out:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sa_menu_karl3?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

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  4. Missie:

    This is a great challenge. I will definitely be joining. I'll have my challenge post up soon and link it up with your linky's. :)

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  5. I'm doing my challenge post right now- this is an awesome idea and one I totally need. Thanks for hosting it!

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  6. Great Challenge Sweetie!! I will definitely join the fun, since I know exactly what you mean! I have so many and yes I didn't read most of them! I will post my challenge post soon!!!

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  7. Oh, I'm in... now to add it to my list....

    This is a terrific idea!

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  8. Oh, okay. I just might do that!

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  9. This is a great idea for a reading challenge! I've collect many a free Kindle read but have yet to read any!! I'm in!

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  10. Can this work for the Kobo E-reader?

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  11. @Moonlight Gleam,

    Yes! Any E-Reader will work for this challenge. :D

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  13. I'm getting my e-reader for x-mas so I'll make a post when I get it and join in :) thank you!

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  14. This sounds fun Vampster! Especially since I have at least 50 freebies I've downloaded on my Kindle in the last year.

    Question, do the ones I've already downloaded count? As long as they were free? Do the ones I've already read count? I'm actually reading a freebie right now and, one of the best books I read this year was a freebie. :)

    Fun challenge!

    *hugs*

    Kristin

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  15. @Vampster,

    Any freebie that you have already downloaded but haven't read is perfectly fine to use for this challenge, but since this challenge is for the up coming year, only freebies read in 2011 count.

    ;)

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  16. I am so signing up for this one! Going to do it right now!

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  18. Saw this on the Book Vixen's site.I'd love to try it!
    I posted this to my site too.
    Natalie :0)

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  19. This is such a great idea! Danny told me about it and as four out of five of us Bookworms own Kindles, this is SO for us! I'm working on the challenge post now. To be clear, though, by galley e-Books, you're referring to those obtainable via sites like NetGalley, right? Thanks, doll!!!

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  20. ohh I like to join this one * is so gathering challenges for next year lol*

    Question... just Amazon and Barnes & noble? i got legal free copies from other publisher sites too

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  21. This sounds great Missie! Just a couple quick questions though...
    Can the free reads be from author websites (the ones they put up for free) and promotional reads from ebook publishers (the ones you get through their sites as well as newsletters)?
    Also, my reads tend to be, um, on the naughtier side, so can I review on my blog then email you the link to the reviews, so as not to freak other readers out? LOL!

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  22. Hey T!

    Great question. If it is a e-book that anyone who visited the site would have access to, then yes, you can totally use it for the challenge.

    This challenge is for all genres, so go ahead and link up your reviews. :D

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  26. nice reading challenge.

    I dont have any ebook reader. But I'd love to join.That also means all I can read is the classic one.

    I;ll come back here to give you the link when I have set up the challenge on my blog

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  27. But Wait, what do you mean by Galley Ebook here? I dont get it

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  28. @Aleetha, I'm mean Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) Galley e-books do not count for this challenge since not everyone has access to them.

    ;)

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  29. Missie,
    I am so happy to have found your blog. I love to read and have been looking for a kind of book club group. This is the first time i have even ever kept a blog let alone used one. I am looking forward to the 2011 challenge. I am just not sure how to get the button on my own blog. I am sure i will figure things out in time. I just wanted to say hi and introduce my self.... so hi and happy reading.

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  30. Borders has free ebooks, too - can those count?

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  31. @Ricki!

    Yes! Definitely. Any legally free download that is available to the public works for this challenge.

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  33. I am in!! My list is at http://readingderby.blogspot.com/2010/12/show-me-free-reading-challenge.html

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  34. Hey, just found this post, but here I am and I am raising my hand! I am the very happy owner of a Kindle and I love my free books! so sign me up! and thanks.

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  35. Just checking--one entry per month, or one entry per ebook review, with several per month being possible? Either is fine with me (I intend to read & review several per month, regardless); just like to know if I should post several entry links, or combine them.

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  36. Hi Elf,

    One entry per review, with several per month being possible.

    Read those Free books! ;)

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  37. Count me in too! Just blogged about starting the challenge: http://bit.ly/gCKZEB

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  38. where do we put our links to our posts so you know we have done them?

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  40. Link January Review here:
    http://www.theunreadreader.com/2011/01/2011-show-me-free-challenge-kick-off.html

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  41. :)
    Stupid question alert: So do NetGalleys not count? Even though they are open to the public?

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  42. Hey Juju!

    Not a stupid question.

    NetGalley books don't count because they are not open to the public. You have to apply and be accepted to the site. Then you have to request ARCs and requests are not always granted.

    Hope that makes sense.

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  44. Missie darling, Will you pretty pretty please forgive me if I withdraw? I read a lot of galleys so I think I'm destined for failure. Pretty please with sprinkles?

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  45. LOL! No prob, hun. I completely understand, but I'm keeping those sprinkles. ;)

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  46. Missie *giggle* thanks pumpkin! You rock chica!

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  47. Do library e-books count? Everyone has access to their library, right? LOL

    I'm ready to get started. Here is the what I posted on my blog: http://precisionreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-reading-challenges.html

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  48. Sounds like a fun challenge and a great way to take a bite out of the ever increasing TBR folder.

    Do have a question. Can we use ebooks that we have won in contests?

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  49. Hey Beth,

    This contest is more for Free e-book downloads that everyone has access to from public domains like Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, project gutenberg, or publisher websites.

    Hope that makes sense. Let me know if you have any other questions.

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  50. If you install Adobe Digital Editions you can read ebooks right on your computer using that software (and Calibre too, i think). Surely that counts too?

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  52. Hey Missie! I'm not sure if this was already asked, but my Kobo already had a selection of 100 ebooks on it when I bought it (it's included), do they count if I read those? Technically whoever has a Kobo has access to them, and I do believe if you go on the Kobo website they are available there!

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  53. @Moonlight Gleam,

    Yes, Definitely. Thanks for sharing that little tip.

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  54. YAY! no problem! I'll let you know anything good I dig up :). I know they have alot of classics up there :)

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  55. I'm taking part in the challenge! I've posted it on my blog :)

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  56. Thanks for the links to free e-book sources! I had already challenged myself to read the e-books that came pre-loaded on my Nook & Kindle for PC. I found your challenge @Jamie's Bookshelf and will post a plug tomorrow.

    Thanks again!
    Lana D.

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  57. wOOT wOOT! I am super excited Missie. I must get to work on my challenge post. Thank you for hosting this challenge :)

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