CELTIC COASTS 2017!

 

I am excited to reprise CELTIC COASTS this 2017:  a gathering place for all Celtic reading!  I set no quota.  Report as much reading as you do, to discuss it and see what other people love.  You can make a goal but there is no such thing as not finishing.  :)  There’s nothing better about our solitary hobby than to tell someone how great a book was, or to find a new favourite author.  I love that feeling:  discovering that somone else that is my kind of writer and when people love an author I introduced!

I am part Irish and Scottish and was keen to create themes of my heritage.  Canadian and Irish challenge existed.  Two Scottish groups came along later but there was none for Wales and I disliked cramming one country’s literature into one year.  Excepting our fare in Canada, a gigantic category and local for me.  If you savour this special trio of lands:  finally, débuting last year, we have a place to mix and match all three!

 

~ JOIN US! ~
(1)  Please create a CELTIC COASTS post or page (all my groups may be combined) and e-mail me with that URL

(2)  Name the groups you are joining and where you are.  It is fun to acquaint our peers.

I gladly answer questions here or by e-mail:  RIEDELFascination(at)Gmail(dot)com. Goodreads takes several screens to arrive at messages and it is hard to get comments onto Blogspot.  Please e-mail or comment here, instead with Goodreads messages, or counting on Blogspot to let me continue a conversation.  I am on dial-up internet.

 

~ THREE WAYS TO KEEP TABS ~
(1)  There is a review page ready all year, which is alphabetized,  Please follow the entry format and everyone can easily browse authors.  We often read similar books each year.

(2)  If you aren’t a writer:  finish a few titles and list them in the comment box of any CELTIC COASTS page.  If you read a book a month, by all means update us one by one.

(3)  Another alternative is sharing a list or write-up you do your own way;  again using any CELTIC COASTS comment box.  All that matters is you are compelled to stay in touch.

 

~ THE GIST ~
I run February 1 to January 31.  Heavy readers like me are too busy to finish reviews until well into January.  I will keep encouraging hosts to shift with me, one month that makes a helpful change.  While the old way is on-going, you are welcome to use January to December, knowing you don’t need to close my groups yet.  Enjoy Christmas.

People considering challenges in December miss mine, so a post for my groups is important.  A Twitter shout-out is appreciated (I only have WordPress and Goodreads).  I think the best way is telling folks you notice reading literature that fits, or who are doing similar challenges.  There’s a Europe one limited to 1 book among the 4 English-speaking countries and only accepts each author once per year.  There are other colour challenges, hundreds of mystery, and paranormal / spiritual readers who could be stampeding this way.  This could be the year they find us!

Goodreads is handy.  A group for all challenge news is GENTLE SPECTRUMS and to chat too.  As long as people are talking amiably, topics are limitless.  Pet pictures, birthdays, lending a shoulder for hard times, books….  you are my community.

 

~ WHAT FITS? ~
Any Ireland, Wales, Scotland settings.  Celtic-born authors, even if they moved and Celtic-residing authors.  Mary Stewart and Anne Perry are Englishwomen of Scotland.  These are Celts no matter what their content.  Parts of Canada, like Nova Scotia (literally “New Scotland”) have strong Celtic ties:  language, music, sports.

Some USA states are likewise.  I enjoy Kaitlyn Dunnett’s series with a Celtic store and dance troupe, in Maine.  Gauge the relevance.  A novel merely mentioning Ireland or a character’s relative hailing from there, might not do.  If a depicted family tells stories a lot, or maintains Celtic traditions;  that flavour comes through.

 

~ TREATS! ~

By December 2017, simply e-mail me to be in our year-end prize draw!
I don’t declare “Canada only”:  the nice array of gifts is for all!  Electronic donations are great but I value options for adult and physical book-readers like me.  I remember wincing about “young adult” fare.  If you don’t fancy what’s on my second-hand book list, there are neat other things:  postcards, my photo prints and greeting cards, CDs, plant seeds!

If there were fewer than 10 per group, I would hold one year-end draw.  If membership and our finances surge, I’ll try going back to a draw for each.  I could approach publishers with a 20+ person following.  There is a prize from me at least.  :)  People interested in supplying swag:  please do e-mail me.  RIEDELFascination(at)Gmail(dot)com.

 

~ WELCOME TO MY FOLD! ~
I always answer you.  I do not abide hosts who don’t visit sign-up posts and show enthusiasm for comments.  I am a writer who loves knowing I have reached people.  Every member of my groups is treated like gold.

Our review page is set year-round, however I am eager to generate stronger contact.  My four great themes:  CELTIC COASTS, ETHEREAL, MY KIND OF MYSTERY, GENTLE SPECTRUMS assure there is something to write about every month or so.

I will e-mail when posts relate to us.  Participation can be as busy or private as you prefer but no more riddles and photo opportunities that only two people notice.  This is all there is to it!  :)  Join, keep the review page and comment boxes humming, and chat about my articles.  Make yourselves at home!  Sincerely, Carolyn.